Good Form and Christian EtiquetteHenry, S. M. I. (Sarepta Myrenda Irish)
Religion
Good Form and Christian Etiquette
Henry, S. M. I. (Sarepta Myrenda Irish)
Etiquette
I am confident that in every home among all good Christian people there
is a genuine desire to attain to the best training in everything that
will make this best of all work go swiftly to the ends of the earth; but
I am also sure that many have failed to appreciate that “_the_ cause”
has a right to be carried by the most perfect methods to which it is
possible to attain. The truth is worthy of the best of all “good form”
in home, church, and social life. Good form does not consist so much in
putting on, as in putting off—_keeping_ off—those things in deportment,
speech, and association which are especially ungraceful, unwinsome,
incorrect, and improper.
Social good form, although it seems to be of the world, worldly,
represents just what Christ would do if he were living among men and
women in ordinary social relations. The world has taken the best that
worldly wisdom can comprehend of the Christ-life, and carefully embodied
it in a certain code to which it professes to hold itself; to which it
does hold itself in public, whatever it may do behind the scenes.
It is manifestly true that the man who has the mind of Christ ought to
grow, apple-tree fashion, as much of courtesy, gentleness, and all that
goes to make an agreeable appearance, as the world can possibly buy in
the market of good manners, tie on and wear, Christmas-tree fashion.
It is by his first appearance that the colporteur will open or close a
door to the truth which he carries in a book, or in samples of health
food. His manner in the homes where he is entertained, in public, on the
train, the street, at camp-meeting, or on the platform, will close or
open the hearts of even the hungry to the spiritual food which the
minister is sent forth to serve in the Master’s name. The _manner_ of
those who occupy the field will play no insignificant part in the work
of building up the school, the college, the mission, and in reaching the
uttermost parts with the gospel; and since the children now under
training in the homes of Christian workers must have a share in the work
of God in this time when it means more than it ever did for the servants
of God to carry weights and hindrances, it seems a good thing to take up
the consideration of what constitutes “Good Form,” or practical
Christian conduct.
I have had my attention called to this subject by questions from young
people, as well as parents; and this message concerning how to meet
people and handle the things of this mundane sphere is to both parent
and child, boys, girls, and young people, who are preparing for earnest
work in the world.
II.
Social life is important to the young; it can not be safely ignored in
school life, therefore I must have these interests in mind as I write,
and shall hope to help both the anxious parent and the thoughtful young
student who would know how to do the right thing at all times.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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