Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary

Where have all the gentlemen gone? In honor of President’s Day, CNN.com has an article on Tips from President Washington’s Self-help Manual. It’s enlightening to read just how hardcore some of these tips are, especially in today’s culture. There is, however, some insight for us today. The underlying question that guides these tips is: How can I make other people comfortable and at ease in my presence while showing them proper respect? It’s a worthy question to ask. It’s worthy because many self-help books today focus the reader on themselves for themselves and not for the benefit and respect of those around him. This is what gentlemen do. Now, I’m not saying that I have these qualities or that I practice them everywhere and always. But I should, and I want to for the benefit of those around me.

So let’s pause for a moment to consider five tips for future seminarians:

1. Wear not sweatsuits (or pajamas) when you ought to wear proper trousers and a pressed shirt; and don not a cap when you should wash your hair (besides, gentlemen take off caps when inside).
2. Buy not from eBay when you are to be taking notes in class.
3. Let not your aftershave enter a room before you and remain in a room after you have left. Also, aftershave and cologne are not suitable replacements for common soap and water.
4. Let not victuals be a distraction to the instructor and others in class (especially wrappings).
5. Promptness should describe the seminarian’s attitude and actions.

All of these are pretty straight forward yet strangely absent in today’s society. And putting thoughts into action can be difficult (it usually takes twenty-one days to create a habit). In the end, however, common courtesy and respect for others should win the day, and the practitioner of these simple things engenders in others a response in kind.

For more information on this kind of topic, see these books on How to Be a Gentleman.

What are some of your suggestions?