Here is a wonderful little item. Many years ago we purchased directly from the executors of Chalmers Memorial Church a small quantity of ephemera related to their most famous pastor, Horatius Bonar. Among them were a small quantity of communion tokens in use at the time of Bonar's pastorate. We thought they had all sold, but upon doing some organizing, we located the last two in the back of a drawer.
Horatius Bonar [1808-1889] was nearly a polymath. He was influential as a pastor, author, diarist, author of hymns, and editor. A college friend of Robert Murray M'Cheyne, his brother Andrew was one of M'Cheyne's co-travellers to Palestine for the Mission of Inquiry to the Jews. Horatius and M'Cheyne attended college under the luminary of the era, Thomas Chalmers. And, upon the opening of Chalmers Memorial Church, it was no surprise that his once favorite pupil was chosen its pastor.
He edited the Quarterly Journal of Prophecy, The Christian Treasury, wrote over 140 hymns, many of which are still in use. This is in addition to authoring works that have been in print almost without pause since their first editions, i.e. How Shall I go to God?, God's Way of Holiness, God's Way of Peace, etc.,
It was common practice during the 18th and 19th centuries for Scottish Presbyterian pastors to interview parishioners before the reception of the Lord's Supper. Not only was the parishioner to keep their conscience clean, but the pastor, as the one responsible for care of the flock, was to ensure their hands were free of the guilt of indulging the celebration of the Lord's supper unworthily. Once the interview as completed, the the token was issued, and then relinquished as the Supper was received.
The front, "This Do in Remembrance of Me Till He Come."
The reverse, "Chalmers Memorial Church. Edinburgh. Opened December 1866."
Good condition, with handling as expected. Measuring appx 3/4 x 1 inch.