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THE MEMORIAL CELEBRATION

ON FRIDAY EVENING, April 22d, approximately 360 celebrated our dear Redeemer’s Memorial Supper in Brooklyn Tabernacle. The occasion was a very solemn and impressive one. It was shown that the eating of the bread pictured the appropriation of our Lord’s human rights, by which we were justified and by which our justification or righteousness in God’s sight is maintained, notwithstanding the imperfections which are ours through heredity. It was also shown that the blood represented primarily our Lord’s earthly life rights appropriated to us, justifying us to life.

Then the second and larger view of the matter was shown in the light of the Apostle’s words—that all of the faithful, all of the Royal Priesthood, all of the members of the one Body of Christ, join with their Lord in becoming the One Loaf and join with him also in the breaking of that Loaf, that it may be the Bread of Restitution to the world of mankind. It was also shown in the light of the Apostle’s words, that in becoming members of the Body of Christ we become sharers with our Lord in his cup of suffering, in his sacrifice of earthly life. It was further shown that in the Divine purpose this earthly life, which we surrender forever, goes under the New Covenant to Israel, Judah and all the families of the earth, while we are granted spiritual life.

“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (fellowship-sharing) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (in his sufferings) of the Body of Christ? For we being many are one bread and one Body; for we are all partakers (sharers) of that one Bread.”—I Cor. 10:16,17.

As a fresh glimpse was thus taken at the significance of the “deep things of God,” the hearts of all were stirred to their depth. How wonderful it seems that we should be called to such an intimate association with our Lord and Redeemer, both in the sufferings of this present time and in the glories that shall follow, called to be “dead with him, that we might live with him.”

Almost all present partook of the Memorial emblems. The service was closed with prayer, followed by a hymn, after which all went out quietly, without the usual greetings, striving to carry, so far as possible, the precious thoughts of the occasion.

Reports thus far received are that the celebration has been very general and the numbers participating very encouraging. Altogether the general interests of the harvest work seem to be deepening and broadening. We deeply appreciate the privilege of serving the Lord of the harvest in whatever way he may indicate. Let us all continue to do with our might what our hands find to do, and thus show forth more and more the praises of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Let us resolve to keep our hearts with increasing diligence, recognizing that out of them are the issues of life.

Below are some reports of the numbers participating in the Memorial celebration in the more prominent congregations which have thus far reported attendances of twenty and above:—

Newark, O.; Elwood, Ind.; McLoud, Okla.; Bethlehem, Pa.; Kalamazoo, Mich., 20. Auburn, Ind.; Norfolk, Va.; Shawnee, Okla.; Abilene, Kan., 21. Rockford, Ill.; Lime Sink, Ga.; Muncie, Ind.; Houston, Tex. (colored); Tacoma, Wash., 22. Colorado Springs, Colo., 23. Jacksonville, Fla.; Jackson, Mich., 24. Hamilton, Ont.; Cromwell, Conn.; Winnipeg, Man.; York, Pa., 25. Moore, Pa.; Port Huron, Mich.; Cohoes, N.Y.; Reading, Pa., 26. Butler, Pa.; Everett, Wash.; Harrisburg, Pa., 27. Dundee, Scot.; Tiffin, O.; New Brunswick, N.J., 28. Kewanee, Ill., 29. Ashland, Ore.; Tampa, Fla., 30. Leicester, Eng.; New Brighton, Pa., 32. Johnstown, Pa., 33. New Liskeard, Ont., 34. Grand Rapids, Mich.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; Allentown, Pa., 35. Port Limon, Costa Rica, 36. Milwaukee, Wis., 37. Schenectady, N.Y., 38. Stockholm, Sweden, 40. Atlanta, Ga., 41. Hayne, N.C., 41. Omaha, Neb., 42. Bristol, Eng.; Lynn, Mass., 43. Denver, Colo.; Spokane, Wash.; Richmond, Va.; Worcester, Mass.; Youngstown, O.; Roseland, Ill., 44. Altoona, Pa.; Kingston, Jamaica; Camberwell, Jamaica, 45. Houston, Tex. (white); Portland, Ore., 46. Bridgetown, Barbadoes, 47. Springfield, Mass., 50. Baltimore, Md., 51. St. Joseph, Mo.; Binghamton, N.Y., 52. Newark, N.J., 53. Louisville, Ky.; Toledo, O., 54. Lancaster, Pa., 56. Kansas City, Mo., 57. Detroit, Mich., 59. Cincinnati, O., 65. Dayton, O., 67. Indianapolis, Ind.; San Antonio, Tex., 68. Columbus, O., 76. Toronto, Ont., 84. St. Louis, Mo., 96. Seattle, Wash., 103. Orebro, 107. Washington, D.C., 112. St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn., 115. Providence, R.I., 105. Philadelphia, Pa., 150. Chicago, Ill., 275. Boston, Mass., 260. Glasgow, 308. Allegheny, Pa., 330. Brooklyn, N.Y., 360.

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— May 15, 1910 —