Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1906-04-06
USE OF THE CANDLES
REL|G|0USLY DEPICTED
SOME INTERESTING FACTS BY
THE REV. j. BARRETT.
Subject of Altar Lights as COmpdr-
ed With DOCtrindl Questions is a
Small One-SignifiCdnt Because
of Relation to DOCtrindl Truth
Matter is Fully Explained.

The subject of alter lights as COM
pared with doctrinal questions is a
very small one But there are some
strangers to church worship who will
accept the strongest doctrinal PROPOSE
tions and yet feel apprehensive over
the fickering candles upon the alter.
This condition is a parallel to our
| Lords illustration of the Scribes and
the Pharisees who strainde at gnat,
but could swallow camel. St. Matt.
% "a.
The question of candles though Of
minor Importance, is significant
because of it's relation to doctrinal
truth. Some who are not we'll &C
quainted with church worship have
urged that the use of candles are
merely the result of aesthetical
tastes. Others that they are meaning
less. Some say candles have no
place in evangelical worship. Others
again claim that since lighted candles
mar the simplicity of worship, the are
therefore distasteful to the Almighty.
1t is true that the argument from
aesthetics have something to do with
the use of candles. They illuminate
the alter and beautify the service.
The eye, the soul and the feelings
are in all sensitive to the beautiful.
We beautify our homes to make
them pleasant places to dwell in.
We beautify ourselves with apparel
to be pleasing to others, and there
is no sound reason why this philosophy
should be laid aside when we pass into
the house of God. 1t is our duty to
make His house attractive and to
render His service beautiful; in so
doing we are making ourselves and
praises acceptable to him as we'll as
pleasing and attractive to our souls.
In burning candles upon the alters we
have the authority of more than eign-
teen centuries of Catholic usage. Even
the older German and Scandinavians
Lutherans have retained alter lights.
1t is not so much our duty to explain
why we have kept the customs of the
early churches for modern churches to
explain why they have discarded them.
But the use of candles are not
meaningless, they are not on the alter
for the sake of beauty The burning
candles shining on the alter before the
eye, keeps in mind the truth, that
Christ is the light of the world.
Christ is "a light to Tighten the
Gentitles ST. Luke 2 :32.
''In HIM was life, and the life was
the light of men," St. John l: A.
~ am the light of the world St.
John 8: IL.
81 am come light into the
world.'' St. John II :46.
The burning candle giving heat and
light and in so doing, consuming itself,
is typical of Christ, whose life was
spent in shedding the warmth of his
love upon his fellowmen and lighting
their dark souls with the light of the
everlasting Gospel; and as the candle
is consumed in doing it's work sc
Christ gave up His life for His
work.
There are six large lights with 6
cross in the center on the alter. The
proper lights for choral mass.
Besides these there are smaller clus
ters sometimes of three, five and sever
candlesticks. The origin of the si1
will be noticed below.
The two represent Christ working
with man through His divine ant
human natures. The cluster of three
: represent Him working through the
three theological virtues, faith, hope
and love. The five figure ou
Lord working through His passion il
the five sacred wounds of hands, fee
and side And the seven symbolic
Him working through the seven sacra
ments, lighting an giving life to tht
souls of men.
The candles lighted before service
and extinguished after the blessing
are an emblem of ourselves com
muning with the Light of the worlt
during divine service.
Candles as symbols have the author
ity of scriptures. 1t was God Himsel
who said, "Thou shalt make candle
stick of pure gold.'' Exodus 25: 81.
Canlesticks were made for Solo
mons temple as seen in Kings Z: 49
And there were canles in Jerrubbab
els temple also. | Mace. 4: 49.
If any one objects that these quota
tions have nothing to do with tn
: Christian dispensation, he must recog
] nize their symbolic value in Christia
7 worship from the vision of heaven tha
St. ] John describes in the Revelations
: which has nothing to do with tn
temple worship, but deals with tn
Christian church. There the candle
sticks are figures of the churche
lighted with our life of our Blesse
Lord.
q 'And | turned to see the voice tha
n spoke with me. And being turned,
k saw seven candlesticks And in tn
midst of the seven candlesticks, on