Ertracts from Charges. ON THE METHOD OF PREPARING CATECHUMENS FOR CONFIRMATION. As the only means by which we can hope to establish ecclesiastical discipline on its right principles, must depend on the judicious management of your several parishes, and as the preparation of the younger members of the congregation for the rite of confirmation offers one of the most effectual means of paving the way for the proper cure of the flock, you will excuse me if I venture, by way of appendix, to offer some suggestions on a subject which I deem exceedingly important. I confess that I regard the proper use of this apostolical rite as an especial means, not only of preventing our sheep from straving, but of bringing back into the fold of the church, that portion of them which has wandered into other pastures. Among all the carelessness, with regard to church privileges, which prevails among us, there still exists an anxiety to partake in this rite. One might hesitate in calling such an anxiety, superstitious; but it is difficult to apply any other term to a wish which seems to be confined to the participation in rites, which imply union with our church, while little real desire of union is discoverable. Persons who appear to have no wish really to belong to the church, still seek for their children, admission within her pale, by baptism. Young persons who never frequent the church, and who, in their proceedings seem opposed to her, still press with apparent earnestness to receive the rite of confirmation, and they who join not in her services and partake of the sacraments administered by persons unauthorised by the church, still desire, from time to time, to participate in the sacramental and outward symbols of a communion from which they habitually separate themselves. However really inconsistent such conduct must be esteemed by a sober churchman, yet he cannot but be thankful to God, that even a semblance of the love of christian unity should still remain; and pray that the christian zeal and prudence of the ministers of our church, may fan these remaining embers of affection into the bright flame of cordial unity. It is in the hope of suggesting some means by which this result may be promoted, that I now address myself to you, hoping to point out the steps by which this desirable end may be promoted, through the due preparation of candidates for confirmation. But as much of the benefit, to be derived from the preparation, must depend on a clear understanding of the rite itself, and as all the services in our church are steps in a great whole, and not independent of each other, we shall hardly succeed in placing the matter rightly before the candidate, unless we do so by showing that confirmation is a connecting link between the sacraments. By baptism the child is admitted into the christian church; he enters into covenant with God, and in answer to the prayers of his church, no doubt the Almighty grants such grace as would enable the young christian to walk in the ways of godliness, were it not for the fault of himself, or of those under whose spiritual care he is placed. This grace, whatever it may be, is in the language of our church, called regeneration-the new birth-the commencement of the christian life. It is unfortunately obvious from sad experience that many, very many, the great mass of young persons do fall from this state of grace; yet we cannot help believing that some have always continued under it. When, therefore, we look at those who come to us to be prepared for confirmation, who come to renew those vows which were made in their name at baptism, we shall find them, either persons who have always continued under grace, have not always been perfect or free from sin, but who have never fallen away from the state into which they were admitted by baptism; or who having fallen away, have been renewed and brought once more under the influence of christian principles; or lastly, who having, like the latter, fallen away, have never entertained a just sense of their sin, and return to a mere formal acknowledgement of the necessity of seeking God's face. The real difficulty of preparing candidates consists-first, in distinguishing these three classes of persons; and secondly, in so dealing with them, as shall by God's mercy, be most likely to lead them into the path of peace. But I cannot help believing that these difficulties are not insuperable, and that if we strive, God will enable us to produce a sensible effect on the flocks which he has committed to our charge. As far as the practical question of preparation is concerned, it will not be necessary to draw any line of distinction between the first two descriptions of catechumens. They who have fallen away will be more likely to feel the weakness and the wickedness of our nature, even than those who have never strayed; and they who have walked most constantly and most circumspectly, will be conscious of so many sins, weaknesses, and ignorances, that they will readily acknowledge the propriety of openly professing their obligation to renew and follow those promises which were made for them at their baptism, and the necessity of seeking God's grace that they may be enabled so to do. But when persons come to partake of this holy rite, merely out of a desire to comply with the wishes of their parents, or the custom of the country, it becomes an act of the greatest kindness on the part of a spiritual guide, to prevent them from falling into the commission of that which must be a great sin in the sight of the Most High: viz., of making a declaration, the most solemn which can be made, without any settled purpose of fulfilling that, which they thus openly confess to be their duty. It is from this reason, that I have requested you not to admit candidates at an earlier age than sixteen. Young persons who are walking in the way of godliness, may no doubt be wisely received at the Lord's table earlier than this age; but as from the smallness of the diocese I can easily offer to every catechumen an opportunity of being confirmed at that age, I conceive that on the whole, we shall do more good by waiting to a period, at which they will be better able to judge of the nature of that which they are going to do. And I cannot help believing that they, to whom the cure of souls has been committed, will exercise their functions with the greatest probability of success, if they repress rather than urge forwards the catechumens of their parishes.-Charge of the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, 1843.APPENDIX. (To be continued.) Poetry. