The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-01-18

arated from the communion and held
upon n separate evening
We note that 1t was In those days
supper. II was hold in the evening
and hence the name. During the
times OF persecution in Rome, it was
changed 10 before daylight In the
morning that the gathering might
cause less attention, This grow TO
permanency. and 1t was changed only
10 tho morning hour OF worship. We
note also that soon the feasting night
drew from the communion all but
the bread and wine, SO that only tho
two ingredients, especially referred
10 by Christ, became associated with
the regular communion.
The early feast known as "agape,"
or love feast" did much TO develop
and strengthen the spirit Of unity and
brotherhood In the early church
There was a time when infant COM
munion was permitted Just as Infant
baptism Is today. because the child
rem were considered as children of the
covenant. This is still custom In
some of the churches of the East. In
early times the communion was held
daily, and In the evening Now both
of these customs are disregarded.
Thus 1t is that through many and
grandal changes the old.time Passover
sacrifice. with ali the noise and con-
fusion about the burning altar. has
been changed by many and varied in
fluences into the simple and spirit
ual services Of today.
The church is living and growing
tnofirnfinr liIrn fIro
I.uthor. KHoX Wesley. and Moody
lead It into new lines of service and
trends of thought, Its adaptability
for expansion is one season OF Its
power over all races and ages. 1t
| loses none of Its vitality or quIckenlng
/ power while 1t constantly is able tc
confront and meet new conditions.
The root meaning OF this. the most
universal of Christian ordinances, is
that of the most fundamental OF
| Christian teaching, namely, sacrifice
II was fundamental In the altar and
\ lamb of olden time and basic In the
| body that was broken and wine thai
| was shed for us on Calvary. 1t has
! the same message for us today In the
teaching OF the sacrifice OF self anC
OF prayer and praise. Hns 1t thil
meaning for us today? We are living
in q day when worldly and externa
! riches are SO allurlng that we almos
forget the true and abiding wealth o
soul and mind and heart. We are
prone to count wealth and Joy not By
what we are In ourselves of worth
! but by what we have and enjoy o.
external things. But real Joy anC
peace is yet found not in what he
have but in what we are. Can 1t be
that the reason so many are seek
Ing the light pasumcs of the day
is because of the poverty Of their rea
lives and the resultant no-ability tC
enjoy the best things? The Ideal and
duty OF simple denial is needed Il
real self is to grow In value, anc
Il is just that that has made the com
munion a power In religious growth
The early church placed much Import
ance upon tho praise and prayer a
.be communion meeting They did II
because they saw a real sacrifice iT
both prayer and praise In prayer
I because they looked upon prayer more
! rs a worship of gratitude and adora
ton than as a simple begging for fay
ors desired.
We fear that we are not very
apostolic In our prayers, We need
10 learn anew that prayer has more
glorious ends than begging of God
that 1t is q sacrifice of real self In
worshiping God. Teet it in your owr
life How large q portion OF your
I prayer is given to asking for those
things you desire. and how much to
zeal worship of God The true idea
of praise is also In olden thought that
OF personal sacrifice. we hardly be