Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-02-26
The Use of Churches.

| WI '"i" >''oo vi ouiIS per-
sons, that q church is a building i'll
tended for social intercourse, for the
exchange Of Giletdouz, written some
times upon the margin of hymn.
books, dcsignedly left, no doubt, for
that purpose, or for witty remarks
whispered from to pew to pew, re-
marks so offcrvescing is their humor
that they cannot be kept until the
sermon is over.
In the midst of their brilliant en-
joymcnt, it may not occur to those
persons, that there arc others who
take u different view of this subject,
who honestly believe that church is
q place for the worship of the one
true md living God, and who arc
annoyed when they see it devoted to
other purposes.
In these days of conferences, coun-
ellis, conventions and convocations, I
would modcstly suggest that some
thing of this kind bo held to settle
this matter, aud let us know ut onle
what the use Of the church is.
If IL is intended solely for the wcr-
ship Of God, I suppose it would then
be decided that those conversations,
however entertaining, are out of
place, since they cannot be considered
i'll any sense, as forming part of that
worship.
There is story told of minister
in the reign Of George III, who took
this serious view of tho subject, and
seems to have maintained himself
with great dignity and propriety in
asserting it. The king being very
much delighted with the eloquence of
the speaker, was continually calling
the attention of the queen, his wife
to the most striking passages: "Char-
lotte, do you hear that? Listen to
that, Charlottel" The minister was
disturbed by these interruptions, and
at length, pausing, solemnly exclaim-
cd: "When the lion roars, the beasts
OF the forest tremble, and when the
Lord speaks, let the kings of the
earth keep siIcnccl''
If ones earthly father were speak
ing, it would be Il great discourtesy to
interrupt him, even for the purpose of
uttcring sage and weighty remark
how, then. can we excuse the utter
anoo Of fippancy when the great
Father in heaven is sending us His
message Of love by which He would
save us from the most fearful perdi-
ton? Our insane laughter in the
face of the proclamation, may be
echoed by a moro terrible laughter
from heaven, when our calamities
overwhclm us, when our "tcar COM
eth"
Many young persons will say, cit
is true I laugh and talk in church,
but mean no harm by it," I believe
this; 1 believe many laugh and talk
because they are not listening at all.
sat and saw q young girl laughing
during one of the most painfully
startling and awful appeals of the
minister. 1 was shocked but then
I said: "She does not hear tin
difference makes her deaf" Yet God
says: 30 that my people would con-
sidcr!" Why2 Because if they do
not, they will be lost. "What, just
for want Of consideration ?" Yes,
just for that.
There are others who would not
laugh or talk in church, who are
panied to see it done, who would con-
denim it as a most irreverent practice,
and who would not accept a "want Of
consideration" as an excuse, and who
yet think it quite allowable to indulge |
in the pastime cf chewing tobacco
dur:ug the service; but if the church
is built only for the worship of God,
and chewing tobacco is not part of
that worship, it must be admitted that
it is out Of place. Many gentlemen
take the tobacco out of their mouth
in entering into the presence of a
lady, but "the Lord is in his holy
temple" and surely those who love
Him will delight to show him the
deepest reverence. The Offering Of
the Jew was without spot Or blemish,
snd shall we dedicate to God our
churches, stained with tobacco juice?
tits painful to be impressed, as one
is sometimes. With the idea that our
people are not o reverential people,
Many of us think it quite legitimate
that our churches, where not used for
the worship Of God, should be;used
for other poses.-lectures, etc., I
heard, not long since, q very good
commentary on chat text. a comic
lecturer, wen known in this country, |
told, that while travelling, he was
allowed at some place, the use of .
church forshis lecture. The pastor Of
? the church offered up . prayer before
ths lecture, and asked the people not
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