18. Into such absurdities was the simple sacrament of the Lord's supper distorted! When attended with all the pomp and ceremony of splendid altars, lighted tapers, processions, elevations and chantings: offered up by priests and bishops clad in splendid vestments and in the midst of clouds of incense, accompanied by mystic movements and genuflections of bishops and priests, the church could congratulate itself on having removed the reproach at the first fastened upon the Christians for not having altars and sacrifice. The mass took away the reproach; and the new converts to Christianity were accustomed to see the same rites and ceremonies employed in this mystical sacrifice of the Son of God as they had seen employed in offering up of sacrifice to their pagan deities. (See notes 8 and 9, end of section.) 19. Suppression of Half the Sacrament.--In time the idea became prevalent that as the body and blood of Messiah were equally and entirely present under each "species"--that is, equally and entirely present in the bread and in the wine--it was equally and entirely given to the faithful whichever they received. This idea, of course, rendered it unnecessary to partake of both bread and wine--hence the practice of communion in one kind. That is, the sacrament was administered by giving {135} bread alone to the communicant. To remark that this was changing the ordinance of the sacrament as instituted by Messiah--suppressing half of it in fact--can scarcely be necessary since it is so well known that Jesus administered both bread and wine when instituting the sacred ordinance.[42] NOTES. 1. Reasons Why the Ancient Saints Worshiped on Sunday.--But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, when he changed the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Savior on the same day rose from the dead; for the day before that of Saturn he was crucified, and on the day after it, which is Sunday, he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them these things which we have given to you also for your consideration.--Justin Martyr.