Religion: 1900th Pentecost

The Acts make a concise report of the First Pentecost, the founding of the Christian Church 1,900 years ago last Sunday (June 8), an event which Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Episcopalian Churches celebrate annually with due reverence, which other Protestant denominations observe this year with centennial devotion.

It was somewhat before 9 a. m. the 50th day (pentecost means 50th day) after Easter. The Jews had celebrated their Pentecost the sennight before, to commemorate Moses’ giving their ancestors the Ten Commandments 50 days after the Exodus from Egypt. Peter and the other eleven Apostles, including newly elected Matthias,* were communing in the upstairs room of a Jerusalem house. Then and thus The Acts:

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. . . .

“Others mocking said. These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. . . . Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. . . . Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”*

To celebrate the 1900th Pentecost, the Christian Herald last month asked Calvin Coolidge, Congregationalist, for a message. His message, on his severe stationery (Calvin Coolidge: Northampton: Massachusetts) : “Of course I appreciate the great importance of the celebration. … I do not see any method of improving our social and economic relations except through the teachings of religion. In fact it is my belief that we have gone as far as we can in progress and reform until we have a more general acceptance of the truths of religion. . . .”

The Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America sent out an urbane “call”:

“. . . We note with satisfaction that the movement for the observance of Pentecost, in contrast with many undertakings, is being carried forward with a minimum of external organization, without artificial promotion, or the setting of financial and statistical goals, and that attention is being concentrated upon leading the members of the churches into a deeper personal experience of the presence of the living God. . . . Why should not the churches during the period of Pentecost, so far as possible, lay aside their absorption in various programs, which, however good, derive their final value only from their relation to the will of God, and devote themselves to meditation and prayer and renewed dedication? . . .”

Response was widespread, in places ostentatious. In Brooklyn Dr. Jeffrey Jennings set up an altar at the sidewalk before his Protestant Episcopal Church of the Atonement. There he offered Holy Communion to wayfarers. In the evening he had Wilfred Penny, an, evangelist, preach. Elsewhere church union services inspired a Christian fraternity more emotional than usual. Church conventions which were ending or beginning their annual sessions seemed to show a lessened aversion to corporate merger.

*Judas Iscariot had bought a field with the reward of his Betrayal: “and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.” To succeed him the remaining Disciples prayed and drew lots for Joseph (called Barsabas) and Matthias. The other Apostles were Simon Peter (or simply Peter), James, John, Andrew,Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon Zelotes and Jude (Judas, brother of James, to be distinguished from Judas Iscariot).

*Before (his great Conversion the disciples had numbered about 120.