The Historical Society recently opened “Come to the Table: an exhibit featuring the practice of communion in the Stone-Campbell heritage.” The new displays have been mounted in the Oscar Haynes Exhibit Hall at the T.W. Phillips Memorial Archives and include a rich array of artifacts, texts and photographs.

“The exhibit coincides with the bicentennial of the Declaration and Address, the theme of which is Great Communion,” said McGarvey Ice, Director of Public Services at the Society. “So it seems appropriate to display communion ware and highlight in our exhibit the central practice of worship in all three streams of the movement. The practice of weekly communion is one practice that all of the Stone-Campbell family shares.”

The exhibit’s two gems are a pair of communion tables. Both commemorating important anniversaries in our faith history.

One table, a Gustav Stickley Library Table, was used at the 1909 Centennial Convention to serve communion. A large panoramic photograph in the exhibit hall shows this table displayed among the participants at the convention. This amazing piece of history is a permanent fixture at the Historical Society as the welcome table in our lobby.

The other table is the focal point of the exhibit hall. The Stump Table from the 2009 General Assembly was created by craftsman and furniture designer Mark Whitley . This beautiful, modern table consists of hard maple, mahogany and varieties of local woods from the Kentucky area. The table evokes the image of a stylized tree stump and was inspired by the concept of a life rooted in faith. Mr. Whitley incorporated nearly 2,000 individual blocks of wood into the table that were painted by attendees at 2009 General Assembly. Information and examples of Mark Whitley’s craftsmanship can be found at www.mwhitley.com.

Some of the many interesting items in the exhibit are Thomas Campbell’s amber glass bottle used in Stillwater, Ohio in 1841; a goblet from Plum street Church of Christ in Detroit, which was likely used by Church of Christ evangelist James A. Harding; a beautiful matched set of antique silver communion ware; simple pewter plates; glass goblets; an early individual communion-cup service and many more items.

“Come to the Table” celebrates the rich tradition of meeting at Christ’s table each week to remember him. The exhibit is on display through the fall of 2010.