Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-14
MAHIN & CLEMENS.
Courtesy.

Courtesy.
This number concludes the remarks o
our correspondent on
DEPoRTxENT AT CHURCH.
Never leave the house when you ascertain
that your favorite is not to preach. II
say nothing of higher motives, an occa
sional disappointment is the price yo,
ought to be willing to pay for the pleasure
Of hearing him, and you cannot bette,
show your regard for him than by listening
to his friend. Besides, it is a miserable
compliment to pay stranger, to run ou
Of doors as soon as hs appears in the pull
pit.
When you see stranger coming up the
aisle, throw open your pew to him. 1t /,
also courteous for you TO do so when thu
sexton brings person to your pew. Id
churches lat attract many strangers, a
number Of pews should be reserved TO,
them in the most commodious part of tho
house. II on entering your pew you find d
stranger in it, ask him to remain if he be.
trays any uneasiness and although your
pew shonld be full without him, seek sea,
elsewhere rather than disturb him. To
bow him out as some do, is very uncivil
and selfish. s'IIave you not mistaken the
pew, sir ?" blandly said Sunday exquisite,
as with emphatic gracefulness he opened
the door. 81 beg your pardon, sir,'' re-
piled the undaunted stranger, rising to 60
olt, IL fear have; took it for Z hris-
tian's." The stranger should thank you
for the favor Of a seat and you, in return,
should invite him to sit with you whenever
he comes to your place of worship.
Ualess conscience or expediency forbid,
you should conform to the ceremonies of
the congregation in which you arc worship
ing; standing when they stand bowing
when they bow; and kneelng when they
knccl.
We will here add some pertinent remarks
from the elegant pen of ". Roberts, Esq,
whose ssPortraiture OF Christian Gentle.
man, treats this branch of the subject
more fully than our space will allow us to
do. GAS cur liturgy he observes, sis so
framed as to call impariously upon the peo-
pie 10 give audible utterance to their part
of the services, so does il call upon the
minister to give time for the congregation
IL finish what the rubric has appointed to
be answered or repeated by them before he
proceeds with the service. 1t is scarcely
consistent with tue decorum of good man
pcrs, much less with the dignity and e.licacy
of our forms Of worship, to tire I'd upon the
heels OF those who are endcarorng to re-
peat according to the rubric, as to force
them tn sacrifice ~ moiety of what they had
10 say, or hurry to the concllsien.'
When YOU partake of the sacramental
supper, lay aside your books, glove +, or
whatever you may hold in your hand. If
the ordinance is observed at an altar, ap-
proach 1t with slow and revcrentlal step.
i,n not try To geta place to the exclusion of
Others. On such an occ lsion, as well us at
fnnoral, l,licS may cpyer themselves with
veil half drawn.
When the bcnediction is pronounced you
should rise facing thu Clergyman 1t is i'm
proper 10 Ike up your cloak, hat Or care,
10 pull IN glove, or to open a pew door
during this part Of the service. Never be-
gin 10 retir, till the bcncdiction is fairly
pronounced even then be not in haste to
lsavc church.
In goin. out, if lady accompanies you,
offer to carry her book ii sine has any in
her hand; 20 before to clear the way for
her; aud when necessary, hold the doc
open while she is passing out. In going
along the aisle carefully avoid touching 9TH
ers. In an innunerable multitude of cour-
teous persons, you would never witncs IS the
slightest crowding, unless it should be I'M
possible for them TO find sufficient ground
whercou to stand in the wide world Never
put on your hat for the sake of preserving
AZ from the pi ess, or for the sake of any>
thing else. kcepit OF till you reach the
door; this mark Of reverence is due to the
house Of God not to those who are accus-
toned to crowd their way out Of it.
Avoid talking in the vestibule or in the
street after service. Ii you have anything
very important to say to u person, do not
stop him, but go alon, with him til! you
have done speaking. When leaving church
ON ordinary occasions, you should salute
only those you may meet in going into the
street. When it rams, and you have an n
brella, remember to share it with one who
has none.
II you are in tho habit Of sleeping ia
church take no breakfast If this fails Of
curing the disease, take no dinner. Some
times walk before church is beneficial, cs.
pecially t0 = man OF business. But moth
ing is 50 sure remedy as the cultivation Of
an active and daily piety. No man sleeps
when engaged in an occupation that is in
*sresting to him.
The man of fashion keeps all his engage
insnts. He goes to q ball or an assembly
room when il IL dark, stormy and cold, lest
he cause disappointment The Christian
should be equally jealous from better mo-
tives, and IN better cause. jehovah as
much deserves to be worshlped when he re-
veals his power and majesty in the storm,
~ when he displays his benevolence and
handiwork in the sunl!t landscape.
HERvEY.