The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-01-30

tardt standpoint. Hundreds OF our min
listers, young and old, will not, and can
not, be benefited by much that he says
because he seems to contemplate regular
churches, with aisles and pews, and gal
leries and choirs, and vestibules, &c
Where shall the missionary or young
preacher deposit his overcoat, and leg
gings, and spurs, and whip, &C., when ht
comes miles in the mud and cold, and en-
tiers cold barn, or school house? Many
a time to dispose of these things in the
way suggested, is impossible, and would
require not only veStry, but ever and
basin, and towel and mirror, &c. When
the minister comes to his church he often
finds no fire but in the stove in the church
may he not pause to warm himself, and
may he not salute the persons standing
around it? Is there any thing undevout,
uhscriptural, irreverential in kind and
Christian salutation in God S house, among
the members of Christ's family? | am
satisfied that more good would be done,
if there were little more Of this SALT
ting.
What possible objection can there be
to putting the hymn-book, or neat and
clean handkerchief under the lid of the
Bible, especially when reading or preach
ing from the first or last portion of the
Bible? 1t makes the leaves lie easy and
horizontal. AS to the overcoat and
gloves, &C., [ think many and many a
Gme they ought to be worn, and kept on
until the moment Of commencing the SER
vice
If IS. L. c." would go off into re-
mote and cold pulpit, Immediately from
his horse or buggy, he would find and
feel it was the next thing to absolute
necessity to keep them on. l have found
it necessary to put them on, after divest-
ing myself of them. The awkwardness
of taking off an overcoat or overshoes
in the pulpit, is certainly overstated, and
[ trust that now, after years of sacred
and delightful worship of God, he and I
could be profted and enjoy a prayer
meeting, where the minister stood at the
table, though he had on leggings and
spurs, and his whip lying beside him /;
surely at least as much as if he conduct
ed the service and lectured on horse
back.
fully agree with him, as to tearing
Oatt the blank leaues Of his hymn book on
which to mark down the number of hymns
to be sent to the choir. The same as to
soater, unless he is really thirsty and
needs it, and so especially as to the inde-
cent and hideOas practice of chewing to-
bacco, in the church, deflipg either pull
pit or pew.
As to looking around upon his congre-
-r-iorr==ii- may Kitten be exceetfTgry.'.4-
sirable TO know If such and such persons
are present; their presence or absence
may very materially modify his discourse
or his prayer, may very materially encour-
age or discourage him. To see that his
people old and young, communicates
and non-communicants are present, can
not be inappropriate, provided it is done
quietly, without peeping, peering or rude
ly gazing about. If it is prayer meet
ing, and he rises to call upon an elder,
or deacon, or church member to pray, it
is surely better to know that they are
present and where seated, than to stand
and hunt about for them at such mo-
ment.
/
AS to talking with brother minister
it depends altogether upon circumstances;
it is frequently and generally wrong, but
to lay down to ministers such an iron
rule as "S. L. Co. does when he says
eff you have a brother minister in the
pulpit do not talk to him, nor let him
talk to you" is wholly improper. Of
ten there are facts and circumstances
only known to the pastor after entering
his pulpit. A Saturday audience,-a
Sabbath night audience is not alike in
all places, nor composed of the same ele-
ments. The visiting brother may have
talked over to the pastor the themes of
ohe or two or three sermons,-the cha
racter of the audience often must decide
which he had better preach. Is this pro-
fame or irreverent in the sight of that
God and Saviour, whose glorious Gospel
of grace they are about to proclaim?
am no advocate for "vestrfes;" the
name and necessity of such things arose
far away from apostolic and primitive,
New Testament preachers and preach,
ing, Nor for "the Geneva gOe0a ana
band;;' but | would have the minister
dress with scrupulouS neatness and pro,
priety. As to moustdche, aehiSkers, &C.,
some men are greatly improved by
them; some .tes0 are disfgured. So toe
as to the length of a mans whiskers. ]
am afraid that rs. L. c." violates his
own rule of "ae minis. Some men il
moustaches and sparse whiskers look like
apes; they ought to shave; and other:
ought to wear both moustache and whis
kers, The question of gown and bands
and the Lords Prayer, once repeated
and Invocation, draws deeper, and | have
not space here to discuss them; but sure
ly it would be no economy to the pOo'
preacher to have to provide an extr;
gown and bands and carry them abou
with him in his saddle-bags over tn
country and through the wild forests
Where and when shall he don and dol
} them? Black kid gloves are ecrtainl,
very neat and comfortable and convent
ent ut times.
I have felt in reading over as. L
J C.s" hints, that his standpoint is no
altogether the right one, and that hi
suggestions are not sufficiently adapte'