The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-04
as our chief cause for thanksgiving to


 full statement of Our Lords words, broken for you. this do for remem- brance of e (R. VI It is a memorial in character, and the note of thanks giving of Eucharist" Is inseparabe.
 The chief characteristic of the Jewish Passover was that of thank offering for deliverance. so in this greatest expression of the Christian's attitude towards God Is the spirit of thanksgiving to God for the redemption brought to us all in the death and resurrection of Christ. It must have a relationship with communion. At one moment it would seem that communion with the Savior is the outcome of real thanksgiving-the fruit of faith in Jesus and then again communion seems the stepping stone to our highest praise, to our noblest Eucharist.
 St. Paul's Conception.
 These two truths then. brethren pre- sent St. PauPs conception of the Lords supper; the spiritual sustenance of the broken body and the shed blood; and the highest praise human lips can utter, and human souls can give, in the thanks giving of delivered children to the Father of us all
 To St. PauPs statements we add the words of Our Lord: This Is My body
 This is My blood" They are words too solemn for the metaphysician's hair- splitting or for the mystics weaving Of fancies.
 They are not words for the worldly and no pride of system or vanity or inol- viduals can come between us and their simple directness.
 Thus, my brethren, we lay the founda- ton for the devotional attitude towards the Lords supper in an intelligent ap- preciation of the Divine intention In that , sacrament Such a foundation may De the basis of an approach, but there can be no real value in our coming apart rom the personal attitude towards this institu- tion. How shall it affect us personality What shall be the attitude We bear to- wards it at all times In our thoughts, ana when present at the celebration of the holy communion?
 First of all, if we admit that there IS a gift to the soul, a source of nourlsn- ment to the higher life, a quickening of our spiritual being, our coming into that sacred presence of the consecrated bread and wine, must be with reverence ana due regard for such conditions. We have no right to ask that the knee be bent in alteration to the clements, should they
  full of the Lord of the sacrament And yet however mistaken may be the wor- ship of the instrument of our strengthen ing, the impulse of the devout soul Is rev. erence of the highest sort. We see i'll the places of Kings the due order ana nicety for all ceremonies. We observe Tn the home of our national leaders the re- spect and reverence for custom al high | function. In our homes we treasure a natural but respectful relation to the | elders of the home and preserve certain | proprieties at our domestic tables. Surely | in the House of God, the use Of the Lords supper. obedient to His explicit directions, | in the assured gift of the Body and Blood | of Christ we do not hesitate to surround these holy mysteries with all the en- richment of music and art and to safe- | guard them with all liturgical order.
 Includes Meekness.
 | Our attitude must include meekness mean that sort of meekness that has come to a man when having reflected on the 1 goodness and love of God and the sin lessness of Christ his own wayward, self seeking, sinful life has led him to know His Lords love and sacrifice. It Is the meel1ness of the redeemed. Without 1t there can be no sense of need in the pres ence of the Holy Communion. We turn to our daily meals ready for the re- past, conscious of physical need to be supplied. How often, brethren, do we come to the sacred feast, yearning for the filling of a hungry soul, conscious Of weak will that needs the inspiring power of faithful partaking of that sacrament | Our attitude must be one of dependence | on this divinely chosen means of grace. | Spiritual nutrition, promised In these holy mysteries, may be hard to trace or to consider abjectively. but to the humble believer in Christ Jesus, 1t becomes the real power of God working in Him to overthrow the power of sin.
 Devotional Attitude. ! Finally, we have a devotional attitude towards the Lords supper in the euchar- istic, or thanksgiving characteristic we have previously described. Here our at | titude absolves the whole of our being. It is our highest expression of praise and | of thanksgiving. With reverence and meekness we approach the altar, and praise our God for the saint offered Tor the sins of the world In the sacred sig nficant body and blood we find the me- morial with which we represent that sac rifice made on Calvary once for all To this thanksgiving we bring the purest expression of the language we under stand, the best music we can command, | the deepest note of sacred song. More | than the word expressed, or the soul lift ed up in thoughts unuttered, Is the praise | or a Ire or service 10 the Blory ol Gou and for human welfare. There can be no faithful receiving of euchorists where there Is no faithful giving of lives. Thus my brethren are highest expression of praise in word and thought and deed is needed In rightful attitude of the be- | lever at the Lords supper. Nor can we limit our attitude to self and self's inter- ests. This sacred institution, whether as communion, or euchorist brings to us all the highest appreciation of our common humanity.
 The whole world is anxious for peace, 1 for peace's sake. between two great na- tions is as yet our highest expression of this brotherhood of man. Of the factors that have led to this growth In the broth erhood of the nations. the chief element Is Christ Himself. and the chief instru- ment Is the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ. May we close with the prayer that this unifying influence reunite the broken bonds of Chrfstendom in a mutual trust in the doing of the Fathers will, and in the accomplishment of the church's unity.
 FOX Sons & Smith Co.'S grocery store will bs closed I