Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-05-06
II Party News Liter
A Puritan Sunday.

Nd I|HN| - = aAsNAI
As every matter connected with the social
life and customs Of the first settlers OF New
England is Of much inleres, 10 their descend
ants, we propose, ina few short articles, 10
give as correct description of "sunday in
New England Two hundred years ago, as we
can collec, from our local annals. The Pu,
ri.an Sabbath commenced on Saturday after.
noon. No labor was performed on theeve'
ning,which proceeded the Lords Day. Early
on Sunday morning, the blowing Of horn in
some villages announced that the hour o[
worship was at hand. In other places a flag
was hung ou, Of ,he'rude building occupied
BY the church. In Cambridge drum was
tea. in military style. In Salem, a bell indi-
ca,ea the opulence of the settlement. The
religious services usually commenced at 8
O'clock in the morning, and occupied from
six to eight hours divided by anintermission
Of one hour for dinner The people collect.
ed quite punctually, as The law compelled
their attendance, ard there was heavy fine
for any one that rode too fast 10 meeting
The sexton called upon the minister and es-
cor,ed 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 ,tancti'y BY
the people and so intenee wasilhs sentiment
that even the minister's family were regard
ed as demirgods. Thepuri'an meeting house
was an odd structure. The first ones erected
by the ,Colonis,s were built Of logs, and had
a cannon on the top, Those standing two
centuries ago were built Of brick. with a clay
plasteled over the courses and covered with
clay. y.boards, now called, clap.boatds. The
roof was matched as buildings are now seen
| in Canada East, Near the church editice
stood those ancient ,institu.ions-the stocks
the whipping post-and large wooden
cage to confine offenders against the laws
Upon the outside of,the church, and fastened
10 the wallsswere, the heads OF all the wolves
killed during the season. Sin front Of the
church, in many towns, an armed sentry
stood, dressed in helhabilmenls Of war
There were no pews in The church. The
congregation had places assigned them upon
hi, rude benches, Al, The annual town meet
ing, according u theirage and social position!
Seating The med ating housei 2 y 'as II was eal.I
Tied, was, q delicate and difficult business, as
pride, envy, and jealousy, we're active pas
sionsin those days. a person was fined he
occupied a seat assigned TO another. The
elders occupied seats beneath the, pulpit
The boys were ordered TO ait upon the gal
lery stairs. and as sboys always will be boys
three cons,ables were employedto keep them
in order, Prominent. before the assembly,
some wre,ched male OF female offender sat
with scarlet letter saAn or.'D' on the
breasts to denote acrime against the stern
code. We Wemakeaiewex.rac,s from the laws
Of the New England Colonies respecting the
sabbathsaia;S tii ma ssl1e s.ci
"The Sabbath day shall begin at sunset on
Satunlay.''Tc,engs -sFtn 2s'ia9 I'D
= Nowoman shall:kiss her children on the
Sabbath or fasting day.n s7i'5 '55'
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