CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1142, 6 May 1885, Page 5

CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

The sacrament of confirmation was administered by the Most Rev. Dr Moran, Bishop of Dunedin, on Sunday last, in the Catholic Church, Lawrence, in the presence of a large congregation. He was assisted on the occasion by Father O'Leary, resident parish priest. There was a large number of boys and girls in attendance to.. receive the sacrament, the numbers being made up as follow :—: — Boys, 38 ; girls, 34. In addition to the youthful candidates, a small number of adult ladies were also confirmed. Before proceeding to administer the sacrament, His Lordship, in appropriate and simple language, addressed thoae present on the necessary knowledge of the Christian Doctrine that was required, also upon the dispositions indispensable to the proper and worthy recaption of so worthy and important a privilege. In the course of his remarks he paid a high compliment to the efficiency of the local school, and the great pleasure it gave him to find the children so well grounded in their religious principles. After the ceremony was over, the speaker addressed the children in most feeling language, poiuting out to them how necessary it was to avoid' bad company and bad example, and particularly dwelt upon the great importance of avoiding the repetition of bad language, which he declared to be one of the greatest curses of the present day. He would ask the children to solemnly promise that day not to offend again by using bad language, or in future to make lisa of words the meaning of which they did not understand. The ordinary church choir was supplemented by the addition : of several musical friends, which had the effect of considerably improving the strength of the choir. As, a consequence the music was capitally rendered, and was much appreciated by the large congregation present, the soloists being in splendid voice. The following were the 'selections' rendered by 4 the choir: — ','Kyrie'^and '.'Gloria" (Mozart's 12th Mass) ; "Credo" (Weber's Mass in G) ; offertory piece, " O Salutaris " (Mayingi) ; " Sanctus," with tenor solo (Gounod), and "Agnus Dei," with contralto and 1 soprano solos (Weber's Mass in G.)