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Letter to Editor
July 9, 1789
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A.B. submits observations from a European publication to Mr. Carter, criticizing sleeping during divine service as a reprehensible practice that distresses preachers, harms health and character, and shows lack of piety. It lists preachers' futile attempts to stop it.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
From the Providence Gazette.
Mr. Carter,
The following observations on the subject of sleeping in time of divine service, are taken from a late European Publication; and though they may not be applicable to any of our religious societies, yet lest a practice so reprehensible should obtrude itself among us, be pleased to give them a place in your useful paper.
A. B.
THE horrid act of sleeping pains to others, and damps, more than any thing else, the vivacity of a preacher. Constant sleepers are public nuisances. There are some, who have regularly attended a place of worship for seven years twice a day, and yet have not heard one whole Sermon in all that time. These dreamers are a constant distress to their preachers, and, could sober reason operate on them, they would soon be reclaimed. In regard to their health; would any but a stupid man choose such a place to sleep in? In respect to their character; what can be said for him, who in his sleep makes mouths and wry faces, and exhibits strange postures, and sometimes snorts, starts, and talks in his sleep, rendering himself ridiculous to the very children in the place? Where is his prudence, when he gives such occasion to malicious persons to suspect him of gluttony, drunkenness, laziness, and other usual causes of sleeping in the day time? Where is his breeding? He ought to respect the company present; what an offensive rudeness to sit down and sleep before them! Above all; where is his piety and fear of God? There will come a time in the existence of this wretched drone, in which he will find the Philistines punishing the idler, who was short in his sleep! Ministers have tried a number of methods to rid our assemblies of this odious practice. Some have reasoned, some have spoke louder, some have whispered, some have threatened to name the sleeper, and have actually named him, some have cried fire; some have left off preaching. Dr. Young sat down and wept, Bishop Abbot took out his testament and read Greek. Each of these awaked the auditors for the time: But the destruction of the habit belongs to the sleeper himself; and if neither reason nor religion can excite him, why, he must sleep on, I think, till death and judgment awake him!
Mr. Carter,
The following observations on the subject of sleeping in time of divine service, are taken from a late European Publication; and though they may not be applicable to any of our religious societies, yet lest a practice so reprehensible should obtrude itself among us, be pleased to give them a place in your useful paper.
A. B.
THE horrid act of sleeping pains to others, and damps, more than any thing else, the vivacity of a preacher. Constant sleepers are public nuisances. There are some, who have regularly attended a place of worship for seven years twice a day, and yet have not heard one whole Sermon in all that time. These dreamers are a constant distress to their preachers, and, could sober reason operate on them, they would soon be reclaimed. In regard to their health; would any but a stupid man choose such a place to sleep in? In respect to their character; what can be said for him, who in his sleep makes mouths and wry faces, and exhibits strange postures, and sometimes snorts, starts, and talks in his sleep, rendering himself ridiculous to the very children in the place? Where is his prudence, when he gives such occasion to malicious persons to suspect him of gluttony, drunkenness, laziness, and other usual causes of sleeping in the day time? Where is his breeding? He ought to respect the company present; what an offensive rudeness to sit down and sleep before them! Above all; where is his piety and fear of God? There will come a time in the existence of this wretched drone, in which he will find the Philistines punishing the idler, who was short in his sleep! Ministers have tried a number of methods to rid our assemblies of this odious practice. Some have reasoned, some have spoke louder, some have whispered, some have threatened to name the sleeper, and have actually named him, some have cried fire; some have left off preaching. Dr. Young sat down and wept, Bishop Abbot took out his testament and read Greek. Each of these awaked the auditors for the time: But the destruction of the habit belongs to the sleeper himself; and if neither reason nor religion can excite him, why, he must sleep on, I think, till death and judgment awake him!
What sub-type of article is it?
Ethical Moral
Religious
Persuasive
What themes does it cover?
Religion
Morality
What keywords are associated?
Sleeping In Church
Divine Service
Preacher Distress
Religious Piety
Moral Reform
Church Etiquette
What entities or persons were involved?
A. B.
Mr. Carter
Letter to Editor Details
Author
A. B.
Recipient
Mr. Carter
Main Argument
sleeping during divine service is a horrid, reprehensible act that pains others, damps preachers' vivacity, harms health and character, shows rudeness and lack of piety, and requires personal reformation through reason or religion.
Notable Details
Taken From A Late European Publication
Constant Sleepers Are Public Nuisances
Methods Tried By Ministers: Reasoning, Speaking Louder, Whispering, Threatening To Name Sleepers, Crying Fire, Leaving Off Preaching
Dr. Young Sat Down And Wept
Bishop Abbot Took Out His Testament And Read Greek