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Edward Hitchcock notes on the color of wine

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

Notes by Edward Hitchcock arguing against the idea that wine is important to the Eucharist because its the redness reminds one of the blood of Christ. Hitchcock cautions that any feelings brought up by the wine's similarity to blood are animal feelings, not moral feelings. He stresses that one should be capable of considering Christ's suffering and of having religious feelings without being reminded of blood.

Edward Hitchcock essay on wine submitted to the New York Observer, 1836 January 1

Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864

A copy of an essay by Edward Hitchcock in which Hitchcock argues for an end to the use of wine as part of the Eucharist. This copy includes a cover letter (with "The Wine Question" written at the head) to the editors of the New York Observer discussing the history of this text, misunderstanding about it, and presenting it for potential publication in the Observer. Hitchcock presents three main arguments in the essay (which he titled, "What is the duty of the churches in regard to the use of fermented (alcoholic) wine in celebrating the Lord's Supper?"), stating first that nothing in the scriptures justifies the use of wine in the present-day communion service, second that neither bread nor wine is an essential part of the communion service, and third that the temperance cause cannot triumph without ending the use of wine at the Lord's Supper. He expands upon each of these arguments and explains his reasoning.