Newcomers to Christian Science frequently ask if this church does not commemorate the sacrament of the last supper. It does, twice yearly, when the subject of the Lesson-Sermon is "Sacrament"; but the Church of Christ, Scientist, goes further in this commemoration. Not only do the Lesson-Sermons on Sacrament in the Christian Science Quarterly memorialize the Master's supper with his disciples before his crucifixion, but they commemorate the Master's joyous meal with his followers after his resurrection.

In this church the material symbols of bread and wine are not used. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 35) Mary Baker Eddy has written: "Our Eucharist is spiritual communion with the one God. Our bread, 'which cometh down from heaven,' is Truth. Our cup is the cross. Our wine the inspiration of Love, the draught our Master drank and commended to his followers."

Now while the sacrament is spiritually commemorated twice yearly in the Church of Christ, Scientist, the Scientist awakens to the fact that communing with the Father-Mother God, the divine Principle, Love, can become a daily, yes, even an hourly practice. To the Christian Scientist, therefore, the celebration of the Eucharist, the partaking of the bread of Truth and the wine of Love, must be a continuing blessing and privilege. The same may be said about the sacrament of baptism.

In her sermon "The People's Idea of God" (p. 9) Mrs. Eddy says, "Christian Science has one faith, one Lord, one baptism; and this faith builds on Spirit, not matter; and this baptism is the purification of mind,—not an ablution of the body, but tears of repentance, an overflowing love, washing away the motives for sin; yea, it is love leaving self for God." Then she adds: "The cool bath may refresh the body, or as compliance with a religious rite may declare one's belief; but it cannot purify his mind, or meet the demands of Love. It is the baptism of Spirit that washes our robes and makes them white in the blood of the Lamb; that bathes us in the life of Truth and the truth of Life."

The Christian Scientist's baptism, or purification, like his partaking of the bread and wine of Truth and Love, is something which is to be prayed for daily. Thus when someone accuses the Christian Scientist of disbelieving in the Lord's last supper and the rite of baptism because he looks beyond the material symbols, he needs to be assured that in no Christian teaching on the face of the earth is there really greater stress laid on these deep Christian practices than in Christian Science.

At the two services each year when the Lesson-Sermon is on Sacrament, the members of the branch Churches of Christ, Scientist, kneel in silent communion with their Father-Mother God. Not a material thing is done, not a word is spoken, until the silent prayer is ended and all join in repeating audibly the Lord's Prayer. Some people question why the congregations should kneel at these communion seasons and not at the regular Sunday services and the Wednesday meetings throughout the year. Of course, the most cursory reading of the chapter entitled "Prayer" in Science and Health shows that prayer, like baptism and the Eucharist, must be that which goes on daily and hourly in the heart of the consistent student; but is not the practice of dropping to one's knees in earnest, silent communion with the one God an acknowledgment of Mind's power? Does not the bending of the knees bespeak a reverent devotion to Truth and humble casting of all one's burden on the Lord? It would seem that this is a gesture of unity with the thought of the Christian world which our Leader was led to sanction, a gesture which certainly cannot offend either the newcomer to Science or the seasoned church member. When one kneels publicly in silent communion with Truth and Love, is he not acknowledging to all the world that he is a loyal Christian Scientist and proclaiming the allness of Mind, before which everything in heaven and earth must bow?

The Lesson-Sermons on the subject of Sacrament invariably include the following wonderful statement from Science and Health (p. 35). Speaking of the contrast between the Masters last supper and his last breakfast with his disciples, Mrs. Eddy says: "This spiritual meeting with our Lord in the dawn of a new light is the morning meal which Christian Scientists commemorate. They bow before Christ, Truth, to receive more of his reappearing and silently to commune with the divine Principle, Love. They celebrate their Lord's victory over death, his probation in the flesh after death, its exemplification of human probation, and his spiritual and final ascension above matter, or the flesh, when he rose out of material sight."

Seldom in celebrating Christian sacraments have his followers thought of the beautiful picture presented when after his crucifixion and resurrection the Master triumphantly stood before his students on Galilee's shores. What could possibly describe the joy of the disciples in seeing their risen Lord! Jesus prepared a breakfast for them and served it himself, ever true to his ideal that the Son of man had come to minister unto men. Then came the searching question to Peter, a question which should linger in the heart of every Christian Scientist as he kneels in silent communion (John 21:15), "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" Thrice is the question asked, and thrice comes the command to feed the lambs and the sheep of the Father's flock.

Certainly the sacred moments when one bows before Truth in this communion with divine Love are times for Christian Scientists to ask themselves if they love the things of the Spirit more than materialism. When they can answer in Peter's words, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee," then must come a resolve to be enlisted in the greatest of all work —that of bringing the kingdom of heaven to the hearts of men.

Thus our Communion services should leave all who participate therein with great spiritual refreshment and strengthening. As they arise from their prayer, with what earnestness may they sing the Communion Doxology in our Hymnal (No. 1):

John Randall Dunn