The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1913-05-30
ADOPTS INDIVIDUAL
COMMUNION SERVICE.
The GIFT OF IRIS. ". 4. VAEDERFORD
And hrs. ]. Il. CASSELL IN E.
DRY OF THEIR MOTHER, HRS.
ANNA |. ALBAUGH, TO ST.
PAUL'S REFORMED
CHURCH.

Church. The service was presented
to the congregation as a memorial to
Mrs. Anna L. Albaugh by her daugh-
tiers. Mrs. William H. Vanderford and
Mrs. james II. Cassell.
1t the service on Sunday morning
Rev. DR.. C. S. Slagle, the pastor made
the following remarks:
AT a meeting in the month OF April
the Consistory of the Church decided
to use what is called the individual
Communion service instead OF the
common cup which has heretofore
been used by the congregation. This
action involving a change In the mode
of administering the Holy Commun-
ion was taken after thoughtful con-
sideration and with thorough ap-
probation of the seriousness OF de-
parture from a custom halloTed by
long usage and connected with the
most solemn and sacred service IN
which as Christians We engage. The
action was taken also with thorough
appreciation OF the reluctance with
which possibly many OF you will see
the common cup set aside. We nat
uraily cling to the old and the famil-
lar. especially when II Is associated
the old home even without the mod
ern conyeniences that will forever
remain a cherished place in our afec-
tIona. No other home, no matter how
much greater It's advantages and its
cost, ean take the place OF the old
home around which cling 30 many
happy and sacred memories. And
yet the time came when II was neeea-
sary to break those ties and 90 out
into the world and make new home.
The call OF duty said, Go" Your
own feelings said, Stay" The man
is to be pitied who has nothing old
and familiar 20 which in fond reeol-
lection he can cling and to whom ono
place aud one custom Ia az good AZ
another.
With the feeling OF some Of you
as you see time honored custom
passing away sympathize. But
when the voice OF duty points one
way and our own feelings and aenti-
ments point the opposite way We must
disregard our feelings. II was be
cause. | believed, that 1t was right
and our bounden duty to do 80 TINT !
recommended TO the Conslstory the
adoption OF the individual Communion
cup. The law now forbidg The ne Of
the common drinking cup even IN
churches. Ii may be said TINT thla
law vas not intended to apply 10 the
Holy Communion but only 10 the use
of the common drinking cup IN other
ways and that there was no poasi-
bilIty Of any interference by the State
with religious usages. BE this n II
may. when the State Is endeayoring
to check the spread of disease by
forbiddIng the use Of the common
drinking cup In public places. It Il
right and proper for the Church II CO.
operate by setting the example. II
will not be an easy or light task for
some Of you to adapt yourselves 10
this change in the mode Of admin
iaterIng the Communion. The younger
members of the church will have leas
difficulty. For the older members IL
will possibly be a more difficult task.
These brethren can take the high and
charitable position which st Paul
took In the question which confronted
the Apostolic Church in regard To the
pronriety of eating meat which had
been offered the idols. II meat make
my brother TO offend. vii eat
lest II make my brother to offend.
And # By the retention Of the com
mon cup We are giving offence We
Will set 1t aside for the sake Of our
brethren. lest we offend them.
IT Is not 30 difficult for u as
members of the Reformed Church TO
change a custom or form. for ne are
not Journalists The outward form
profteth nothing. II is the spirit that
quiekeneth and giveth life. Dear a.
our forms and customs are We know
that they are unessential. We know
that the bread and wine in the Com
munion are but symbols pointing 10
Christ who is present by Hls Spirit
In the Holy Communion and that lie
Is received not in the bread and vine
but in our hearts by faith. This Ii
the truth which. our Church has al
ways emphasized and which Ne will
ever hold and holding this truth We
can accommodate ourselves II any
mode Of administering the eommna-
ion. I am sure that in time the In
diYiduai cup will become endeaTed By
usage and association as our former
custom has been.
1T gives me a great deal Of pleas
ure 10 announce that the beautiful
service which we will use this morn
ing for the first time has been pre-
scented to the congregation a. 4 MEN,
orial to Mrs. Anna L. Albangh BY her
daughters, Mrs. Florence Yanderford
and Mrs. Clara Cassell. Il isa fitting
and beautiful memorial to one who
was a faithful and devoted member
of the church Those OF you who we're
members of the church when she was
living will remember her as an hum
BILE. nnpretentious woman Of
strong character and conscientious In
her duties az wife, mother and a
neighbor. She became member Of
this congregation by letter of dismiss
sal In 1885 As ! write these words
I have before me the Communion
register and | am not surprised,
knowing her as | did, to see that she
WAS rarely absent from The COM
munIon up to the time when she en-
tered into rest. ten years ago. And
as I write | can in thought see her
sitting in her place at the Lords Day
services and at the mid-week service.
at both Of which she was regular
worshIner. Her conscientious deFo-
ton to her duty In this respect. COM
bined AZ 1t WAS with consistency OF
life Won for her the respect Of all
of Us.
IN the name OF the congregation
the Gonaistory has accepted this gift
as a fitting memorial OF our departed
sister. ~ a worthy tribute Of afIec-
ton and love from her devoted daugh-
tiers and as a token of their love for
Iba.r