CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1915, 14 December 1918, Page 3

CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

An inieresiing and inspiring: service v,’ii> helil in All Saints' Church ins! night, wlicn the Lord Bishop of Wellington, Bishop Spruit, administered the rile of Confirmathm lu eighteen candidates. The candidates were: Hilda Victoria IJohinsun, Hazel Caroline Newlh, Kathleen Amelia Belly, Myra Winifred Walls, flwendolyne Gladys Lawton, Jessie .May Murphy, Gladsome Messena, Hilda May Tliompson, Myrtle Irving, Olive .Maude Bay, George Henry Wright, William Vineent Gridin, Edward Clarence Thompson, Frederick Arthur Wright, dames Ernest Burr, Frank Charles Hardy Procter, .John .Joseph Crowe, Irwin Cecil Wright. In his address to Ihe candidates, the Bishop-based his remarks on the 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd verses of the 11th (.diopter of (lie Acts of the Apostles, particularly emphasising the words,of the 23rd verse; “That (hey would eleave unto the purpose of their heart in (he Lord.” The Bishop pointed out the historical importance of (he Church of--Antioch; for us it was one of I lie most important churches for a three-fold reason; (1) It was there that (he followers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians; (2) it wus the first Gentile Churchj (3) i* was the first Church to engage in definite missionary work. After enlarging on the results of this work, His Lordship told how, when the news of the doing of the Antiochian Church readied Jerusalem, the Church there sent: Barnabas to gather information as to what was being done. The result of this visit was that Barnabas blessed the work and encouraged the Christians of Antioch, “that they would cleave unto the purpose of their heart in the Lord.” The Bishop then dealt with the constitution of cadi life, and showed how that in each were powers of intellect, powers of affection and loving, hut most important of all was the power of volition —the power of choice. Those who were about to be confirmed bad made a choice, to lie Christ's disciples. He urged them, using as an illustration the example of Ft. Peter, to “stick it.” Oftentimes, under favoirrable circumstances, or in a suitable environment, if was easy to fulfil vows made or responsibilities undertaken. But what of the time when in neither circumstances or environment were favourable, but rather anlagonisI lie f How sad it was, and is, to see Iso many fail! So he pleaded with those who Avere to take a most important step that night that they would continue faihful, continue to choose to be on the side of Christ in the strength that God supplies. There was the secret. The strength comes from God, and in that strength it is possible to achieve all things. A large congregation of the condidates’ friends and others listened eagerly to the Bishop's remarks. The singing of the hymn, “Stand up. Stand up for Jesus, Ye Soldiers of the Cross” brought to a dose a service that will linger long in the memories of those who were present.