Death in the Communion Cua.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 144, 16 July 1895, Page 3

Death in the Communion Cua.

That a solemn religious obserrance may be the means of spreading dangerous infection— that, in short, there is death in the communion cup— is the latest discovery that has been made where* with to terrify mankind. An "emiuent chemist " of New York City, says that he fonnd the germs of twenty two different diseases upon examining a cup that had been used by several hundreds of people. It is a matter of notoriety how cholera and other diseases are spread by the pious pilgrims to Mecca, but if there is anything intheNewYoTk discovery, the Christ. ian is in as much danger as the Mohnmmedan of inenrnng dire consequences by following an irrational practice. A number of clergymen in New York have introduced the " individual cap " instead of the common or communion vessel, and the subject has been very freely discussed. Many clergymen are opposed to the movement through fear that it will diminish the solemnity of the ceremonial and because it is in opposition to the Biblical account of the use of the Communion cup at the Last Supper. According to the records of the Apostles the cup was first used by our Savour and then passed aiound to tbe disciples, who drank from it in fuccession. All the accounts speak only of a single cup; but on the other side of the dispute the famous picture of Do, Vinci entitled " The Last Supper " is referred to wherein the Saviour and Hi 3 disciples are represented as seated at table, each hiving before him an individual portion of bread and an in dividual cup of wine. There is a fear that the individual cups would be the first step towards breaking up worshippers into groups and sections, and would lead to the adoption of separate altars where rich and poor could be-apart from each other while at worship. One pastor says on the subject :— " If the common Communion Cup is done away with owing to fear of contagion, then the pleasant social custom of kissing would have to be ostracised, and do you think the reformers would like that? ' But the "holy kiss " as a religious observance has since fallen into disuse, and it may be asked why not the common cup? Communicants generally iv iNew York are said to be favourable to the individual cup, especially in view of the possibilities of the transmission of disease by the use of the common vessel.