Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-21
GRACE BEFORE HEAT.
khe Customs Of the Good Old Time
Falling Away.


SOME VERY CURIOUS ANECDOTES OF BYGONE CERE-
MONIES IN THE FAsILY-A BLESSING ASKED
OVER wHIsKT-FUyERAL GgACEs OVER CAKES
AND wINE-RUEAL Ora cEs.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.
In the good old times 1t would have been
considered heinOus breach of good breeding, il
not open sin, to have sat down to a meal with
out returning thanks. But times have now SO
greatly Changed that the religious rite referred
TO is much more honored in the breach than in
the observance. The change which has within
the last half century or taken place in the
boarding system. in houses as well as in restau-
rants, has doubtless had something to do with
bringing about change. as in a promiscuous
company it would provoke visibility to ask a
blessing on the viantls laid on the table, more
especially in saloon.
DAYS OF THANKSGIVING.
The practice OF saying grace probably origi-
mated at the time OF our Saviour, although the
religious ceremony of the heave Offering
s"ering to our national Thanksgiving for good
haryests-dated as far back as the giving of the
law on Mount Sinai. AS touching the question
of rendering due acknowledgement for the boun-
teOus quits of Providence. or humbling them
serves by prociaming a solemn fast for being
chastised by a bad crop on account OF their man
ifoid sins. story is related OF very hot dispute
which occurred at a meeting where One-haiI the
brethren hailed from upland districts. and the
remainder from IL location where arabic farming
pre- aiied- As it happened the season lad been
remarkably dry. which suited the Hili cravings
remarkably well. while the iowiand parts of the
presbyterian bounds suffered greatly from
drought. the former districts wished dav of
thanksgiving for mercies received, while their
opponents cOntendcd as stoutly for day Of
lasting and humiliation for their sins and back
Sliding. especially for iaXity in the matter OF
Sunday observance. Speech after speech from
both sides of the divided assembly failed to
bring about unanimity. and the setjt,aed was adj
Journed without decision being arrived at, it
Deing understood that each member would be
Tree To mOtrn Or rejoice just as best pleased the
members OF his congregation.
GRACE SAID OVER WHISKY.
Saying grace has assumed various forms, ac
cordng to the pcculiarities of the country and
the nature of the religion professed. Instances
are on record where members vi the church have
been subjected to discipline before their ecclesi-
astical superiOrs for emitting this important
duty on particular occasions. About century
ago tGefe IlVed IN certain rural district rather
eccentric village worthy VINO lssarS day lre-
quented the Change house at nUOst To have his
refreshments, which invariably consisted of one
or more supplies OF whisky He would not.
however. raise the glass to his lips without first
eVOkInS the divine blessing on his beverage; but
it does not appear that he went through this
sacred formula on repetition of the dose as
sometimes he prolonged his sitting till midnight,
not infrequently having fight before he got
home To Ills own fireSlde. The manner in which
this ancient did his deyOirs was worthy Of no
tice. On the whisky being placed on the table
he reverentially took of his cap, which he care
July placed on the table beside him, and then
solemnly offered up long prayer, soliciting the
divine blessing on what had been placed before
him. His habit becoming known 81 rangers out
OF curiosity dropped in at mid day to witness
the observance better still, rich resident in
the locality was so much amused by the original
ity and sincerity displayed by the topper that he
desired che gin seller to supply him with daily
beverage at his expense, which was done till the
GRACEFUL mans death, some thirty years after.
AMEN!
For long time the saying of grace before
meat has become mOckery at the city banquets
rather than an act of divine worship or homage.
On such festive occasions the toast master, a
most important functionary-at all events in his
own estImatOn-just as the Lord Mayor pro-
ceeds to take his seat enunciates these words:
For what we are to- receive. the Lord makes
us truly thankful" and the hungry aldermen
with the livery OF freemen. respond with ''Amen!'
which finishes the ceremonial. when they COM
mence operations with a gIstO that could not
be surpassed by anv like number of Jolly good
fellows in tine world If the result of good eat
lngis to be Judged of by the method of asking
blessing. then the London Mansion House style
must be very etficacous. as the city aldermen
are prOyerblai for the enormous capacity of their
paunches. Probably the innovation lust re-
ferred to arose from the heightened sermons in
dulged in by ministers on festive occasions which
produced cOunteractOn.
FUNERAL GRACEs OR SERMONS.
In Scotland. up to the present day. the Pres
byterians and other dissenting bodies, having
no funeral service prescribed for them, make
the best of their opportunity by having IA long
preachlnent on the wine and cakes Or-as is
much more likely to be the case-bread with
cheese and whisky, for the resalement of friends
who have come to attend the funeral. These
discOurses-in the form of graces before and
after the whisky-are generally long winded
affairs and are now being little needed by the
people assembled, who not unfrequently carry
on conversations aside, putting Off a considera-
ton OF the solemn views of the preacher to a
more convenient season. just as did Festus, the
Roman governor, when Paul the Apostle of the
Genties, had all but succeeded in converting
him to Christianity.
A PRACTICAL JOKE.
An anecdote is still related. especially i'm legal
circles, of Lord EldOn, while travelling incOqnitO
in the Western Circuit in England. He happened
to be on a journey at the time a Methodist con-
ference was to take place in Sheffield, and being
dressed in black brOadclOth he was taken to be
one of the ministers. At the time alluded to
there were no railroads in existence and Jour
neys were generally performed in fOur-hOrse
stage coaches. Usually dinner was provided for
at wayside hotel, when twenty minutes were
allowed for the prandial repast.. Being an entire
stranger to all present his lOrdship was out of
compliment invited to say grace, which he Ger
tainly did with vengeance. He rehearsed all
the topics he had heard discussed by the minis
tiers, praying for Divine guidance in respect to
each se,idtin. Home and foreign missions re-
ceiyed a due share of attention. as did certain
cases Of discipline upon which the conference
would have to deal. This he kept doing until
the cOaclmans horn sounded the alarm that he
was about to drive of, and the hungry preachers
were obliged to leave their soups and rOasts un-
touched, although they had paid the dinner
ticket before sitting down. Their chagrin i'm
such circumstances it is not difficult to conceive
being. as they were, made the subjects of a
practical joke.
story of a different kind is told of some tray-
elers at New Jersey hotel They were princi-
pally drummers, and had been imposed upon be-
fore, SO they resolved upon making reprisal.
When about half through with their meal the
alarm being sounded. each seized upon Joint
and carried it Off-fOwls ham and rOasts were