Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-25
DAILY EVENING STAR.
A PURITAN SUNDAY.

AS every matter connected with the
social life and customs of the first settlers
OF New England is of much interest to
their descendants, we propose, in few
short articles. to give as correct de.
scriPtion of Sunday in New England
two hundred years ago, as We can collect
from our local annals. The Puritan
Sabbath commenced on Saturday after.
noon. No labor was performed on the
evening which preceded the Lords Day.
Early on Sunday morning, the blowing
of horn in some villages announced that
the hour Of worship was at hand. In
other places, a flag was hung out of the
rude building occupied by the church
In cambridge, drum was beat in mill
tary style. In Salem, bell indicated
the opulence of the settlement. The re.
liglous services usually commenced at @
clock in the morning, and occupied
from six to eight hours, divided by an
lntermission' of one hour for dinner. The
people collected quite punctually, as the
law compelled their attendance, and
there was heavy fine for any one that
rode too fast to meeting. The sexton
called upon the minister and escorted
him to the church in the same fashion
that the sheriff now conducts the Judge
into our State courts. The minister was
clothed with mysterious awe and great
sanctity by the people. and so intense
was the sentiment that even the minis
ter's family were regarded as demi-gods.
The Puritan meeting-h house was an odd
structure. The first ones erected by the
Colonists were built of logs, and had
cannon on the top. Those standing two
centuries ago were built of brick, with
clay plastered over the courses, and COW
cred with clay y-boards, now called clap
boards. The roofwas thatched as build
ings are now seen in Canada East.
Near the church editice stood those an
cient Institutions stocks-the whip
ing post-and large wooden cage to
confine offenders against the laws. Upon
the outside of the church, and fastened
to the walls, were the heads of all the
wolves killed during the season. In
front of the church, in many towns, an
armed sentry stood, dressed in the habil-
ments of war. There were no pews in
the church. The congregation had places
assigned them upon the rude benches, at
the annual town meeting, according to
their age and social position. Seating
the meeting house" as it was called, was
delicate and difficult business, as pride,
envy, and jealousy, were active passions
in those days. A person was fined, if
he occupied seat assigned to another.
The elders occupied seats beneath the
pulpit The boys were ordered to sit
upon the gallery stairs, and as "boys
always will be boys" three constables
were employed to keep them in order.
Prominent before the assembly, some
wretched male or female offender sat
with a scarlet letter "A" or "D" on
the breast to denote crime against the
stern code. We make a few extracts
from the laws of the New England Colo
MES respecting the Sabbath. .e
The Sabbath day shall begin at sun
set on Saturday" . .. -..
I" No woman shall kiss her children on
the Sabbath or fasting day.
"No one shall run on the Sabbath day,
or walk in his own garden or elsewhere,
except rcverently to and from meeting"
{" No one to cross to the river, but with
an authorized ferry man" Boston Tran
script.