ceding
the Absolution in the Office for the Visitation of the Sick.
Private, or _Auricular_, Confession forms a prominent feature in
the Church of Rome, and it is that which gives to the Roman Priest
his great authority over his flock. The practice is, to some extent,
founded upon S. James v. 16, which, however, is not necessarily to
be understood as speaking of confession to a priest.

CONFIRMATION, RITE OF. The practice of confirming those who have
been baptized is spoken of in Acts viii.12-17; xix.4-6. In the early
Church it was administered by Bishops alone, and followed as
immediately as possible after Baptism. Such is the custom of the
Greek Church at the present day, but there the Office is not
restricted to Bishops, as in the Western Church, confirmation being
administered with chrism, an unguent consecrated by a Bishop. In
the Western Church the Rite became gradually dissociated from
Baptism, although it has never lost its primary signification as a
_confirming_, or strengthening, by the Holy Ghost of those who have
been baptized. It is now administered, as the rubric directs, to
those who have arrived at "years of discretion," that is to say, to
those who are old enough to understand the leading doctrines of the
Christian Faith. The age at which Bishops of the Anglican Church
will confirm children varies a little in the different dioceses,
but 13 or 14 is the general age. The Rite of Confirmation forms one
of the seven Sacraments of the Churches of Greece and Rome.

The Preface to the Service, inserted in 1661, is, in substance, the
rubric of 1549. The Vow, at all times implied, was not explicitly
inserted until 1661. The Versicles and Prayer are from ancient
Offices. The form of words accompanying the Imposition of Hands
dates from 1552. The Lord's Prayer was inserted in 1661, and the
Collect following was composed in 1549. The second Collect is from
the Communion Office. The concluding rubric, although making it a
point of Church order that people should be confirmed before coming
to Holy Communion, allows that in certain cases the privilege
conferred by the Rite may be anticipated.

CONFIRMATION of a BISHOP. When a Bishop dies, or is translated, the
sovereign grants a license, called a _conge d'elire_, to the Dean
and Chapter of the vacant see to elect the person, whom by his
letters missive he has appointed. The Dean and Chapter, having made
their election, certify it to the sovereign, and to the Archb