Last Sacrament?

[L Verge]

As an Episcopalian, I can say that today, anyone who has been baptized in the name of the Lord in any church is welcome to receive communion in the Episcopal Church. However, I am 99% sure that such was not the case in 1865 - or even up to the 1980s.

The Episcopalians were just as strict as the Catholics as to who could receive the sacraments (until one of the 20th-century Ecumenical Counsels changed things). The Last Rites would not have been administered to a non-Catholic either. Brother Powell may have gone to church with the Bransons, but I'll bet my Book of Common Prayer that he did not approach the altar rail!

Just as a personal aside, it has driven my daughter crazy that my grandson has been allowed at the altar rail since he could walk! He began receiving the wafer (he called it the cookie) when he was about five and we allowed him the wine when he was ten. My daughter is furious because she had to spend months in confirmation classes (catechism) before she could be confirmed and allowed to take communion at age 12. I'm not sure they even have confirmation classes anymore.