Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-04-29
SUNDAY nv FORMER TIMES,

The Puritan Sabbath In the villages of New
t England commenced on Saturday afternoon
/ No labor was performed on the 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 villages flag was hung out Of
. the rude building occupied by the church AT
Cambridge drum was beat in military style:
at Salem bell indicated the opulence of that
settlement.
The public religious services usually COM
menced at nine o'clock in the morning and oc-
cupied from six to eight hours, divided by an
intermission of one hour for dinner The peo-
pie collected quite punctually, as the law com
PEELED their attendance, and there was heavy
| fine for any one who rode too fast to meeting
The sexton called upon the minister and es-
eorted him to church in the 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,
according to their age, importance and social
standing. A person was fined if he occupied
the saat of another. Our local histories reveal
| that pride, envy and jealousy were active pas
sions among the 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 elergymen-one, who was called the
Pastor; the other, the Teacher The Sabbath
services were as follows: The congregation as
sembled at an early hour-never later than 9
o'clock. After prayer chapter of the Bible
was read by one of the ministers and aexpnun-
ded" at length In many of the Churches, |
however, the Bible was not read at all, and it |
took years of agitation to carry that 'innova-
tion."
A psalm in meter was next sung, which was |
dictated, line by line, to the congregation; this
service was usually performed by one of the
deaeons. The preacher did not take part in the +
Introductory services. The baptisms, cases of I
church discipline, and collections, always took
place in the afternoon The "long" prayer usu-
ally occupied from an hour to an hour and
half, and many of the sermons of this period
make from hundred to hundred and fifty
pages. There was a contribution every Sun
day, preceded by an appeal from one of the
deacons. The boxes were not carried round,
but the congregation arose and proceeded to
the deacon's seat and deposited their offerings.
The magistrates and brief gentlemen walked
up first, the elders next and then followed the
common peoples" the ceramony occupied much
time. Besides the money given, persons brought
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-
e.
particular dress was worn, and the confessions
of the offender were heard with much interest.
Oftentimes the public services were continued
until after sunset. After the benedictien the
ministers passed out of the church, bowling to
the people on both sides of the aisle, as they
sat in silence until the clergymen and their
families had gone out! Few persons, We imag
inc, would be willing to go back to these Sun
day ceremonies of the Puritan sabbath Bos-
ton Transcript. Il