The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-21
WINE FOR THE lords SUPPER.
The Moral Duty Of Total Abstinence-A Vow
should be Kept.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr: The
statement In THE SuS o. the 1itn inst, under
the above caption. furnishes a striking COM
ment on the doorine of the moral duty Of total
abstinence, showing the Inconsistency aud abb
surdity in which the Christian wing OF the party
involves itself. In the first place, II Is an abuse
Of words to call the juice OF the grape, after I'M
dergoing the treatment which you describe.
wine. As we'll might we call peach juice before
being distilled brandy, or undistilled cane juice
rum. Unfermented grape juice the Latins called
mustu. The Greeks had no name for II. The
New Testament writers wrote In Greek, and they
used the word ptnos In its common acceptation.
II they did not always mean wine proper. but
sometimes unfermented grape juice, they would
have used a discriminating term and not de-
ceived their readers. The phrase, fruit Of tho
vino Matt. 20. 2s), and fruit OF the vineyard
mark IL, ~, Ia not discrminative. What a piti-
iui theory Is that which thus deceives Itself With
But this word tricksry Is not the worst blum
DER; The use OF this so called wine OF the Lords
table Is perversiOn of the institution n de-
stroys the typical character. 1t has no vitality
Inc vital privilege which, had IL been LEFT 70
nature laws, Il would have taken up, has been
uestroNed bN the artificial treatment to " hich lie
mas been subjected, and the foreign ingT edient
which been introduced. Destitute Of vital
n.y. now can IL represent the vital iuid-human
blood. He took the cup and gave thanks and
gave IL to them saving, Drink ye all " IT, for
enanU. Matt. 90 a. ~. The language was weIi
understood. The allusion was to a iime-honor-
ed custom. When two parties. individuals or
onmunities. made an i'm poItant covenant the
toIowing ceremony was observed: A sacrinciaI
amin was slain, the blood received into a YES
SCI, the victim divided into two parts, placed
apart anu tue contracting parties passed be-
tween tbs. This SAID, 80 NAV we be cut
asunder " we break this covenant" The ami
mai was then roasted and eaten, and the blood
was drank. As people advanced toward cIvliza-
toh wine was substituted (See Homer, Bk. H..
~, bs, Greek text $40, 3i5 Bryan's Translation
also zen. ID, y, and Jer. a. 49,
Inus we see that the celebrating the euchar-
ISL IN the manner proposed to the Methodist
conference yitiates the ordinance. The major-
ity OF CHRISTIANS In the total abstinence ranks
dilemma, and II l. a pitiable sight to see them
lmpaled on 1t. The Inconsistency Is glaring,
the criminallty deep. 1T Is SIM" saws the
total a)stainer, TO taste OF Intoxicating wine.
because what may lead to sin IL sin. A single
taste may make a drunkard. But surely, the
last place to commit this sin Ia at the Lords
table. Did Jesus Christ pass the fermented
" cup TO His Disciples saying. Drink We all
OF ltF Then was He the minister of sinf The
thought is bldsphemy."
but shall man peril his soul at the Lords
SUPPER Certainly not. II a pledge Of total
abstinence Is necessary to his salvation. let him
take II aud Keep II at the Lords table, as every
where else: Let him take the bread and de-
cline the wine. lie has taken the Nazarite vow,
and should Keep 1t. A Nazarite would no more
think OF drinking wine at the paschal feast
the moral obligation OF total abstinence Is a
false doctrine, Christ dishonorng, because in
direct opposition to his teaching and example.
ID. H. THOMSON, l,3s} Park avenue.