The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-10

A Great Memorial.
The International Sunday School Les
SON for october II is 1.-THE Last Sup
per."-Mark 14:12-25.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Painter and poet and preacher nave
drawn great pictures of this little COM
pany OF men gathered in an upper
room for q Jewish feast, that was
later turned into memorial supper
for the Leader who was about to leave
them.
been able-perhaps the task 1s I'M
possible-to picture that same supper
as 1t has been repeated countless mil
lions Of times since around the who're
world, under conditions scarcely to be
imagined. This is one OF the tremen-
dous institutions f civilization. 1t Is
vitality associated with the deepest ex-
periences of the human soul.
The Feast OF all Races.
In my own limited experience re-
call having kept this Memorial Feast
in many places, and in many unusual
circumstances. 1 have knelt in the
early morning on historic battlefield
with a company of men in uniform.
and received the bread and wine from
the regimental chaplain. While a
aboard ship-clutching a support the
withdrawing in the same Sacrament
with travellers from many lands. In
great assemblages, when leadership in
learning, piety and wealth from the
whole nation were maSsed, / have been
thrilled by the Sacrament Of fellow
ship; but not more so than when L
have partaken Of it in crude village
churches. 1 recall sacramento serv-
ices in remote Chinese chaptls; with
dusky Indian disciples under the
shadow of the Tai Mahal; with great
body of Egyptian students in church
far up the Nile; and with fellow Jap
anese Christians in their peWless
churches. where the whole worship
ing company sat on the floor.
The common imagination has been
moved by the recent spectacle OF great
masses Of soldiers. who were going
to battle, gathered to partake of the
Communion. Similarly, a strange
solemnity is attached to the admins
tration of the Sacrament on battle
ships before action. The long and i'm
measurable professions OF celebra-
tions of the Lords Supper by all races
and classes of people, in every inn
aginable condition Of stress and need.
met to partake with thier Lord Of this
Last Supper, which he instituted on
the night before he went forth to die,
is a tremendous theme for contempla-
ton.
He That Is About to Die.
The setting of this lesson could not
be more dramatic. It's remote back
ground is the three years of public
ministry of Jesus, with all the antagon-
The near background was the Jewish
Passover. AS true Jews, Jesus and his
disciples kept that feast in ceremonial
fashion.
A large upper room in the home
of some Jerusalem friends had been
secured for the occasion: and the
tenderest imagination Of Christendom
often turns to that room. where were
spoken those loving farewells of Je-
sus, which have echoed as words OF
comfort through all the centuries
since.
The full company of twelve were
present with their Master for the
Passover. Then Judas withdrew to dc
his dread deed OF avarice. 1t seemed
as il a pail were lifted from the COM
pany when this discordant personality
was removed. Then it was that Jesus
most human and cOmrade-like fashio:
instituted the Last Supper, a feast
which Judas never shared.
The rite could hardly be simpler
The common fiat cakes of bread
broken by the hand Of the Host. and
the common wine shared by all, wers
the only elements used.
"And as they were eating. he tool
bread, and when he had blessed, h<
brake it. and gave to them, and said
Take We: this is my body. And HI
took cup, and when he had giveI
thanks, he gave to. them: and the,
all drank Of it. And he said Unts
them. This is my blood Of the new
covenant. which Is poured out fol
many. Verify say unto you, 1 shall
no more drink of the fruit of the vine
until that day when I drink it new
in the kingdom OF God"
LEST We Forget
Every gravestone the world over i
a token Of the universal human desir,
to be remembered after death. Al
the massive mausoleums that nav
survived for even a few decades, ar
eloquent with the same eagerness