Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-06-17
Religious.
The First Communion.

It was in the year 1859, that saw the first syns'
of the French Protestant Church organized in
secret chamber in "a Little Geneva" Paris. |
was under the reign Of Henry II. and Catherin
de Medici. The fires Of persecution were blaz
ing around, and Protestant corpses were swing
ing on gibbets in many a city and town.
The Huguenots were gathered in their quie
assembly. The table was spread with the pre-
cious memorials of q Savior's love and death
The pastor had finished his discourse, and tn
people were about to Iartake of the bread an'
wine, when a man, whose name was known
whose talents were admirdd, and whose charac'
ter was respected throughout the realm, rose
to his feet, and cautiously begging pardon fol
the interruption, asked:
.s will the minister be kind enough to explain
the Lords Supper a little more fully3"
The people wondered and the pastor COM
piled.
Again the man arose, and said " Permit me
to return my thanks. now see hat the true
preparation for the supper is a change not in
the elements, but in the person partaking Of
them he must have faith in Christ. God spar
ing me, | shall partake of the communion on
the first occasion hereafter whom it is admins
tered in my parish
"why not nowH"
"I have not made so public a profession of
my faith as 1 ought"
You are making it now. Do you profess
to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only
Savior and intercessor of fallen man? Do you
agree with us in the doctrines, which the Scrip
lures teach, as far as you know them"
"Most sincerely I do"
Then, amid the tears of the listening congre-
cation, the pastor said:
"In the name of my Lord and of my brcth-
rem l invite you to this table. unless the elders
think that our usual rules should be observed"
"By no means,'' said a venerable elder, " let
us debar the Lords chosen disciple; for it is the
Lords table. Where the Spirit Of the Lord is,
there is liberty"
This WAS the first communion of the great
Admiral Coligny. Great was the joy among the
Professionals of France.
In one of our churches young woman stood
before the congregation for reception to the COM
munion t ,ble. While the ceremony of admission
was going on, a rustling Of robes and the tread
of feet were heard at the other end of the church.
All eyes were turned, and 10! a woman came
towards the pulpit. She whispered in the ear
of the pastor: "This is my daughter, and
| can't let her come without me. I, too, believe
in Christ" Knowing her well, the pastor con-
ferred a moment with the elders, and with one
consent they admitted her to a seat at Christ
table her daughter.
Before the close of this procedure, another
stir was heard in the congregation, and now a
man was seen making his way towards the pull
Pit. lie spoke to the pastor, and said "This
woman is my wife and that is my daughter, and
| believe in Christ and wish to come with them.
Another brief consultation followed, and the
husband and father sat down to the first COM
munion with his wife and daughter.
Years ago, in a Methodist church at the South
the preacher said elf there is a sinner here,
however far he has gone astray, however old in
sin, if he will come forward and say he is will
ing to be saved, | will come Town from the pull
pit and lay my hands on his head, and say, Je-
sus will forgive you"
An old gray-Eaired man walked up the aisle,
and said Z" I'm a great sinner; may | be saw
?" The preacher was at his side in an il
slant, and with his hands on his head, blessed
him in the name of Christ.
While this was going on, an old negro came
to the platform, and said "This is my massa.
We have been together ever since we were boys,
and now if massa is going to Jesus, I'm bound
to go with HIM"
See the Importance Of going to the house of
God. Who knows what gift may crown him
there. Little did the father and mother think,
little did the Admiral Coligny dream, when they
went to Church, thar day, that they would be
so moved by the Holy Chest as to find their way
to the table of the Lord. Men who have gone
to church to scott have remained TO pray.
See the force of example. Little did that
daughter think that her coming to Christ that
day would bring her father and mother.
Are there not in our families very many who
are, by their example, keeping others whom
they deeply love, away from Christ?
So God works. No pastor can foresee what
results may flow from q single sermon; nor can
any Sabbath-school teacher foretell the results
that may issue from one faithful hour with the
listening class, or any one of its Members
Observer.