Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-17
Ths Humor. Of New Am.,erdam

The literature Of New Amsterdam was entire
" different from thSt OF our day. In the place
OF novels. romances. magazines. and light Tead-
ing which now often MI the centre tables,
there was 70 be found little else than bibles, es-
tamenfs With the psalm books; still every fam
ly possessed these household volumes. The ma
irons church books were generally costly bound.
with silver clasps aud edgiugs, and sometimes OF
gold; snd these suspended TO the girdle by silver
or gold chains, distinguished the style OF the
family using them on Sabbath days.
SUNDAY. in New Amsterdam, sss better OBJ
served than by New Workers now All srrayed
In their best. attended the public services of re
ligon, and the people Almost exclusively CALVIN
ist., went 10 the Reformed Dutch church The
"Koeck," or bell ringer and sexton united, was
an important officer on the important day, sum
moning the congregation by the ringing of the
church going bell. lie also formed procession
OF himself and his assistants. 20 carry the custo
mers of The burgOmasters and schepens from the
city hall TO the pews appropriated to these 9th
Gals At the same time the "ScsOut' went his
rounds 10 see that quiet was kept in the streets
during divine worship, and also 10 stop the games
oil the negro slaves and Indians to whom the
day was allowed for recreation. except during
the church hours The Dutch church was then
located within the fort at the battery. and the
present Bowling Green, open field. exhibiting
many country wagons arranged in proper order,
while their horses were permitted 10 Craze on the
hill side which led down TO the Hudson river
Outward appearances have changed some be
tween our present costly aud magnificent TEN
pies of the Lord and the tumble early Dutch
churches; but the same Bible and the same pure
faith remain unchanged. and so will remain to
the end Of time
II must be remembered that we are speaking
Of the oldest denomination in America. and or
ganized as early ar the yeaT 1920. For a long
time the Reformed Dutch Church retained its
distinctive customs, and even language. and OF
the former some we're peculiar Unlike the plain
" sttired Puritan, the Du'ch dominies always
appeared in their high circular pull pits with black
silk gowns and large flowing sleeves This sa-
cred robe seemed indispensable; and il is related
that. at the Installation cf an early minister who
was not prepared with such garment. the pre-
siding clergyman refused to Olficistc Forth
nately for the candidate kind minister supplied
his need, or the ceremonies would have been
postponed
All the puipts had heavy sounding boards. and
the Psalms OF the day set in movable figures
either u,on the sides Of the sacred desk or the
church. The clerk occupied little pew o. box
by himself. in front OF the pulpit. preiacing the
morning services by reading the Scriptures. and
during the afternoon the Apostles Greed he
received from the sexton all the notices TO be
read. and then placing them at the head ora long
pole. they we're thus passed NJ 10 the dominic for
publication. There were no church clocks then.
and the hour glass supplied their place. which
was placed invariably at the right hand OF the
preach,r IL was the clerks duty. too. when the
i.st grain. of sand had run out, to remind him
that the time TO end the sermon bad come, by
three rsps of his cane
An amusing story is related of dominic
who. seeing his clerk asleep. with the people
drowsy on a warm summers day. quietly turn
ed the emptied glass up again. Then, after its
sands had dsappeired a second time, he re-
mark ID to his hearers that they had been pa
tiently sitting through two glasses, he would
now 20 on with the third. have seen the "old
pulpit of the earliest Dutch church in Albany.
IL was imported from Holland. it is q great Gu
riosity and still there carefully preserved and
among lis fixtures are those OF such a primitive
tmepiece just before ascending the pulpit. the
Dutch dominic raised his hat before his face
and silently offered a short prayer for a blessing
on his coming lab0rs. Then, when be bad pro
nounced the last word Of his text. and before
the sermon began. he exclaimed Thus far
THIS custom is said still 10 be preserved in some
country churches. The discourse flashed. the
descons in their seats, went % the altar.
listened 10 briet address from the preacher.
when they attended 10 The public collection
Etch carried long pole with a black velvet
big at The end. 20 which was attached little
bell. One ~ these bells. from the ''olden time
and used in the early Garden Street church. has
been carefully preserved in our city. Once
little IRON bound boxes were placed the
doors OF the churches for the aims Of tho
people. and such are still used in Trinity.