Manners

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." -The Golden Rule

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." -1 Peter 3:8-12

Hello Friends,

Back during the great age of exploration, which included Columbus’ discovery of the New World in 1492 and the first settlement in America at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, a great explorer of that age, Sir Walter Raleigh served England as he helped set up settlements in the New World. But before he was an explorer or even “Sir” Walter Raleigh, he was Walter Raleigh, just another well-to-do young man among many in London. However, that reality all changed one day when he decided to really be a “gentleman”:

(story retold by James Baldwin)

When Raleigh was a young man, he was one day walking along a street in London. At that time the streets were not paved, and there were no sidewalks. Raleigh was dressed in very fine style, and he wore a beautiful scarlet cloak thrown over his shoulders.
As he passed along, he found it hard work to keep from stepping in the mud, and soiling his handsome new shoes. Soon he came to a puddle of muddy water, which reached from one side of the street to the other. He could not step across. Perhaps he could jump over it.
As he was thinking what he should do, he happened to look up. Who was it coming down the street, on the other side of the puddle? It was Elizabeth, the Queen of England, with her train of gentlewoman and waiting maids. She saw the dirty puddle in the street. She saw the handsome young man with the scarlet cloak, standing by the side of it. How was she to get across?
Young Raleigh, when he saw who was coming, forgot about himself. He thought only of helping the queen. There was only one thing he could do, and no other man would have thought of that.
He took off his scarlet cloak and spread it across the puddle. The queen could step on it now, as on a beautiful carpet. She walked across. She was safely over the ugly puddle, and her feet had not touched the mud. She paused a moment, and thanked the young man.
As she walked onward with her train, she asked one of the gentlewomen, “Who is that brave gentleman who helped us so handsomely?”
“His name is Walter Raleigh,” said the gentlewoman.
“He shall have his reward,” said the queen.
Not long after that, she sent for Raleigh to come to her palace. The young man went, but he had no scarlet cloak to wear. Then, while all the great men and fine ladies of England stood around, the queen made him a knight. And from that time he was known as Sir Walter Raleigh, the queen’s favorite.

In today's world, we may consider the concept of being mannerly gentlemen and ladies to be rather "old fashioned" and "outdated." We have the rebelliousness of the 60s and that despicable age of feminism to at least partially blame for that. But the truth is, no matter what "age of mankind" we are in... courtesy and consideration never... EVER go out of style. We should want to treat everybody in our lives with a sense of manners, because it shows compassion and love when done with a sincere heart. One great gentleman, George Washington, the father of his country, was an excellent student of manners and social courtesy. He was definitely no "social bumpkin." As a young man, he wrote 110 "Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation," as a way of writing down his observations of the social world. We should do well to pay attention to some of these rules, for they still have a surprising relevance to our world.

---George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation---

1st-- Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.

5th--If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkerchief or Hand before your face and turn aside.

6th--Sleep not when others Speak, Sit not when others stand, Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.

7th--Put not off your Cloths in the presence of Others, nor go out your Chamber half Dressed.

17th--Be no Flatterer, neither Play with any that delights not to be Play'd Withal.

19th--Let your Countenance be pleasant but in Serious Matters Somewhat grave.

44th--When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him that did it.

45th--Being to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be in public or in Private; presently, or at Some other time in what terms to do it & in reproving Show no Sign of Cholar but do it with all Sweetness and Mildness.

49th--Use no Reproachful Language against any one neither Curse nor Revile.

50th--Be not hasty to believe flying Reports to the Disparagement of any.

58th--Let your Conversation be without Malice or Envy, for 'is a Sign of a Tractable and Commendable Nature: And in all Causes of Passion admit Reason to Govern.

108th--When you speak of God or his attributes, let it be seriously & with reverence. Honor & obey your natural parents although they be poor.

109th-- Let your recreations be manful not sinful.

110th--Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

I remain,

Your friend,

Aaron Morrison