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Since thee, our God, we cannot see, Thou settest here below Parents to whom, in place of thee, We may obedience shew. And holy pastors, too, there are, The church our mother is, whose care [Hymns on the Catechism. Burns, 1843.] *St. Matthew, ch. vi, v. 26. The Editor's Portfolio. HINT ON OPENING SUNDAY SCHOOL-ROOMS FOR WEEK-DAY INSTRUCTION. As to schools, although many have been placed in different districts where there have been great calls for them, they have still left immense spaces beyond the control of any school at all. I rejoice that an opportunity is now about to be afforded to break up these districts for school purposes. The best part of the plan, in my opinion, is to give support to schools already built, by wholly or partly supporting the masters for a certain time. In my own parish I found that it was impossible, for the want of extraneous support, to retain the services of a really efficient master. The National Society has made a liberal offer to give extraneous support to schools in the manufacturing districts, and the more the Society displays such a spirit the more good will be done. In many places there are admirable school-rooms that are only occupied on Sundays; but which, by a little aid for the support of a master, might be kept open during the other days of the week. I could in my own district name four or five consecutive parishes that are in this condition, and where the children attending the sunday school are left to pick up their education where they can during the week. I am quite aware, that in many instances schools would in two or three years be able to support themselves, which without extraneous help cannot exist at all.-Speech of the Ven. Archdeacon Musgrave, at the annual meeting of the Ripon Diocesan Board. POWER OF THE VOICE OVER CHILDREN. It is usual to attempt the management of children either by corporal punishment, or by rewards addressed to the senses, or by words alone. There is one other means of government, the power and importance of which are seldom regarded; I refer to the human voice. A blow may be inflicted on a child, accompanied by words so uttered as to counteract entirely its intended effect; or the parent may use language, in the correction of the child, not objectionable in itself, yet spoken in a tone which more than defeats its influence. Let any one endeavour to recall the image of a fond mother long since at rest in heaven. Her sweet smile and ever clear countenance are brought vividly to recollection; and so also is her voice; and blessed is that parent who is endowed with a pleasing utterance. What is it which lulls the infant to repose? It is no array of mere words. There is no charm to the untaught one in letters, syllables, and sentences. It is the sound which strikes its little ear, that soothes and composes it to sleep. A few notes, however unskilfully arranged, if uttered in a soft tone, are found to possess a magic influence. Think we, that this influence is confined to the cradle? No; it is diffused over every age, and ceases not while the child remains under the parental roof. Is the boy growing rude in manner and boisterous in speech? I know of no instrument so sure to controul these tendencies as the gentle tones of a mother. She who speaks to her son harshly, does but give to his conduct the sanction of her own example. She pours oil on the already raging flame. In the pressure of duty, we are liable to utter ourselves hastily to our children. Perhaps a threat is expressed in a loud and irritating tone; instead of allaying the passions of the child, it serves directly to increase them. Every fretful expression awakens in him the same spirit which produced it. So does a pleasant voice call up agreeable feelings. Whatever disposition, therefore, we would encourage in a child, the same we should manifest in the tone in which we address him.-Church of England Magazine. Document. REPORT OF THE RIPON DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION. The Ripon Diocesan Board of Education fully sensible of the high and important objects for which it was originally established, and which have daily increased in magnitude and interest, present their second Annual Report with mingled feelings of satisfaction and anxiety. Although, when the board was first called into existence an unusual gloom, (not yet entirely dissipated,) pervaded the manufacturing districts of this diocese, the board nevertheless feel they may properly congratulate its members on a larger measure of prosperity, than under such untoward circumstances might perhaps have been expected. Discontent, engendered in too many instances by want of employment, and severe and long continued privations amongst the labouring classes, fostered and inflamed by disaffected and designing persons for sinister objects of their own, at last discovered itself in acts of open and daring outrage, spreading sudden terror and alarm throughout the more populous districts. These occurrences naturally led to an investigation into the character and habits of the persons betrayed into such illegal proceedings, the result of which has been to prove beyond all doubt, "That wherever means of church instruction were best provided, there the efforts of the disaffected were least successful, and that in whatever districts church principles predominated no outbreak took place, however griev Emel e mend that it 3: mine de Zainly the support of Stalne Expense of the York of the cryense of maintaining the insti The war's TLE LYN. The barve £2074 25 41. The Warts malet a tent les sur du be taining institution is azat & Teen 13. 20er us at 7 Nicaen 214T 17 NE FLETOLns, znized demselves with exem‐ The parts admitted for plary propter van make so911 28 000 desire to conform to the Dec17 1918 ja dhe mono 1, witle the progress male in their studies, as well as the imperament a derr persoal deportment have given complete sadisfaction s the reverend the principal, and have seenred the deserved commendation of the natang ommine, and fall who have visited the insti tation. At the end of the quarter just completed, there were 31 pupils in the training school. 35 in the middle school, in amin to these, not fewer than 10 masters of schools in agricultural districts, have been received during the late harvest, with a view to their own individual improvement, and to obtain a knowledge of the system of instruction parsed in the institution, with the intention of adopting it so far as might be practicable in their own schwis. At the beginning of the present year, the want of an institution for training mistresses, urged itself on the attention of the board of management; and steps were taken to supply it. A house capable of accommodating twenty pupils was hired and placed under the management of the mistress of the Model National School in York, an individual whom the board has found equal to the trusts reposed in her. The terms of admission are 8s. per week, which sum covers every expense, except washing. During the year ten pupils have been received into the institution, of whom eight are still in it, one has taken charge of an infant school at Ripon, and one, who, being already in charge of a school, came for improvement during the harvest, has returned to her own school. All these individuals have been much improved, and some of them in a greater degree than could have been anticipated. This infant establishment is effectually performing the object for which it was begun, and preparing the way for that larger scene of operation which will supersede it when the plans of the board are more matured |
