The Washington herald., 1909-04-05
MANY CONFIRMED
BY BISHOP HARDING
Impressive Services Held at
st. Thomas Church.
BIG CONGREGATION PRESENT
White Dresses and NuptiaI Wells of
the Girls Add TO Pretty Scene at
Palm Sunday Observance-BishOp
Addresses Glass of Tvventy-nine,
Mostly Young Men aud Girls.

ram sunndE ODaerVHnCe-bisho mop
Addresses Glass OF Twenty-nine,
Mostly Young Men aud Girls.
In garden spot OF palms, into which
the chancel OF ST. Thomas Church had
been converted. Bishop Alfred Harding
administered confirmation yesterday aft
ernoon. 1t was an impressive and beau
tiful service. and the church was crowded.
Although two or three Of the applicants
were Of middle age. the class was made
up chiefly OF girls and boys. Until
called 10 the rail for the ceremony Of
the laying on Of hands" they sat in a
group in the front pews OF the church.
A pretty symbolism was given to the
service by the white dresses OF the girls.
and the nuptial wells spreading downward
across their shoulders. expressing their
readiness to become brides Of the church.
Bishop Administers Oath.
My Faith Looks Up TO Thee" was
the professional hymn, to which the
vested choir OF men and women marched
into the chaneeL II was followed by the
reading Of Scripture by Rev DR.. c. Err
nest Smith, rector OF the church The
congregation stood while Bishop Harding
administered the oath by which the ap-
plicaSs renewed their baptismal VOWS.
All then knelt in silent prayer for those
who were about 10 enter the fun priv
ileges Of worship. after which the choir
sang Come. Holy Ghost"
The confirmation service proper was
concluded with the singing OF the hymns.
'oh. Jesus, Have Promised" and
Thine Forever"
The bishop delivered an earnest ad-
dress. directed especially 70 the new
members or the church. He said in
part;
You are 10 be congratulated, not only
on the gift OF the Holy Ghost which
has come to you in this service, but on
the fact that you have been confirmed
at a special service. not combined with
any other exercises Of the church You
are to be congratulated, too, on the day.
Palm Sunday is one OF the great DAYS OF
the church. and is, therefore. much TO
be observed II should be a source OF.
happiness 70 you in that il IS great not
only in the calendar OF the church. but
has now become great in the calendar
OF your lives.
Urges Earnest Devotion.
Il associate this day with my own con-
hrmation. and I have thanked God ever
since for all the faith and guardianship
that day brought me. I would have you
keep this day fresh IN your memories I
would have you reflect upon II. cast your
eyes back TO it. and with each recurring
anniversary especially 60 down on your
knees and, face TO face with God. ask
yourselves what use you have made OF
this gift.
you viii remember that this was the
only day Of rejoicing our Saviour vas
privileged TO have in all the days Of His
ministry on earth. He had steadily dis
couraged the plaudits OF the multitude
But this day, this feast day OF the crucial
week Of His life. He allowed the people
TO pour out their enthusiasm before Him
1T IS significant TO remember that be-
fore the week was ended those who had
cheered Him were His enemies And
why? Because their devotion was not
rooted in a deep conviction. They had
cheered Him for the material benefits
the political favors they thought He was
The Great Safeguard.
your great safeguard lies IN the
strong belief you have IN the goodness
Of God and the reality Of His salvation
With the ceremony through which you
have just passed the Holy Ghost has
come upon you. In all you do. in your
path and in your bed. keep the Holy
Ghost ever with you. ASK OF every cir
cumstance in your lives: Is Il pleasing
to God?' For without Him-the most
powerful and real Of all thlngs-we do
not dare 10 live, and We do not dare to
die.
You have to-day brought to Him the
desire Of His heart-your wish 70 enter
into His life. or all things. that must be
the most pleasing in His sight That is
your gift TO Him-yOur longing 10 be His
Significance of Confirmation.
What is His gift to you? The service
uf confirmation is not a mere form OF the
Episcopal Church. The gift Of the Holy
Ghost to-day is the same gift that came
to the disciples. Not that this is the
first time the Holy Spirit has dealt with
your souls But with vour confirmation
you have signifed for yourselves your de-
sire 10 enter into the life Of God and to
walk In His way. This is the f-uition Of
the baptismal promises your sponsors
made for you.
"a full sense Of the goodness Of God.
the happiness Of a devOut life. inspired
with a reverential fear OF Him. are yours
to use, but not to neglect nor lose. He
viii not do your work for you You
must cooperate with Him. and He will
give you surcease of sorrow. perplexity.
and distress. If you take the hand that
IS offered, and follow in His way He
viii lead you 20 all honesty, purity, meek
ness of spirit, self-control, and the full.
deep happiness Of living. For that Is
what Christ meant when He said:
I am come that they might have life
and that they might have It more abun-
danT1y.'"
Bishop Harding's Assistants.
Assisting Bishop Harding in the serv-
ice were Rev. DR.. c. Ernest Smith. Canon
]. ". Austin. Rev. John G. Ames. Rev.
John A Aspinwall. former rector Of St
Thomas Church. and Rev. J. NJ. E.
Mckee.
The offertory hymn was 20 For a /
Closer. Walk with Cod" sung by the
choir. with Mrs. Carl Henning as soloist |
Soldiers OF Christ, Arise was the re- |
cessional
Those confirmed were:
Alex. T. AbeTnethy Peter Berry William Herbert I
Blatcher Douglas Eugene Bulloch. Harry Wilson 4
H0ughton. Edward b. Pendletou. Gustav R-rthel I
Sandin. Sydney Phillip Savage. Thomas Norton !
Nhittlesey. Herbert Edward Glssby Wright and 1
Alphonso Ernest Zuber.
Misses Nellie Acker. Virginia Palmer Barnes
8nda Booker, Dorothy Elizabeth Copenhaver Hazel