Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-25
Wine in the Church.

| Charles A. Blanchard of Wheaton
college, Illinois, writes as follows to
! the Chicago Tribune concerning prohi-
| bition and religious rites:
II learn that some excellent citizens
connected with the Lutheran churches
are disturbed at the progress OF the
prohibition movement In our country,
fearing lest i. may interfere with their
religious rites and duties. They many
of them believe that the word wine
necessarily means alcoholic drink This
being the case, they understand that
the law of the Lords supper requires
them to use beverage on that oc-
ban of the law.
There are no people who deserves
more careful consideration than the
conscientious members OF these
churches. Their industry. integrity and
economy have made them an element
OF great strength In our nation. and
1t is our duty to see to 1t that no en-
thusiasm for the progress of temper
ance reform should lead us to interfere
with the rights Of these people. de-
sire, therefore, to say q few words on
the special question which l think
may be helpful to them.
ut Is remarkable that the word
wine does not occur In the scripture
record OF the institution of this feast.
Matthew says that Jesus took the cup
and gave thanks, and gave 1t to them,
saying. drink we all OF it; for this Is
my blood of the New Testament, which
Is shed for many for the remission OF
sins But l say unto you, Will not
drink henceforth Of this fruit Of the
vine until that day when drink It
new with you In my Fathers kingdom.
In like manner Mark says, This IS my
blood of the New Testament. which Is
shed for many. will drink no more OF
the fruit of the vine until that day
that I drink 1t new in the kingdom OF
God Luke says This Is the cup
/ will not drink of the fruit of the vine
until the kingdom of God shall come.
1.-THE gospels do not affirm that Jes-
us gave them wine, but that ne gave
the cup, and that in the cup there was
the fruit Of the vine. Alcohol is not
directly fruit of the vine; 1t Is a re-
suit Of fermentation. 1t may be pro-
duced from the juice. OF many other
fruits and vegetables as well as from
the fruit of the vine.
IT do not wish to press this point,
but l suggest it for the Information OF
conscientious men who have been
troubled about this matter. believe IL
to be true that there are some four
teen Hebrew words which are trans
lated i'm our version by the word
"'wine." These fourteen different He
brew words I believe represent the
fruit Of the vine in all stages, IRON
the newly expressed Juice to the thick
heavy jelly which resulted then as now
from an extended evaporation
II mention this fact to say that even.
IL the word wine were, in the institu-
ton Of the supper, as 1t Is not, III
might still be a question whether the
beverage used on that occasion was an,
alcoholic drink or not. The Jews prob
ably had much the same range OF
drinks based on grape juice that we
have. They were probably prepared
in much the same way, only they used.
different words to designate - them,
Where we use a single word In this
particular the Greek usage was much
more like our own than the Hebrew:
DO not care W iHSiSl upoAt S-ANS'
hut 1t is worthy Of thought, and our
friends Of the denominations especially
interested should candidly consider
and allow it whatever weight 1t may
have, but the main thing which wish
to say is that in the whole course OF
the prohibition movement in this coun-
try two points have been, are. and UNI
doubtedly will continue to be most
carefully guarded. Alcohol has q large
place in science and the mechanical
arts, and 1t has a small place, accord
ing to the use of many conscientious
people, in the religious life Of Chris
tians.
"The thing which prohibitionists are
seeking to destroy is not the use of al
cohol in the arts and sciences. nor the
use of alcohol in religious assemblies.
They are striking at the wretched In
stitution which produces nine-tenths OF
the poverty and crime of our coun-
try - Y @