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Manners and Dress of Ministers
541
But things that are wrong often transpire in the sacred desk. One
minister conversing with another in the desk before the congregation,
laughing and appearing to have no burden of the work, or lacking
a solemn sense of his sacred calling, dishonors the truth and brings
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the sacred down upon the low level of common things. The example
tends to remove the fear of God from the people and to detract
from the sacred dignity of the gospel which Christ died to magnify.
According to the light that has been given me, it would be pleasing
to God for ministers to bow down as soon as they step into the
pulpit, and solemnly ask help from God. What impression would
that make? There would be solemnity and awe upon the people.
Their minister is communing with God; he is committing himself
to God before he dares to stand before the people. Solemnity rests
upon the people, and angels of God are brought very near. Ministers
should look to God the first thing as they come into the desk, thus
saying to all: God is the source of my strength.
A minister who is negligent in his apparel often wounds those
of good taste and refined sensibilities. Those who are faulty in this
respect should correct their errors and be more circumspect. The loss
of some souls at last will be traced to the untidiness of the minister.
The first appearance affected the people unfavorably because they
could not in any way link his appearance with the truths he presented.
His dress was against him; and the impression given was that the
people whom he represented were a careless set who cared nothing
about their dress, and his hearers did not want anything to do with
such a class of people.
Here, according to the light that has been given me, there has
been a manifest neglect among our people. Ministers sometimes
stand in the desk with their hair in disorder, looking as if it had
been untouched by comb and brush for a week. God is dishonored
when those who engage in His sacred service are so neglectful
of their appearance. Anciently the priests were required to have
their garments in a particular style to do service in the holy place
and minister in the priest’s office. They were to have garments
in accordance with their work, and God distinctly specified what
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these should be. The laver was placed between the altar and the
congregation, that before they came into the presence of God, in the
sight of the congregation, they might wash their hands and their feet.