The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-10-05
Communicated.

space IN your paper iOA y lew NOA"e
What we wish to say will unfold itself
as we proceed Sabbath evening two
or three weeks ago at one Of our
churches, the minister when about to
begin the services requested some one
to step out and invite certain parties
who we're standing around the church
door to come in if they would that the
services might not be interrupted by
their coming in later, or by the noise
they were creating while standing on
the outside the door. The request was
obeyed brother stepped out to exc
cute the commission intrusted to him,
but the effect was not in accordance
with the expectation, and soon an
other brother was called upon to bid
those upon the outside to come IN.
Now YOU will understand that it is
not the calling Of those upon the cut
side to come in that we lift our voice
against. but the occasion for it. 1t IS
useless to enter upon any lengthy conf
ment; we wish simply to call attention
to the custom Of standing around out
side the door of churches before or
during services, smoking, laughing,
Joking, having what by a corruption
of the language is denominated -
good time" much the same as though
, a political caucus was being held in
the inside, and not the solemn worship
of an Almighty God. We proceed, in
speaking upon this subject on the
assumption that these breaches of the
law of common etiquette are the result
of thoughtlessness rather than Of real
. peryersity. The sanctity of Gods
worship, the sacredness ofGod's house,
10 the comfort Of church audience, the
81 reputation of the community, and OF
+ the parties themselves, the verdict Of
- intelligent people demand that these
. things cease to be. And another mat
10 ter we will speak Of: During service,
G. in the house, people who come to hear
i the preacher and his sermon are often
- times much annoyed by laughing,
ie whispering, &C., not only during the
'i sermon, but also during prayer and
'r' singing; and these abuses are not
confined to "outsiders. We hold to
the proposition that member OF any
m church has NO more right to violate
10 the social requirements Of his churcl
ere than one who makes no profession o
icy being a church man. His excuse j
OF less. No one will for moment at
ui' tempt to defend these things; all vii
os' condemn, and upon little rehectiOl
sensible people, if they ever hav'
. practiced them, will not do them
These are wrongs not only III then
selves but IN the results they work
'ax Does it look we'll will it exert Der
mo eficial influence or the reverse, 10
tie young men to lounge around churc
md door during Sunday School hours,
ore church service of any kind, smoking
all For any one to go out unnecessary.
md creating noise and confusion while
70 review is being made of the lesson,
mot any church work is going on Fc
on. Young people, and old ones too,
the either sex, to go out in little groups
g n two or three only to stand around Il
,rs church door gossiping for two or thr
minutes and then come in again. on
to repeat the affair, thus furnishlr
food for comment and opportuni
(Which is readily seized UPON for
marks complimentary, or otherwise
No; it does not look we'll. We lo'
to members af churches as example
we are sometimes disappointed
her. look to those who are not bound
church VOWS, as being mindful to
careful about these things, but our d
J. appointment is no less. These thin
,@oo are destructive Of some of the great
1e and best interests of every son
Adam. They desecrate the house
r God; they mar its worship; tn
,wn cripple and pervert its object; th
lower and degrade those who do the
\, &C."