The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-09-15
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
A Study of thenlHternational Sunday
GSHiE.1
School Lesson fora1Sept. 25, 1892.


School Lesson fora1Sept. %, 1892.
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Subject: The LORDS Supper Profaned.
Cor, 4l.a3-34.
| Zone reading these notes should first carefully
| study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above. ~ 40
INTRODUCTION.
We leave the book Or the Acts, and have
lesson in ST. Pauls writings We heard of
him in connection witIih the martyrdom of st.
Stephen. We have an account of his CONVEX
sion recorded in Acts, chapter ninth. He be-
came great power in the early Church. Not
only as a worker, but As q writer. he proved of
great service. He wrote most Of the books of
the New Testament He was author of all the
Epistles, beginning with Romans and ending
with Hebrews to wit, IA of the books. No
other writer of the New Testament wrote so
much of it. This lesson is not in chronoogic
order with the lessons already had in the book
of the Acts We are forced to omit important
events in the life of st. Paul. We have not
yet even considered his conversion. We pass
entirely over the first missionary tour of st.
Paul. 1t was during his second journey that
he established the Church at Cornth. Assisted
by SITS. Sias and Timothy, he remained three
years in that city. Then began his third mis-
sonary tour. During that journey he estab-
lisbed tho Church at Ephesus, and it was from
Ephesus he wrote his fist Epistle to the
Church at Corinth.
We may date the establishment of the Church
at Corinth A. ID. 81. 1t soon began to show
weaknesses, although originated by Apostles so
wise. II was almost torn into extinction by
Discussions. IT tolerated unworthy members.
1t called in heathen tribunals to adjust its
ecclesiastical difficulties. 1t cultivated loose
ideas as to marriage. 1t made farce of the
Holy Communion. News of all these errors at
length reached st. Paul at Ephesus and hence
originated his Epstles TO that Church. The
letters are very valuable rs aiding now in set
Elements of disputed questions among Chris
tans. We see how to deal with the erring. st.
Paul does not abuse, but candidly, patiently
explains.
The Protestant Church in general recognizes
two acknowledgement and the Holy Com
munon. A sacrament is defined to be an
outward and visible sign of an inward and
spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by
Christ Himself as a means whereby we receive
the same, and pledge to assure us thereof"
The purpose of the Lords Supper is for the
continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the
death of Christ, and of the benefits which we
receive thereby" The Body aud Blood of
Christ "are spiritually taken and received by the
faithful" The benefits are, the strengthen
ing and refreshing of our souls by the Body
bread and wine" Qualifications of commune
cants are, :" to examine themselves, whether
they repent them truly of their former sins,
steadfastly purposing to lead new life; have
a lively faith in Gods mercy, through Christ,
with thankful remembrance of his death,
and be in charity with all men,"
/. Datn
We have the account iu l Corinthians as APP
pointed for the lesson, to wit, II % 81 st.
i .
Holy Communion at verse Is. Verses 1872
show into what errors the Corinthian Christians
had fallen. Verses 1896 give a historic
statement Of the origin Of the Holy Supper.
Verses q 81 detail directions as to the proper
observance of the Feast at the same time they
rebuko improprieties of which the Corinthians
were guilty.
One should read also ST. Mt, &c 26- 90; st.
Mark, ID: 22 "a st. Luke, %: 10, 20.
2. Time.
We may suppose ST. Paul wrote his first let
ter to the Corinthians A. d. 81, five years after
the Church there was established, or two years
after his departure from COrinth, 1t is thought
st. Paul was converted when 81 years old { A.
d. 81 The letter. then, was written when he
had been q Christian for 20 years and when he
was 81 years of age. Iplwas the product of his
prime OF life and fully-rounded experience.
We see from 5: z, 8 that it was sent at Easter
tide.
This record of the origin Of the Lords Sup
per was made % years after the Eucharist was
first celebrated. Christ originated tho Holy
Communion on Thursday evening, March II,
A. d. 20. We find it was at night. The bear
ing of this fact on the proper time in the "a
hours for celebrating the Holy Communion has
engaged the attention of the Church Ordi-
narily the favored time is the early morning.
Some bodies of Christians never celebrate at
night to w.t. G. g., the (Romanl Catholic and
Episcopal, except on Holy Thursday evening
(evening before Good Friday.
3. Places.
st. Paul wrote from Ephesus. The Church con-
cerned was at Cornth. We are OF to su ppose that
was the ancient, classic, purelyGreek city of
that name. The Roman Consul Mummius had
burned that city century before. Julius Caesar
rebuilt it, and it was coloniZed largely by
Roman freedmen 1t became grander than
ever. Achaia claimed it for its capital. Profit
gacy became rampant. Sensualism was not
restrained. Paganism reigned. The religion
was debauchery. Depraved passions and un
holy appetites were objects of worship. Wealth
led to ease, and ease gave time for depravity to
develop. 1t was to such a city and amid such
scenes of lowest sensnaism that st. Paul went
determined to establish the pure religion of
Christ. In remembrance of these facts it will
not be so difficult to see how readily the con-
verts of st. Paul inclined to return easily to in
iquity after the Apostle had left them for
time.
The Holy Communion was first celebrated in
an upper room at Jerusalem. (St. Mark, ID: Is;
st. Luke. %: IL, 12.l 1t has been thought said
room was on Mt. Zion. The tomb of David
(Acts, 2:29) ia yet covered with building
terminating in minaret. large room in that
great building, it is said, was the place where
Christ ate the last Passover and celebrated the
first Eucharist. The room is named "The CG-
nacrlum," or the supper-room. 1t is 30 by 80
feet. Cyril who was Bishop Of Jerusalem in
the middle of the fourth century, identified
that room as the one where the Lords Supper
originated Epiphanius assures us that build
ing was not destroyed by Titus. (Acts, l ~
The betrayal took place in the Garden of
Gethsemane.
4. Verses 1896.
These verses give us a history of the origin
of the Lords Supper. Some think st. PauPs
was the first account given; holding the Cos
pels were written later. ST. Paul, at any rate,
does not credit any human author with having
furnished his data. The account was the prod
uct of direct revelation made to st. Paul by
our Savior We are not informed as to the
method by which Christ made known these
facts to st. Paul We notice ST. Paul was not a
Christian att time. the Holy Supper was in
stituted. We remember how Christ met Saul
(the future st. Paull and spoke with him when
he was on his way to Damascus. st. Paul says
she received" showing a personal relation to
the message. The Church at Corinth had but