The Kanzas news., 1859-04-09
Sunday in Former Times Curious
Customs of the Puritauk.

~ e<<S9 = - @s~.-Ass
/ The Puritan Sabbath in the villages of
New England commenced on Saturday af-
ternoon. No labor was performed on ths
evening which preceded The Lords Day
Early on Sunday morning the blowing Of
horn IN some places announced that the
hour of worship was al hand. In other viii
lages flag was hung out of the rude build
ling occupied by the church. at Cam
bridge drum was beat in military style; at
Salem bell indicated the opuleeceaof that
settlement So szsss za2 ssat iis faz4s .
The religious services usually commenced
at nine O'Clock IN the mornings and occu-
pied from six to eight hours, divided by an
Iintermission of one hour for dinner. The
people collected quite punctually. IS the law.
compelled their attendance. and there was
heavy fine for any one who rode too fsss to
meeting. The sexton called upon the min
ister and escorted him to church in the same
fashion that the sheriff now. conducts the
Judge into oar State Courts. There were
no pews in the church, and the congrega-
ton had places assigned them upon the rude
benches, at the annual town meeting, aecor--
ding % their age, importance aud social
standing. A person was fined If he occu-
pied the seat of another. Our local histo-
ries reveal that pride, envy and jealoasy
were active passions among the men of old
en- times, and it was delicate and difficult
business to ''seat the meeting house." as it
was quantity called. % =
Manysof the early churches of New Eng
land had. two clergymen-one was called
the Pastor the other the Teacher. The
Sabbath services were as follows The con-
gregations assembled at an early hour-
never later than nine O'Clock. After pray
er, a chapter from the Bible was read BY
one of the ministers, and '.expouhded" at
length. In many of the churches the BIZ
BILE was not read at all, and it took years of
agitation 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
part in the Introductory services. The bap-
tisms, cases of church discipline and col
lections always took place in the afternoon.
The ''long" prayer usually occupied from
an hour to. an hour and half, and many Of
the sermons of this period make from hun.
dred to a hundred and fifty pages. 80.
There was contribution every Sunday,
preceded by an appeal from one of the dea-
cons. The boxes were not carried round.
Uub TIC Congregation aEOSo anu pEOCSuSu 10
the deacon's seat, and deposited their offer
ings. The magistrates and ''brief gentle
men" walked up first, the elders next, and
then followed the common people; this Ger
emony occupied much time. Besides the
money given, persons brought various use
full 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 excitement; for some offences par
ticular dress was worn, and the s'confes-
sions' of the offender were heard with much
interest. 0ftentimes the public services
were continued until after sunset. After
the benediction, the ministers passed out Of
the church, bowing to people on both sides
of the aisle, as they all sat in silence until
the clergyman and their families had gone
out! Few persons we imagine would be
willing to 60 back to these Sunday ceremo-
nies of the Puritan Sabbath. 1t is wise to
adapt the religious institutions of each age
to the customs of che period and the usages
of the time.-Boston Transcript.