New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-13
JOINT COMMUNION SERVICE
BY THE REV. WIN. A. MUHLENBERG, ID. d., ON
LUKE'S HOSPITAL, NEW YORK.

y.
LUKES HOSPITAL, NEW YORK.
Perhaps | ought to apologize for not keep
ing in what am about to say, to OF tbe themes al
lotted me in the programme; yet my only apology Ia
that am strongly moved 10 speak on anether-ohe.
however not wholly prevalent to the general topic OF
the day. nor inappropriate as Of the concluding
papers OF the Conference,
Proceeding with my subject, which can treat only
in the plain words Of worker rather than speaker.
and not after the scientific method Of the able and
scholarly men who have preceded me, observe, We
should think 10 strange not accustomed ~ 1t,
that Protestant Evangelical Christians there Is
ttlc sOcalness II it may be 50 Designated In the OBJ
servance OF the highest social act OF their religion. Ther
unity in the faith aud In the cardinal doctrines OF the
Gospel is certainly not obvious in their relations
to the great Sacrament OF unity-tho Lords
supper-thetr observance Of which being 80
bounds They meet each at their own, but rarely at
common. Communicable. Now This. as an ordinary
rule, could not be otherwise The COMMITMENTS IN q
lborhood OF any SIZE could not FORM single con
They have their Church Homes so To call them, where,
under their own pastors. aud amid their families and
friends they feel IL good and pleasant thing 10 to par
ticipae In the sacred feas Ihey nave an hdspOsiOn
to 20 for II beyond THESE companies Of Immediate
brethren Nor - TINS uhsoelal IL De only hdtnrn
preference for their associations, for the
mental modes and customs % which they, Ike their
fathers before Them have been accustomed But when
they do 1t on religious grounds when they MAKE 80
matter of conscience, when they would OegO the COM
munon altogether rather than partake OF IL outside
OF their own societies, theh II Is Inat uns2ciaa
ness to call it by its mildest name which II
alization of membership IN the one body
of Christ. Here L pray not to be under
Christians who feel constrained to close communios
from consistency with their special creed. There arc
brethren in that category at whom would not be-
aiming words, and at time ike TINS refer To wAas
is cOibmon among all Protestant Chrisuans-ibeir
avoidance Of one another's Communions; avoidance
the remarkable since they practice IL on scarcely
any other religious occasions. They do not refuse To
worship in anothers sanctuares they listen 10 one
anothers preaching they hand and hand in works "
pety aud benevoenoe In tho name of thor Lord;
they halt-they ready for any OF Droterlness
that aud the extraordinary thing comes to paSs.
that the last place at which they should bo wiling
always to be apart, is the last place at which they are
willing to meet.
such alienation, the wrathul controversies the bitter
theological srifes, the mutual communications. OF
which this blessed ordinance has been the the
OF peace the center OF warwe should say,
how true the paradox OF oar Lord am not come 70
send peace EARTH but sword This fierce zeal for
opinion magned into essential faith, mas been Tor the
most part confined 10 reigonistc eomDatants wno OF
all c0nbatans least know what manner of spirit tboy
Of Happily too 1t Is rather thing OF the past pat
not however without leaving a remainder IN that
which is the same in kind though less in degTeesacra
mental exclusiyeness, the verlest opposite OF what
ness that also, thank God, Is passing away. A
happy change has of late years been going
devices ia one OF the old ways which va
are discovering must not necessarily be good because
they old We coming into clearer and freer at
mosphere. The night is far spent the day = at hand
The icy and frOstwork OF CON
vanoing light We have had union cOmmunons. ChTis-
tians have acknowledged q becoming and solemn sgnn-
IN forgetting awhile their dyersltes and IN en-
Toying their agreement N the supreme ana precious
truths embodied In the sacrament Loyal TO the
which Providence has set them, -lYlng lhem Gus
preference and support they own Yet higher aeganes
to the law laid upon them N common; inns 10 ~ re-
OF the times ascendant harmony OF Gospel concord
amid the lar OF churchy dscord and as such not un
worthy the observation OF Gospel alliance 80, al
least 1t seems TO your speaker Who bess 10 oier some
Thoughts upon his contribution to the conference
With regard these union communlons, submit that
the time has come when they should be systematxed
and regulated and that mainly In order 10 their having
a representative character. Accordingly, they should
not be so much extempOrary gatherings OF all and any
good people moved TO attend the OF persons chosen
nv their brother communicates OF their respective
gre aons-nOt OF course 10 the exclusion VI all others
but elected deegaes and proxies should form ths
main body OF the communicating assembly, which
would thus witness not only for Itself, but tor al us
constituents Unity and Union in Christ.
TO that exent il would be q representative holy COM
munion, bur let IL be extended fnrher let embrace
numerous The great object in view the union OF the
different branches OF the Protestant Church even lnes
hy what simple process Those diferent branches IN
their highest councils, their synods ther '
and so FORTH would only have 10 adops IesoautoIs
proving Of such cominunions, reeonine Nm them
bers 10 Join in them giving counsel SohSeln,ns I
and blessed pledge of brohery peace aud good VIZ "a
the widest and best OF bonds Let US sepPVsJ sa
nmedatey from their own bodies. 10 meet IN s'a,eu,
say annual holy communion eolhy1aos ~ .1srs
would be a general church union. mere w omIH
be concordat OF theological dognas or ol evoos
withal of Christian amity here WOu'u DC Sot1p
without diplomacy, without SETTINGS Oh pIos.H,tss
without mutual CONCESSIONS compact hgne1 w., VIZ,
Chusts own seal, Hero would De an ~culnehlus H"iS
oil that might claim as confidently US any 10 a mt
The presence OF the Holy Ghost Here wouu @ ~
yersai confTaternity, having lna' mar ~ Znin
ton variety In unity Lutheran an - pS"hvterian
eIlaa and Moravian Episcopaan ana rnSsp, .e'ian.
Mainodist and Baptist. OF all ranks ana 700
~ osth,anx empsror who sent us 80 oOrdial greet
Inv, and the peisf schoolm aser, the Prmae OF All ha-
snd Iso be I'D Who spoke friendly woIus 10 US lnouEn
kau ". a,a the dissenting Bible reader side by side
ms ,he eolty OF The Faith tie one Lord the oae