Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-04-07
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 preceded the Lord 8
Day. Early on Sunday morning the blow.
ing Of horn in some places announced
that the hour Of worship was at hand. In
other places flag was hung out of the
rude building occupied by the church. At
Cambridge drum was beat in military
.tyle--at Salem bell indicated the opu>
lence Of that sentiment.
| The public religious services usually
commenced at nine clock in the morning,
and occupied from six to eight hours di,
vided by an intermission of one hour for
dinner. The people collected quite pune
tually, as the law compelled their attend
ance; and there was heavy fine for any
one who rode too fast to meeting. The
sexton called upon the Minister and es-
corted 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 congregation
had places assigned them upon the rude
benches, at the annual town meeting ac-
cording to their age, Importance and social
standing. A person was fined if be occu.
pied the seat Of another. Our local his
tories reveal that pride, envy, and jealousy,
were active passions among the men Of
olden times, and it was delicate and diff
fcult business to ''seat the meeting house,"
as it was quantity called.
Many Of tine early churches ia New
England had two clergymen--one, who was
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, how
ever, the Bible was not read at all, and il
took years of agitation to carry that GIN
noyation." 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 tako part in the intro,
ductory services. The baptisms, church
discipline, aud collections, always took
place in the afternoon. The "long" pray
er usually occupied about an hour and q
hall, and many of the sermons of this pe-
riod make from hundred to q hundred
and fifty pages. There was contribution
every Sunday, preceded 10y an appeal from
one Of the deacons. The boxes were not
carried around; but the congregation arose
and proceeded to the deacons' seat, and
deposited their offerings. The magistrates
and "brief gentlemen walked up first, til.
elder next, and then followed the ''com.
mon people; this ceremony occupied r.uch
time. Besides the money given. persons
brought various useful articles aud goods
SAe bbSill, 1 ile tDliCCltOUs were GlStrl-
butea BY the deaeons to ministers and the
poor.
The trials of ecclesiastical offenders at
the close of the services, often afforded
much excitement as well as amusement,
for some offences a particular dress was
worn, and the confessions Of the offend
er We're heard with much interest. Often
times the public services were continued
~ after sun set After the benedioton,
|tkf minister passed out Of the church bow
Ing 10 the people on both sides Of The aisle,
|1o they all sat in silence until the clergy
ne aid their families had gone ont Few
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