Grandma had timed her last evening alone with her grandchildren to correspond with reading the last chapter of Sweet Sixteen. “You have been good listeners, children,” she remarked, “and I hope our Annie’s story is thought-provoking. Now for Chapter Seven, the very last one.”
My father was rather disturbed with my leanings towards the assembly-hall Christians whom he considered very strange. When I was so concerned over the “sprinkling” versus the “immersion” question regarding baptism, he came to a meeting for the baptism of some believer and took me home—greatly to my humiliation. His reason was that mother was upset. Needless to say, my face turned scarlet and I had some rebellious feelings to overcome. I was under my father’s roof, however, only sixteen years of age, and I knew my place was to be subject. It comforted me to read how the Lord Jesus, when His parents sought and found Him in the Temple at that early age of twelve years, returned home with them and was “subject to them.” Thankfully, my father did not forbid me altogether, and I was still able to attend the readings. But I went faithfully with my mother to her church as well.
The summer was now over and I was to enroll at Albert College. My distress about the many churches was brought sharply to a head as I sought to fill out the entrance form. To what Church do you belong? There was a gaping blank space for me to fill. I had not joined any as yet, but I felt that I should put something down. For I had learned at the hall and in the Word of God that there is but one Church, the body of Christ, and that all true Christians were members. Furthermore, according to Acts 2:41,42,4741Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:41‑42)
47Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47) the Lord Himself did the adding. And praise His name, He had added me! What should I say! In my searching of the Scriptures, I had found a verse, “The legs of the lame are not equal.” This helped to balance my thinking regarding the many churches. If I have not all the truth, I am still lame. A church with even one point of doctrine contrary to God’s Word was, in effect, lame. He called me by no name that would separate me from other Christians. Are we not one? (The believers, true disciples, were called Christians first at Antioch.) Our Lord said, “One is your Master, even Christ, and ye are all brethren.” What was I to say? The urgency of the need to be a witness, pressed upon me and I felt my face coloring. Time was passing and I felt rather stupid to be taking so long. I could just say, “none” but that would sound—well, irreligious. The easy way out would be to say, “Methodist” or merely, “Protestant.” I must be honest, totally. At last I crowded in the words, “to the only one there is—Body of Christ.” The staunch church woman who went over my form called me to her for questioning. She was frowning as she said rather impatiently, “But, Miss Lake, to what branch? Your Mother is a Methodist—are you?” I was just about to open my mouth when she quickly wrote something—I think “nondenominational” down and dismissed me. That, I did not like either, but since the matter was closed, there was nothing I could do about it. I had felt the coldness in her look and voice. “Well,” I sighed, “this is reproach for my Lord, and I ought to rejoice. I’ll just have to win that official’s esteem by my behavior and scholastic work.”
I was soon going to be seventeen. My! I did feel grown-up. A small breach had begun to form between me and my darling mother, since we had disagreed on points of Christian truths. She felt it keenly at times, and I was sorry. But she often told me of her relief and joy that I had chosen not to be a social butterfly. Father, on the other hand, had wanted to see me blossom into a graceful thing of beauty, whom he could be proud to see moving prettily in the best circles of our day.
One day, as Mother and I were having a cup of tea together, I broached a subject dear to my heart. “Mother, I would so much like to attend a Sunday worship service at the assembly hall, but I would not go without your and Father’s permission. I would only observe. They have seats in the rear for observers.”
“I don’t know what your father would say,” Mother answered thoughtfully. “I felt sorry that he was so harsh as to bring you home that day. I know it embarrassed you greatly. However, I can’t tell you how pleased I was with your behavior in taking it so sweetly. Your father and I have appreciated it, and he may, perhaps, have regretted his harshness. I will speak to him, Annie, and do what I can.” She sighed and said, “I suppose one cannot fail to see the `handwriting on the wall.’ Your heart leans to them. They are fine Christians.”
To my real surprise and relief, Father agreed to allow me to attend the meeting for worship. “She will go eventually, I suppose. We may as well face it,” he had muttered.
I went!
No pulpit in evidence, no choir, no organ, no preacher! At the fore part of the hall was a table spread with a white cloth, a loaf of bread on a plate, a glass of wine, and a folded napkin covered the wine. Seats were placed all around the four sides of the table. Several chairs were at the back of the hall, where observers or unsaved people sat.
All who surrounded the table were Christians, those who claimed to have had a new birth.
The Christians entered softly, almost reverently, all quietly attired, the men with heads uncovered and the women with hats. No chairman or leader! “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).
Well, they were gathered together in His Name!
All sat with bowed heads, when one man arose and prayed, “that the words of their mouth and the meditation of their hearts would be acceptable to God,” and that their worship and praise would be unhindered as they sought to keep this feast in remembrance of Him, according to His request.
Then another arose, and gave out a hymn of praise.
Another brother arose and read the twenty-second Psalm, referring to the sufferings of Christ. I had never heard anything like it. (Oh, do read it!)
It was too much for me. I was completely overcome—I wept! Ashamed to weep? Ah, no! I am only ashamed when I can ever read it without weeping. I was not the only one who wept, either, if handkerchiefs were any evidence.
Oh, to think that my precious Savior endured so much for me!
The psalm begins with the words uttered on the cross: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? why art Thou so far from helping Me?”
“Oh My God.... but Thou art holy,” did He say? It was my load of sins that made Him cry out there.
Oh my soul,—can you take it in?
