CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15283, 9 July 1923, Page 5

CONFIRMATION SERVICE.

LARGS NUMBER PRESENTED. St. Peter's Ghurah, Hamilton, was taxed to its utmost capacity yesterday morning when a confirmation service was hold by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Averill, Anglican Bishop of tho Diocese of Auckland, when candidates for confirmation, numbering 71, were presented to the Bishop by the Vicar, Ven. Archdeacon Cowie, to receive the rile of the "laying on of hands." Dr. Averill, in an inspiring and eloquent address to the confirmees and the congregation, took 'his, text, "Lay hold of the' light, and there will be life indeed," from St. Paul's first epistle to Timothy. Tho Bishop drew a vivid comparison between the passage through life of mankind, and the voyage of a ship across the ocean. As the mariner was captain of his ship, so God was master of our fate and captain of our souls. God was the captain in charge of the ship of life, and if we, ourselves, did not pay homage to our captain, disaster was inevitable. The chart room and its various navigating accoutrements were essential to the safety of a ship, and if we kept that locked the ship would be shipwrecked, and we would become derelicts, and a menace to society and ourselves. The only true life was to obey our Captain's instructions, whereas to violate them was to court disaster.

ST. GEOaGE'S, FRANKTON. Confirmation services were conducted by Dr. Averill, Bishop of Auckland, in St. George's Church, Frankion, where he administered tho Sacrament to about 25 candidates. He addressed the young people in suitable terms, taking as his text, " Why Call Ye Me Lord! Lord! and do not the things that I say." Ho reminded his hearers of their duty as members of the great Christian family in obeying the laws of their Spiritual Father. So many people professed to be followers of Our Lord and yet made no attempt to carry out His Law. The Bishop reminded the candidates for confirmation that they w/re making a public declaration of their faith, and urged them to live up to their profession. On Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock at St. George's, Dr. Averill will preach on the "Mission of Healing."