Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-02
sunday In Former Time..

The Puritan Sabbath in the villages Of New Eng
land eOnmeOcsd on Saturday afternoon No labor
was perform, on the evening which pree -ded the
Lords Day. Early on Sunday morning the blowing
Of horn IN some places announced that the hour Of
worship was at hand Ia other villages flag was
hung out the rude building occupied by the church
AtCambridge q drum beat in military Style;
at Salem bell indicated the oPulense OF that settle
ment.
The public religious services usually commenced
at nine o'clock in the morning occupied from six
toeight hours, divided by intermssOn Of one hour
for dinner. The people collected quie punetually,
the law compelled their attendance, and there was
heavy fine for any WHO rode 800 fast 10 meeint
The sexton called upon ihe minister aud escorted
him to church in the same fashion that the sheriff
now conducts the Judge into cur State Courts.
There were no peWs in the church, and the con-
greg alton had places assigned them upon the rude
benches at the annual town meeIiGg, according 20
their age. Importance and social slsndisg person
was hned if he occupied the seat OF another. Our
local histories reveal that pride, eOvJ and Jealousy
were active passions among the men OF oden time',
and il was delicate and difficult businers TO seat
the meeting house " as it quantity called
Many Of the early churches o. New England bad
two Gle gymeu-Ohe, WAO was called the Pastor: the
other, the Teacher The Sabbath services we're as
folloWr: The CONGREGATION assembled 81 an early
houI-never later Ihan . O. o'clock Afser prayer,
CT aper of the Bible read By otthe ministers,
anu expOunded' al length 10 many Of the church
es however, the Bible not read at all, and It
took years OF agitation to carry that '-nnoVatoD.
| psalm meer was nextsuug. which was dictated,
line BY liae 10 the eOngregs ion; this service was
usually per formed by Of the de tcons. The prea
cherdid not take part 10 the nitro duetoTy
The baptism. sses Of churc4 discipline and coll
! lee ions, always took place ia the afternoon. The
.aoag'prayer usuy oeeupied from hour 10 an hour
and half, and many Of the sermons Of this period
m Ike from q hundred to q hundred aud 6fty pag' g.
/ There vas contribution every Sunday, preceded ~
an appeal from one of the deacoBs. The boxes We e
not carried round but the eoDgregati IN arose and
proceeded to the descOns seat, aud deposited their
! offerings The magistrates and "brief genils men.
walked M first the elders next, and then followed
the ssommou peoples" the cTemoDy occupied much
] time Besides the money given, persons brought
various useful articles and goods offerings. The
collections were distributed by the deaeons 10 me
ministers and the poor.
The trials Of ecclesiastical offenders, az the close
of the services, often afforded much excitement and
amusement for some offences particular dress was
worn, sud the "cOI fsssiORs' Of the offender we're
heard with much interest o tentimes the public
sryicss were continued until after sunset Amer the
beuediction, the minister's passed out OF church.
bowling to the people on both sides Of the AISLE as
they all sat in silence until the esrgymen and their
families had gone out FsHFeysOns, we imagine
would be willing 10 90 back TO those Sunday eere-
monies of the Parian Ssbbath-Bostoa IraHseriPt