Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-10-17

bone OF contention. Are we wiser than
they? Pray let US keep some of the good
old customs in these days of innovation
and change!
We will turn again to our Guide Book,
and see how that keen lawyer. Paul.
would settle the disputed point (Rom. IS
10Y:
But why do t thou judge thy brOther2 or WHY dost
thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall all
stand before the judgment seat of Christ
Let us not therefore judge one another any more;
but judge this rather than no man put stumbling
block or an occasion to fall in his broher's way.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink:
but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the llely
Ghost.
1t good neither to eat hesh nor to drink wine,
nor any hing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is
offended, or is made weak.
A young friend spoke of uniting with
the church. He said: " | am a good tenn
plar. | cannot break my pledge. If you
require me to taste of fcrmented wine at
communion l shall not Join the church"
" Don't taste it, then" said | :" put the
cup 10 your lips us people sometimes do in
drinking healths, without tasting" " That
would be mockery, l cannot do it" he re-
piled; and not until he was assured that
no intoxicating wine should be placed be
fore him, did he come into the church.
My attention was attracted to accounts
Of reformed men, who, overcome by the
taste of wine at their first communion, had
fallen back into their besetting sim
again.
Mentioning the subject under discussion
to Il friend from Illinois, " know of such
Il case in our church," said she "A A young
man had reformed and become Il Chris
tian. He joined our church, and the taste
Of wine at his first communion so reused
his appetite that he went back to drinking
us hard as ever "Did he ever come
back9" No, he is still II drunkard; he
has beautiful wife, who has prayed for
his salvation through many years" L" Do
they use untermented wine in that church
now?" Il do not know. | think So"
Similar instances are familiar to many of
you.
These things enlightened my eyes. If
there is one solitary case like these, in II
church, is it not our duty to consider it?
In Hawaii, as in America, the great MT
tional curse is drunkenness. There have
tasted sweetened water at the communion
The natives are too weak to bear anything
containing alcohol, and while they pray,
" Lead US not into temptation" remember
also, " Look not upon the wine when it is
red and can Il man take fire in his
bosom and his clothes not be burned?n
| could never substitute swcetened water
for wine at communion said II Christian
friend. /" We must use mine in imitation
of Christ. We must initiate the first
Lords Supper so far rs possible" Then
must we not also rccljnc about low table
leaning on the left arm9 Must we not
break bread baked without leayen; partake
of full supper first; assemble in IN up
per room; and wash each others feet ?
g The letter killeth but the spirit giveth
life." Plainly the spirit is the important
requisite in our celebration of the Lords
Supper,and notifications of the mannerin
conformity to the customs and necessities
of the age admissible. There are in every
church those who are inherently opposed
to any changes, and no amount of reason.
ing will clear their stubbornly befogged
vision.
The subject of using fermented wine at
Communion was discussed in u church in
our sister state of Maine. The two dea-
cons were divided in opinion. Now it i,
well known that the deacons in Il church
simply governed, are " power; also that
deacons are sometimes trifle opnionated
and obstinate. So it came to pass that
there was u division on the matter, and
amicablity was brought about by allow
ing one deacon to pass boiled rdiSjR Wter
on one side of the church, and the other
to pass fcrmented wine on his side, the
congregation arranging themselves accord
ing to their preferences. " Now this was
all wrong" said my informant, " for it
nulliied the Communion, which symbol
zes unity, and brought in disunion i'll
stead.n 1t did not look so to me. What
need of disunon in hedrt though several
kinds of drink had been used?
For one beeveth that he may eat all things
another who is weak, catcth herbs. Let not HIN
that eateh despise him that eatcth not; and let moi
him which eat.th not, judge hun that eatelh.'
He that eateth, ealelh to The Lord, for he glveu
God thanks and he that eatath not to the Lord ht
eatelh not and giveth God thanks Rom. NV.
Let us learn to agree in disagreeing, fol
we are members of one body, and there
should be no schism in the body"
Were these two kinds of wine, one in
toxicating and the other harmless, used il
Bible times? Like wine upon the lees
this question has been stirred, and has no
yet been clearly settled.
Much learning and wit has heen eXpen
dcd to move one side or the other. | wa
intending to bring it in us the heavy ord
nance after the skirmishers, to give liltlC
weight to my familiar talk, when | discov
cred that nowhere in the Bible is authO"it,
found for the use of Uine either Uord O.
shirt in connection with the Lords Sup
per.
1t is noticeable that 0n1SSuHl terms ar
employed, us if forsceing the controver
sizes of this day. Thus. Matt. 2G: 27, .
Mark l4:23, %; Luke %; II, IS, 20, al
sav, {" cup" &" fruit of the vine" nowher
mine. lst. Cor. ZIG, cup Of blessing;
ll;25, 6, Z and s, cup" merely. Ther
is command to use bread y at the com
munion, but not wine; only the cup,
d" fruit of the vine
IT, therefore, we can obtain grape juic
unfermented it must satisfy all scruples
So would also grape jelly dissolved i
water. Who can suppose that alcohol i
the " cup" is necessary to the prope
observance of the eucharist? Or who ca
suppose that Christ intended that the 'cq
of blessing " should ever prove Il cup {
cursing?
All demands of Scripture will be salts
fed if our drink is " The fruit Of the vine.
The iuice of grapes can be bottled so us
he palatabc in all seasons without fermcr
tation. In almost any church in our pal
of the world, may be found II person skill
ful enough TO preserve fruit OF the vine
in this form; if not it can be easily oil
tanned from reliable parties. a ministe
recommends manufacture of " pure Cor
cord grape juice" which is furnished ;
the rate of six bottles for 50. 1t is to b
diluted when used, and sweetened. Ii
saws: &" We have used it steadily in m
church for ten years, and can recommen
it. It costs our church s. per annum.
trust that II discussion of this su5le'
NAV follow 1t is important, and grown
more so. We want light and edueatlo
that we may be united. And we want I'll
love of Christ so filling our hearts that "
may always be reany to comfort u
feeble minded, support the weak, ana |
patient toward all men, ,,., -,
The convention voted to publish tn
essay in pamphlet form and distribute, i
It was ascertaiued on inquiry that thei
are 1G churches in the state which Ill
using unfermented wine.
The ValueOf Training.