How Presbyterian Communion Tokens
Relate to the Heresy
of Decisional Regeneration

1778 Scotland Presbyterian Sacramental Meeting Communion Token	1779 Scotland Presbyterian Sacramental Meeting Communion Token	1790 Scotland Presbyterian Sacramental Meeting Communion Token

Communion tokens were a notable feature of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland. They were used not only in the Established Church but by the various Secession and Free Churches of Scotland and the Episcopal Church of Scotland. The Presbyterians took the tradition abroad with them, and significant numbers are recorded in the USA Camp Meetings, which were in fact, Presbyterian Sacramental Meetings.

The original purpose of the tokens was to identify those considered worthy to take part in the communion service, and to prevent those not well instructed in the faith (those who did not have a knowledge of the Shorter Catechism) or not of good character from approaching the communion table. In times of persecution, tokens served to exclude strangers and possible spies from the open air conventicles, when this could be a matter of life and death. In the early days, discipline was strict, and celebration of Holy Communion (once or twice a year, but sometimes at much longer intervals) was an important part of life in Scotland.

Tokens were handed out by the minister at the preparatory service or distributed by the elders. On occasion the communion service could last all day, with several ministers serving great numbers at a succession of ‘tables’. Communicants surrendered their tokens usually at the entrance to the table, or when seated, taking their places at the sitting shown by the table number on the token. Table numbers could also indicate different locations in the church when it was possible to seat everyone at once.