The Lincoln County herald., 1869-12-02

FsEr-WAsnlNa AMONG CHRISTIANS.
In bis history Of Boone county, Mr.. Z.
W. Stephens, Assistant Editor Of the
Statesman, mentions practice prevalent
among Christians in that county, not Q
great many years ago, Of following the
example given BY our Savior in washing
! sachothsr's feet. The same practice was
observed among the earlier settlers Of
this county, and the fold Of the Church
generally st that timo; and % II may 10.
tsrsst some Of our readers, . few remarks
In this connection may not bs amiss.
This example Of our Savior vas char
aessristie Of Elis goodness and humility,
sad a the time He was On the earth was
very Common among The people. The
sandals then vova, protected only The
solss Of the feet, and day. jourusyiug
through tho sands, or running to and fro
through the dust and Alth 10 their daily
callings, made the bathing Of feet quite
. comfort, % we'll % source Of olsauli.
ness. Tho example given BY the Savior
was 10 teach humility; to teach that in
the sight Of God one Was not above the
other, and that any favor bestowed in
. kindly spirit upon brother, was not
without its merit, even to the washing
Of eachothsr's feet. ..
There 10 little resson, however, for the
practice 10 this age. Tho customary feet.
washing practiosd by oil classes at gather.
logs and fsasts, when Christ was on earth,
having long since ceased to be observed,
now renders unnecessary the performance
Of this kindly Office for eaohother.
The manner in which feet washing was
observeds few years back, however, diff
fsred very widely with that practiced in
olden times; and We doubt il there was
less pride than humility 10 tho perform.
once Of this supposed duty. The Church
members had regularly appointed meet.
ings especially for tho observance Of this
sct, and the participants lost no time in
preparing their feet for exhibition just
before starting for the scene Of action.
The week .old socks we're discarded by the
brothers, their feet carefully washed with
soap and warm water, the toe.nails neatly
trimmed. and then fresh, clean pair Of
socks douned, that they might present
the best possible appearance to the hum.
bio sister or brother who would have them
to wash at the meeting. The sisters, Of
course, never had to resort to such pre-.
liuinarios, as thoy always kept their feet
clean and white, md their little toe,nails
trimmed and 10 order.
No doubt the younger brothors derived
the most intense enjoyment from these
gatherings, and he felt himself highly
honored who was 50 fortunate as to dabble
his hands 10 the same water with the
dainty, snowy foot Of eeus so~siT ye~ne
virgin; and such meetings to-day, We art
inclined 10 believe, would attract largel
congregations than the most eloquent d.
vines Of tie land. Upon the whole, th'
idea possesses quito charm. We Ger
tainly wouldn't object toying in basi,
of clear sparkling water with a trim
snowy little foot, almost as expressive .
refinement as tho sweet hco that smile
approvingly upon US in our "humble'
sphere. We confess our weakncss-thiul
we would enjoy the "huwiIity"-if non
Of the elder sisters and brothers wer
about; but We doubt very much If it
. Christian!y dosirc on our part!
| Although the old custom Of fset.wash
ing 10 no longer in vogue, there are time
when this good, worthy example Of ou
Savior might be observed 10 its true sense
Many . poor weary traveller stops at suu
Get and asks for lodging Of the thousand
Of Christians throughout our land /; tur
them not away; take them to your bouu
tifhl homes, place before them the basi
, Of. water to batho their travel worn fec
even though you do not wash them your
selves. All, these weary foot pilgrim
, can appreciate tho example Of tho Moe
3 and Lowly Ous| In the morning, II
, freshed, bid them God speed. This. II
deed, would be received % an acceptab
4 offering 70 God "a. ......,.,-t
DENrsTRY.-Dr. J. O. Goodrich vi
D be in Troy on the 9th Of December, an
i remain one week. The Doctor 10 widel
-Iknovn and hia ski11 a. denttat neef