The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1910-09-23
NElGHB0RHo0D COURTESY.
To TIiE EDITOR

To TuE EDITOR:
Although not a member of the Methn.
dist Protestant Church ! took occasion
to attend the service in Grace Church on
Monday evening, when the Rev. Mr.
Srxsmiih. Of Delta, preached the sermon
As citizen Of Bel Air ! was mortified 10y
the size Of he congregation which greet.
ell the visiting minister, less than II
dozen persons OF course the immediate
rejection il upon the immediate cnngie
CATION hut while not member oi the
congrt cation ielt ashamed as II citizen
OF the town.
1t Ia n strange circumstance that Just
AZ there il code Of business ethics less
strict than the code OF personal conduct,
81 congregations ~ such hold themselves
free to act in manner that would he
impu ssihle to them asindividuals. When
lady has friend visiting her she cx
poets her friends to call upon her aud
they do call; courtesy requires it, When
a lodge has "A brother from "A distance
come to address them the members or
expected to tuin out. and they do turn
out; iraternalism demands II. hut when
the pastor Of IA church invites "A minister
To preach to his congregation the mem
| ton, apparently. as "A congregation, Ia
come tu hear him and to meet him II
would seem to be n meic matter 81
courtesy. uf manners. In all instances
alike, and church peoples failure to do
the polite. attentive, appreciatiyc thing
must needs discourage and dishcartcn
the minister as well as lower the tone Of
church lie
Ia this era Of inciplent church ~ IN it
would seem I , he an easily possible thing
too. for church people In general to Mt.
tend such special religious services, 81
long as they do not grow ton numerous
to render such course impracticnblc
| Such neighborhnud courtesy and hosp
| tally creates favorable impression On
the visiting minister, naturally lie will
| be likely to allude to the incident as "a
| pleasant experience. and speak apprccia
lively Of the town and its people. Con.
vcrscly, u radically different experience
will he likely To make reverse imp c'
sion. and elicit uniavofnble comment,
Tor truth, like murder. vii out
| Discuufttsy, or chTelcssrcss, in this
matter Injuries town In n ore ways than
one. 1t bcgets for 1t n reputation that
induces speakers to avoid II as far a'
| pDhhlIlfs "HIhlH anu IVHblHthH hh'i
Interest make public speaking pleasure,
GOODNESS and exclusiveness and apathy
make speaking trying ordeal. and "A
man who has once spoken. or tried to
speak, in "A cold storage plant. miscallcd
n town. will not be likely to he caught
again.
The clergy themselves soon learn t
beware Of inviting the good preachers
Of their communion to preach In their
churches, II hey are so unfortunate ms
to have unresponsiye, unappreciatiy'
unpolite congregations for the tlrrgv are
sensitive on this point II their people are
not, and such communities are automsti
cally deprived Of the good things they
might enjoy. For every reason, there,
fore, ncighbDrhOod courtesy IL one 81 -
towns best assets II is the best and
cheapest kind Of adyei Using. For a
community. like II business establish
ment, Is b,st advertised by its loving
friends II AS n town WE cannot import
any manufacturing industry let us Try to
cultivate "A little neighborly socinbiity
II might help us more thnn we think
| INTuDIuTHI