ROYAL CANDIDATES FOR CONFIRMATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 93, 8 June 1877, Page 3

ROYAL CANDIDATES FOR CONFIRMATION.

The Times correspondent telegraphing on Tuesday from Berlin, says :—This morning a solemn occasion assembled the Royal Family in the old Palace Chapel. As the clock struck 12, their Royal Highnesses Princess Charlotte, the eldest daughter of the Crown Princess ; Louise, the third daughter of Prince Frederick Charles ; and Prince Henry, second son of the Crown Prince, approached the alter to be confirmed. The two Princesses, born respectively on the 24th and 25th of July, 1860, were led to the alter by their Royal mothers, while the Crown Prince accompanied Prince Henry, a young man born in 1862, and already a Lieutenant in two Prussian and one Russian regiment. The two young ladies wore white silk, Prince Henry appearing in the uniform of the Ist Regiment of Foot Guards, with the silver star and orange riband of the Order of the Black Eagle. Having placed their children in front of the alter, the parents of the Royal candidates for confirmation took their seats by the side of their Imperial Majesties and the Baden Grand Ducal Family, who attended the ceremony, surrounded by the Princes and Princesses of the Crown and their Royal guests. Duke Ernest of SaxeCoburg Gotha, the brother of the late Prince Consort, in accordance with the pious habits of the Royal family, was present at the confirmation of the son and daughter of his nephew and niece. All the Ministers and the highest civil and military dignitaries and leading members of the diplomacy attended. The ceremony opened with the singing of Luther's choral "Em feste burg ist unser Gott," after which the Rev. Dr. Koegel, the Palace Chaplain, delivered a short introductory address. The Royal candidates for confirmation, true to the time-honoured practice of their family, then read aloud written statements drawn up by themselves, and containing their profession . of ; faith. When this impressive part of the ceremony came to an end,. the Rev. Dr Koegel preached the sermon from St. John, chapter 14, verse 27 —" Peace I leave with ydu, my peace I give unto you ; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Pointing to peace with God as the sheetanchor of human existence, the preacher insisted that Royalty, being placed so j high, required the guiding support of the Divine Hand to fight the battle of life and overcome the peculiar dangers and temptations of its exalted position. Then, addressing the Royal candidates individually, he reminded Princess Charlotte that her elder brother had professed the Christian faith two years ago in the Palace Chapel at Potsdam. He told Princess Louise that her grandmother, who died a few weeks ago, even now saw united with her family by the faith they all recognized; and he admonished Prince Henry, who is to be a sailor, that, he could not hope to steer his vessel safely into port unless by trust in God. In conclusion, he gave to Princess Charlotte, Proverbs, chapter 4, verse 23 ; to Princess Louise, 1 Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 13 ; and to Prince Henry, Psalm 107, verse 23, 24, and 31, as their mottoes for life. The liturgy and the blessing was followed by Handel's " Hallelujah," resounding from tihe cupola of the splendid edifice. The young Princess and Prince were embraced by their parents, and following the Emperor and Empress, left the Chapel.