legion rested the fate of an empire, they came out in front of the
assembled host, and kneeling down on one knee they raised their hands to
heaven and took an oath to die for Rome; and that was called the
sacramental oath. And our Saxon forefathers, when they came to the
Lord's trysting-place of love, thought it was a place for taking the
oath anew.


After our Civil War, George Peabody, one of our noblest Americans, gave
his fortune for schools in the desolated south. He visited the White
Sulphur Springs. No king ever received so heart-felt a welcome. The
south laid the homage of grateful hearts at his feet. An aged bishop,
now in Paradise--Bishop Wilmer, of Louisiana, came to see him, and said:
"Mr. Peabody, I am a southern man, and my heart goes out in love for the
man who has been our benefactor. But, Mr. Peabody, if you are saved, it
will not be because you gave your fortune to the needy. You will be
saved, as the poorest laborer, for your faith in Jesus Christ." Mr.
Peabody said, "I know that. I do believe in Him; I do pray to Him."
"But," said Bishop Wilmer, "Mr. Peabody, the night before the Saviour
died for you, He instituted the sacrament of the Holy Communion, and He
left a request for you to come and receive it. He has a gift for you.
Have you ever come to His table?" Mr. Peabody said, "I never knew that.
No one ever told me. I knew about the Holy Communion, but I thought it
was for saints--men who felt sure they were going to heaven. I never
knew it was a place to come and receive a gift the Saviour had for me."
That day Mr. Peabody left the White Sulphur Springs. He knew that the
Holy Communion was to be celebrated in his mother's church, at Danvers,
the next Sunday. He reached Danvers Saturday, and at once called on the
pastor and said, "I am coming to the Holy Communion tomorrow. I did not
know it was my duty till a few days ago." And he did come. That was