Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-05-07
From the Journal OF Commerce.
PUBLIC WORSHIP IN CoNGREG ATIoNAL
CHURCHES IN NEW ENGLAND.

CHURCHES IN NEW ENGLAND.
MRssRs. EDIToRs Another thing have re-
marked in the public worship in this goodly
land, which don't like at all. find no war
rant in the Scriptures for peoples sitting dur
ing prayer in the house of God. believe
that it will be conceded that there are only
two attitudes of prayer spoken of in the word
OF God. One is kneeling the other is stand
ing. For myself prefer the former, but 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 ii prayers were always what they
should be-short animated, spiritual and to
the purpose-there are few persons in good
health who could not endure the fatigue of
standing five or ten minutes and public
prayer ought seldom to exceed ten minutes
should have no objection to the use, at
least for portion of the service, of short
and appropriate 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 intolerably
long, repetitious, and withal has little too
much of Rome in it to suit me. like the
abundant reading of the Scriptures which
takes placesin the Episcopal church, but that
has no essential connection with liturgy. ~
The practice might exist, and ought to exist,
in all churches, of copious, and to some ex-
tent systematic, reading of the word OF God.
The absence of it is great defect in many of
the non-Rpiscopal 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 prominence. am quite sure that
all this is not apostolioal, whatever else of that
high origin she may arrogate. But enough of
all this, lest might offend some among your
readers who belong to branch of Zion for
which have considerable respect, although
thus write.
There is another practice in the churches in
New England, and almost everywhere else in
these United States, which deem very repre-
hensible. 1t is the unseemly haste with which
people quit the house of God, as soon as the
benediction has been pronounced by the min
lister. How shocking is it to see gentlemen
their closks or overcoats, or search
ing for their hats or canes, and opening the
door Of their pews, ETC., during the pronunci-
alton of the blessing. All this is perfectly
outrageous. In contrast with this, how very
appropriate is the way in which the public
worship is brought to close in the Protes-
tant churches ON the continent, where the
whole congregation remain standing in per-
feet silence minute or so after the voice of
the minister has ceased and then they retire
quietly. In England the difference is still
greater. The congregation sit down-in cases
where they stand during the benediction-and
remain seated often two 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 mo-
ment of leaving. No one who has been &C.
customed to the irreverent and unbecoming
in which people rush out of our places
of worship, can possibly attend divine service
in England, or on the Continent, without be-
ing struck with the contrast in this respect.
l am often scandalized, also, at the practice
which the people have in many places, Of ris-
ing during singing, and turning their backs to
the pulpit, for the purpose of staring up into
the faces of the choir. All this is vulgar, and
the house of God. Why do not
the ministers OF this land train their oongre-
cations into better manners in relation to these
points think that it would really be worth |
the while to preach occasionally on these sub |
jects. II "holiness'' becomes the house of
the Lord, most certainly all irreverence and
do not.
ONE NATHANIEL Ngao.