Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-10-14
THE LonD's SUPPER.

The so-callod higher criticism OF the
nlble has advanced step By step until
finally II has arrived at the stage Of
open inhdellty. Commencing with the
theory that the old Testament IL IN the
same class Of literature AZ. for instance.
the Edda OF the Scandinavian. or 9TH
cr ancient folk lore. II IL logically con-
cludod that the New Testament had
but little historical basis. and now the
announcement Il made that our Lord
did not Institute the Sacrament known
~ The Lords Supper
Or. Meulnort In his Apostolic Age"
II seems, has come 10 the conclusion
that "the earliest Christian tradition"
knew nothing u that Sacrament And
the argument on which this conclusion
il based II the exceedingly flimsy one.
that Jesus expected TO return at an
early day and could. consequently.
have no motive for instituting an ordi-
nance designed especially TO common
crate Him.
Dr. Briggs assertion that Christ ox-
pccted 10 return "crc another Pass
over" reveals the true aim OF that ar
gumcnt Il places our Lord IN tho cate
CORY 90 enthusiasts Of whom the world
has seen many and whose blasted
hopes aro buried along tho highways
Of history II makes Him zcalot
sharing the oarnal conceptions of HIS
age. and, consequently. rohs Him OF
every claim to being the dlvlnely APP
pointed Savior Of the world, the Son u
God.
There can, now. be no doubt az to tho
real goal Of higher criticism though
ut nrst 4 claimed to be the acme OF
Christian theology. Tho best scholar
rhlp. however. cmphaucally asserts
that "the celebration OF the Lords Sup
per rests on am ordinance of Jesus.
Himself Every theory OF lta first be-
ginning In the Christian communities
through recollection Of some members
having eaten with Him Is excluded"
The historical evidence 10 that the
very FIRST Christians came together
generally every day to break the
bread n was connected with a feast
OF charity or Agapc on these
occasions an social ranks and
distinctions were laid aside. the
followers Of Irsus met and
vat down togcihor az a large family To
tho principal meal of the day. That
being concluded. the sacrrd emblemi
were brought and laid on the table
The bread was broken ana distributed
ana the cup was pasaed. according to
Chrlats example. Words OF thanlSa'
giving were said. and, no doubt. IN,
very words ueed by our Lord were re-
pcatcd by an Apostle. or whoever pre-
sided. This practice 10 recorded a.
that Of the earliest Jewish churches
and that II was extended to the Cen
tho converts is evident from the men,
ton Of It IN the letter OF Paul 10 N,
/ Corinthians.
II IL also on record that later, whor
the daily Observance Of the saoramen
had been discontinued, the unlyorsa
rule was to perform that ordinanc,
every Lords day.
But h in solf-evident that had mol
Christ himself. Instituted tho sacra.
ment its observance would not hay,
been universal Immediately after Hli
departure. II might have occurred II
exceptional cases at lrat and thei
gradually become a universal practice
II would have taken centuries to In
truduce II throughout the world. as wa
the case With the Christian oere
mony OF infant sprlnklng, aud cntir
Christian communities would have bee
found 10 oppose H. History furnishe
no a evidence. however Y re