CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 3 August 1907, Page 2

CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

A confirmation Service was held in All Saints Church last ! night by the Bishop of Wellington, i • when 27 females and ten males V were presented for confirmation. The church was filled with members of the congregation and others fully half an hour before the service commenced. Before confirming the candidates the Bishop delivered an earnest, simple addess with fatherly tenderness which should sink deep into the minds and influence the lives of the candidates for good, unless, fosooth, they were there as a mere matter of form, which God forbid. He based his remarks on 2 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 9 : “ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee : For my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore will I rather glorj' in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” He referred to Paul’s weakness and his prayer for help. God did not remove Paul’s weakness but Divine strength fortified him. God never > left prayers unanswered, but He \ cannot help ns until we feel we / are weak. The confirmation service, he said, should not make tlie candidates think they were better than other people but should re- ’ mind them of their weaknesses. He warned them that the sinful influences around them was not the cause of sin so much as their own weakness. They had come forward that night to ask God to make them strong, to tell Him they were weak. God would make them strong by the gift of the Holy Spirit. He asked them to remember those things in which they were weak, to confess them to God and in those things would they be made most strong. He asked the congregation to pray for the candidates and that opportunities might be given them to make it easier for the candidates to overcome temptation. After the congregation and candidates had indulged in silent prayer, the candidates were then confirmed by the laying on of the Bishop’s hand, and each received an almost inaudible blessing. After confirmation the Bishop addressed the candidates,( speaking from the text “ This do \ in remembrance of me ” ("Luke 22, verse 19;. He urged the candidates to remember Christ’s death. It was difficult to live a good life, but he urged them to keep on doing what was right despite the loss of worldly gain. He referred to Christ’s' example right to the end. He urged them not to fear unpopularity, to shun gambling and every wrong thing and to be faithful to the end. He urged them to attend Holy Communion and to remember Christ's love. He finally reminded the candidates of the blessings to be derived from the sacrament, and closed by pronouncing the benediction. The lessons were read by the vicar, the Rev. Woodward. The names of those confirmed are as follow: FEMALES. Sarah Ellen Collins | Elsie Isabel MacMillan f Eltna Charles Ethel May Whibley Sarah Tassel Adams Mabel Robinson Ellen Edlin Flossy Edwards Violet Nye Nena Alzdorf Erma Alzdorf Elvie Alzdorf Hilda Cook Flofry Cook Isabel Mary Morgan Elsie Angus Ewart Alice Cora Walden Minnie Walden Rowena Jessie Howe Elsie Newth Maud Newth i Madge Newth y Emma Clemett Trixie Crichton Beryl Fraser Millie King Hazel Charlotte Louisa Allen MALES. James Wilfred Rough Daniel John Burrell Stanley Herbert Wanklyn William Dnrrieux Shields William Hamer Harold Hamer Frederick Edward Edlin Thomas Charles East Leonard John Morgan Gordon Walter Arthur Collins