New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-07
Reechef on S0cinl Duties
[ From 5ocent sermon on the Christian s5seOe
To, hfrlnx.

IRON hJDce0l sermon on inc CHRISTIAN ESeOS enc
TOngueI
Men often speak Of good manners as az
accomplishment. speak of them as a dutg.
What, then, are good manners Such
manners as take away rudeness, and remit
TO the brute creation all cOarseness. There
are great many who feel that good man
mers are effeminate. They have feeling
that rude bluntness is a great deal more
manly than good manners. 1t is great
deal more beastlyo But when men are
crowded in communities the art Of living
together is no small art. How to diminish
friction; how to promote ease of inter
course; how to make every part of mans
life contribute to the welfare and satisfac-
ton of those around him; to keep down Of
fensive pride: how 90 Danish the raspipos
of selishness from che intercourse of men:
how to move among men inspired by varie
Gus and contiictive motiveso and yet noe
have collusionse-thio5 IS the function OF good
manners
1t is NOT effelainate TO De reine6o ,gnd 3n
this land mo- man should plead inability
There may be a peasantry in other eoun-
tries; there may be a class in foreign lands
who have no opportunities there NAV be
those whose toll is SO continuous. whose
opportunities for knowing what constitutes
good manners are SO fewo and whose ignore
ance is so gross, that they are excusables
but this is not the case With any Sgishir the
sound of my voice
That a man ie a mechanic Is no reason
why he should not be a perfect gentleman.
l affirm for every American citizen the right
to be, not simply man, but a good man
nered mano l have seen men at the anvil
who were as perteCe gentlemen as men of
books or men of society. | know no reason
why a man who tans hides should not be a
gentleman. | know no reason why man
who digs in the soil, a man who works in
metals and wood, a man who builds should
not be perfect gentleman There Is moth
ing in mechanical occupations which is in
compatible with the highest. courtesy.
Not only Is the violation of good manners
inexcusable on ordinary grounds but it is
sinful. When, therefore, parents, guardians
and teachers would inspire the Young with
desire for the manners of good society. il
is not to be thought that they are accom-
plishments which may be accepted or re-
jected. Every man is bound to observe the
laws of polteness. 1t is the expression of
good will and kindness. 1t promotes both
beauty in the man who possesses it and hap
plness i'll those who are about him 1t is
religious duty, and should be a part of re-
ligious training.
There is great deal of contempt ex-
pressed for what is called etiquette in
society. Now and then there are elements
of etiquette which perhaps might well be
ridiculed; but III the main there is lust
reason for all those customs which come
under the head of etiquette There is a
reason which has regard to facility of inter
course. There is a reason E the avoidance
OF otfense. There Is reason in comfort
and happiness And no man can afford TO
violate these unwritten customs of etiquette
who wishos to act as Christian gentleman.
may speak, also, OF tendency which is
bred by our insritutions-the want of ven
Grafton. There are various ways in which
this want of veneration shows itself We
often hear that there is not the same respect
shown for the aged that there used TO be.
We know that there is very little respect
shown for magistrates and men in authori
ty. This is partly due. think, to the insti
tutions under which we live One of the
effects derived from the early
stages of democratic training is
the sense of personal sovereignty;
the feeling that we stand on as
high ground as anybody else. Under
institutions men are taught 10
revere the great and glorious in govern
lnento She feeling of reNerence does not
prevan tie any great Rxtene among Us. /
discern greaS lpcR Pc ahis respect ghjl !
dreno 4Owadayso ave SY0sighs tla S,S I've oe,1 3
to DO saucyo 10 BE SlmosS &isfla,qls sestrs;rss
They aye bqSoughq aye 20 aaSSo sery little go J
garo @lSteS S~S SnsIS paso'ilIs esS SEs sheiS.
suprSi0rso &nsS SGThougl Shege Sfe % gqeas
manS CHRISTIAN aouseb0lSs SHes.s o.fs?isyes. |
are rigidlS Bred 10 This seSsr9, 10 eeonso 70
me sha9e has beeis % dsrsy sS s9as 5As9.rs.s 1
,iOA whio.fS Sssb Sc pres o Che ssgsds.sls.v sy
Sha'6 was &c 9aake shSId9o.s sn~iss9 3snoS |
respectful. we syinS tSO ous sJlil5sess goe
be oldo and snaafe and impertiAen9o ]
Snis courtesy which carries wiSh 90 es-
'pecto THE testimony OF yoQeration 90 che |
ged: qhis yielding ones self in "a thousand I
little society cites fog che sake of making
others happyo-oha wha9 brightness it gives
10 life What beauty, what adorDdneBS Se
gives 10 Christian character
There are many other points that qnlghq
'peak OF. The effect of punctuality and |
rider; the relations which men sustain TO
ZACH others convenience and necessities ;
hose. and hundred other branches of this
subject. might discourse upon; but it is
lot necessary that l should 90 into them.
have given such examples as l have
merely as specimens, for the purpose of
alllng your attention to the minuteness
md carefulness with which the Scripture
neulcates these things. 1t enioins not
merely the right spirit, but the right spirit
manifested in tie most beautiful waya
The man who raises on four pairs is a
harp razor.