Disorder in Meetings by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1875

Disorder in Meetings.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

For some cause, we frequently find our people more noisy and disorderly in meeting than almost any other class of people. Probably this results largely from the fact that many of our meetings are held in private houses, and where only our own people are present. They do not feel that necessity for restraint and strict decorum which they would in a public meeting. Then, further, as a general rule, all the family attend, parents and little children, which is not the case in ordinary houses of worship. This occasions some necessary noise and occasional going out and in. To a certain degree this cannot be helped. The trouble is, however, that a habit is contracted of running out and in, shifting seats, and making a noise generally. In some places this is exceedingly annoying. When outsiders come into our meetings they are offended by it, and often greatly disturbed.

If the proper course is taken, very small children can be taught to be quiet and sit still during meeting. It is entirely wrong to allow a child of any age to run around during meeting. There is no excuse for it, and it never should be allowed: Do it once, and you will have to do it again. Allow it a few times, and your child is ruined upon that point. Every child should understand that when meeting commences there must be an end of playing and running about. The parents are the ones who are responsible in this case.

But especially should our brethren and sisters be exceedingly careful to set a good example in this respect themselves. I have been much annoyed to see many of our brethren and sisters get up in meeting and go out and in, change their seats, go to the stove and back again. Sometimes it is absolutely necessary, but in a majority of cases it is not. Self-denial should be practiced in this thing, and all possible efforts should be made to maintain quiet and decorum in the house of God. Special effort should be made upon this point when we have preaching, and the public are present. Not being used to such things in their own houses of worship, it strikes them very unfavorably; besides, it attracts the attention of the audience and is very annoying to the speaker.

Brothers and sisters, we ask you to remember these things in our meetings with you. We recommend you to consider the following texts: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God;” and “let everything be done decently and in order.”

D. M. CANRIGHT. Jay, Mich.