The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-02-25

nOtnlnB DuI an OutSluer.
The hymn being read, the choir take
in hand the singing of IL. The stranger
hopes that he will have more firmly
stamped on his mind the impression
made by the pastors reading of it. But
there is a disappointment for him. The
words which the minister read in the
English language have been rendered
by the accomplished linguists in the
choir gallery into the japanese tongue,
or something like it. For what he can
understand of 1.-THE musicians might as
well be imported artists for Jeddo. He
needs book, or something to help him
translate what is being sung. Entirely
helpless for the want of it, he patiently
awaits the conclusion of this service of
song, and as it draws to a close, he con-
cludes that the inhospitable authorities
of the church forbore to furnish his pew
with hymn book, because they feared
he might steal it.
The hymn is done, and in due time
chapter of the Bible being announced,
our stranger looks through his pew for
a copy of the sacred book. Finding
none, he begins to regard himself as a
suspicious character; but he thinks that
at the moderate price at which the BIZ
BILE Societies furnish copies of the Scrip.
lures to the destitute, they might have
risked copy on him.
The collection boxes are carried
| ornupJ and our frion1 cuppoCoS thot
he, at least, is exempt. But, to his sur
prise, the collector thrusts the box at
him He thinks it is very mean trans
action, under the circumstances, and
makes no addition to the collectors pile
of cash.
When the sermon is delivered, let it
be ever so fine discourse, it is not in
human nature for the stranger to enjoy
it, or to be profited by it, as he might,
if the inexpensive courtesy of hymn
book had been extended to him. When
the blessing is pronounced, at the close,
he departs with sense of lack of the
blessedness which might, under other
circumstances, have been his. Deter.
mined never again to set foot inside OF
such an inhospitable church, he tries
another the next Sabbath. and YET
another and another, only to meet, in
the most of them, the same chilling ex
perience.
Christian people, consider! If yor
want your churches to ring with thu
full chorus of sacred song, an importan
step to be taken is to furnish every
worshiper with a hymn book. TIL,
members of the Church own them, per
haps, and have them either at thei
houses or in their pews. 1t is as un
courteous to the stranger to ask him t,
worship with you and to furnish n,
hymn book for him las it would be to asl
him to your table, and withhold fron
him the table tools which would mir
lister to his comfort. You have no NOR
reason to expect him to bring his hym
D book to your church, than his fork Q
D spoon to your dinner.table. Perhaps h
would not sing if he had book. Tr
him rather than force him into speech
! lessness. Perhaps he understands NJ
u note of music. He may not be S
terribly behind your japanese choir i
that respect. Common courtesy d'
mands that you give him the oppo
I tunity to test his powers of sacred son
u whatever they may be.
U Supply every seat in the church wit
hymn book. If the favored sitters
/ the front pews are using new edition
J. bearing the date Of the present year,t
d not give the impecunious stranger
% the back pew an old one of 1885, wit
u the back broken, or side f,the corne
Ii dog-eared, and the fly-leaves scribblt
l. on by the small boys, who thus impro'
l. ed the time during the delivery of tn
u sermon, which they could not undo
> stand.
3 Provide good, clean books; let ever
Il body who comes feel welcome to us
q them. Make the stranger enjoy til
l. blessing of free Christian courtesy, an
% it will add not only to the volume {
: sacred praise, but to the influence yo
y gain over him and his friends, in draw
ing them to the house of the LOrd.-T
. Praying People.