The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-01-12
Church Etintleffa

To-day Is Sunday, and we fear that many of our
readers who we take all church goers are quite
so perfect as they might be in church etiquette For
their benefit we make few extracts from the Lynch
burg (Va) News, which Journal originates few rules
governing those who attend divine worship Our cotem
porary remarks passat E" that there is no etiquette
for any place like the etiquette of sense; it
avails when the rules Of the Cheserfelds and Hick-
mans often make one ridiculous. In entering church,
then with lady, precede her when ascending and de-
scendlng stairs as also in seeking seat In one case
it is especially politeyou as sort of shield to
her modesty and then you save her the confusion of
soliciting pew 1t is proper, if you believer,
to knee or stand at prayer according to the custom of
the church. 10 disregard these is yugar-at least it
shows too much false PRIDE too little reverence for
the requirements of Christianity Excessive whisper
ing during service is decidedly vulgar 1t is some
times necessary to address an undertone remark to
your companion or companions, but seldom Listen
to the serVee-especiay the sermon. In this age of
church opera, called music, you cannot help hearing
that part CT the ceremony. 1t would wake up Van
Winkle. But the sermon you may sleep over or dis.
regard 1tis wrong. Appear to hear if you do not
A good way is, when the minister is dull, and YOU
can't listen-which happens often enough to make
rule-to study phrenoogy; examining the bumps of
heads before you An hour may be passed thus po-
litely and pleasantly. If you chew tobacco do not
in church. 1t is annoying to those around you
and then the sexton gives you jesse. Never leave
church during service unless it is absolutely necessary
as in sickness, house fire, or professional CALL
1t is vug to come late Sometimes it is unavoidable
a person wishes to display dress, watch-chain
Or perhaps beau. 1t will occur sometimes that a
poor goose wants to be driven from his seat-then it
is proper enough also. These and the like
excuse late coming, and the congregation endure them.
Any other delay is uncomfortable Dress plainly as
possible We don't mean that lady should appear
in her morning wrapper gentleman in his shirt
sleeves. A nice medium is the thing in all matters
ladies should not be taken for milliners show cases
nor gentlemen for be,jeweed and neck-tied monkeys.
plebean goes to church to show fine clothes ars
tocrat to show respect to God In entering and leav
ing the house, don't walk slow like the shoddles
too fast like the bashfuls In the one case people
rdlcule you for aecation in the other there is dam
ger of knocking down the pews or of running
somebody. Hasten slowly" When you look around
too much in church, people think you want to show
your profile, or that you to attract attention
your style, or that you want to marry, that, like
poor wheat there is not weight enough about your
head to keep it still Don't look too pous in church,
ether-it is suspicious too much levity. Relig-
ious worship is neither joke emetic. IF you feel
extraordinarily devotional, begin to think about put.
ting something in the treasury and it will shorten your
face quickly, and spread over it the pleasant look Of
duty