And He bore it all for me!
He could speak of help given to others who cried unto God, and deliverance was given unto them. But He said He was a worm and no man! He was laughed to scorn—they ridiculed His trust in God, saying, “Let God deliver Him now.”
“They pierced My hands and My feet.
I may tell all My bones:
They look and stare upon Me.
They part My garments among them,
And cast lots upon My vesture.”
All hearts were subdued, and adoration and worship must have flowed out for such a Savior!
After a pause, another brother arose, went to the table, and giving thanks for the bread, broke the loaf—a memorial of His body given for us. He handed the plate to the one on the end seat, and it was passed from one to the other, each breaking a piece and eating it. Then the last man placed it on the table.
Thanks was given for the cup, a memorial of the blood shed on Calvary’s cross, and each drank thereof.
Then a hymn of praise was given out and voices poured forth in thanksgiving.
The collection plate was then passed among themselves as expressed in 1 Corinthians 16:11Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. (1 Corinthians 16:1). This was the first time I had ever seen or known of a collection taken up at the little hall.
At this point, another brother arose and read some scriptures, giving earnest exhortation as to the responsibility to walk worthy in all their manner of living, and for each and all to be witnesses for Him, seeking the salvation of those not yet saved.mm
In closing, prayer was made for the absent, for the sick and suffering, for the gospel meeting that was to follow that night, and for Sunday school. He prayed for the government authority, and for help for each and all to lead godly lives as they went forth to their homes.
It was a wonderful meeting!
The women were silent.
The whole thing was so orderly that you would think that it had been arranged, and it was so harmonious! It really seemed to be a meeting all for the Lord Himself, except the last exhortation given.
There was a quiet awe following, as if fearing to break the spell.
What a meeting! I had never been in a meeting like it! How must our Lord have been refreshed!
I went home and told my family all about it, and got my Bible and read some of that twenty-second Psalm to them. All were very subdued. I did not feel like eating. I went to my room to think it all over, and got 1 Corinthians 11 and read through to the end of that book, finding out that that meeting to break bread had been carried out according to order given and the command is “Till He come.”
Now I had found a little company that owned no head save the Lord Jesus Christ, that owned the Word of God as final authority, that took no name that did not embrace all believers, and fully believed that “where two or three are gathered together in My name” that the Lord would be true to His promise: “There am I in the midst.” Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).
I could hardly wait to go again!
Yes, He would take His place as Head, and by His Holy Spirit would guide and control that meeting.
I had read in some Sunday school paper from church a question, “For what purpose did they come together the first day of the week?” and the answer they had given was—“To hear Paul preach.” But that is not what the Word says. “The disciples came together to break bread, and Paul preached unto them... and continued his speech until midnight.”
In First Corinthians the Apostle to the Church plainly sets forth that special meeting, and gives special instructions. He starts out in the eleventh chapter, verse 3, telling God’s order: “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”
“Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head.”
In the old dispensation, men did not appear unbonneted in public worship, but here we find that men are to appear with uncovered heads, and the women with covered heads, “Because of the angels.”
Paul says that he received of the Lord that which he passed on to the believers, “That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.... For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come.”
“Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat.”
Now here is something to be done on the first day of the week. It is to be done in remembrance of Him! For how long a period of time? Till He come!
Chapter twelve shows the relationship of the believers to one another. The Lord calls them “one Body.” There are many members, each and all needful to the other, members one of another, controlled by the Head, each given a special gift.
Chapter thirteen—This body of believers is exhorted to covet the greatest grace—love!
Then follows the order of the meeting in Chapter fourteen: prayer, praise, giving of thanks, a psalm, doctrine, a tongue, an interpretation, prophecy, two or three men as led by the Spirit to speak, women to maintain silence. Chapter sixteen, collection—lay by as prospered the first day of the week.
“Let all things be done unto edifying.” “Let all things be done decently and in order.” This breaking of bread meeting is the only meeting I could find ordered throughout as to the day, the order to follow, what to do, and how. All other meetings are without direction or instruction as to day.
What a crowning joy, what sweetness, to end my sixteenth year with knowing that my questions, my distress over the beckonings of many churches, the hunger of my heart was at last satisfied. I could get on with my life in the shelter of the assembly, feeling that I was just where He wanted me to be. The future I did not know, but it was safe in His dear hands. He had led, would lead, and I wanted with all my heart to follow wholly.
“And there children, we leave Miss Annie.” Grandma spoke softly. “She did follow her Lord, I’m sure, for otherwise she would never have been asked to write her little story down after forty-six years. Her life in Christ took root and grew after that little prayer in the carriage, `Lord Jesus, I will take You,’ and she did not stay at the threshold, but bloomed and blossomed for Him. The blossom is the forerunner of fruit. One of the sweetest fruits she bore was that weekly precious meeting of thanksgiving and praise in answer to Jesus’ very last request before His death ‘This do in remembrance of Me.’ Remember? I told you how dear it is to His heart. ‘The Father seeketh such to worship Him.’ He sought them in that day. He sought them in Annie’s day. He seeks them in our day. He is seeking you too. Will you respond or will you go on in an indifferent way, slowly but surely losing that which was once delivered to you? For you will lose it, if you do not value it as the very truth of God delivered to your trust.”
The children respectfully and thoughtfully dispersed for their evening duties. Crystal slipped over and softly planted a kiss on Grandma’s cheek. “I’ll miss you, Grandma dear.”
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