Chapter twenty seven. Deportment. Love doth not behave itself unseemly. The value
of courtesy is too little appreciated. Many who are kind at heart lack kindliness
of manner. Many who command respect by their sincerity and uprightness are sadly deficient
in geniality. This lack mars their own happiness and detracts from their service to
others. Many of life's sweetest and most helpful experiences are often from mere want
of thought, sacrificed by the uncourteous. Cheerfulness and courtesy should especially be cultivated
by parents and teachers. All may possess a cheerful countenance, a gentle voice,
a courteous manner, and these are elements of power. Children are attracted
by a cheerful, sunny demeanor. Show them kindness and courtesy, and they
will manifest the same spirit towards you and toward one another. True courtesy is
not learned by the mere practice of rules of etiquette. Propriety of deportment is
at all times to be observed. Wherever principle is not compromised, consideration of
others will lead to compliance with accepted customs. But true courtesy requires no sacrifice
of principle to conventionality. It ignores cast It teaches self respect, respect for
the dignity of man as man, a regard for every member of the great
human brotherhood. There is danger of placing too high a value upon mere manner
and form, and devoting too much time to education. In these lines,
the life of strenuous effort demanded of every youth, the hard, often uncongenial
work required even for life's ordinary duties, and much more for lightening the world's
heavy burden of ignorance and wretchedness. These give little place for conventionalities. Many
who lay great stress upon etiquette show little respect for anything, however excellent,
that fails of meeting their artificial standard. This is false education. It fosters
critical pride and narrow exclusiveness. The essence of true politeness is consideration for others.
The essential enduring education is that which broadens the sympathies and encourages universal kindliness.
That so called culture which does not make a youth deferential toward his parents,
appreciative of their excellences, forbearing towards their defects, and helpful to their
necessities, which does not make him considerate and tender, generous and helpful toward
the young, the old, and the unfortunate, and courteous toward all is
a failure. Real refinement of thought and manner is better learned in the school
of the Divine Teacher than by any observance of set rules. His love,
pervading the heart, gives to the character those refining touches that fashion it in
the semblance of his own. This education imparts a heaven born dignity and sense
of propriety. It gives the sweetness of disposition and a gentleness of manner that
can never be equaled by the superficial polish of fashionable society. The Bible enjoins
courtesy, and it presents many illustrations of the unselfish spirit, the gentle grace,
the winsome temper that characterize true politeness. These are but reflections of the
character of Christ. All the real tenderness and courtesy in the world, even
among those who do not acknowledge his name, is from him, and He
desires these characteristics to be perfectly reflected in his children. It is his purpose
that in us men shall behold his beauty. The most valuable treatise on etiquette
ever penned is the precious instruction given by the Savior with the utter rance of
the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul words that should be ineffaceably written in the
memory of every human being, young or old. Quote, as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. Love suffereth long and is
kind. Love envieth not, Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked,
taketh not account of evil, rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with
the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth, all things,
endureth all things. Love never faileth. Another precious grace that should be
carefully cherished is reverence. True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of
his infinite greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the
unseen, the heart of every child should be deeply impressed the hour and place
of prayer and the services of public worship. The child should be taught to
regard as sacred because God is there, and as reverence is manifested an attitude
and demeanor. The feeling that inspires it will be deepened. Well, would
it be for young and old to study and ponder and often repeat those words
of holy writ that show how the place marked by God's special presence should be
regarded. Put off thy shoes, from off thy feet, He commanded Moses
at the burning bush, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
Jacob, after beholding the vision of the angels, exclaimed quote, the Lord
is in this place, and I knew it not. This is none other
but the House of God, and this is the gate of Heaven. End
quote quote. The Lord is in his holy temple. Let all the earth
keep silence before him. The Lord is a great God and a great king
above all gods. Oh come, let us worship and bow down. Let
us kneel before the Lord, our maker. It is he that hath made
us, and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of
his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.
Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. End quote. Reverence
should be shown also for the name of God. Never should that name be
spoken lightly or thoughtlessly, even in prayer. Its frequent or needless repetition should
be avoided. Quote wholly in Reverend is his name. End quote. Angels
as they speak it, veil their faces with what reverence? Should we,
who are fallen and sinful take it upon our lips. We should reverence God's
word. For the printed volume. We should show respect, never putting it
to common uses or handling it carelessly. And never should scripture be quoted in
a jest or paraphrase to point a witty saying. Quote every word of God
is pure as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
Above all, let children be taught that true reverence is shown by obedience.
God has commanded nothing that is unessential, and there is no other way of
manifesting reverence so pleasing to him as obedience to that which He has spoken.
Reverence should be shown for God's representatives, for ministers, teachers, and parents,
who are all to speak and act in His stead. In the respect
shown to them, he is honored, and God has especially enjoyed tender respect
toward the aged, he says. Quote the hoary head is a crown of
glory if it be found in the way of righteousness. Endue It tells of
battles fought and victories gained, of burdens born and temptations resisted. It tells
of weary feet nearing their rest of places soon to be vacant. Help the
children to think of this, and they will smooth the path of the Agent
by their courtesy and respect, and will bring grace and beauty into their young
lives as they heed the command to quote rise up before the hoary head and
honor the face of the old man. Quote. Fathers and mothers and teachers
need to appreciate more fully the responsibility and honor that God has placed upon them
in making them to the child the representatives of himself. The character revealed in
the contact of daily life, will interpret to the child, for good or
for evil, those words of God. Quote like as a father pitieth his
children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Endquote quote as one
whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you. Happy the child in
whom such words as these awaken love and gratitude and trust, The child to
whom the tenderness and justice and long suffering of father and mother and teacher interpret
the love and justice and long suffering of God. The child, who,
by trust and submission and reverence towards his earthly protectors, learns to trust and
obey and reverence his God, He who imparts to child or pupil, such
a gift, has endowed him with a treasure more precious than the wealth of
all the ages, a treasure as enduring as eternity. End of Chapter twenty seven.