Punctuality in Attending and Taking Part in Religious Meetings.
By D. T. Bourdeau
In order that religious meetings may be carried on aright and to profit, it is not only necessary that all who attend them should come together with a spirit of reverence for sacred things, that all should come to labor, to labor to the point, to improve every moment, and that the singing should be appropriate and well conducted; but, 6. Quiet and general order should be promoted. Order is Heaven's first law, and we see it exhibited in all with which God has anything to do. We read that “God is not the author of confusion (tumult, or unquietness. Greek), but of peace.” 1 Cor. 14: 33. And those who would be “followers of God as dear children,” should try to imitate him in this excellent qualification; hence it is enjoined in the same chapter that “all things be done decently and in order.” Verse 40. We cannot here point out all the causes of unquietness and disorder in meetings, and the evils growing out of them. Suffice it to say that the benefits of many a meeting have been either partly or entirely lost to many by disturbances of various kinds. For instance, how can we enjoy the preaching, praying, exhortation, or singing, or other religious exercises, when the mind is diverted from worship by the bad behaviour of some present, such as speaking, whispering, stamping with the feet, some one snoring, children playing, walking across the house, etc., etc. The angels must be grieved at such things, and how can those who love order, and wish to worship undisturbed, help feeling deeply over them? If we were indifferent at such disturbances, we should show a great lack of refinement, and that we have not a realizing sense of the honor that we owe to the Majesty of Heaven. Disturbance in meetings may come from those from without, or from those belonging to, or having their interest with, the church. In the case of outsiders, a few words to them from the preacher, or from the elder or leader, addressed in a good spirit, yet with decision and an even hand, appealing to their respect, showing that we are glad to see them, yet we have rights, and desire to have them treat us as well as we treat them, etc.,—a few remarks of this kind are generally sufficient to secure quiet. At least they are the kind that should generally be used first. As to promoting order and quiet among believers and their children, we would say that the desired end may be easily gained if all will manifest an interest in the matter. If all will bear in mind the sacredness of the house and worship of God, they will not walk in the church as roughly as they would in a barn, and they will teach their children the difference between the house of God and their own dwellings. If all will cultivate temperate habits in labor and eating, and are careful to not overload their stomachs before going to meeting, and are sure to keep awake to their eternal interests, I think we are safe in saying that the church will not be annoyed by any one snoring while their brethren are worshiping, and God, Christ and angels, are looking on. In regard to the children we would say, that while we should not expect so much from them as we would from grown people, and should all be prepared to make allowance for exceptions and small deviations in their course on account of weariness, etc., yet it is a sad fact that there is in this age an increasing tendency on the part of parents to let their children come up without order and discipline, go hither and thither, and do about as they please; and the results of this almost unbounded liberty and slackness are felt terribly in the church. These things were seldom witnessed in the church years ago. If the children were taken to church, it was expected that they would keep quiet. In those times parents would discipline their children at home, teaching them to be quiet a number of times every day through the week, especially morning and evening when the family engaged in their devotions. Then their little knees were gently and patiently bent at the age of eighteen months or two years; and habits thus established were a great help to the children at the house of God, and would greatly help in forming right mental habits; for the mind will naturally run where the body does. One great difficulty in the way of some children's serving the Lord is that their wrong physical habits are a terrible barrier in the way. If the body is developed first, of course it is that it may be properly cultivated and trained first. But these things are generally overlooked. Does the farmer thus neglect to train and break his beasts of burden until they are highly developed intellectually? No; he has an interest of his own to serve. So God wants the service of the children. One great trouble is, the work is not commenced early enough. Parents wait until their children have grown out of their reach. We are aware that this subject is a nice one to handle. It is like touching the apple of the eye, and some are likely to resent. But here is a duty, and where duty leads, by the grace and strength of God we can go; else God enjoins an impossibility, and he has not provided means whereby we can obey him. We cannot thus dishonor God. If we fail, the fault is our own, and the truth holds good. What we want is, to see the magnitude of the work, do all that we can, leaning upon God, who has promised his aid. Some are constantly embracing the truth who have had no chance to give their children a religious education. With such we would bear patiently as the Lord has borne with us, and we would encourage them as they try to redeem the past. We make an allowance for them. God strengthen them and give them wisdom. We would not lash them. But those who have been years in the truth, and whose children are unruly in the church, and a by-word with unbelievers, are less excusable. God help such to arouse, that their children may not counteract all the good they might do. But let not the good, conscientious mothers who are doing the best they can, keep away from meetings. Let them under ordinary circumstances, come, and bring their little ones with them. Yet a little caution and care are necessary. If their young children are likely to be noisy, they can take a more retired place in the congregation, that they may step out if necessary, and that the young orators may not drown the voice of the speaker. It would also greatly help parents to have their children sit with them in meeting. Often the children are suffered to sit with other children, which opens the way for temptations. We have seen good parents take their children out during service and correct them properly. This is far better than to have them annoying the entire congregation. Such parents have our esteem. Also it will be found beneficial for parents to have their children understand that they will have to render an account to them at home for their ill behavior in meeting. And children should also be approbated for their good behavior in meeting. 7. The meetings should close when the interest is good. Then a good impression will be left, and there will be an attraction toward the next meeting; otherwise the opposite results will follow. But 8. The best rule is to previously live out the truth, that we may have a living experience; to live out our prayers, singing, exhortation and preaching, and practice these duties in secret, and with reference to ourselves. To worship properly in public, we must first worship in a more private capacity. To illustrate: Those only are prepared to pray in public, who daily commune with God in secret. Such bring God with them in their public prayers. Again, those alone are prepared to exhort and preach to others who have previously exhorted and preached to themselves. Then they are prepared to adapt the truth to others as they have to themselves, and their testimonies will be timely and in place, they having obeyed and experienced the things they enjoin upon others. Such can meet in Jesus' name, expecting his presence and blessing in worshiping acceptably. D. T. BOURDEAU.