The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-06-23
Church sleeping.

Church Sleeping.
Some vain persons have been so
weak and wicked as to raise ques-
tion upon the merits of the case
yes, they have gone so far as to say
that sleeping in church, so far from
being O duty, is absolutely, and, to
all intents and purposes, sin. They
allege that the church was built for
the purpose of Divine worship, and
it Is an insult to our Creator to 90 to
sleep in it. They further allege that
it is disrespectful to the speaker and
to ourselves to do SO. This is going
q dreadful length, and only another
instance of the radical and extreme
tendencies of the age. What! that q
sin which has existed in the church
from the days of the apostles them
selves, even under Paul's preachingl
You remember the striking example
OF that worthy young man, Eutiohus.
A sin indeed! 1t is not sensible act
in me to waste time and arguments
upon such vain cavilers. The uni
form practice of the church (espe-
cially on warm afternoons) for eight
cen hundred years is decisive.
Assuming, then, that it is duty,
let us consider the manner of per-
forming it. 1 hold that, like all
other Christian practices, there ought
to be uniformity in the manner. we
find it in all the other parts of wor-
ship; 1. e., ali sit while the sermon is
being delivered, all stand or kneel
while prayer is being offered. Why,
then, should those who are engaged
in offering up sleep-worship not con-
form to some one attitude?
LIST. It is an improper manner of
performing this duty to nod, and for
the plain reason that the worshipper
attracts too much attention. Now,
we are taught to avoid ostentatious
display in our worship. The Phari-
sees were condemned for praying at
the corners of the streets, that they
might be seen of men. On the same
principle, the nodding worshipper is
condemned, for he is making too
public display of his devotions.
Those in his immediate vicinity, in
stead of attending to their own wor-
ship, are lost in admiration of the
profound state in which his devo-
tional meditations have placed him.
Peradventure they may envy his con-
dition and thereby break the tenth
commandment.
I'd. Nor is itproper to snoro in the
performance of this duty-partly for
the foregoing reasons, but mainly
because it is direct infraction of the
golden rule. Suppose, for instance,
that your next neighbor is asleep by
your snoring, he will be disturbed
probably awakened. This, you per-
ceiye, is not doing to others as you
would that they should do unto you.
Sd. 1 deem it unchristian to sleep
with the head thrown back and the
mouth wido open. It is wrong to
injure ones health while Offering
worship; and all physicians admit
that such u position is liable to pro
duce sore throat and hoarseness.
Besides, flies sometimes get into the
mouth on such occasions, and by
their injurious explorations, tickle
the delicate membranes, and cause
horrible sternutation and coughing
which, ! am told, are very injurious
to health.
4th, To sleep with the head resting
on on the arms OF the worshipper, and
the face buried up in the cuffs of the
coat, IS the most improper way o.
offering sleep-worship. First. be
cause it IS injurious to health, and i.
altogether very unsafe way of per
forming the duty; and secondly ant
mainly, because it is q sin-a direc
violation of the Scriptures, whicl
command us to let our light shin
that men may profit by our example
In this case, it is impossible to knoy
whether the Christian worshipper i
asleep or awake. It is positive cas-
of lukewarmness-nei the on
thing nor the other.
My cogitations have well nigh ez
hausted the subject. Let me, then
say, that the only truly pious way G