The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-12
UNION COMMUNION,

"A GranO Com munlOn service at bedford
Avenue Reformed Church-Addresses
by Drs. Porter, Holmes, Chapman and
Hyatt Smith.
Yesterday the week Of prayer closed grandy in
the Eastern district of Brooklyn. where the Bed
ford avenue Reformed church, st. Johns Methodist
Episcopal church. Ross street Presbyterian church.
the New England Congregational church. and the
Baptist and congregational churches in
Lee avenue all communed together in
the first named church building. At four p NJ.
the church was crowded almost to excess.
The communion table was spread where the pulpit
STANDS. sunday school banners mingled with the
Christmas evergreens around the walls and gal
leries OF the ediAce, and over ana at the back OF
the pulpit were inscribed In evergreen letters
the texts which tell OF the peace and good will
WHICH the birth OF the Saviour brought to
the world. Beneath the pulpit sat minis.
ters and deacons from the churches par
ticipatlng and others. Printed programmes
were distributed throughout the congregation.
The exercises opened with q hymn sung by the
quartet. DR.. Porter. the pastor of the church,
then offered the invocation, calling upon God to
bless this house with His presence In the dim
vision OF our militant service, he prayed, let us
see something Of that grand day when all shall
come from the Kingdoms OF the world to sit down
at the marriage supper Of the Lamb. Make our
BODIES temples OF the Holy Ghost. The invocation
closed with the Lords Prayer, recited by the vast
congregation.
T6e Scripture lessons were read by venerable
father in the ministry, In the absence OF Rev. Mr..
Lockwood, who had been assigned to this duty.
The lessons were taken from Isaiah's prophecy,
wncn tells OF the Messiah being oppressed and al
hIcted, yet he opened not his mouth &C., and also
from the closing prayer OF the Savior for the unity
OF MS Church, as recorded In the gospel OF st.
sSana DR S S%n then Ages Justly
after which DR.. Porter read the expostOry
services Tor the sacrament, who also prayed
again; and in giving the invitation to partake
OF the sacred elements, he remarked that they
had but one creed-namely faith In our Lord Jesus
Christ, and any one who could subscribe to that
creed would dnd 1t embodied in the Apostles
Creed which was printed on the programme, and
which the congregation standing repeated IN
unison. Dr. Porter, continuing his remarks, said
that no eye could look on a spectacle ike this
without feeling an inspiration for all time. Never
before has such table as this been spread on this
Continent Here we see some OF
THE PREDICTIONS OF OUR SAVIOUR
we see his banner OF love lifted above ns and. as
He said himself al, II be lifted up, win draw all
men unto me-" And here We are to-day in fulfil
count OF our words, but the events move on TO
their fulflment. The resurrection was the answer
to those VINO put Christ to death. The overthrow
OF the Roman Empire was the answer to those
who prosecuted his followers the early Christian
Church. We are here in our individual wants, but
we are here also as churches, and we sit here to-
getherin heavenly places In Christ Jesus. And
even now the image and superscrption u Christ
by this act that henceforth there shall be no envy
between u.s. but we shall be one against sin and
one for our common Lord.
The distribution OF the bread by Or. Porter and
Rev. J. Hyatt Smith, OF the Lee avenue Baptist
church, then took place. And, though there were
dozen deacops assisting, this act of service took
nearly ten minutes, Tor nearly all or the 900
more people present part0ok OF the elements,
Miss Emma Wilkinson the meantime singing a. an
anthem solo the words OF the saviour, s'Come
unto me and II Will give you rest.r
The wine was distributed by DR.. Chapman OF
st. Johns Methodist Episcopal church, ana Rev. T.
J. Holmes, OF Lee avenue congregational church.
DR.. Chapman preceded the distribution with few
remarks, III which he said that in this commemora
tive service we md pardon for sin and love for the
SINFUL and therefore most gladly do we Join Ia
showing that we are crucifed to the world, and
that the world Is crucined TO u.s. But such sea-
sons as this give also renewed pledge Of our love
TO Christ anu are the symbol OF
oUR UNION WITH THE MASTER
and With all His peope-the patriarchs and proph-
cts and saints-with whom We shall drink wine
anew In our Fathers Kingdom. The Doctor then
repeated tho usual words at the partaklng OF this
element. During its distribution Miss Wilkinson
again sang q solo the old hymn, 81 saw one
hanging on tree" to the tune OF Naomi.
Alter the distribution prayer was offered by Rev.
DR.. Sprole. DR., Porter then SAID that we owe all
TO Christ and to HIS cross and We Will show our
love Tor Him by our doing tor Him. collection is
to be taken up for the Industrial Home and
Sol and though the managers have said