THAT THERMOMETER AGAIN.
By W. H. Littlejohn
Some time since we called attention through the Review to the usefulness of the thermometer in the matter of regulating the heat in churches during the time of service. This subject, however, seems to be one which needs to be alluded to frequently. Sometimes through neglect, and at other times through ignorance of the advantages to be gained by the possession on the part of the church of a thermometer, the condition of the atmosphere in the house of worship is so unfavorable that the advantages which might be gained by religious services under more favorable surroundings are lost altogether. If the room is overheated, the people become lethargic, and so much inclined to sleep that they cannot be aroused, even by the most earnest appeals, to that degree of mental activity which will enable them to comprehend the force and scope of the most lucid argument. On the other hand, if it be permitted to become cool enough to produce chilliness to any great degree, the audience becomes nervous and uneasy to that extent that they cannot be held to the consideration of the subject before them, their minds being wholly occupied with thoughts about their own suffering, and in devising ways and means of relief. It becomes, therefore, as important that the sexton should understand and perform his duty well, as it is that the minister should proclaim the truth with power. The failure to accomplish good in single services, as well as in a series of meetings, is as often chargeable to the man who handles the stoves as it is to him who occupies the desk. Could this fact be impressed upon the minds of trustees and church sextons, it would—provided they have any regard for the cause of God—move them to give their attention to a matter which, though apparently insignificant in itself, is, nevertheless, one of vital importance in the work of bringing men to a saving knowledge of the truth. As a consequence, the former would immediately provide the latter with the needed instrument, and he would avail himself of the same in his effort to preserve a proper and even temperature in the house. Nor would the task be a difficult one if he were properly equipped. All that it would be necessary for him to do, would be to place the thermometer at the end of the house farthest from the stove when he first builds the fire, leaving it there until the mercury ascends to the point indicating 60° or 65°. Then let him remove it to a position near the stove, and watch the mercury, in order to determine how much higher it will ascend there than it did in the back part of the house. If the variations should prove to be, say 10°, let him bear this in mind, and during the day or evening let him so regulate his fires that the mercury near the stove will stand just ten degrees higher than he desires the temperature to be at the back end of the room. If he will carry out these directions,—taking pains to ascertain the variations of the thermometer, as suggested above,—he cannot fail in the accomplishment of his purpose. If, however, he shall rely upon his own feelings, he will be certain to fail; for his sensitiveness to heat or cold will be so far controlled by the condition of his own vitality that his feelings cannot safely be made a standard by which to judge of those of others. Besides this, his clothing may be either lighter or heavier at one time than at another, and as a consequence he will be either colder or warmer, as the case may be. While speaking of the temperature, it might be well also to allude to the ventilation of the church. To begin with: the house should be thoroughly heated at least an hour before the service, and then the doors and windows should be thrown open for a few minutes in order to allow the atmosphere of the room to become fully changed. This done, the windows should be so adjusted as to admit barely enough air to keep that in the room in a fresh and pure condition, always avoiding, as far as possible, the admission of cold air in sufficient quantities to chill individuals in the congregation. This is especially necessary when the house is warmer than it should be; otherwise, persons will be liable to take cold, and perhaps receive serious injury. Having devoted so much space to the matter of warming and ventilating houses of worship, we trust that the subject may receive immediate attention from those upon whom the duty devolves of attending to such matters; since failure to do so would be fraught with consequences unfavorable to the cause of God. The expense which would necessarily be incurred in carrying out these suggestions, would be so small as hardly to be worth mentioning.77A thermometer which would answer every purpose for the use in question can be obtained at almost any hardware store for the trifling sum of fifty or seventy-five cents.