The following extract from my memorandum-book furnishes the nighest approach to the model which we have in our eye of good order and Christian decency in celebrating this institution. Indeed, the whole order of that congregation was comely:

"The church in consisted of about fifty members. Not having any person whom they regarded as filling Paul's outlines of a Bishop, they had appointed two senior members, of a very grave deportment, to preside in their meetings. These persons were not competent to labor in the word and teaching; but they were qualified to rule well, and to preside with Christian dignity. One of them presided at each meeting. After they had assembled in the morning, which was at eleven o'clock, (for they had agreed to meet at eleven and adjourn at two o'clock during the winter season,) and after they bad saluted one another in a very familiar and cordial manner, as brethren are won't to do who meet for social purposes; as the president for the day arose and said, 'Brethren, being assembled in the name and by the authority of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on this day of his resurrection, let us unite in celebrating his praise.' He then repeated the following stanza:

'Christ the Lord is risen today!

Sons of men and angels say:

Raise your joys and triumphs high,

Sing, O heavens and, earth, reply!'

"The congregation arose and sang this psalm in animating strains. He then called upon a brother, who was a very distinct and emphatic reader, to read a section of the evangelical history. He arose and read, in a very audible voice, the history of the crucifixion of the Messiah. After a pause of a few moments, the president called upon a brother to pray in the name of the congregation. His prayer abounded with thanksgivings to the Father of Mercies, and with supplications for such blessings on themselves and for all men as were promised to those who ask, or for which men were commanded to pray. The language was very appropriate: no unmeaning repetitions, no labor of 'words, no effort to say any thing and every thing that came into his mind; but to express slowly, distinctly, and emphatically, the desires of the heart. The prayer was comparatively short; and the whole congregation, brethren and sisters, pronounced aloud the final Amen.

"After prayer a passage in one of the Epistles was read by the president himself, and a song was called for. A brother arose, and, after naming the page, repeated:

'Twas on that night when doomed to know

The eager rage of every foe; -

That night in which he was betrayed, -

The Savior of the world took bread.'

He then sat down and the congregation sang with much feeling.

"I observed that the table was furnished before the disciples met in the morning, and that the disciples occupied a few benches on each side of it, while strangers sat off on seats more remote. The president arose and said that our Lord had a table for his friends, and that he invited his disciples to sup with him.' In memory of his death, this monumental table,' said he, 'was instituted; and as the Lord ever lives in heaven, so he ever lives in the heart of his people. As the first disciples, taught by the Apostles in person, came together in one place to eat the Lord's Supper, and as they select the first day of the week in honor of his resurrection, for this purpose; so we, having the same Lord, the same faith, the same hope with them, have vowed to do as they did. We owe as much to them as they; and ought to love, honor, and obey him as much as they.' Thus having spoken, he took a small loaf from the table, and in one or two periods gave thanks for it. After thanksgiving he raised it in his hand, and significantly brake it, and handed it to the disciples on each side of him, who passed the broken loaf from one to another, until they all partook of it. There was no stiffness, no formality, no pageantry; all was easy, familiar, solemn, cheerful. He then took the cup in a similar manner, and returned thanks for it, and handed it to the disciple sitting next to him, who passed it around; each one waiting upon his brother, until all were served. The thanksgiving before the breaking of the loaf, and the distributing of the cup, were as brief and pertinent to the occasion, as the thanks usually presented at the common table for the ordinary blessings of God's bounty. They then arose, and with one consent sang:

'To him that loved the sons of men,

And wash'd us in his blood;

To royal honors raised our heads,

And made us priests to God.'

"The president of the meeting called upon a brother to remember the poor, and those ignorant of the way of life, before the Lord. He kneeled down, and the brethren all united with him in supplicating the Father of Mercies in behalf of all the sons and daughters of affliction, the poor and the destitute, and in behalf of the conversion of the world. After this prayer, the fellowship or contribution was attended to; and the whole church proved the sincerity of their desires, by the cheerfulness and liberality which they seemed to evince, in putting into the treasury as the Lord had prospered them.

"A general invitation was tendered to all the brotherhood if they had anything to propose or inquire, tending to the edification of the body. Several brethren arose in succession, and read several passages in the Old and New Testament, relative to some matters which had been subjects of former investigation and inquiry. Sundry remarks were made; and after singing several spiritual songs selected by the brethren, the president, on motion of a brother who signified that the hour adjournment had arrived, concluded the meeting by pronouncing the apostolic benediction.

"I understand that all these items were attended to in all their meetings; yet the order of attendance was not invariably the same. On all the occasions on which I was present with them, no person arose to speak without invitation, or without asking permission of the president, and no person finally left the meeting before the hour of adjournment, without special leave. Nothing seemed to be done in a formal or ceremonious manner. Every thing exhibited to the power of godliness as well as the form; and no person could attend to all that passed without being edified and convinced that the Spirit of God was there. The joy, the affection, and the reverence which appeared in this little assembly was the strongest argument in favor of their order, and the best comment on the excellency of the Christian institution."

Comment: The above from the pen of Brother Alexander Campbell was written over 100 years ago and was published in "The Christian System", (1835 A. D.), pages 342-245.

We note with interest some things practiced by this church, which Brother Campbell says "furnished the nighest approach to the model which we have in our eye of good order and Christian decency in celebrating this institution."

1. You will notice an absence of instrumental music, and other unscriptural things practiced by our digressive brethren.

2. There was no Sunday school or class system of teaching the word; no women teachers over classes; no modern pastor system, where a preacher is taken out of the evangelistic field to supplant the work of the elders, as is now practiced in many of the Churches of Christ.

3. There was evidently but one cup (drinking vessel) on the Lord's table, from which all participants drank in order, one after another - no two, four, six, nor individual communion (?) cups there. Yes, and there was but one loaf, from which all partook.

4. The order of observance of the items of worship was as I note; singing, reading the Scriptures, prayer, reading, singing, Communion, singing, prayer, contribution, edification by the brethren in succession, benediction. But, he adds that while "all these items were attended to in all their meetings; yet the order of attendance was not invariably the same."

Naturally, we wonder what Bro. Campbell would think if he could see the many departures of today, but most important of all, how about the Lord, as He views the flagrant disregard for His word in the churches today? Let us return to the Old Paths, brethren!