CONFIRMATION SERVICE AT ST. PETER'S.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1284, 13 November 1911, Page 9

CONFIRMATION SERVICE AT ST. PETER'S.

• ADDEESS BY BISHOP SPEOTT. The Anglican Bishop of ■Wellington (Dr. Sprott) held a Confirmation at St. Peter's Church, Willis Street, yesterday afternoon. There was a very large congregation, and the sfTvice was a most interesting and impressive one, being characterised throughout by reverence, dignity, and simplicity. The Bishop was assisted by the vicar of the parish (Archdeacon Harper], and the Bevs A. "-.H. Compton, C. G. Mutter, and W. Raine. Seventy candidates were presented. Ur. Sprott gave a most helpful address to the. candidates, in the course of which he referred to the urgent need for a strong Christian influence in the community. Hβ appealed to the candidates to earnestlv resolve to be real living members of the Church, making use of all their Christian privileges, and taking their full share of the responsibilities which membership entailed. He went on to refer to the social aspects of Christianity. Ho said we were not isolated and independent units, but each cvf us was lx>rn into a family, and -was dependent on others for his'food, his clothing, tho language ho used, and even his standard ot morality. Tho moral standard of a community- was, roughly, an average between the standard of those people with high ideals and character who exercised an upward pull, and that of those with low ideals who exercised a downward pull. I'he standard varied as the upward or downward influence happened to be weakened or stwiigtheneed.- It was uct a per feet standard, but the Christian had.the perfect standard set by the life and character of Jesus Christ. Recognising mankind's need for fellowship, Christ did not merely'go about preaching and scattering the seed hero and there, and leavin" it to grow as best it could; but he .founded, a fellowship-a society. The Bishop-urged his hearers to follow tho example of the early Christians, who "continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in the prayers. / Tho Bishop preached again at tie evening service. The music at all the services, as is usual at St. Peter's, was very' good. .