Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-02-16
mproprieties About Churches.
From the Presbyterian Banne

church when 1t can possibly be avoided.
This interrupts the services, confuses the
congregation, distracts the attention, and
is sure indication of slothfulness or some-
thing worse, on the part of those wilfully
and habitually guilty of sin.
2. No indecorum can be more palpa-
BILE than standing about church doors du
ring service, or whilst the people are as
sembling. A truly polite person will not
do his. And yet we have seen members
who thought themselves in good and regu
lar standing, and even church officials,
place themselves at the door of the sanct
uary and cape at the people as they entered
just as if they were the regularly appoint
ed inspectors of all church-goers. This
impropriety may be the result of THOUGHT
1LssNrss, but it is very little the less cul
pable on that account. And when young
men arc guilty of it through a spirit of
curiosity, it is exceedingly offensive to all
well hammered people, and always meets
and merits their heartfelt reprobation.
3, Talking, laughing, whispering, gig
Cling and all vocal or visible manifesto
tions of social greetings when in the house
of God, either before, during or after SER
vice indicates ill-breeding in all so acting.
Politenoss, to say nothing of piety, avoids
all such indul gencies. Still we have seen
young lads and lasses, who fancy they
move in the most decorious circles of so,
cal life, come into church with giddy
grin on their countenance that never left
it until they had made many bows, ges-
lures and sundry other eye and head man
ipulations to those around them, to the ut
ter disgust of all lovers of TRUE politeness.
4. Some leave the doors open as they
enter church, and allow themselves to be-
come so confused, that in going to a scat
they rather run than walk, thus making a
noise on the uncarpeted floor, somewhat
similar in sound to that of the OK when
treading out the corn. A real lady or
gentleman never does SO, but they enter
the sactuary in mild, self-possesscd way;
and when they have taken their seat they
deport themselves agreeably to the solemn.
ity of the occasion, and not as though they
were attending an opera or concert.
s. Some church members never try to
furnish strangers seats. This is breach
of politencss to ally inexcusable, ,and real
indignity offered to the person neglected
1t is almost as much an index of bad man
ners, as not to offer friend chair when
calling upon us at our own houses.
TO show strangers seats, is the sexton :
= business, says one true, but if that funct,
ionary NEGLECTs Lis duty, this should
make you and me the mere vgilant, tina,
~ l--l- C ---..-- - - --' -
, tie of reproach on the whole congregation
Not to have hymn book to use yourself
or to offer to stranger when need be, IL
also very improper in ALL church mem
bers.
t 6. Feet shuffling, tobacco chewing, sleep
| ing, inattention, reading books, amusing
children, spread eaglcing, with the arm
! akimbo on the seat in front of us, are vul
$ garites in church, that no person of cult
yatcd manners will either indulge or ex
, cuse.
t 7. No individual of refinement vii
come into church and take his seat witt
n his hat on; nor will lie put it on his hea'
C till he have reached the door of exit. Thi
r thing cf sitting in any house with hat on
e argues most inexcusable, bucolic rustic
/, ity in the manners Of all that do it.
e s. Going out of church during service
s is in some places practice with many
v Where it is mere habit, and not necess
B ity, it is an impropriety of the highest dc
gree, evincing a thoughtless restlvenes
never seen in person of refined department
'' and never practiced but by the vain, tn
r ignorant and the vicious.
o. The use of tobacco in the sanctuar
Is of God, is such an intoierable nuisanc
that it is truly wonderful that any lover c
= decency can for a moment so far forge
himself, as boldly to poIlute the iioor an
: furniture of the sacred edifce with til
81 abomination.
y 10, Persons given to politeness alway
d conform to the rules of the church
N which they may happen to be. If kneel
- ing, standing or sitting, be the posture
~ =, prayer, they gracefully assume it. In a
il these things they act decorously, ever r,
ID membering who and what they are. l
fine you must 60 to church if you wish
at learn who the real lady or gentleman
ID and not to the ballroom, the dancing
., school, or the gay party. Politeness hel
may be formal, stiff, and up to the Che
ur terGeld rule, but 1t is cold, hcartless, 81
ID perfcial and often false.
ny Indeed, if a person is ill-mannered
th church he will be good hammered nowhel
- our behavior there is the exponent of o.
- department everywhere. Reader, are y
n ever guilty of any of these, or of simil
OF improplieties at church Say
T., ID