The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-20
UNcLEAN COMMuNIoN CUPS.
The Indiana State Board of Health
Recommends the Use of Individual
ChaIEces.

recommends the Use of Individual
ChaIices.
From the indianapolis Journal
The Indiana State Board of Health finds
menace to the health of the communi-
ties in the communion cup and recon-
mends the use of Individual cups. 1t also
recommends that the practice of using
cups in common in the public schools be
stopped.
" What do you advise in regard to the
adoption of individual communion cups?"
This is a frequent question of late at the
Office of the State Board of Heath" says
the board in its statement. Those who
use common communion cup would not
think of offering a guest a previously used
drinking glass or cup without thoroughly
cleansing the same. Why do in church
what is considered unelean1y at home?
The uncleanliness of the common COM
munion cup is a matter of common sense.
The possible and occasionally probable
transmission of disease by this means has
been recognized by physicians and by in
telligent and thoughtful people generally.
DR.. Charles Forbes, of the United States
marine hospital service, reports having
found in the dregs of a communion cup
after the service contamination from both
m
er, epithelas cells, mucus and various
bacteria and spores; from the latter.
fbrous material and dirt particles. The
unused wine was clean and practically
sterile. Drs. Anders and Furbush of Phil
adelphia found tubercle bacilH i'm two out
OF i've specimens of the dregs of a COM
mon communion cup, besides some pus
staphy Iococci, pus and oral epithelium.
Such facts and their inference show the
bl n Ia 1ano So
and the vital and far-reaching importance
of using individual cups DR. Anders asks:
VINO will say that many an innocent per-
son may not have acquired disease from
The common communion cup? Among
the diseases which may be carried from
mouth to mouth by communion cup are
cancer, tuberculosis, diphtheria, scarlet
fever, influenza, tonsiltis and whooping
cough. Many mouths are not only I'M
Clean but are in an unhealthy condition.
ASK your dentist for information He will
tell you about how he every day sees
neglected teeth, vtiated oral secretions.
diseased gums, etc.
is 1t a true. intelligent wholesome or
refined sentiment that is willing to swaI
low the breath blown, saliva-strained.
mustache-dipped and often tobacco-fouled
VINE OF cun that has passed the lips of
fifty or 100 or more good people? 1t is not
causes clean
peoD'e to abhor a common drinking vessel
Moses. that prime of health officers. would
probably not have sanctioned the common
communion cup. Progressive clergymen
nave argued against it as being opposed
to comomn courtesy, good manners, clean
illness. healthfulness. decency and conve-
nience. as well as scriptural and early
church history.
"The probability of infection proceeding
from the common communion cup is very
likely much less than from common cups
In railway stations, cars, hotels public
fountains and schools. Yet it is appro-
pirate that the church. in it's work of
Christian benefcence, should be leader
in the application of sanitary science
prominent teacher of hygiene says: One
needs but to see ap individual communion
outfit in practical use to believe in it. 1t
is beautiful simple Clearly, sanitary, cas-
ilv worked and handled by both pastor and
people. adds harmony. dignity Impressive
ness and devotion to the service The
individual CUPS are made of silver, alum
tnum or glass. They range from one and
one-half to two inches in hight, are made
with heavy bases about thrree-fourths of
an inch in diameter, toward which the
sides taper in either straight or gently
curved lines from the tops which are from
one to one and one-fourth inches in diane
ter SO tHeN are some what Deaker-Sha ped,
while others again may be shorter with
handles like small tea cups or even goblet
shaped The cups. holding about one
ounce are served on hardwood lacuuered
or light nolished metallic racks or trays
holding from forty to sixty cups the rack
NAV have two or three tiers of twenty
cuDs each set in shallow, round openings;
covers to exclude dust may be raised or
lowered over the cups. Wherever individ-
ual communion cups have been adopted
the testimony of the pastor and people
have been expressive of the utmost salts
faction. They would not be persuaded to
return to the Old method. One pastor
writes that he has found that the sani-
tarv safety of the individual chalice APP
peals to the intelligence, removes ali the
objections of the sensitive and makes the
service of the Lords Supper more largely
attended,
EVERY sanitary principle forbids the
common communion cup, therefore, the In
diana State Board of Heath earnestly rec
ommends it's abolition. 1t also recon-
mends the abolition of the common drink
ing Gun at schools and advises travellers
to carry individual cups with them"