The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-03-15
SUNDAY IN FORMER TIMES.

The Puritan Sabbath in the villages of New
England commenced on Saturday afternoon. No
labor was performed on the evening which pre-
ceeded the Lords Day. Early or Sunday the
blowing of horn in some place announced that
the hour Of worship was at hand. In other vii
lagos flag was hung out of the rude building Oc-
cupied by the Church. At Cambridge a drum
beat in military style; at Salem bell indicated
the opulence of that settlement.
The public religious services commenced at nine
in the morning, and occupied from six to eight
hours, divided by an intcrmission Of one hour for
dinner The people collected quite punctually, as
the law compelled their attendance, and there was
heavy fine for any that rode too fast to meet
ngs. The sexton called upon the minister and
escorted him to church in the same fashion that
the sheriff now conducts the judge into our State
courts. There pews in the church, and
the congregation had places assigned them upon
the rude benches, at the annual town meeting, ac-
cording to their age Importance and social stand
ing. A person was fined if he occupied the seat
of another Our local histories reveal that pride,
envy and jealousy were active passions among men
of olden times and it was delicate 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 called the Pastor;
the other, the Teacher. The Sabbath services
were as follows The congregation assembled at
an early hour-never later than nine o'clock.
After prayer, chapter from the bible was read by
one of the ministers, and "eXpounded' at length.
In many of the churches, however, the Bible was
not read at all, and it took years fagtation to
ry that ''innovation" a psalm in metre was next
sung, which was dictated, line by line, to the con-
gregation; this service was usually performed by
one of the deacons The preacher did not take
part in the Introductory services.
The baptsms, cases of church discipline, and
collections always took place in the afternoon.
The '.long' prayer usually occupied from an hour
to an hour and a half, and many of the sermons of
this period made from a hundred to hundred and
fifty pages There was a contribution every Sun
day, proceeded by appeal from one of the dea-
cons. The boxes were not carried round, but the
congregation arose & proceeded to the deacon seat
and deposited their offerings. The magistrates
and "brief gentlemen" walked up first, the elders
next and then followed the "common people,;
this ceremony occupied much time. Besides the
money given, persons brought various useful arti-
cles and goods as offerings. The collections were
distributed by the deacons to the ministers and the
poor.
The trials of ecclesiastical offenders, at the coS6
of the services, often afforded much excite
ment and amusement; for some offences particular
dress was worn, aud the confession Of the offender
was heard with much interest Oftentime the
public service was continued until after the bene-
diction, the ministers passed out Of the church,
bowling to the people on both sides Of the aisle,
they all sat in silence until the clcrgymen and
their families had gone out Few persons we I'M
agne, would be willing to go back to these Sunday
ceremonies of the Puritan Sabbath. 1t Is wise to
adapt the religious institutions of each age to the
customs Of the period and tie usuages of the same
Boston Transcript.