338 



LIFE IN MONTREAL. [Chap. VII. 



Protestant church as the yearly confirmation on Palm Sunday 

 evening. That great church filled, with the gas throwing the 

 varnished roof (a la Westminster Hall) into bold relief, with 

 the blue and white grainings of the transepts and choir, is 

 alone a grand sight. The front of the middle aisle seats were 

 occupied by the fifty postulants, half of each sex. The 

 maidens were dressed with the utmost simplicity: hair loose 

 behind, with a plain bow, a few with a slight gauze over it. 

 Each one had a look of the most complete devotion and 

 earnestness. After the voluntary and hymn, the presentation 

 began, the maidens standing along the aisle before the choir, 

 the youths in pairs down the middle, making a T. Then the 

 Bishop * invited the vast congregation to kneel down and 

 pray silently for these young people. It was as solemn as the 

 consecration at Mass ; nothing affects me more than silent 

 prayer among numbers. There were a few old pupils of mine. 

 . . . Then they knelt down, two at a time : the Bishop raised 

 his arms with the prayer, and laid the hands on their heads ; 

 maidens first, then youths : each pair returning to their seats. 

 Last of all was one youth ... he got both hands. Then the 

 Bishop preached a short sermon, and the ante-communion was 

 read. The most went away, and the new members with their 

 friends finished the communion. 



" My rheumatism turned out of the overworked type, but 

 not nearly so bad as the '48 affair. ... I hope soon to be able 

 to do regular work. It is a mercy part of the time was holiday." 

 In his last note to me, April 15, he says, "We are both as 

 well as can be expected, considering that people don't expect 

 much ; we have both been pulled down not a little by over- 

 work, and over-anxiety about many things, but are, I hope, as 

 my father used to say, in the way to be better ; anyhow, we are 

 just able to jog on. The weather is perfectly delightful." 



His valued friend and fellow-worker, Mr. Bland, F.G.S., of 

 New York, has forwarded me three notes from Philip, in April, 

 which show that he was still working at shells. Professor 



* Bishop Oxenden, who resigned in 1878 : Dean Bond was consecrated 

 as his successor, Jan. 25, 1879. 



