Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-10-19
For the Dallas Herald.
Disturbers Of Public Worship.

There are many disturbers Of publ,
worship who do not consider themselves
amenable to the statues of the State, mad
and provided for such cases.
II has been said Of Americans, that they
are pre-eminenIly a churchgoing peoples
this by no means implies that they art
prc.eminently 9 devout people, but rather
signifies that, In America, It IL tue fashior
to 90 10 church, rs in France, II is th'
fashion to 60 10 theatres. They 20 will
various motives, some to get rid ofihe 9TH
erwise dull hours Of tho tedious sabbath
some to Inspect the congregation, and
thereby form an estimate Of the gentiliiy
Of the community not few to criticiss
the taste of the ladies in dress, and some
to exhibit their own. Yet these people
with all these motley motives, expect to be
entertained, Jas worshipers) each one ex'
poets to hear something especially adapt
ed to his religious theory, or his .beolog.
;cal fancies. What an appalling task has
the clergyman before him, did he not de-
tsrmine to know nothing, save Christ, and
him crucifed. In this western country,
where organs and choirs are novelties, we
have sometimes seen an exempli6cntion Of
Pope's couplet, "Some TO church repair,
not for the doctrine, but the music
there" When the last hymn dies away,
and the hoir IL seated, as the minister
approaches the sacred desk, there is q
rush for the door by stragglers; others
retain their seats until they see show he
stars off," If they find nothing novel or
str king In his exordium, they too maze
their exit, others, again, remain until he
reaches the climax Of his sermon, and just
as he has concentrated all the energy and
intensity of his soul to press home some
sacred truth, careless listener rises aud
stalks ont, attracting the attention Of the
whole congregation, half Of whom turn
their heaas-thus the argument which he
has linked so closely, the train of thought
upon which he has dwelt go prayerfnlly,
is lost TO the major part OF his audience.
These are the disturbances occasioncd by
one class of church goers.
There is another class wEo make II
point 10 stand around tho door of the ves-
iibu,e, or In groups about tie wir dow un.
iii the hymns have all been sung, and the
prayers have all been said, and when the
ninisterS arises 70 announce his text, they
suddenly determine that it Is time to go
in und seat themselves. They drop in,
one by one, marching up the aisle with u
military tramp, and then annoy tho: e
who have quietly seated themselves with
the desire Of worshiping, by climbing
over their feet, or crowding into an al.
recdy filed pew. All this while, not two
consecutive words have been heard from
the minister, while those who g. to church
in order to zee who else goes beside .heu.
selves, turu their heads 10 look at each
succeeding conner, so the poor minister is
forced to recapi,ulale. We will now OBJ.
serve the deportnent Of these laggards-
they dispose themselves as comfortably as
possible, without regard TO dignity or
grace OF attitude, and no appearance Of
reverence whatever. Frequently they
lean back in ono corner Of the pew,
stretch out their aether Ii nbs and prepare
TO rest.
When one Of these church loungers is
fortunate enough to obtain nm entire pew,
kc appropria,es 1t all to himself by plant
ing his back against the arm of the pew,
(always with his face towards the ladiesl
reclining after III e ma nrer OF the orienials
at meals, calmly surveys the scene before
him. In the mean time, lie forti6es him
self against ennui (unless disposed TO
dots,) Ly filling his mouth with q quid Of
tobacco, and expressing the juice there.
frora, to the infinite disgust and great dis-
comfort Of every sincere worshiper in his
vicinity. Once situated 10 accommodate
HE self induigent tastes, he neither kneels
during prayer nor stands during praise
Il is too much trouble he only changes
his posture 10 consult his oroide, which he
closes with a decided click, rs much as to
say, "Time's up, old fellow-the dinner
bells are ringing"
We sometimes wonder il this class Of
church goers ever remember the command,
aye shall reverence my sanctuary" Sure.
", II they did they would not defile the
house Of God with tobacco juice, nor in
sui. his presence by such attitudes as
woula be an offence in any lady's parlor,
and f rather for the bar room than the
sanctuary of the most High. Here We la
me ,t 10 say that we have seen the sacred
edi6cs profaned by others, than the indif-
ferent, careless church-goers. We have
seer the aged and otherwise reverential
worshiper spit tob eco juice upon the
church hcor nay, we have sometimes seen
those who "niinieter In holy things" thus
pollu:e the temple Of God.
There is yet anotber class OF disiurbers
of public worship, which We cannot over.
loob, and We blash to say that il is o,m
pos cd chiefly Of the gsntler ser. These
are part Of tie class who 60 10 exhibit
their taste in dress--ihey are the worship.
ers--ihey usually manage 10 procure
seat by some congeuial friend, and eccu.
nv tho whole time during prayer and
praise, and not unfrequertly tresspass up
on the time devoted to the sermon, In dis.
cussiug the besuties Of the latest style Of
hat or bonnet, or what lovely japanese
silks ihey have At Sangcr's or Dolly Var
deus at Murphy's. But :bis habit Of whis-
pering In church--petty rs is IL lis not
confined to the fair sex young, men culti-
vatiug an incipient moustache, often in
dulse In IL. These usually sit In the rear
Of the congregation, and make whispered
comments upon the appearance OF the la
dice, and the probable chances OF becom-
ing the escort Of SHINE 'bright particular"
the Length Of the service, and the wish,
scarcely suppressed to whisper, that 1t
would terminate. Surely they have for
COTTON, or never heard, the opening sen
ience Of the morning service; "The Lord
10 in his holy temple, let the earth deep
silence before him"
We turn TO another class, perhaps, both
TO minister and congregation, the most in
toleranle, because the snnoysBoe is sctivs
rather than passive. We sllude 70 those
mothers. who make Il q habit 20 carry 10
church children too young 70 be controll-
ed. We have sometimes seen the stien-
tion Of whole audience distracted by the
criss oF one chila, snd what, We ash, must
be he aunoysbee 10 the minister, striving
20 lay the plan cf salvation before them,
nj. nsost effective argument unhesrd or
he strongest poinis forgotten In the cor
fusion Of idfs& IL Il matter Of surprise
thar ws ssnefimes hear 81 pull Il fsiiures7
We think there must be . wonderful con-
csn.rsiion orbstf thought and energy 70