Milford chronicle., 1904-03-18
Avoid F1lppant critictsm.

Avoid FliDpant Criticism.
Honor Gods representatives in the
Christian pulpit and in the Christian
choir loft if you would honor Christ
in the church. Mr.. Champion, the
botanist, tells US that in his explora-
tions through Panama some of the
most beautiful flowers growing there
Immediately die and become withered
shriveled, brownish weeds as soon as
plucked by the human hand. The
beautiful truths of the gospel as floral
| treasures will lose their power TO helm
and serve US If with rude, irreverent
hands they are torn from the pulpit
and choir loft and submitted to harsh
! and hippant criticism. The minister
ing hands of the church service. scat.
tering the good seed which may be
sown in our sinful hearts. may not be
perfect hands; but. for the time being
at least. such hands should be consid-
cred as representing the hand of God
John McNeill, the Scottish evangelist
in late address illustrated the impor- |
tance Of the respect which should be |
shown in churches to Gods ministers |
as his representatives. He said. "One 1
OF the greatest powers of spiritual |
strength which came to Scotland i'm
the days that are gone was due en-
tlrely to the respect which the Scottish
congregations gave to their Scottish
pastors When all Edinburgh went
iorth with tears and lamentations to
bury Thomas Chalmers the people did
not feel they were honoring Thomas
Chalmers so much as the Christ of
whom he was the earthly representa-
tive
Not criticise the church music or the
preaching. Why" some one
says. that is almost an impossibility.
Some church choirs smash every law
Of musical harmony. Some ministers
are absolutely stupid. They are i'm.
men-men of no force. with
1ut any two logical. consecutive
thoughts" That is true. my brother. {
some choirs are noted more for their Z
ilscords than their musical perfections 2
Some ministers mental depth it does d
lot take very long line to fathom. t
But can give you this as MY own per d
onal experience never entered any L
hurch with the spirit of God in nv v
eart, to try to consider the leaders of Il
hat service, Gods representatives. | Il
Without receiving great spiritual good h
ut Of that service In contrast TO this y
tatement | never entered church Il
uilding with the spirit of criticism in h.
" heart but l found something to crit fl
Use about the minister and the service I
efore l got through with it, and. fur al
lermore, when did enter a service in pa
lie spirit Of criticism | always found ri
lat l received more harm from that hi
'rvice than good. II William E. Glad. uC
one, with the greatest brain in all W
ngland. could sit Sunday after Sun te
~ in the little church of Hawarden VI
I'd get spiritual food from young. in gu
perienced rectors who came there to tn
eak for him the bread Of life" sure
you can afford to honor the minis
RS of Jesus Christ as Gods represent
ives Ia
Respect Gods Presence. To
But behaving yourself Alright il, Jii
urch implies not only due respect to I'll
'ds presence. in whose sanctuary sci
u assemble, and to his representa-. ed
es there, but also due respect to the col
angers who come in to worship with an
u at your church affairs. 1t not only ma
ans that we should bow before del
ds affairs and in reverential tones mi
= "Our Father" but it also means bul
It we should give a warm. loving. tru
ristian welcome to Gods children NiC
o would sit by our side. 1t means Ne
t no church is a consecrated Chris. Da
church unless all the men and wo- Pre-
alike, whether clothed in silk or 10
homespun, whether rich or Door, Pee
ether master or servant. shall be for
daily greeted with an open church fen
r and an open church pew. jou
nristian etiquette should run exact. BILE
llong parallel lines with social eti. inte
tie. Suppose l am invited to your
le to visit for week Supposing
his country house party you should tt
e ten or fifteen guests. including ents
e OF your own children. Suppos. abo
at this house party l should be tees
to one of your guests or makesfun ito
our old mother because she mur- and
d the kings English or because giou
once did her own washing. What ciati
Id you do? Would you consider mat
one Of your friends? Would YOU to Il
well. If you don't like my mother only
" children l will turn them out of have
in order that you may feel lit. the