The Historical Development of the Book of Church Order

Chapter 49 : The Ordering of Public Worship

Paragraph 4 :

49-4. All who attend public worship are expected to be present in a spirit of reverence and godly fear, forbearing to engage in any conduct unbecoming to the place and occasion. Since the family, as ordained by God, is the basic institution in society, and God in the Covenant graciously deals with us, not just as individuals but also as families, it is important and desirable that families worship together.

DIGEST:

BACKGROUND AND COMPARISON :
PCA 1973, Adopted text, 2-4 [M1GA, Appendix, p. 155]
Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text,
and
PCUS 1933, DfW II, §309.

All who attend public worship are expected to be present in a spirit of reverence and godly fear, forbearing to engage in any conduct unbecoming to the place and occasion. It is highly important that children should be with their parents, that the members of a family should sit together in the House of God.

PCUS 1925, DfW II-2 [§310]
and
PCUS 1894, II-2

In time of public worship, let all the people attend with gravity and reverence; forbearing to read anything except what the minister is then reading or citing; abstaining from all whisperings, from salutations of persons present or coming in; and from gazing about, sleeping, smiling, and all other improper behavior. It is highly important that children should be with their parents, and that the members of a family should sit together in the house of God.

PCUSA 1789, DfW, II-1
In time of public worship, let all the people attend with gravity and reverence; forbearing to read any thing, except what the minister is then reading or citing; abstaining from all whisperings; from salutations of persons present, or coming in; and from gazing about, sleeping, smiling, and all other indecent behaviour.

PCUSA 1786, DfW, 2d draught
In the time of public worship, let all the people attend with gravity and reverence; forbearing to read any thing, except what the minister is then reading or citing; abstaining from all whisperings, from salutations of persons present or coming in; and from gazing about, sleeping, smiling, and all other indecent behaviour
.