SACRAMENTAL SYRUP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10083, 19 March 1896, Page 3

SACRAMENTAL SYRUP.

TO THE EDITOR, , Sir,—l am glad to find by your report of the Wesleyan Conference that some ministers and congregations have not countenanced the innovation of using so-called unfermented wine, iustead of wine, in the Lord's Supper. The innovators have no Scriptural authority for their action, nor have they ever given a reason that would commend itself to thoughtful and unprejudiced persons for this change; and, however they may deny the accusation in words, they in their action say that in substituting fruit juice, or a chemical compound resembling it, for wine, they are wiser than Christ, more loving, more farseeing ; that the small extreme party living in the latter part of the 19th century have a clearer insight into this matter than the long roll of Christian heroes and martyrs who lived and suffered during the previous 18 centuries. It would be well for them to remember that by weakening, as they do, the nuthority of the Scriptures by their extreme views, they strike a blow at the inspiration of the Bible. They should also remember that tho early aud mediaeval Churches foil through their unsoundness, and by enemies from within, not by the attacks of outside foes, which rather tended to build up, to strengthen, and to purify.— I am, etc,, An Abstainer.