The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-01
Bishop Allen Visited Three
 Churches Yesterday
THE ATTENDANCE LARGE
At St. Paul's the Confirmation Class Numbered 145-TotaI Number Con firmed During the Day 26s.
 Large Communions.

est in local Catholic circles. The Right Key. E. P. Allen, bishop of Mobile, vis- ited three churches-Our Lady of Sorrows at a. m., St. Paul's at 1O:3O a. m., and St. catherine's, Pratt City, at 7.3O D. m.- and confirmed a large class at each church. At the church of Our Lady of Sorrows S3 souls were presented for con iirmation-40 boys, 30 girls, six men and seven women. At St. Paurs the confirm tion class numbered 145. Of these 110 were children and 35 were adult converts All but five of those confirmed at St. Paufs belonged to the parish, two adults and three children coming from St Au- gustine's parish, North Birmingham. At St. Catherine's 40 were confirmed, mak- ing the total number receiving the sacra- ment of confirmation at the hands of the bishop 26S.
 At each confirmation service the bishop delivered an earnest and instructive dis course in which he explained the nature of confirmation; how the sacrament of baptism made the recipient a Christian and how the sacrament of confirmation strengthened those receiving it, making them soldiers of Christ He said that while confirmation was not necessary to salvation, it was great aid and made salvation the more sure
 In administering the rite the bishop was vested in rochet, amice, alb, cincture, stole, cope and mitre and was seated on the platform of the altar
 At St. Pauls church the four regular masses were largely attended. Many of the faithful received holy communion at the 6;3O mass, and a very large number, including the first communion class, knelt for communion at the 7:3O mass The pastor the Rev. Father Coyle, said that at the two early masses a total of nearly 40) received communion which was the largest number in one day, with the ex- ception of last Easter when about 800 communicated.
 At 10:30 there was a solemn high mass coram episcopo, the bishop being seated on his throne. The Rev. Father Shultz was celebrant, the Rev. Father Celes-
 tine, O. s. B., was deacon and the Rev
 Father Coyle was sub-deacon. The choir sang Weber's celebrated mass in G.
 Just after the mass the bishop read the gospel in English and then delivered his address, which was directed chiefly to l the candidates for confirmation. In con- cludng his remarks he said that as strong drink was often the occasion of sin, he
 would urge every boy to kneel before the al ha ma nd i,o
 a pledge to abstain from the use of all
 intoxicating beverages until he had
 reached the age of 21.
 Sterling A. Wood acted as sponsor for the boys and Mrs. Redmond N. Wheeler as sponsor for the girls who were con firmed. In performing the ceremony of
 confirmation the bishop dipped his thumb in chrism or holy oil and made on the
 forehead of each candidate the sign of tbe cross, saying; 'I sign thee with the sign of the cross; and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" These words were followed by gentle blow on the check, symbolic of the buffeting which the Christian soldier must expect in his war fare against sim
 Services were held at St. Paul's at ( F. m., at which those who had been con | firmed renewed their baptismal VOWS and were invested with the scapular. After these ceremonies the May devotions were 1 concluded with the benedction of the | blessed sacrament
 Devotions will be held every evening | at 6 o'clock during the month of June
 in honor of the blessed sacrament, except on Thursday, when the holy hour Jf
 adoration will begin at 7:30, as usual. 1 Bishop Allen will confirm classes al
 Ressemer, Ensley, East Thomas and al | the colored Catholic church in Birmng- | ham on June 21.