Church Etiquette

Jamestown Press
Jamestown, [Boone County] Indiana
Thursday Noon, 29 August 1900 page 1
E. K. BURRETT Publisher

We have often noticed the disposition of some people, when at church, to occupy the end of the seat and compel everyone else who happed to come in later and seek a seat in that row to climb over their knees to get a seat. Is this good manners or is it ill manners? Just ask yourself this question in all candor and we think you will admit to the latter. Then why not exercise good manners? It is just as easy to move over and make room for each additional comer as it is to draw up your knees and twist around to let them by. Every person likes to be recognized as possessing good manners. Above all public places, good manners should be exercise to their fullness in the house of God, where people are not only looked upon for their good manners or good conduct, but are looked upon for their respect for the holy. How does it look to compel a lady to crowd through over knees of men and perhaps twist her dress out of shape at the waist in getting through or perhaps disturb the hat or disarrange the hair of some lady in front. When the lady in front is disturbed, she usually looks around to note the cause; and when she sees some lady or gent having to crowd through to a seat, she places the cause where it belongs - to the fellow or fellows who rudely persist in holding down a certain seat the inconvenience of whomsoever they may be. Man, boy, woman or girl, if you wish to be credited with good manners and breeding and a thought for others' convenience, you will move over when occupying a seat at church and give later arrivals room to sit down without having to climb over you to a seat. One must adapt themselves to circumstances, and so is the lady or gent who has to crowd through to a seat adapting themselves without a word to the circumstances of accommodating a thoughtless, rude or hoggish person. A little act of accommodation in public and a little thought for others' convenience go a long way in elevating us in the estimation of others. Thursday (noon)

Transcribed by: Janet Isley Price.