Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-14
sACRAMENTAL WINE.

Editor Every Evening. In your
issue OF January . a correspondent
makes several assertions In regard TO
Sacramento and other wines which
cannot permit to go unchslenged
He states there is no proof from
Scripture that our Lord used or APP
proved the use Of Intoxicating wine
FOR sacramental purposes, or az
common beverage. or as medicine"
He claims that our Lord distributed
unfermented grape juice nj the Last
supper But grape juice. while a
fruit OF the Vine" is not this fruit
of the vino" which Jesus used on that
occasion. and referred to in those
words. That could be only the strong
red wine mixed with water, uni
yersally used IN the four Passover
cups by the Jewish people at the time
Of Christ and ever since. IL was called
| by them In their bcnediction of It
fruit OF the vine" the same express
sion which Christ employed In the
climate Of Palestine grape juice re-
! mains unfermented for only n few
hours after the grapes are pressed
AS the vintage time Was six months
before the Passover, grape juice. ex-
cept as wine. was not procurable at
| that season. Nor is there the slightest
evidence that the unfermented juice
was ever preserved for use by the
Jews. In fact. the impossibllity OF its
use as an eucharistic beverage. by
Christ and his disciples. all orthodox
Jews. is SO obvious. that II Is not with
in the realm OF controversy
As TO our Savior's use and approval
OF wine in moderation-tila is also be-
y!ond dispute. st. John the Baptist IS
the only New Testament person tc
whom wine was forbidden. Jesus him.
self declares that in direct contrast
to Johns asceticism, He drank wine
THE Son Of Man IS come eating and
drinking: and We say. Behold. a glut
tonous man, and n wine-bibber'." Thii
is not figurative language merely. FOL
lie suffered the misconception OF be
ing called a wine bibber," or In plaiI
language. tippler.
Prohibitionists cannot, in sDite o
their efforts, successfully dispute tn
fact of Chrlst's providing wine 10
the delectation OF the guests at tn
Marriage in Cana-wine that tn
governor of the feast expressly sal
was the kind that might make me
drunk" The wine" of the New TIES
, lament was always intoxicating
Christ knew It to be such and recog
nized the dangers OF excess. and W
nc. sanctioned It's use as a bevera g
, In moderation. He went further. an
in the Holy Communion sanctified II
use. And this. l take Il, IS the hear
Of the matter, the ssnctiication {
all of Chrlst's creatures TO His use. M
, their prohibition.
! There has been throughout the age
: a practically unanimous acceptance
: Christs use OF wine as indicative
HIS intent and assent In ronnectio
/. with its use by His followers. It
only during the last few years, tn;
4 a rigorist heresy has. attempted
a d;stort tho evident truth, viz, ths
Christ used wine. commanded its III
= 10 His followers in His sacrament, ar
. further. that this was Sntirely in a,
a cord with the whole body OF II
a teaching. Every creature of God
A good. and nothing to be refused. II
. be received with thanksgiving
II Il Tim: !: 3-D. Therefore may
. not be considered presump.uous f
! a follower TO assume the right to
beyond the teaching or example
, Christ? III is enough for the dlscip
that he be as his master and the Sc
want as mis- Lord"
Laussat Richter Rogers.
New Castle, Del, Jan. u, 1922.