The Press., 1890-08-07

Issued Every Thursday Evening.
 BURDErrE ON CHRISTIAN COURTESY.
 Robert J. Burdette has a capital article in the last Sunday School Times on "Chris- tian Courtesy" We make the following quotations
 How shall we behave ourselves in church? Oh, we'll it depends somewhat on the church we attend. Each has its own rules, carefully codified, for the guid- ance of the members in their attitude to- ward each other and toward strangers who may seek to worship with them. These rules are hung up in the pews, on the walls of the church, on the front of the pulpit. over the choir, everywhere, in plain sight. They are not printed on cardboard, but are made ''plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it ;" and that is just what he wants to do sometimes. The reg ular occupants of the pews, by manner, by expression of countenance, by significant gesture and action, translate these unwrit- ten rules so clearly that every man may hear them speak in his own language, and the wayfaring men, though fools, need not err therein.
 The next time your journey leaves you stranded in the great and delightful city of New Chicorkadelphia on the Sabbath day, if you should go to the Church of Saint Indolence,-I can recommend it as having the slowest singing and the softest pew cushions, with preacher to match, in the city,-you will see the following ''Suggestions to Worshipers stFall or slide into the end of the pew nearest the aisle. Stay there. Do not rise during the singing of the hymns. The fact that you played tennis or base ball all Saturday afternoon, or walked four or five miles around billiard table Saturday night, entities you to little rest Sunday morning. This is the day of rest, and you are no Sabbath breaker.
 It is a mark of the highest culture and best breeding in refined society, to look at your watch frequently during the ser vice. After looking at your watch, always turn your head and gaze longingly and earnestly toward the door.
 Do not move if stranger, accompanied by his wife and daughter, attempts to en- ter your pew. Permit them to climb over noy you. This is the Lords house, and Christian, and it may even be questioned | against the back of the pew when family of strangers attempt to enter. It is prac. ticed in some churches, but we have never openly encouraged it here"
 The following rules prevail at St. Dives of Giltedge:
 "The earth is the Lords, for he made it; but this is pew is mine, for pay $70C 8 year for it.
 How hardly shall they that trust in pov erty get sitting on the center aisle l The poor ye have always with you, but you can get away from them little while Sunday.
 He that keepeth his pew, keepeth his life.
 As bird that wandereth from her nest so is a stranger who wandereth into { church without an invitation.
 Give ne neither poverty nor poverty.
 The rich and poor meet together, but not on the same day.
 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth (Job xii 8.
 Blessed is the man that considereth tht poor a nuisance.
 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he not stand thee up in the vestibule? It is cold day for the stranger. He that giveth his seat to stranger, of { surety he shall smart for it.'
 "And, again, it may be that by some mistake you stumble into the Church O. the Samaritans. You have no dealings with these fellows, and you would bacl out as soon as you see where you are go ing but the Samaritans are wide awake with some very informal notions about church etiquette. The sexton, standing on the porch sees you are a stranger, an( the minute you pause hesitatingly in iron of the church you are hls. He hypnotize you with cheerful nod and a beckonine hand, and passes you on through the wid' open door almost before you know it An old deacon in the vestibule has you b, the hand at once, and introduces you tt 'our church clerk, adding, as he reache ! your part of the introduction, T don't ex actly know your name, ,'-as though h. used to know it like book, and has pret ty good inkling of it now, but can't quit place you. An usher at each door is read. for you,-there is perfect picket line o sexton and deacons and ushers along tn front of the Church of the Samaritans not to keep people out, but to bring then in; it isn't fort, it's hospital; it's man trap, baited with Christian courtesy, ant the man who is caught there never tries t get away. The older you are, the bette seat you get if you just hint to the young fellow who is leading you forward tha your hearing is little 'near-sighted, hell get you the best seat in the house, if h. has to ask resident Samaritan to give up to you. You get comfortably seated and somebody pushes a hassock towart you; child from the next pew hands yo1 Ia hymn. book; an old lady puts Bibl into your hands. The minister looks a you as though he had seen you before ant was glad to see you again.
 Before you get fairly out of the pew, af ter service, somebody has you by tn hand, telling you he is glad to see yol there, the pastor is asking you to com again, the usher is telling you the hour o evening service, the superintendent is giv ing you an invitation to stay to Sunda, school, and when, little ashamed of tn way you felt when you tried to back out you say, rather meekly, that you are member of the Church of Jerusalem your self, they say, reassuringly, oh, that all right! there isn't much difference be tween the Samaritans and the Church c Jerusalem now; lots of your people dro in and see us on their way to Jericho the deacon tells you 'he got the best wifi in the world out of the Church of Jerusa lem ; and so you have good time, and g away with such a glow at your heart tha , if it wasn't Sunday, and in town, you take off your coat. !"