The Portland daily press., 1886-07-05
The choir then sung the tune referred to
RESPONSE-CHAN
BY LOWELL MASON.

In devious way the hurryng stream OF life may
| run;
Yet still our grateful hearts shall say
| Thy will be DONE
| Thy will be DONE
| If o,er us chino a eladning and prosperous sun,
This prayer will make it more divine
| Thy will be DONE
Thy will be DONE
| Though shrouded Ger our path with gloom,
| One comfort, one is ours, to breathe while we
| adore,
| Thy will be done.
Rev. Elijah Kellogg was introduced, and
delivered brief and eloquent address on
Religious Worship early in the century,
| He said:
REV. ELIJAH KELLOG6's ADDRESS.
| Mr.. Chairmon-Having been requested to
| offer some remarks in respect to the conduct
of religious worship early in the century,
| would say that early impressions are the
| most enduring and religious impressions the
| most so of all others, resulting from the fact
| that they are not so much impressions as the
development of innate tendencies kept alive
and nourished by the intercourse that all
men to a greater or less extent hold with
their Creator. There are none that so resent
lutCl1ClOuCO VI dlC WIFI ouCu QlllCu1by
eradicated Though by no means one of the
good boys who die young and with little in
clination to acquire knowledge from books
or by dint of study, there were two subjects
that always possessed for me peculiar in
terest and attraction-one the employment
by which men obtained their bread, and the
other the discussion of religious doctrines,
though utterly averse to any personal ap-
plication of them. / Irecolleet that when /
had twenty-five cents given me by my father
to go to SukeY Bakers tavern to see an ele-
phant "a rare sight in those days. sitting as
demure as mouse in my fathers study the
greater part of an afternoon listening to a
discussion between him and Hopkinsonian
minister for disintereSted benevolence, and
which was brought at last to an abrupt de-
termination in consequence of the use by the
Hopkinsonian Of the following Illustration:
Suppose, Brother Kellogg was walking
over bridge with two ladies, to one of
whom was tenderly attached and engaged
ent person. My particular friend
is, am aware, person of
of ordinary abilities but the other lady is
possessed of great mental powers, thorough
ly disciplined and both of them in state of
grace. The bridge breaks through and we
all fall into the stream. | can save but one of
them and in that case it would be my duty to
save the more gifted person even if had to
leave my, personal friend to perish, because
glory of Cod My father ended the dis
cussion by rising and declaring that a man
who could cherish, much more propagate,
such abominable sentiments was not fit to
preach the gospel nor even to live in Chris |
ministers, their preaching and modes of con-
Quoting worship at that period are as vivid |
in my recollection today as then, and | pro- |
pose to turn it to account in complying with |
your request. |
Religious worship at TINT time though |
modified still retained muchs of the ancient |
spirit and somewhat of the form. NY father |
and the ministers of his ageIformed the con-
Meeting link between the old and the new. |
Many of the old miaisters who were settled |
for life and wore the old ministerial wigs, |
cooked hats, small clothes and bands. were |
still preaching and frequently exchanged |
with my father, Rather Lancaster of Scar |
borough, Mr. Tilton and Mr.. Eaton of Harps-
fall asleep in the pulpit while the choir were |
singing the hymn before the sermon for he |
was well stricken with years. Ministers of a |
later date wore queue and powdered their |
hair. MY father IN younger life Wore his |
hair long and it curled down his neck and |
was powdered. He also retained the bands |
for neck dress. / can just recollect when |
he exchanged breeches for loose pants.
the OLD people who were opposed to
the innovation called them sailor trousers,
and said they did not become servant Of
God; were got up to conceal spindle shanks.
and the deacons at the First Parish retained
them and some others. The sermons and
prayers were somewhat curtailed, even by
the old ministers, but were still of sufficient
length The hour-glass was no longer seen
on the pulpit but was still used in families
schools and by the toll-keeper at Vaughan's
bridge. The deacons in the First Parish
still sat before the pulpit, but the practice of
1eaconing the hymns was given up Inten.
lions of marriage were no longer cried in
church with the addition that if any person
could show cause why they should not be |
,arried into effect, to make it known, or else
forever to hold their peace; but publish |
nents were posted in the porch of the meet
ng house for all to read. Much Importance
vas attached to singing and was always per-
ormed by a full choir, as loud noise was bv
'ur forefathers deemed essential in public
Worship. At first there was no Instruments
Except the bass viol. The chorister. con-
ciops of the dignity of his office, would rise
With solemn air, run up the scale, beatinG
lme with his hand, and lift the tune Mvv
ather. who had been drum major in The
Continental army, and was extremely fond
instrumental music, introduced the cornet
nd the clarinet, in addition to the bass VOL