American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-06-07
ESTABLISHED IN 1926

him to pieces" And all this is proven 10
demonstration by the quoting OF the words
Of Christ at the institution Of the Supper,
"This is my body" "This is my
blood"
Now, sir, if you and your church had
only the common sense TO look for the true
meaning Of the two little words lis" and
"lhis" in the above sentences of the Saw
iour, it would have saved you world Of
trouble. Look at one or two similar pas
sagcs; The seven good kline are seven
years-and the seven good ears are seven
years" Gen. Al: &c. "The seven stars
are the angels Of the seven churches. =
Rev. /: 90. THE seven heads are the
seven mountains. Rev. II: 8. The
sense is plain here. They signify those
things. So the word "is'' may mean to
signify. Now for the word "this." II
obviously refers to the bread. l will have
none Of your nonsense about "the sub
stance contained under the sf1cies." 1t is
darkening counsel by words without
knowledge. So that the simple, natural
reasonable, ,scTiptural sense is: This bread
signifies or represents my body" "Thi:
wine signifies or represents my blood
Just see how a little common sense simpli
fies every thing!
Now, turning back to your Interpretation
permit me in view Of it to ask you few
questions: Did the apostles at the first in
stitution Of the Supper, eat the real bod,
and blood Of Christ? So your churcl
must and does teach! What power hav
you, more than l have, to work such
miracle as to change little wafer into tn
real body and blood Of Christ? If yol
sickle so much for the letter in your int.
probation of This is my body" This is m,
blood" why withhold the wine from al
but the priests? Why give up the brea,
for wafer? If some wag should mix arse
mic with the wafer before conservation
would you be willing 10 take it after yo1
had changed it into the real body and bloo
of Christ? You place great dependenc
on John 6: Sc. You take it literally. =
Will you take the whole connectio
literally? Then he that eateth this breat
shall lire for eUer. He that eats this brea
,ciH nerer hunger. All that you have t
do, if your principle is true, is to give you
wafer to the poor, famishing Irish, and the
hunger no more!
But the thing is too outrageously ab
surd to dwell upon! Nothing equals it i
absurdity in all paganism. If a ma
should humble few words over stone
and tell you it was converted by thes
words into bread, what would you say
him? If, against all the evidences Of yor
senses, he should seriously assert that
was bread and if, in addition, be shoul
seriously assert that unless you believe
that stone TO be bread you must be damned
would you not be for putting him in astra
jacket?
But l must bring this letter to a clos,
These are but few of the illustrations
the way and manner in which you teac
for doctrines the commandments of mel
And withhut at all exhausting the subjec
l must here close my statement Of the rea
ons which forbid me to return to the pa
Of your church. When give up my Bib
for the commandments of men, they mu
have learning, or genius. or wit, or somt
thing to recommend them. They must b
at least, good nonsense, which, you know
to an Irishman is quite interesting.
With great respect, yours,
KIRWAN.