New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-10
coNrAcION FROM THE COMMON CHAL1CE.
NO AUTHENTIC CASE OF 1T IN 1000 YEARS AND
NO REASON TO FEAR 1T NOW.

NO AUTHENTIC CASE OF 1T IN 1000 YEARS. AND
NO REASON TO FEAR IT NOW
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The discussion OF the individual and common
chalce In your columns has brought out more va
riey expression the Episcopal division OF the
Church than from any OF the other eVahsehcai
bodies and possibly Of the prominent reasons
for this Is that among the High Church worshippeTs
the officiating clergyman keeps both hands upon the
cup while he passes 1t from one COMMUNICATE 10
another. thus making Il necessary Tor each co"'-
municant to sip from exactly the same spot upon
the rim Of the cup. Another fact to be remembered
by those who are interested in this discussion Is the
custom OF the officiating clergyman and MS assist
ants at each service after the communicants have
been served Of consuming themselves all the wine
left in the cup Those Who perhaps. spend the most
thought upon the danger OF contagion from this
source might naturally infer that the clergyman IN
taking this care Of the cups contents would drink
from another portion OF the rm and at any rate II
there is imminent danger now of contagon from the
common cup, that many clergymen would have died
or been seriously affected from various forms Sof
contagon during the last 1900 years. anud that the
communion cup would have been directly the source
of great fatality arising from this prolific means OF
spreading deadly disease but gather from sta
tistcs that the Episcopal clergy are quite as prone
10 We G"s Would call V Attention 70 that division
Church known as Disciples OF Christ, or CHRISTIANS
Of closing every Lords Day morning service with
the Lords Supper. This denomination stands nu-
ton, and it is least remarkable that there mas
never been case of contagon authenticated during
10000 people meeting together ffty-two times In the
year and accepting they believe. the invitation or
their Redeemer to magnify before the world at this
hoy feast their faith in His love unto death and the
resurrection unto life everlasting.
the object and purpose OF this sacrament, IL won h
ayeTase sommuniSan, is not dwelling upon the pos
shility Of contagon from the cup IL tnls discussion
is 10 continue and wise and weak ones are 10 he
would mot Be the |e Ir uSn aS w
them a teaspoon of dimnutive size and Simply dip II
into the cup? This method would al least set az
individual anxiety and. later the church au-
his individual spoon. or that sufficient number of
have not supplied themselves. This would certainly
be much easier and more conyenient method ,h2n
all communicates by each church. and require much
less waste Of wine.
found among the young boy doctors who imagine
that they have cases among their own patients. and
most oathsome diseases presenting themselves at
the Lords Table and likely to spread contagion
afiicted with these diseases do not ind consolation
there and could always find other means OF per-
selves than by presenting their persons at this holy
SACRAMENT.
performing physical miracles in con,raventon OF
natural law. is open 10 any amount OF discussion: |
get that God promises 10 shield His own from in. /
ordinate dangers. and that He VIII permit no evil |
to assail His own save that for which He provides
way of escape: and II certainly would be mos, re- !
markable phenomenon H. after 2.co0 years OF the |
present Pras'iGe Of celebrating the Lords Supper
case OF contagon We may not reasonably hope there
will be no considerably 12afsE A 'Ri' GR%xx1s
"a communism, at the Lords supper 1ftytwo times
each year with the exception of tweniy-one times
New-Iork. Sept. 5. 1894.