Democratic banner., 1850-08-26
For thu Bannsr..

E For the Banner,
Nh. EDrroR / am one of those individ-
uals who sometimes go to church, and when
i do go, it is invariably for the purpose Of
what may be said by the minister.
mo man should 60 to church but for that
purpose; but experience in our little city
proves that this cannot be the design Of an
who attend. 1t frequently happens that i
minister Of some notoriety does US the hon
or to call on us, and we in return, It must
be acknowledged, turn out in goodly mum.
bers, as one would suppose, to hear him.
Good preaching, or what / mean, the ex-,
positions of Bible teaching by 8 profound,
logical and learned man, is a thing not only
agreeable to the ear, but deeply instructive
to the understanding. Therefore, when an
individual goes TO church, he should 60 to
be thus entertained and Instructed.
Not long since / visited a church in town
with the pleasing anticipation before me, Of
hearing a good sermon. 1t is known that
the churches here are small, and the mem
bers themselves being rather numerous, Il
looks to me like %impudence for one to be
crowding himself in the wayleternally, un-
less he has a sincere desire to hear the truth
and beEieve it. l. therefore, seldom press
myself. = '<f 81
But upon the occasion alluded to, attract.
ed thither by the fame of the preacher, with
a desperate effort I had overcome my mod.
.esty, and having ventured in, squeezed my.
self down on a bench, where / had to sit
crowded, without the ability to turn my head
or move my arms. The house was so full
that a stranger would at once have spoken
well of the piety and moral sentiment Of our
citizens. ..'. r.r aa
Well, the most of us, l presume, had gone,
at least, to hear and, treat the speaker with
that respect, which would be expected from
the intelligence of our city. The preacher,
too, was performing his part, By delivering
an ingenious and argumeDtative discourse,
free from psdantry, or the dissgreeable noise
that usually attends the explosion ofpreach.
or's lungs. I was entertained and exceed
ingly grstiied. l listened attentiyely, and
eagerly caught every word as it fell from
his lips-my mind well entertained in the
pleasing task of linking his chain of argu.
ment, and admiring its beauty when con.
nected. .-
But judge of my aggravating position,
when tell you, that Just in front of me sat
bench full of young men, who, instead Of
enjoying the rich feast spread out before
their understanding, began the work of cut.
ting all sorts Of antic shines-whiSpering
aloud, grinning ike monkeys, squirting
like worms, pointing at certain persons,
and then giggling with yehemence, only par.
TALLY suppressed. The noise broke up my
chain of thought. / couldn't hear all the
preacher said, and finally it became so bad
that abandoned all hope of gathering the
beauty Of the sermon from the little ] heard.
This circumstance led me into the follow
ing reflections, and if others will think Of
it a moment, they must concur with me in
tho truth Of them
LIST. That no man ought to 60 to church
he desires to hear the speaker and
treasure up what he says, for the time Of at.
tendance there is otherwise lost to him for.
ever. - -.-.-
Cd. That the churches here arc small,
and there are citizens enough to occupy
the ~, who are willing and anxious to take
the seats, behave themselves and hear the
preaching.
Sd. If persons will go, to sho,O then.
without any design to profit, and
crowd out those who would like to heal,
should at least consent to make a pam /
show Of their persons, and not dis
turb those few attentive persons whom they I
have kindly permitted to come in and see !
them. SPECTATOR.
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