CONFIRMATION SERVICE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2781, 28 November 1931, Page 4

CONFIRMATION SERVICE

AT PARISH CHURCH. BISHOP OF DIOCESE OFFICIATES. OVER. 50 CANDIDATES RECEIVED. The Parish Church of S. Andrew was well filled on Thursday evening last when a confirmation service was held by the Lord Bishop of the diocese. The Bishop wore the white cope and mitre and carried his pastoral staff. There was a full choir with Mr A. W. Moratli officiating at the organ. The Bishop made special mention of the devotional singing of hymns and their accompaniment. One very beautiful feature of the service was the singing’ kneeling, during the actual administration of the Sacrament of a litany of the Holy Ghost. The candidates, including many adults, were over fifty in number. The collection, in aid of the Home Mission work of the church in the diocese of Waikato, amounted to £5.

After the service the candidates from the country districts, together with their parents and friends were entertained to refreshments superintended by r Mcsdamcs Haworth and Alderton. The Bishop’s Message. In his message to tho candidates and the parents the Bishop made an appeal on behalf of the Home Mission fund. He remarked to the candidates how fortunate they' were in having so beautiful a church, with its appropriate spiritual associations, as compared with some candidates he had given the sacrament to recently. Some *had to be received in schools, and halls, and some even in an'unoccupied house. He asked them to think much of those in the baekblocks. Rich parishes like Cambridge should do all in their power to help others less fortunate. * Done the Right Thing. His Lordship went on to say that the candidates could be specially happy that night because in coming to their confirmation they had done the right thing. There were far too many times in life when people did tho wrongtiling, but all were on the right path when they personally acknowledged Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. In receiving confirmation the candidates were beginning tlicir own responsibility' and their own spiritual life. That l ight the candidates had taken hold of the hand of Jesus and claimed Him as their own, and having takes Jesus into their lives it must be their continual endeavour to keep Him there. The Bishop went on to impress upon the candidates to have a full appreciation of the bounteous gifts of God, and to manifest that appreciation by their continued devotion to their church and all its ideals. He also asked them.not to lose sight of the love of their parents and all that they had tried to do for them since God gave them to Christian life in Holy' Baptism. Now in confirmation He had given the gift of the Holy Spirit. In urging the candidates to make the most of their lives the Bishop said their lives could be likened to a garden. It could be all full of weeds as were many people’s lives. All sorts of things were possible in the garden of their lives if they would continue to co-operate with God. Ho gave knowledge, sunshine, rain, and all other things needful, and with their spiritual lives it was exactly the same. Ho gave all things that were essential to happy, useful life. The Bishop stressed tho fact that confirmation was a preparation for receiving the still greater benefit, the gift of Holy Sacrament. The Sacrament, however, could not be what God meant it to be unless they' honestly gave themselves to God each time they came for Sacrament. He knew that there were many of .the adults present who were that moment regretting they were not in the fortunate position of the young communicants standing before God in their first communion. It only' remained for them to profit by' tho experiences of their parents. His Lordship concluded a very fine address with an eloquent appeal to the young people to continue strictly along the path they had rightly started upon. The Candidates. The following is the list of candidates confirmed: —. Vernon Cray, Robert Buttimorc, Ronald Giles, William Eoxborogh, Robert Keyte, Leslie Haworth, Francis Searle, Stuart Snelling, Noel' West, John Boyt, Seville Buttimorc, Cecil Buttimore, Ivarl Dodd, George Clancey, George O’Neill, Leslie Dix, William 0 ’Neill. Phyllis Buttimorc, Kathleen McICeown, Betty Oaten, Grace Jones, Dorothy Trask, June Jones Mollic Sawers, Moya Mahony, Mary MclCeown, Joyce MclCeown, Ethel Attwood, Eileen O’Keefe, Betty Boyce, Olwon Taylor, Marjorie Alderton, Kathleen Willoughby Horne, Margaret Swaync, Mollio Foster, Grace Foster, Mollic McGovern, Morwena Bourkc, Florence Scott, Zona Selby, Mavis Wallace, Elsie Buttimore, Essie Dodd, Catherine .Snelling, Eiß‘->n Haworth, Mary Dixon, Epsa O’Neill, Margaret Hewitt, Ray Kelly, :"ene Rowell, Betty Martyn.