CONFIRMED IN GAOL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 51, 14 October 1911, Page 8

CONFIRMED IN GAOL.

THIRTEE N I’R IS ONERS. BISHOP CROSSLEY CONDUCTS I NIQ U E CME 3i lON V. A ceremony which is prooahly uni(juo - in tile annals of New Zealand prisons was performed last Sunday morning in tnc .Mount Eden gaol. Auckland, when tnirteen persons, all male prisoners, were conlinned by tue Right Rev. Dr. Crosley, Anglican Bishop oi Auckland. Tlio candidates were of all ages, from 15 to 40, and were undergoing sentences varying from a few months to a long term m years, while some were undergoing reformative treatment. They were prepared for confirmation by tne Rev. E. C. Budd, Sclwyn chaplain to the public institutions, who was present .it tiie service. Some months ago Mr Budd received a request from a young prisoner that lie might be confirmed before Jie left the prison, and tlio chaplain according ly gave an address upon the subject of confirmation, with the result that twelve more gave in their names. 'flic service was held in the gaol .•impel, which lias recently been refurnished and much improved by tlio department. Practical ly all the Protestant prisoners, numbering nearly NJU, were present, the women being accommodated as usual in the gallery.

'Pile Bishop was attended by the Revs; E. C. Budd and C. H. Gavin (of St. Sepulchres), and there wore also present the gaoler (Mr T. Boynton), Messrs C. Hudson and P. Charter (lay readers), and Mr W. Brakenrig, wno frequently conducts services at the gaol. At the accustomed place in the service the Bishop gave an inspiring address upon the collect for the day, and when he had laid his hands upon tlio head of each candidate in turn, delivered a second address to the new-iy-conlirmcd, giving them good advice as to the keeping of the vows which they had made. At the conclusion of the service the Bishop shook hands with the thirteen candidates, and spoke a few words of encouragement to each of them, flic congregation followed tlio service with interest, and joined heartily in the prayers and hymns. ‘Confirmations are frequently held in the large English gaols, but so far as is known Sunday' service is the first of its kind held in any of the New Zealand prisons, and certainly the first at the Mount Eden gaol. \ Communion services are held at the gaol at frequent intervals. The chapel has lately been much improved by the addition of a sot of red curtains supplied by tlio under-sec-retary. It was dedicated by Bishop Neligan, but is used by all religious denominations, the Roman Catholics being allowed to make certain additions to the altar when mass is said there.