POLITENESS by J. CLARKE.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 19, 1860

POLITENESS.

By J. CLARKE.

A TRULY refined and Christian politeness exhibits itself at home with intimate friends. It is manifested toward husband or wife, towards children and domestics; and none are better witnesses to the politeness of the Christian gentleman or lady than inferiors and dependents, and those who witness the daily struggles of the man for existence.

To such is exposed the inner man, and to none is more apparent the utter hypocrisy of that individual who affects a gentlemanly bearing towards superiors, but is harsh and unpleasant towards those who are more in need of his soft and tender tones.

Counterfeit politeness affects much of courtesy in certain places, and among certain people, but behind the scenes you view the naked deformity of the character manifested in harsh, rough tones and words to those who were first won by blandness and suavity.

This counterfeit politeness is the bane of worldlings, but the death of godliness. Let us lay it aside, and get the genuine government, the true, untarnished, unalloyed gold, the ways which Christ had, who was alike kind and polite to old and young, to prince and peasant, to bond and free, to publican and pharisee, to rich and poor. Get the politeness that does not fade nor wear out nor grow old, but sits as gracefully upon the old and decrepit as upon the youth.

J. CLARKE.