The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-04-01
MAKING CHURCHES
SANITARY.

the priests of his diocese the following
circular:
l. "In all churches, Immediately
after feast-days on which there have
been very large congregations, the
floors must be disinfected by means Of
wood sawdust soaked in one-tenth
per cent. solution of corrosive subli-
mate. On ordinary days they must
be frequently swept, after sprinkling
them with water so as to raise no
dust.
2. "Every week, and even oftener,
the pews and confessionals must be
cleaned with sponges and cloths moist
ened with pure water.
3. Every week, and oftener, if
necessary, the grills of the confession
ais are to be washed and polished.
4. "The holy-water receptacles must
be emptied every week, or oftener if
necessary, and washed with hot water
or solution of corrosive sublimate."
That was a wise bishop who sent
out the above order. But we would
like to add one more item to it, name
ly: That after every service the
church windows and doors shall be
thrown wide open and the pure, fresh,
outdoor air allowed to sweep through
and through it, thoroughly cleansing
it of the poisonous air and filling it
with pure oxygen.
A church may become very death
trap for a congregation if it is not
properly ventilated. The air becomes
vitiated and filled with the carbonic
acid gas breathed out by the many
people. Then the congregation goes
home, the church is closed, and the
impure and polluted air is allowed to
remain in the church throughout the
week.
The next time the people assemble
they must re-breathe the same old,
dead air. If it is in the winter time
the air has been heated, making it
that much much worse. The win
dows are all closed. The people come
in from the outdoor air and sit down to
breathe this stufy atmosphere. They
become drowsy and fidgety and ner-
vous. Their heads begin to ache.
They don't know what's the matter
with them. They never think of
opening window and letting in some
fresh air.
When they 60 out into the winter
air again they take cold. They have
tonsilitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, and
they lay the foundation for consump-
tion. All because the church had not
been ventilated.
If you go to church or have any
thing to do with a church, let your
voice be heard in this matter. Insist
upon it that the church be aired thor
oughly after every service, and that
during every service there be some
means of ventilation provided. Ifyou
are preacher, preach to your people
the gospel of fresh air. Provide them
with air and they will not go to sleep
while you are talking. Drive home
to them the sin of polluting their lungs
with poisonous air. Impress upon
them the sacredness of the body and
the harmfulness of communicating it
with the unclean air of an unventilat-
ed church. Never talk to them about
saving their souls while their lungs
are being poisoned by foul air.
See that your church is swept and
cleaned and busted, that the life-giv-
ing oxygen is allowed to play through
every corner of it, that the health and
comfort of the congregation is assured
this will constitute a more lasting
benefit than all the prayer and song
service that could be uttered in close,
stuffy, unventilated room.-Meo1ical
Talk.
An officer concluding visit to