Smyrna times., 1859-05-19
Public Worship in Churches.

Another thing have remarked in the public
worship in this goody land, which don't like
at all. find no warrant in the Scriptures for
peoples sitting during prayer III the house OF
God. | believe that 1t will be conceded that
there are only two attitudes Of prayer spoken
of in the word of God. One is kneeting the
other is standing. For myself prefer the for
mer, bnt it is not always convenient. Standing,
however, is practicable anywhere, for persons
whose health and strength will permit them TO
do it. AS for feeble and aged persons, they
ought to sit. And if prayers were always
what they should be-short, animated, spirtuaI ,
and to the purpose-there are few persons IN
good health who could not endure the fatigue
of standing FIVE or ten minutes; and a public
prayer ought seldom to exceed ten minutes.
| should have no objection to :he use, at least
for portion of the service, OF a short and ap-
propriate liturgy, such as exists in the French
and Swiss Protestant churches. But | think
that OF the Episcopal church, though in many
respects very beautiful, is intoIcraby long,
repetitous, and withal has a little too much OF
Rome in it to suit me. | like the abundant
reading Of the Scriptures which takes place IN
the Episcopal church, but that has no essential
connection with liturgy. The practice might
exist, and ought to exist i'll all churches, of CO.
pious, and 10 some extent systematic, reading
of the word of God. The absence of 1t is a
great defect in many Of the non Episcopal
churches of this country. But | cannot endure
the long routine, and the many and abrupt
changes in the service of the Episcopal church,
whatever claims she may make to pre- emil
nence | am quite sure that all this Is nOtapos-
lohcaI, whatever else of that high origin she
NAV arrogate. But enough OF all tals, lest |
might offend some among your renders who e.
long to branch of Zlon for which have con-
siderable respect, although thus write.
There is another practice in the churches
which | deem very reprehensitlc. 1t Is the
unseemly haste with which people quit the
house of God, as soon as the benedictlOn has
been pronounced by the minister. How shock
ing is it to see gentlemen adjusting their cloa ks
Cr oyercoats, or searching for their hats or
canes, and opening the door of their pews, ETC.,
during the pronunciation of the blessing. All
this is perfectly outrageous. ln contrast WIN
this, how very appropriate IS the way IN whlch
the public worship is brought to close IN the
Protestant churches on the continent, where
the whole congregation remain standing IN per-
feet silence minute or so after the voice oil the
minister has ceased; and then they retire
quietly. In England the difference Is still
greater. The congregation sit down-in cases
remain seated often tive or three minutes, many
with bowed heads, apparently, and in many
cases really, without doubt, lifting up the heart
to God for his blessing at the moment OF leav
inc. No one who has been accustomed to th'
irreverent and unbecoming manner IN whIcl
people rush out of our places of worship cal
possibly attend divine service in England, o
On the Continent, without being struck witt
the contrast in this respect.
am often scandalized, also, at the practice
which the people have in many places, of risin!
during singing, and turning their backs to tn
pulpit, for the purpose of staring up into tn
faces of the choir. All this is vulgar, and ur
becoming the house of God. Why do not tn
ministers of this land train their congregation
into better manners in relation to these points
think that 1t would really be worth the Will
to preach occasionally on these subjects.
"holiness" becomes the house OF the Lore
most certainly all irreverence and lmProprIet
do not.
ONE NATHANIEL MEMO.