The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-01-20
the Puritan Sabbath.

The Puritan Sabbath in the village
of New England commenced on Sat-
Irday afternoon. No labor was per-
formed on the evening which preced-
cd the Lords day. Early on Sunday
morning the blowing of horn in
some places announced that the hour
of worship was at hand. In other
villages flag was hung out of the
church. At Cambridge, drum was
beat in military style: at Salem, bell
indicated the opulence of that settle
ment.
The public religious services usu-
ally commenced at nine i'm the morning
and occupied from six to eight hours,
divided by an intermission ofan hour
for dinner. The people collected
quito punctually, as the law compell-
ed their attendance, and there was a
heavy fine for any one that rode too
fast to meeting. The sexton called
upon the minister and escorted him
TO church i'm the same fashion that the
sheriff conducts the judge into our
State courts. There were no pews
i'm the church, and the congregation
had places assigned them upon the
rude benches, at the annual town
meeting, according to their age, i'm
portance, and social standing. A
person was fined if he occupied the
scat of another. Our local histories
reveal that pride, envy, and jealousy
were active passions among the men
of olden times, and it was delicate AID
difficult business to "seat the meeting
house," as it was quantity called.
Many of the early churches of New
England had two clergymcn one who
was called the pastor; the other the
teacher. The Sabbath services were
as follows: The congregations as
semble at all early hour never later
than nine O'Clock. After prayer, a
chapter from the Bible was read by
une of the ministers, and "cApoundcd"
at length. In many of the churches,
however, the Bible 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 dcacons. The preacher did
not take part in the Introductory SER
vices.
The baptisms, cases of church dis
cipline, and collections, always took
place IN the afternoon. The "long"
prayer usually occupied from an hour
to all hour half and many of the SER
mons of this period make from hun
dred TO a hundred and fifty pages.
There was contribution every Sum
day, preceded by an appca. from one
of the dcacons. The boxes were not
carried round, but the congregation
arose and proceeded to the deaconis
seat, and deposited their offerings.
The magistrates and "brief gentle
men" walked up first, the elders next
and then followed the common peo-
pie" This cermcny occupied much
time. Besides the mony given, per-
sons brought various useful articles
and goods as offerings. The collec-
tions were distribute by the deacons
10 the ministers and the poor.
The trials of ecclesiastical offenders
at the close of the services, often af-
forded much excitement and amuse-
mcnt; for some offences particular
dress was worn, and the ''comfes-
sions" of the offenders were heard
with much interest. Oftentimes the
public services were continued until
after sunset. After the benediction,
the ministers passed out of the church
bowling to people On both sides of the
aisle as they all sat i'm silence until
the clerymen ana their families had
gone ont. Few persons, we imagine,
would be willing to 60 back to these
Sunday ceremonies of the Puritan
sabbath. 1t is wise to adapt the relig-
ious institutions of each age to the
customs of the period and the usages
of the same.