Reverence in Public Worship
Further Echoes From the Presidents' Council (Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 20-22, 1929)
It was the recognition of disturbing trends of this character that led to the inclusion of the topic, " Growing Irreverence in the House of God," in the North American Presidents' Council agenda. The candid expression of the participants in the round table will be both illuminating and stimulating in analyzing our situation, and in correcting the evil. The united conclusions of this group of leaders were embodied in a series of resolutions ratified by the Autumn Council, and found in full on pages thirteen and fourteen of the Review and Herald, Nov. 14, 1929. Here follow the introductory remarks of Chairman J. L. McElhany, and statements by other participants:
J. L. McElhany (vice-president, North American Division):
In many instances our public worship is characterized by a decided lack of reverence. We talk about it, lament it, and read about it in the " Testimonies," but fail to see improvement. What can be done to help our churches meet this decided lack? We have all, no doubt, had the experience of being in churches during the interval between the dismissal of Sabbath school and the opening of the preaching service, and found ourselves scarcely able to think because of the babble of voices and the chatter which breaks forth at that time. I believe that we should attempt a real reform along this line, not by the enforcement of arbitrary rules to compel people to be silent, but by some way impressing upon the mind the propriety of sacred things, so as to result in exhibition of proper reverence in the house of God.
One of the most regrettable practices apparent in some of our congregations is that of a large mass of people starting to leave the church, the tent, or the hall just the moment the congregation rises to sing the closing hymn. Often there is almost a stampede to get out, as if the people felt impelled to get away from the place of divine service as quickly as possible. Such a course is disrespectful and irreverent. I cannot but wonder what the effect must be upon visitors at our camp meetings, when they see our people make a mad rush out of the tent, even before the benediction is pronounced. To do so after the benediction is pronounced would be far from justifiable; but to surge out as soon as the closing song is begun, and sometimes as soon as it is announced, is a practice which should be stopped. In the camp meeting work which I did in Western Canada this summer, I was deeply impressed by the reverent attitude of the people. I did not attend a meeting of any kind — young people's, old people's, or departmental — but that, when the meeting was dismissed, everybody sat down quietly for a few moments, and then arose and quietly passed out. My observation is that such a practice will stop people from rushing out before the service is concluded. We have definite standards laid down for us in the instruction of the Spirit of prophecy, but should we not make more serious attempt to conform to these standards?
J.K. Jones (New York Conference):
In our conference we have made it the general rule of procedure, that after the benediction the people remain standing or else take their seats, and with bowed head wait until the organist strikes the first note of the postlude, and then quietly pass out' of church. In some of the larger churches the plan has been followed of having the congregation remain standing during the postlude until the pastor has opportunity to reach the door of the church, where he stands to greet the members of the congregation as they pass out. At camp meeting, especially in connection with the night service, I have requested the audience to remain standing, with bowed head, until the musical instrument gives forth the note of dismissal. We have found that the plan works very satisfactorily in all these different services.
So much for the plan, but now a word as to the education which must necessarily precede the plan. I think that the minister or the church elder should frequently give talks on reverence in the house of God, quoting from the " Testimonies," admonishing the people to be quiet in the house of God, and explaining what will be the effect upon their own souls when due reverence is maintained in the assemblies of God's people.
S.G. Haughey (Nebraska Conference):
When I was laboring in the British Isles, I was deeply impressed with the reverent spirit which prevails in our churches there. It was the custom in our churches for parents and children to take their seats quietly and wait for the service to begin. There was no noise, no talking, no confusion. After the singing of the closing hymn of the service, the people all sat down, the minister or elder stood with bowed head for a moment, and no one moved until the minister stepped out of the pulpit and came down into the aisle, which was the indication for the congregation to rise and pass out of the church. Reverence for the house of God is characteristic of the people in the British Isles, not alone in Seventh-day Adventist churches, but in the services of the nominal churches. The Church of England is very impressive in its solemnity. I wish that we might establish that same reverence for the house of God in all our churches that is found established by all denominations when we cross the water.
G. W. Wells (General Conference field secretary):
There is wonderful influence in example. I wonder if we, as ministers, are setting the wrong example before our people. We ourselves are exceedingly careless at times.
