Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-03-19
TALk1AGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMACE. DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby.
terrain Church. Chicago

WoTSnlperS III our American churches
and u plea for the observance OF n
certain reasonable etiquette. equal nj
least Ia that which we observe in our
worldly relations. The text il Tim
"thy iii. IL. That thou maycst know
how thou oughiest TO behave myself
in the house of God
Are yon n parent? Have you ever
dressed up your little children and
sent them forth alone 10 visit when
they were about ten or twelve years
of age? Then you have known the
snNieties of a mother or father as to
their social behavior. Before they 20
YOU say: Now. son. be careful about
your manners. When you enter Mrs.
So-and SOS home take of your hat and
place il upon the hall rack. BE care
full and don't handle the vases I'm the
parlor. and don't squirm on your chair
When you are nj dinner he sure and
Keep your hands off the table. and
don't spill the food upon the table
cloth. and don't ask for a second help
ing Of anything or talk with your
mouth full. When Mrs So-and so
Remember. my boy. that your mothers
home is To be judged 10y your table
manners" When the child leaves the
house your mind follows him and
stays with him all day long. And. oh.
the pride that sweeps into the parental
heart when. next day. you meet Your
friend. AT whose home your little chill
dren dined. and she congratulates you
i'm these words: we had such a lovely
children's party yesterday. And. Mrs.
So-and-so. I want TO tell you how we'll
your children behaved. Your boy was
perfect little gentleman. and your
daughter little lady All. such con-
graduation as that is as sweet SAVIOR
10 the maternal heart
Refinement In the Church.
IT refined social manners are essen
tial in the home. they are equally i'm
poriant in the house of God. So essen
tial are they Ia consecrated Christian
life that Paul wrote long cpistle 10
his young lieutenant Timothy. con-
corning them. In this letter. wherein
are found the words of the text. the
great apostle tells how bishops and
their wives should act. and also how
deacons and dcacons' wives But to-
day. instead of my showin. how our
ministers and church officers should be-
have i'm the house of tod. | would
preach sermon ON church manners
directly ia the pew. I would try 10 in
culcatc the rcvcrcniial spirit with
which our congregations should assem-
hle for worship. would try TO teach
this reverence because more and more
In this irrevcrcnt age there il Il tend
ency 10 look upon church buildings as
places fitted for secular cnjoyments
rather than as sanctuaries coIsecrated
10 the presence Of Jesus Christ. The
Lord lovcth the gates of Zion more
than all the dwellings of Jacob" No
man ought Ia place foot in Gods sane
tuary unless hc can do il with the SOL
emn feeling Of IIabakkuk. who de-
clared. The Lord is in his holy temple:
let all the earth keep silence before
him.
First the church building is the tryst-
Ing place where God promises To meet
his children nj certain times. That
means il is n place Of rendezvous,
where you have an appointment TO
commune with Christ AT least twice
every Sunday and perhaps once or
twice during the week. One inference
from that fact is that when Il congrc-
CATION assemblies on the Sabbath day
the worshipers should always Ice on
time and bc ready 10 lift their voices
in praise mt the first word of the first
line of the doxology. as well rs with
bending head TO listen To the last word
OF the last line of the bcnediction
We once read how young artist lost
an opportunity 10 win immortal fame
by not being on time. lie had an APP
pointmcnt with Queen Victoria nj 10
a. m. To paint her picture and he de-
layed his coming until ten minutes aft
or Ia. The result was the British queen
was gone and. as far as his opportuni-
~ WAS concerned. gone forever. In
spiritual way many II church member
has lost Il great opportunity for spirit
ual blessing 10y not heing on time at
the beginning of Il church service God
does not turn his back upon his re-
pentant children AZ did the earthly
queen upon the young artist. but we
may he sure that he marks the implied
lack of respect which is indicated by
chronic hardness and habitual unpunc-
tualiiy and that many n blessing is lost
thereby.
Tardincss DisrespectfuI.
There * not one tarly church mem
her in Il thousand who would show the
implied diSrspect in not keeping an
appointment with an earthly ruler
which they frequently show 10 their
Heavenly King. Suppose we should
take Il trip east and stop in the capitol
ut Washington. Suppose while so
journing there one Of the California
senators ar congressman or Il member
Of the cabinet made an appointment
for MS with the president of the United
States. Suppose that polite note was
sent Ia us 10y the presidents private
Sacrpfarv infnr,ufu.S 49,, ,ni.,ht