Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-10-20
John Ploughman's Talk.
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
recommendation even to q plough
man., Wise men neither fall into
love nor take dislike at first sight,
but still the first impression is al
ways great thing even with them;
and as to those weaker brethren who
are not wise, good appearance is
half the battle. What is a good ap-
pearance? 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 not wearing fine clothes either,
for foppish dress usually means a
foul house within, and the doorstep
without fresh whitened; such dress
ing tells the world that the outside
is the best part of the puppet.
When a man is proud as peacock,
all strut and show, he needs convert
ing himself before he sets up to
preach to others. The preacher who
measures himself by his looking
glass, may please a 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 foolin apulpit. A gentle
man should have more in his pocket
than on his back, and a minister
should have more in his inner man
than on his outer man. | would say
if might, to the young ministers,
do not preach in gloves, for cats in
mittens catch no mice; don't curl
and oil your hair like dandies, for
nobody cares to hear peacock's
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 gold
smiths shop? For ever away with
surplices and gowns, and all those
nursery 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 60 to Rome and show
their colors. If priests suppose
that they get the respect of honest
men by their fine ornamental
dresses, they are much mistaken, for
it is commonly said, "Fine feathers
make fine BIRDS" and
San ape is ao'er so like an apo
| As when he wears popish cape"
Among us Dissenters the preacher
claims no priestly power, and there
fore 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 cloth
ing. 1t is a singular taste which
makes honest men covet the rags OF
thieves. Besides, where's the good
of such finery? Except duck in
pattens, no creature looks more stu
pid than a Dissenting preacher in a
gown which is of no manner of use
to him. l could laugh till held
my sides, when l see our doctors in
gowns and bands, puffed out with
their silks, and touched up with
their little bibs, for they put me SC
much in mind of our old turkey
cock when his temper is up, and hi
swells 10 bis biggest. They mus
be weak folks indeed who want ,
man to dress like q WOMAN befnr'
they can enjoy his sermon; and HI
who cannot preach without sucl
milliner's trumpery may be a maj
among geese. but he is COOS
among men. At the same time, tn
: preacher should endeavor, according
to his means, to dress himself re
specially; and, as to neatness, h
: should he without spot, for king
{ should not have dirty footmen t
!, wait at their table, and they VIII
' teach godliness should practis
cleanliness. l should like whit
nacl,ties hpttpr IF them ,rp,e uJn0,