Some confusion had been created by a young fellow posing as a Christan preacher, who had told them it was wrong to use more than one cup in the communion.

It happens that our people did not use cups at all, but glasses, contrary to ancient custom, and it was then discovered that, after all, only one cup or glass was offered each individual: after they saw how silly the argument of the young man was they felt better. The whole purpose of his preaching has been to disrupt and tear down. These young men are given difinite instructions to disrupt Christian Churches where elders allow them to use their building.

The forgoing was written by Marion Browning, publisher of "The Ozark Christian", who had formerly been preaching at Mt. Carnie and at Winnipeg, Mo., where I have recently held meetings.

It was during my meeting at Mt. Carnie, that I first met him. He pushed right in one Saturday night, insisting that it was his appointment to preach. Lord’s day morning he had the table set with the individual (??) communion cups. I asked him kindly to consent to the use of one cup in the Communion, but he refused. After he went through with the exercises, I preached a discourse on the Scriptural way to Commune, after which I set the table, using but one cup and one loaf, for which we have authority. To which the greater part of the congregation agreed, letting him know that they were through with him. Hence, it is because he has lost ground in this contention, that he thus complains, and misrepresents as he has above.

Browning says: "It happens that our people did not use cups at all, but glasses, contrary to the ancient custom, and it was then discovered that after all, only one cup or glass was offered each individual." Poor Browning! (I say "poor", because he is to be pitied). Evidently he doesn’t know that the Greek word "poterion" means a drinking vessel, and so does the English word "cup" (See Thayer, also Webster). Hence a glass is a cup (drinking vessel), and that glasses would be cups, regardless of whether they had handles or not. Shame!

Yes, "one cup or glass was offered to each individual", but where is the Scripture for the practice? Echo answers where? This was not the practice of the early church, nor according to the example set by the Savior, where Jesus said, "Drink ye all of it" (Matt. 26:27), "and they all drank of it" (Mk. 14:28), which shows all drank from the same cup.

"After they saw how silly the argument of the young man was, they felt better". This is another plain misrepresentation of facts. Why is it that Browning no longer preaches at Mt. Carnie? It is evidently because the brethren were convinced of the Scripturalness of my claims, and want to worship the right way (Cor. 11 :1, 2). Remember that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" (Cor. 1:25). These brethren were just honest enough to accept the Truth, when presented to them.

"These young men are given definite instructions to disrupt Christian Churches, where elders allow them to use their buildings". Jesus says, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things, which I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19, 20). Yes, sir, we are given instructions of the Master to teach whatever He has commanded, even if it "disrupts and tears down" every false method and observance of men. "The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand" (Prov. 18:7).