MANNERS IN CHURCH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 77, 2 April 1910, Page 14

MANNERS IN CHURCH.

IRREVERENT AND DISRESPECTFUL WORSHIPPERS. What is tho proper deportment for a congregation during and immediately after service? The Rev. W. T. Hollins, vicar of St. James's Church, Claphampork (says a London paper) holds strong views on the subject, and in a recent issuo of his Parish Magazino ho has delivered an admonition which is said to have been resented by several members of bis flock. Mr. Hollins asks tho help of his congregation "to make the services of our church more reverent." Ho adds: — "I would appeal to all our members to do their utmost to avoid unnecessary talking in church. lam most thankful to note a great improvement in this, but thero is roorr for still further improvement. Let us specially watch ourselves before and after the services. If we arrive oarly at church, whilst in our placos, let us take our Bibles and read them, or be on our knees in prayer. This will be far more seemly than engaging in conversation. And after service, both in ohurch and outsido, let us watch against mere ordinary conversation. This may be in itself quite harmless, but it is not helpful immediately after 'engaging in the worship of the Almighty Goa, to at onco engage in light though comI pletely innocent conversation. May I also suggest that friends do not loiter I about just outsido the church, crowding round tho church gates, but that we all wend our way homewards, trying to think over the service in which we have joined, and to profit thereby." To a representative of the Daily Chronicle Mr. Hollins explained that nothing was further from his thoughts than a dirll service, "but," ho said, "it is not right, in my view at any rate, that immediately after Communion, when tho congregation have partaken of the elements, th«y should ruo and leave the church, or begin talking about other, although perfectly injurant, matteri."