The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-12
Is SATURDAY
~ NIGHT
BY
- hxSaMuHWPuUyrll
THE nAsrER.s MONUMENT.


tion Of our Thanksgiving and Fourth
OF July. the former in that 1t was
great national feast. the latter in that
1t celebrated the emancipation Of Is
rael. 1t was unlike our festivals In
that 1t was profoundly religious. which
cnn hardly by any sense of exaggera-
tion be said Of the modern celebration
OF the two American holidays. The
Passover was time of family re-
unions do not know whether the
master and disciples had ever cele-
brated It together before or not, but at
this last one he earnestly desired to he
present with them. The first day of
the feast OF unleavened bread began
with sunset of Wednesday and ended
with sunset of Thursday All leaven
was destroyed in every house The
feast consisted OF lamb slain by
priest in the court of the temple at a
prescribed hour and was cooked by
roasting. With 1t also for food were
unleavened bread. bitter herbs. wine
and sweet fruit jam. The disciples
gathered with their Lord In the second
story OF little house in the holy city.
Tragic things occurred at that supper
the dispute of the twelve which
should be greatest. the Master washing
their feet, the awful announcement
that one of them should betray him
and the departure OF Judas.
This Is NJ BODY"
There is no one thing that so pro
claims the true unity of ChriSt's church
on earth as this Lords table Around il
all disciples are one in heart. 1t X
observed In all lands by all churches
In many different forms. Some dis.
ciples strive To preserve the original
forms. recline on couches. take the
bread and wine in connection with II
simple meal of lamb. Some sitting in
the pew. take the bread and wine from
officers of the church Some 80 for.
ward and. kneeling. take 1t from hand
of priest cr minister. Some use wine.
some unfermented grape juice. Some
use single cup, some individual cups.
Some others--a few-omit the bread
and wine altogether and count every
eating of bread and drinking OF wine
an occasion Of calling to remembrance
the master and thinking of him us their
guest. Some feel that they partake of
but symbols. others that IL Is traus-
formed into the very flesh and blood
OF their Lord. But among all is the
feeling of loyalty and love: whether
the memorial is simple or elaborate. 1t
is done in his name. And as men eat
of the wheatteid and its strength en-.
tiers into their bone. the garden and
the strength of the vegetables enters
their flesh. or the herd Of the field and
its strength enters into their blood.
these many disciples feed on their Lord
and receive spiritual strength.
An Enduring Monument.
Hundreds of thousands of persons
were In the city that night to celebrate
the memorial of the passover. which
had occurred nearly 1900 years before.
Right outside the house under their
window the disciples could hear the
voices and footsteps hurrying by un.
conscious of the fact that the worlds
Redeemer was within and that the door
posts of the world would soon la
sprinkled with his saving blood. How
often is God near and the throng know
1t not. This do in remembrance Of
me-" What a simple request That il
why we give keepsakes and narting
gifts; that is the why of Photograph al.
buns. to preserve in the hearts of low.
ed ones faces and scenes that might
grow dim. If they had built monu.
ment like Washington's how far we
would have travelled. those of us who
could afford to. to see it. But some
day sun and rain and frost would dr-
stroy it. Had he ordered lis to build a
mighty cathedral how we would send
our contributions that somewhere. pos.
sibly in the holy city. there might be
central temple over which the cross
on which he hung might stand through
out the ages. But the cathedral might
pass into hands profane, impious and
soothing. or blasphemous war might
level its walls.
"Till He Come!"
So the twelve partook of the last
supper. scarcely conscious that they
were laying the corner stone Of the
greatest memorial that the world has
ever seen. And it has stood through
the ages. towering over the wrecks of
time. Wherever on this earth the
church of Jesus has planted her faith
and breathed his name she celebrates
the solemn ceremony In which bread
and wine are consecrated and partaken
of In memory of the founder of this
great religion. AS on each Sunday
the sunlight travels round the world
1t CLEANS on the uplifted paten and
chalice. Sometimes In magnificent
cathedral with swelling organ incense
and candle. sometimes In log hut or
school building. it is the great common
table of the Lord-and 1t will be so
observed "till he come" From the
night when the soon to be cruciied
Lord instituted it until now. down
through the ages. it has not fallen. Ma
dons have fourished and faded away.
Civilizations begin. have nodded hui
man history. and then are lost Cities
rise In their power. swell In their
opulence and then molder away until
their very sites are forgotten. But this
memorial stands, and will stand. till
he come. whether 1t be In this year of
grace 1914 or 10000 years from now
It'll he come" Some day we shall