The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-04-24
aadesspn a(ntelligeneer.
Church Manners.
pY CHARLES +. DEEMS, LID.

DY CHARLES +. DEEMS, LID.
l. If your pew be rented and some
stranger be in it, never show him out
nor allow your countenance to exhibit
the least regret at his being in your seat
In your heart thank God that he is there
and no matter in what rags he comes
keep him there and have a member Of
your family take his place. Find seat
among those who know you. Those who
are near you and discover your condition
will make room for you rapidly
g If it be free church, put yourself
in the hands Of al usher and say not one
word. Set down where he seats you.
He has studied the church and congre.
CATION and knows best. If you Insist on
seating yourself, you may enter pew
in which you will leave only one vacancy ;
then if q man and his wife come and
wish to cit together you separate them.
If there be anything special in your case,
as hardness Of hearing or weak limb,
then you should inform the usher and let
him select your seat,
3. In dressing for church prepare your
self to throw off your wrnppngs when
you enter your pew. If you have on
clothing to protect you against the cold,
and then enter the church warmed With
stoves or register, you will soon become
uncomfortable and restless. Study how
you are TO be as comfortable in church
as in your ewn home, and not let any
false modesty prevent you from rising to
pull off your overcoat, or saque, or
shawl.
4. Take care how you use fans. Nine
tenths of flaming is unnecessary. You
would be more comfortable if you would
sit still and keep very quiet. The most
tanning is an expression of general iussi
ness of temper. Moreover, it may annoy
your neighbor. We heard physician
say "that he thought that large amount
of the prevalent neuralgia was due to tho
use of fans in church, and fell not OH
those who famed, but upon some of their
ncighbors." II got little good of the
sermon yesterday, because of the lady
who sat next TO me, who famed me un-
til l was almost in shiyer." What
would you think Of your minister if he
should fan himself while preachipg7
5. Conform to the usages of the con-
gregation stand when they stand kneel
alicn they knecl II you are s.ranger
do not make haste to chnnge your i:;:si
tion. DO not rise, nor sit, nor knee,
until you discover what is done i'll the
congregation. In your church II may
be different. You may be accustomed
to kneel just after singing hymn. But
some Sunday may find you in a church
where the congregation might, after the
singing Of the hymn and before the prayer
continue standing until they have repeat
ell the Creed. 1t would be awkward Tor
you to sit down or kneel, and be com
PEELED to rise to repeat the Creed, or keep
in posture which would make you con.
spicuous.
9. BE attentive to strangers. If you
are settled in church keep supply of
hymn books and Bibles and hand them
to those who arc strangers. Extend
your hand TO the stranger ut the close Of
the service. Invite him to come again
hnd occupy your pew. Offer to make
him acquainted with your pastor. 1t is
no excuse for you to say that you do not |
know him" That is your very reason
for speaking 10 him in church.
1t was burlosque, perhaps, upon cast.
iron manners, when it WAS related that |
q Frenchman saw man drowning and
declined to give him help because they
had not been introduced" "The rich |
and the poor meet together and the Lord
is tho maker Of them ALL And any two
persons meeting in church are, according
to Christian ethics and society etiquette,
justified in speaking with each other Oh
the subject Of religion. Two men in the
"Corn Exchange" who live next door to
each other uptown, aud never exchange
visits, and never speuk to one another
elsewhere, do not hesitate either to ad.
dress the other down in the market, in
regard to purchasing or selling thou.
sand barrels of flour.
Lastly. Do not commence to gather
up your olter garments until the entire
service has been concluded. A short
time since, we were in one of the best.
known churches in America, whose pop
ular pastor closed the services by saying:
'sNow let III close by singing the long.
measure doxo'osy, pronouEce the bene- i
diction, aud resume our overcoats." The |
struck us as correct, and its |
imitation rs practical; but We greatly
regret the state Of church manners which |
made the pastor think such thing ap.
Louis Adpocate.