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The Lord’s Supper is a provision of bread and wine, used to represent the body and the blood of Christ, partaken of by members of the church assembled for that purpose; in which service they commemorate the love of Christ exhibited in His death for them, and profess their faith and participation in the merits of His sacrifice, as the only ground of their hope of eternal life.

Note 1.—No person can rightfully or properly become a church-member except he be first baptized, as the distinguishing mark and profession of his discipleship.

Note 2.—The Supper is a church ordinance, and therefore is the privilege of church-members only. Therefore, also, since baptism precedes church-membership, it must precede and be prerequisite to the Lord’s Supper.

Note 3.—Since the Supper is distinctively a church ordinance, it is to be observed by churches only, and not by individuals; neither in private places, nor in sick-rooms, nor on social occasions, and not by companies of disciples other than churches. But a church may by appointment, and in its official capacity, meet in a private house, a sick-room, or wherever it may elect, and there observe the Supper.