The Family Pew by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 26, 1911

The Family Pew

By F. M. W.

THE old-fashioned family pew served one valuable end in that it kept together the members of the family during the church service. It is to be regretted that this custom is so little in vogue in our own churches. Too many times we see the members of the same family scattered about the church, the parents perhaps occupying the front seats and listening with interest and eagerness to the sermon, while the children are in the gallery, or vestry, or off in some corner, left to themselves without parental control or oversight.

During Sabbath service in some of our churches the children are left to play around the grounds, or after the Sabbath-school allowed to go home and loiter about the streets. All this is decidedly wrong. No father nor mother who appreciates the responsibility of parenthood will permit such conditions to exist. The place for the children during the services in the house of God is with the parents. If the parents can not be present, then the children, if too young to care for themselves or to direct their movements, or if incapable of doing so, should be placed in charge of a chaperon.

In all our congregations we need increased reverence for the house of God. The noisy chit-chat in visiting, preceding or following the services, or during intermissions, should be eliminated. There should be cordial greetings between brethren and sisters; strangers should receive a hearty welcome, but this should be done in subdued tones befitting the character of the place. As far as possible, the services should not be disturbed by people entering the house late, or by children running in and out during the meeting. Crying children, if they can not be hushed at once, should be taken out, because nothing so disturbs both listener and speaker as a crying child. Whispering and laughing in the congregation during the service should not be tolerated. If done by children, the parents should be in a position to correct it; if habitually engaged in by the older ones then the officers of the church should kindly admonish the offenders in a quiet, personal way. This spirit of reverence for the house and service of God should be regarded by our people whether they meet in a church building or in a private home. Let us honor God and his house, and he will honor us in so doing. F. M. W.