Excerpt from A Charge, to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of the East Riding at the Ordinary Visitation, A. D. 1845 We may commence our yearly business with the less reference to political'events, inasmuch as our internal polity has enjoyed an unwonted respite from parliamentary enactments. The denial indeed of the nearly unanimous prayer of the Clergy for the preservation of one of the most ancient Sees in this Island, we have all probably witnessed with regret. One gratifying circumstance, however, has attended the discussion, not only that none of our Prelates expressed themselves favourable to a step, against which the Church so generally protests, but also that one of the greatest deficiencies in our ecclesiastical system - the small number, namely, of its higher functionaries - has been publicly lamented by those whose position gives them opportunity to amend the evil. The signal mischief which this deficiency has inflicted upon the Church, it were needless to state to per sons who like yourselves are conversant with its practical wants. What greater impediment for example obstructs our pastoral efficiency than that infrequent ministering of con firmation which is its necessary result. Were confirmation ministered every year, as it would doubtless be, if the powers of our Bishops corresponded to their wishes, we should not have to lament that young persons leave our schools, and are lost amidst the occupations of life, without being dedicated to god's service by the public ratification of their Baptismal covenant. And what is still more material, we should not be compelled to the painful alternative, either of admitting those who want the knowledge, or the seriousness, which would bring them as meet communicants to the Lord's Table, or else of rejecting persons who before another oppor tunity occurs may have yielded to some less hallowing in fluence. The Church of course designs that none should be confirmed who are not meet to be communicants. And to admit to Confirmation without such preparation of heart as should bring persons to the Lord's Table, is either to underin which Confirmation is held in the present day: since it does not practically involve that seriousness of mind, which ought to accompany it. No wonder if men are found who despise an ordinance, which is too often approached in a careless and inconsiderate state. And yet this evil can never be remedied till the recurrence of Confirmation at the least every year gives opportunity of deferring without altogether abandoning it. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.