Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-03-19

in such a spirit n great deal of the ir-
reverence exhibited by some OF our
modern congregations would forever
cease.
Behaving oneself Alright in church
implies not only due respect to the
-four walls of the cdifice 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 10 Gods musicians who sing in
the church choirS When the MEM
bers of Il 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 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
encc that was paid To the representa-
tives of the European kings when they
entered the United States senate and
We're given the foremost seats. as l saw
them file in when Vice President Gar
ret \. Hobart took the oath of office
preceding the inauguration of Presi-
dent Mckinley. They were not well
coined MS men. They We're honored in
their official capacities as personal
representatives Of the British, the
German. the Italian. the Russian and
when you criticise the preachers mes
sage that you may he criticising the
very words that God has given him to
deliver 10 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-
tons 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 II with rude. irreverent
hands they are torn rom the pulpit
and choir loft and submitted to harsh
and flippant 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 Mcneil, the Scottish evangelist.
in a late address illustrated the impor-
lance of the respect which should be
shown in churches To Gods ministers
as his representatives He said "One
of the greatest powers of spiritual
strength which came TO Scotland in
the days that are gone was due en-
tirely 10 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 We're honoring Thomas
Y
whom he WAS the earthly representa-
tive.
''Not criticisc 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
discorls than their musical PROJECTIONS
Some ministers mental depth it does
not take Il very long line TO fathom.
But | can give YOU this as my own per
sonal experience never entered any
church with il. spirit of God i'll my
heart. 10 Try Ia consider the leaders OF
that service. Gods representatives.
without receiving great spiritual good
out of that service. In contrast 10 this
statement | never entered Il church
building with the spirit of criticism in
my heart but found something tn crit
icise about the minister and the service
before got through with il. and. fur
therInorc. when | did enter n service i'm
the spirit of criticism | always found
that | received more harm from that
service than good. If William f. Glad
stone. with the greatest brain in all
England. could sill Sunday after sun
day in the little church of Hawardcn
and get spiritual food from young. in
experienced rrctorS who came there to
break for him the bread of life" sure
ly you can afford TO honor the minis
tcrs of Jesus Christ as Gods represent
ativcs.
Respect Gods Presence.
But behaving Yourself Alright in
church implies not only due respect to
Gods presence. in whose sanctuary
you assemble. and Ia his representa-
tiveS there. hut also due respect Ia the
strangers who come in In worship with
you nj your church affairs IL not only
means that we should bow before
Gods affairs and in rcvcrcntial tones
say, Our Father" but il also means
that we should give, n warm loving