“Good form” is especially a society phrase, but it is full of meaning,
such as has a direct bearing on even the life and walk of a missionary.
It is of sufficient importance to engage the attention of any who would
become cultured, and is practical and simple enough to become a subject
of study in the most common, isolated home, in which children are
growing up.
It is in good and bad form that is found a large share of all that
difference which distinguishes the lady or gentleman from the slattern
and the boor; and in the consideration given to this question of
_manners_ it is once again true that “the children of this world are
wiser than the children of light.” Luke 16:8.
One of the first efforts that men or women will make if they have an “ax
to grind,” or “something to borrow,” will be to appear well. If they
have anything “to push,” an advantage to secure, which makes it
necessary that some influential people shall be “won over” to some
certain way of thinking, they will study every movement, turn, and word;
learn tact, self-control, or anything else by which they can hope to
succeed.
Many a man has practised facial expression for hours before a mirror,
not for amusement, but for _business_; to the end that he might tone
down or eradicate certain lines which would make an unfavorable
impression upon those whom he met, and has carefully cultivated in their
place those that would be sure to give him a better introduction among
those whom he intended to use to his own profit or pleasure. This is
constantly done in the interests of self, and has often resulted in
forwarding those mercenary and sometimes criminal ends for which it was
designed.
For the same purpose men learn grace of carriage,—how to enter and leave
a room, how to moderate every tone; and practise laboriously in private,
to fix as habit anything which they believe to be desirable, and
eradicate anything that would be a hindrance, so that they may never be
taken off guard by any rush of feeling, and so jeopardize the selfish
interests which are at stake.
For the same end little children are put into training of the most
exacting sort, and grow up almost perfect copies of some great master in
certain forms which, while in themselves empty, yet are like buckets,
capable of holding anything. And until Christians are willing to labor
as faithfully to become winsome themselves, and train their children to
do the best of all work in the best of all forms, they have not yet come
to love the truth as the world loves self.
The truth is to be carried to all people, high and low. A boor, who
loves the truth, and who is filled with the Holy Spirit, may do a good
work in some lines. If he has had no opportunities to know how to carry
himself among men, except such knowledge as comes by being a Christian,
God will keep him where he can be used, and will use him to his glory,
and give him sheaves to bring home at last.
“Be a Christian” is an easy answer to the question, “How shall I conduct
myself in such and such a case?” But a man may be a Christian, and yet,
for the lack of some specific instruction in certain forms of procedure,
perpetrate a blunder which will bring the laugh from the profane whom he
wished to arouse to sober thought; or make a mistake, such as will carry
and widely scatter a serious misunderstanding by which Christ will be
reproached and his work hindered.
I am confident that in every home among all good Christian people there
is a genuine desire to attain to the best training in everything that
will make this best of all work go swiftly to the ends of the earth; but
I am also sure that many have failed to appreciate that “_the_ cause”
has a right to be carried by the most perfect methods to which it is
possible to attain. The truth is worthy of the best of all “good form”
in home, church, and social life. Good form does not consist so much in
putting on, as in putting off—_keeping_ off—those things in deportment,
speech, and association which are especially ungraceful, unwinsome,
incorrect, and improper.
Social good form, although it seems to be of the world, worldly,
represents just what Christ would do if he were living among men and
women in ordinary social relations. The world has taken the best that
worldly wisdom can comprehend of the Christ-life, and carefully embodied
it in a certain code to which it professes to hold itself; to which it
does hold itself in public, whatever it may do behind the scenes.
It is manifestly true that the man who has the mind of Christ ought to
grow, apple-tree fashion, as much of courtesy, gentleness, and all that
goes to make an agreeable appearance, as the world can possibly buy in
the market of good manners, tie on and wear, Christmas-tree fashion.
It is by his first appearance that the colporteur will open or close a
door to the truth which he carries in a book, or in samples of health
food. His manner in the homes where he is entertained, in public, on the
train, the street, at camp-meeting, or on the platform, will close or
open the hearts of even the hungry to the spiritual food which the
minister is sent forth to serve in the Master’s name. The _manner_ of
those who occupy the field will play no insignificant part in the work
of building up the school, the college, the mission, and in reaching the
uttermost parts with the gospel; and since the children now under
training in the homes of Christian workers must have a share in the work
of God in this time when it means more than it ever did for the servants
of God to carry weights and hindrances, it seems a good thing to take up
the consideration of what constitutes “Good Form,” or practical
Christian conduct.
I have had my attention called to this subject by questions from young
people, as well as parents; and this message concerning how to meet
people and handle the things of this mundane sphere is to both parent
and child, boys, girls, and young people, who are preparing for earnest
work in the world.