Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-04
SLEEPING IN CHURCH.
Some of The Embarrassments Atte nding
this S,niOyment.

The Presbyterian Church authorities in
Pennsylvania have been considering the
subject of mapping in meeting a habit
which is prevalent during the summer
season whenever the church. going customs
are kept up. One of them-it was MN
lister, of course-declared that sleeping in
church manilests disrespect to Gods
house, and shows indifference to the wor.
ship of the Almighty" This good man
would have more charity if be were to
occupy a pew instead OF the pulpit. The
latter post affords no opportunities for
mapping however much it may sometimes
conduce 10 the habit in those who feel the
poppy-like influence of its soothing sing
song, or the lulling drone of lis long-drawn
prayers. Nodding in church is not an act
OF volition, and therefore is, in a large
measure. destitute of the qualities of u
moral otfense. There is no willful disre-
spect or conscious Indifference. a man
can no more will himself to keep awake
and attentive, when a real drowsy fit take
possession of him in the calm seclusion of
pew corner, than he can will himself to
sleep when thoroughly and obstinately
awake. The eye grows dim, the eyelids
droop, the articulate sounds from the min
lister become a mere unintelligible murmur,
and the mans head droopS lower and
lower, until brought up with sudden jerk,
followed by an amusing endeayor to create
the impression that he hasn't been asleep
at all. He clears his throat with vigor-
Gus hmm" fixes his eye intently upon
the minister, and moves his head slowly,
as If by way OF assent to what was being
said, and nodding were very wide-awake
habit of his. How vain the attempt The
glaze again creeps over the eye, the eyelids
gently close and an unmistaka5le nod fol-
loss Glannnr a
and faith to rest his head and surrender
himself to the spell. Of all the tantalizing
and irresistible influences upon men of
mortal frame, the approaches of the sleep
god in church of drowsy summer Sunday
are the worst
In regard to a remedy the authorities
differed. The minister before quoted
thought that church members should
" seek grace to resist the habit" But a
good deacon maintained that grace
wouldn't do it. He simply cannot keep
awake at times, and says the only remedy
Ike knows of is an active application of
a shawl pin by less drowsy wives, who are
too much interested in looking at the other
women's bonnets to fall into a sleepy
state Passing by the slur upon the more
wideawake sex, it is enough to say that
this remedy needs to be applied with care,
A lively jump and cry of ouch from
the awakened sleeper, following the iab
of the admonitory shawl-pin, would not
add to the comfort of the situation. The
old-fashioned preventive, as we remember,
was strong Glove. or bunch of cara
way-o.herwise known as go to meetin'
seed "-chewed vigorously upon the first
approach of drowsiness, the sharp bite of
the pungent spice neutralizing the sopo-
rife effect of the dead air and droning
service. An unregenerate and active fly,
if he will attend strictly to business, can
influences of the sanctuary, albeit it is
doubtful if his attentions will conduce to
strictly religious frame of mind.-Boston
HcrnJH