Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-03-05
SUNDAY i'm Former Tfmes

The Puritan Sabbath in the villages of New
England commenced on Saturday afternoon.--
No labor was performed on the evening which
preceded the Lords Day. Early on Sunday
morning the blowing of a horn in some places
announced that the hour of worship was at
hand. In other villages flag was hung out of
the rude building occupied by the Church. Al
Cambridge drum was beat in Military style;
at Salem bell indicated the opulence Of that
settlement.
The public religious services usually COM
menced at in the morning, and occupied from
six to eight hours, divided by an intermission
of one hour for dinner. The people collected
quite punctuaily, as the law commpelled tn sir
attendance, and there was heavy fine for any
one hatrode too fast to meetings. The sexton
called upon TIE minister and escorted him to
church in the same fashion that the sheriff now
conducts the judge into our State courts. There
were no pews in the church. and the congre
cation had places assigned them upon the rude
benches, at the annualtown meeting, according
to their age, Importance and social standing =
A person was fined if he occupied the seat OF
another. Our local histories re real that pride,
envy and jealousy were active passions among
the men of olden times, and it was delicate and
and difficult business to seat the meeting
house," as it was quantity called.
Many of the early churches of New England
had two clergymen-one, who was called the
Pastor; the other, the Teacher The Sabbath
services were as follows: The congregation as
sembled at an early houT-never later than nine
| o'clock. After prayer, a chapter from the Bible
was read by one of the ministers, and expound-
ed" at length. In many of the churches, how
ever, the Bible was not read at all, and 1t took
years ofagItation to carry that " innovation. >
A psalm in metre was next sung, which was
dictated line, by line, to the congregation; this
service was usually performed By one of the
deacons The preacher did not take paItin the
| Introductory services. --.-..- .-.
The baptisms, cases of fchurch discipline, and
collections, always took place in the afternoon
The $ long" prayer usually occupied from an
hour to an hour and half, and many of the ser
mona of this period make from hundred to a
hundred and fifty pages. There was contri-
button every Sunday, preceded by an appeal
from one ofthe deacons. The boxes were not car
ried round, but the congregation arose and pro
ceeded to the deaeons seat, and deposited their
offerings. The magistrates and "brief gentle
men, walked up first, the elders next and then
followed the common people;" this ceremony
occupied much time. Besides the money given,
persons bought various useful articles and goods
as offerings. The collections were distributed
| by the deacons to the ministers and the poor.
The trials of ecclesiastical offenders, at the
close of the services often afforded much ex-
citement and amusement; for some offences a
| particular dress was worn, and the ''confes-
/ sions'' of the offender was heard with much in
terest. 0ftentimes the public services were CON
tinued until after sunset After the benedic-
ton, the ministers passed out of the church,
bowling to people on both sides of the aisle, as
they all sat in silence until the clsrgymen and
their families had gone out, Few persons we
imagine, would be willing to go back to these
Sunday ceremonies of the Puritan Sabbath. 1t
iswise to adapt the religious institutions of each
of the same.-BostOn Transcript