The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-10-10
HYPOCRITICAL DISPLAY.
Genuine Pity Can Always he Distinguished
From the Spurious Type.

Genuine Pity Can Always he Distinguished
From the Spurious Type.
One can not travel much without
seeing many persons who take de-
light in adver Using their virtues. We
do not refer to members of sisterhoods,
brotherhoods, or the priesthood who
are constantly clothed in ecclesiastical
garb Those who are familiar with
this class of persons know that thev
wear their peculiar garments as quiet
ly and unostentatiously as other peo-
pie wear their ordinary apparel. 1t is
not often that you find a Catholic
priest or Catholic sister acting so as
to draw attention to their religious
character.
But there is class of people, both
clerical and lay, who seem to like to
draw attention to the fact that they
are pious, and engage publicly in de-
votion or in devotional reading in such
way as to suggest that they take
great pride in 1t, and desire people to
know what they are doing. Such con-
duct is offensive to good taste. 1t is
as immodest to faunt ones riches, or
finery, or achievements. 1t is as much
in violation of good taste as are pu bic
demonstrations of affection between
engaged couples.
The writer's attention was recently
attracted to a gentleman who got into
d crowded car on one of our railway
trains. He was not a Catholic priest,
but he wore the latest and most un-
mistakable ecclesiastical garments
His hlgh-cut vest and coat buttoned
over his collar were so arranged as to
exhibit a fine gold chain, fir ON which
hung an Ornamented gold cross. As
soon as he was seated, he drew out a
devotional book and appeared to be
absorbed with its contents. He was
not so much absorbed, however, that
e did not give furtive attention to
What was going on around him and to
the changes made at the stations along
the line, When he arrived at his stop
ping place, with his book still open
before him and his lips moving, he
used his disengaged hand to smooth
his silk hat with a silk handkerchief,
making the impression that his devo-
tions were SO imperative that he could
not spare a minute for anything else.
Such parade Of piety, we say, is just
iy offensive. Those who are in deepest
and closest communion with God do
not advertise that fact in railway
trains and In other public places in the
presence Of promiscuous crowd. That
is not true piety which carefully OBJ
serves outward forms, sets apart sever
al hours every day for Bible reading
and devotion, and offers its prayers in
public as conspicuously as did the
Phariseel This is so distasteful as to
lead some to discard the reading of the
Scriptures altogether. except in church
services or in the retirement Of the
home. A correspondent of the Chris
tian Standard quotes Unitarian as
saying that those who read their Bible
in public advertise their piety. This
is not necessarily so. We remem Der
seeing an aged bishop reading his Bible
In railway train 30 quietly and I'M
obtrusively that only the most
ohservant knew that he was
thus engaged. He was really
absorbed in his scriptural study,
and conducted himself as though he
were alone. 1t is convenient, and
often necessary, for ministers especial
Iy, to study the Scriptures in public
places. If they are genuine Christians
they need not attract undue attention
in doing SO, or lay themselves open to
the charge of advertising their piety.
Piety is Of the heart and is personal.
1t Is inward and Of the spirit, not out