The herald., 1896-11-21

partake Of wine Tor grape 1uice) In your
celebrations of the holy communion. yOu
must give that wine to them in manner
which conforms to the findings OF ad-
vanced sanitary science
However boards of health might Ieei
about persons who are old enough 10
Judge for themselves, the rising genera
tion of Christian young people ought 20
have the protection of your honorable
body in church ceremonies, the same as
anywhere else, particularly wnen the
supervision your petitioner prays Ior
will in no wise interfere with the virtue
or the solemnity of the ceremony under
consideration.
In this connection your petitioner
would call attention to the fact that
California is a sort of Mecca" to which
phthisical pilgrims from every part OF
the United States come. AS q result:
there Is a greater percentage of so-called
''consumptives'' in the population of Cal
ifornia than anywhere else, except Colo-
RADIO. AS Consumption" Is now DELI
nitely known to be a contagious disease,
and as all Christians attend to their re-
ligious duties more faithfully when IN
iii health than at other times, 1t follows
that there is particular need OF SAFE
guards in this state about the common
cup in the communion service. May
your petitioner presume to ask which
member of your board would be willing
to sip from a cup from which fifty
strange persons had drunk. some Of
whom were known to be affected with
phthisis pulmonalis?
Knowing what physicians now know,
It is unwise to wait until these reforms
develop within the churches them
selves, for the majority of Christian min
listers hesitate to act in matter hitherto
untouched by boards of health, and
which their own ecclesiastical studies do
not fit them to pass upon The first gen.
orally effective move must come from
the only authority which the church
recognizes. viz, the civil, and from the
only men In whom the general public
has unlimited confidence touching sani-
tary matters, viz, physicians and SCI
entists. Boards of health do not wait
until mother herself discovers that the
milkman is furnishing adulterated milk
for her children. nor until parents and
householders themselves discover the
necessity of vaccination, or proper
plumbing, or sewerage. BY virtue of the
authority vested in you by section 30l2
of the Political Code, your body takes
the initiative, as 1t has a right to do.
That section states that you may adopt
such orders and regulations
as to you seems best to promote the pub
lie welfare"
The points which your petitioner
thinks ought to be covered in any re.-
ommendation or legislation emanating
from your board are the following, to-
wit:
F'irst-No minister Of the gospel Or
deacon in passing wine to commune
cants under is years of age shall permit
(or ought to permit), any such COM
muncant to drink from the cup where
another has previously drunk, without
first sufficiently cleansing the edge pre-
sented in presence of the person about
to communicate.
Second-No minister of the gospel CT
deacon shall allow Cor ought to allow,
any communicate under the age of is
years to drink from a supply Of wine
from which any other person has pre-
viously partaken.
Third-Previous to each service of
the holy communion all the vessels to
be used shall be completely immersed
ed sufficient bicarbonate of soda to make
a strong alkaline solution.
In conclusion, permit your petitioner
to express the conviction that recon-
mendatlons will have. with most Christ
ian people, nearly the same force as
legislation. He would also humbly ask
that no hasty action be taken, but that
opponents as well as respondents to
the subject matter of this petition be
given ample opportunity to express their
approval or disapproval, either by petit
tions or private correspondence to your
several members
For this your petitioner, and most
obedient, humble servant will ever pray.
V. MARSHALL LAW.
Note-This petition was sent in dupli-
cate to the boards of health of San Fran =
cisco, Oakland, Sacramento and Los An
geles.