The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-03-20

DR.. TALMAGE'S SERMON.


Los Angeles, Cal, March 13-rhis SER
mon Is a good natured rebuke TO the
prevalent lack of decorum among the
worshipers in our American churches
and a plea for the observance of GER
tain reasonable etiquette, equal at least
to that which we observe in our worldly
relations The text is l. Timothy ill.,, To-
",rhat thou mayest know how thou
oughtest to behave myself in the house
of God?''
Are you a parent? Have you ever
dressed up your little children and sent
them forth alone to visit when they We're
about 10 or u years Of age? Then you
have known the anxieties of a mother
or father as to their social behavior. Be-
fore they go you say: Nov. son, be
careful about your manners. When you
enter Mrs. So-and-Sos home take off
your hat and place it upon the han rack.
Be careful and don't handle the vases in
the parlor and don't squlrm on your
chair. When you are at dinner be sure
and keep your hands off the table, and
don't spill the food upon the tabecloth,
and don't ask for a second helping of
anything or talk with your mouth full
When Mrs. So-and-So passes you plate
say Thank YOU Remember, my boy,
that your mothers home is to be judged
by 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 in to the par
entail heart when, next day, you meet
your friend, at whose home your little
-,Ii nd ba II
in these words: I'VE had such a lovely
childrens' party yesterday. And, Mrs,
So-and-So, l want to tell you how well
your children behaved. Your boy was a
perfect little gentleman, and your daugh-
ter little lady" All, such congratula-
ton as that is as sweet SAVIOR to the
maternal heart.
Refinement in the Church.
If refined social maners are essential
In the home, they are equally important
In the house of God. So essential are
they to a consecrated Christian life that
Paul wrote a long episte to his young
lieutenant, Timothy, concerning 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 deaeons' wives.
but today instead of my showing how
behave in the house of God, l would
preach a sermon on church manners di-
rectly to the pew. ] would try to in
culcate the reverential spirit with which
our congregations should assemble for
worship. l would try to teach this rev
efence because more and more in this
dreverent age there is a tendency to
.fook upon church buildings as places fit
ted for secular enjoyments rather than
as sanctuaries consecrated to the pres
ence of Jesus Christ. THE Lord loveth
the gates of Zion more than all the dwell
ings of Jacob No man ought to place
foot in Gods sanctuary unless he can
do it with the solemn feeling of Habak-
kuk. who declared. 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 at certain times That means
It Is a 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.