The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-02
From aJohn PIoughman,s Talk. y
On the Preachers Appearance.


A good horse cannot be bad color, and
really good preacher can wear what he
likes, and none will care much about it; but
though you cannot know wine by the barrel,
a good appearance is a letter of recommen-
dation even to ploughman. Wise men nei-
Their fall in love nor take a dislike at first
sight, but stin the first impression is always
great thing even with them; and as to
those weaker brethren who are not wise, a
good appearance is half the battle. What
is good appearance? Well, it's not being
pompous and starchy, and making ones self
high and mighty among the people, for proud
looks lose hearts, and gentle words win them.
It's rot wearing fine clothes either, for Top
pish dress usually means foul house within,
and the doorstep without fresh whitened /;
such dressing tells the world that the outside
is the best part Of the puppet When a
man is proud as a peacock, all strut and
show, he needs converting himself before he
sets up to preach to others. The preacher
who measures himself by his looking glass,
may please few silly girls, but neither God
nor man will long put up with him. The
man who owes his greatness to his tailor,
will find that needle and thread cannot long
hold fool in pulpit. A gentleman should
have more in his pocket than on his back,
and minister should have more in his in
ner man than on his outer man. l would
say, if might, to young ministers, do no:
preach in gloves, for cats in mittens catch
no mice don't curl and oil your hair like
dandies, for nobody cares to hear pea
cocks voice; don't have your own pretty
self in your mind at all, or nobody else will
mind you. Away with gold rings, and
chains, and jewelry; why should the pulpit
become a goldsmith's shop? For ever away
with SUPPLIES and gowns, and all those nur
sery doll dresses-men should put away
childish things. A cross on the back is the
sign of devil in the heart; those who do
as Rome does, should 90 to Rome and show
their colors. If priests suppose that they
get the respect of honest men by their fine
ornamental dresses, they are mistaken, for
it is commonly said, "Fine feathers make
fine birds, and
Gan ape is ne err so like an ape,
As when he wears pOpish cape,
Among US Dissenters the preacher claims
no priestly power, and therefore should
never wear a peculiar dress; let fools wear
fools caps and fools dresses, but men who
make no claim to be fools should not put on
fools clothes. None but very silly sheep
would wear VOLTS clothing. 1t is singular
taste which makes honest men covet the rags
of thieves. Besides, where's the good of
such fnery? Except duck in pattens, no
creature looks more stupid than Dissenting
preacher in a gown which is of no manner
of use to him. l could laugh till 1 held my
sides, when 1 see our doctors in gowns and
bands, pulled out with their silks and touched
up with their little bibs, for they put me
so much in mind of our old turkey cock
when bis temper is up, and he swells to his
biggest They must be weak folks indeed
who want man to dress like woman be-
fore they can enjoy his sermon; and he who
cannot preach without such milliners trump
cry may be man among geese, but he is a
goose among men. At the same time, the
preacher should endeavor, according to his
means, to dress himself respectfully; and, as
to neatness, he should be without spot, for
kings should not have dirty foOtmen to wait
at their table, and they who teach godiness
should practise cleanliness. l should like
white neckties better # they were Always
wlde, but dirty brown is neither here nor
there. From slovenly, smoking, snuff
taking, beer drinking parson, may the church
be delivered. Some that l meet with may,
perhaps, have very good manners, but they
did not happen to have them about them at
the time; like the Dutch captain with his
anchors, they had left them at home; this