R. I. Keate (Cumberland Conference):
I believe that the solving of this problem of irreverence is primarily a matter of giving proper instruction to our people, and yet I am convinced that a large amount of confusion and noise, which we refer to as irreverence, is due to the fact that we hold two or more meetings in succession in the same room. As soon as the first meeting is closed, people naturally feel that they are free to move about and get ready for the next service. I have observed good results where the entire congregation went outside the church between services, and re-entered for the second service just as they did at the first.
H. N. Williams (Newfoundland Mission):
We have worked out a plan which brings very satisfactory results. At the close of Sabbath school the organist plays some quiet, subduing music, which is a signal for parents and young people in the senior division to change their seats. We believe in making it a rule for the children to sit with their parents during the church service, and so at this time the parents locate themselves in the particular seat where the children know they are to come. While this adjustment is being made in the auditorium of the church, the superintendent of the children's department arranges for teachers and children to march out of the basement of the church to the front entrance, and when the music changes, according to the understood signal, the children march into the church, double file, and take their places by their parents. When this is ended, the fifteen-minute missionary service begins, and the entire church is quietly seated and ready to give attention to the missionary announcements. Then the church service begins. During all this time there is perfect order and quietness, which is really refreshing.
F. L. Pesky (South Texas Conference):
We are told in the " Testimonies " that there should be rules governing the time and manner of conducting church services. Our leaders have much responsibility in this matter, and if an attempt is made, in the right spirit, to correct this laxity which leads to confusion and irreverence in the house of God, I think that much can be accomplished. I know that our South American churches are not so faulty in this respect as are some of the churches in North America. I attended a service in one of our Mexican churches in South Texas, not long ago, and observed the rule in operation there,—that the congregation be seated after the benediction, and then the church elder give the signal for the people to rise and go out, those occupying the first seat to go out first, then those in the second seat, and so on. That order might not appeal to us, but it is a rule which worked well in that Mexican church.
L. K. Dickson (Greater New York Conference):
I am Ied to believe that the spirit of irreverence which is apparent in our churches, is closely associated with the tendencies of the times. It is a matter of long standing, has developed by a sort of natural growth, and is largely unnoticed by our own people. But I feel that it is a very serious matter, and that lifting the standard along this line will call for very decided action. I do not believe that an occasional announcement of the proper standard will be sufficient to turn the tide of irreverence in our churches. I have tried out plans which have helped some, but they have not changed the situation very materially; and I do not believe that anything will change it until we as a people unite in very definite conviction that we are far away from where we should be in the demonstration of proper decorum in the house of God, and that there needs to be a general turning about in this matter.
There is nothing, it seems to me, which more directly contributes to lowering the spiritual temperature in our churches than this matter of irreverence. If we could turn that tide, we should see a very decided and gratifying effect upon the spirituality in our churches. I am wondering if this is not a matter of such grave importance that it ought to be referred to one of our committees at this Council, for definite action. If an appeal could be sent out, coming from the leaders assembled at this meeting, with the request that our pastors place due emphasis upon the remedy for the situation, and parents be urged to co-operate, we might hope to turn the tide. I do not believe that a discussion of the question here will do very much good unless we take some action that will roll this burden right back upon our people, and keep it there until a change is apparent. Is it not true that we, as ministers, are responsible for this manifestation of irreverence, to the extent that we continue to be conscious of it, recognize it, and yet do not take steps to remedy it?
C. L. Butterfield (Carolina Conference):
If we are to have rules and regulations, it seems to me we should go back of the church to the home; for I find that where there is reverence for the hour of prayer in the homes, general spirit of reverence is present in the church. Just to illustrate:
A few years ago I went to visit a church, and was entertained in a home where there were fourteen children. On Friday evening, before the setting of the sun, every member of the family was assembled in the large dining room,— the grown children were there, and the smallest child, yet in its mother's arms, was there; and all were dressed in their Sabbath clothes, ready for the beginning of the Sabbath. I was asked to take charge of the worship at the beginning of the Sabbath, and it was an inspiration to see every child sitting with folded hands and listening to the reading of God's word. Each member of the family took part in the prayer season. The next day at the time of church service I saw about forty children gathered on the front seats, and I thought to myself, How am I ever going to keep those children quiet. But from the moment the service opened, each child gave the most perfect attention, without even a whisper. This was due to the fact that the children had been taught in their homes to reverence the hour of prayer. It seems to me that a primary essential in dealing with this matter of irreverence is to inspire our people to conduct family worship, at which all the children shall be gathered in and take part.
(To be continued)
