Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-03-21

cease.
Behaving oneself Alright in church
implies not only due respect to the
four walls of the edifice or to the hab-
itation of the divine presence, but also
due respect to Gods ministers who
preach In the sacred pulpit and due
respect to Gods musicians who sing In
the church choirs. When the mem.
bers of a church choir arise to sing
the praises of God they become part
Of that mighty host who in every
Christian land on earth and in the
heavenly mansions are occupied with
the same theme. When the minister
rises to preach he comes as a messen-
ger from God to utter the words that
the Holy Spirit has commissioned him
to speak. The truly consecrated Chris
tian minister is representative of the
Most High and is entitled to the defer
ence that was paid to the representa-
tives of the European kings when they
entered the United States senate and
were given the foremost seats, as I saw
them file in when Vice President Gar
ret A. Hobart took the oath of Office
preceding the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Mckinley. They were not well
coined as men. They We're honored in
their official capacities as personal
representatives Of the British. the
German, the Italian, the Russian and
the Austrian thrones. Never forget
when you criticise the preachers mes
nCrn hot ho
very words that God has given him to
deliver to you.
Avoid F1ippant 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-
lions 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 help
and serve US if with rude, irreverent
hands they are torn from the pulpit
and choir loft and submitted to harsh
and fiippant criticism. The minister
ing hands of the church service. scat
tering the good seed which may be
soWn in cur 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 Mcneil, the Scottish evangelist.
in late address illustrated the impor-
lance of the respect which should be
| shown in churches to Gods ministers
as his representatives. He said, Zone
of the greatest powers of spiritual
strength which came to Scotland in
| the days that are gone was due en-
| tirely to the respect which the Scottish
congregations gave to their Scottish
pastors" When all Edinburgh went
| forth 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.
| mot criticise the church music or the
minister's 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
practicable men-men of no force, with
out any two logical, consecutive
thoughts" That is true, my brother
Some choirs are noted more for their
discords than their musical perfections
Some ministers mental depth it does
not take a very long line to fathOm
But can give you this as my own per-
sonal experienced never entered any
church with the spirit of God in my
heart, to try to consider the leaders Of
that service, Gods representatives
without receiving great spiritual good
out Of that service. In contrast to this
| statement l never entered a church
building with the spirit of criticism in
my heart but found something to crit
lcise about the minister and the service
before 1 got through with it, and, fur
thermOre, when l did enter a service in
the spirit of criticism l always found
that l received more harm from that
service than good. Il William E. Glad
stone, with the greatest brain in all
England, could sit Sunday after Sun
lay in the little church of Hawarden
Ind get spiritual food from young, in
experienced rectors who came there to
break for him the bread Of life," sure
y you can afford to honor the minis
ters of Jesus Christ as Gods represent
atives.
Respect Gods Presence.
But behaving yourself Alright in
church implies not only due respect to
Gods presence, in whose sanctuary
Fou assemble, and to his representa-
lives there, but also due respect to the
strangers who come in to worship with
i Fou at your church affairs. 1t not only
means that we should bow before
Gods affairs and in reverential tones
say, "Our Father" but it also means
hat we should give a warm, loving,
Christian welcome to Gods children
who would sit by our side 1t means