The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-06-20
"MEETIN HOUSES"
In This City aud Vicinity Some Fifty
Years Ago.
ouakera. MsthodialS and fresbyterlAns
Talked of..phe Hardphipa OF tho
Lovers by Church Beating
Arrangement,
cSI9T THE MEETING or OLD
GlXE settlers ut tho fair grounds Mrs,
vJHb Manley read an intefestinQ paper

eSIaT THE MEETING or OLD
GfXE settlers ut tho fair grounds Mrs
VVys Maney read an interesting paper
on houses of worship IN 0lden times,
She spoke OF Quakera and their mode
OF worship. Their buildingp were plain
and they paid no attention TO yentlli'
tlOn. The buildings were heated by the
old cannon stove and wood was tho
principal fuel, Tho light by day was
Furnished through 7 by y or y by 10
panea OF glass OF which twelve eOni'
poised window. These Windows ran
their earthly career without being 80
much aa introduced 70 each other on
account OF tho great distance DotWeen
their abiding places, By night tho light
was lard lamp or tall0w candles
placed on Tin reltctng brackets and
hung here and there upon the walls
The meeting houses then were 10 much
alike that one description answered for
ali. This sect sat with heads covered
by broad brimmed hRth ana long dfab
hun bOnneta aud sat In silence until the
spirit moved them. They had no sun
day schools and the children were taken
10 meeting by the parents. Singing was
an oiienao,
THE PRESBYTERIAN,
In speaking OF the Presby yterlana she
stated they had pews with three Bidea
and u door on tbs fourth, which was
closed after tho family had hled In.
The stranger was not seated IN tho
peWa, but took u seat wherever no
could find one, there eelng no usher,
Tho ladies carried little charcoal foot
stoves, The church taught the extreme
Calyiniatic doctrine, Tho Sunday
school met after church and one OF the
deacona read and explained the lesson
10 the entire school, Children and
parents were In the same class and all
were expected 10 understand what was
often incOmprehensible 10 many OF the
wise ones lt almost makes one weary
yet TO think OF the llrslleg, aec0ndlies
and 80 on up 10 the close. In singing
two clerks took their placeB on each
side OF the pulpit. One read two lines
and tho other lead In singing through
the long Dayld's Psalms, which was the
exclusive goug berylce.
I'll METuopIsTs.
or the Me nodlots the speaker was q
trlnlo mor9 familiar, Tholr meeting
houses wee also plain with dlngy walls
and ceiling. The men occupied one
Side OF the room aud the women tho
other and 10 was woe Detide the trans
gressOr OF that rule. The men and
women entered and left the house by
different doors, The husband had 10
wait outside for his wife 10 well as the
young man for his girl. They would
stand In u line and II was the best fellow
who got nearest the door, especially II
two or three boys were after the same
girl. When one got the mltten he often
wished he had been furthur down the
line whore II was not 30 light. An
effort was made by the mon 10 sit with
the women but they were driven away
like wolves from the sheep. IL was
actually thought unchristian.like for u
man 10 sit with his family during meet
ing,
Tho speaker referred 10 tho
"mourners bench" and the "amen
corner" There was shouting and
getting the power, The pulpit was q
little box shaped affair glued or nailed
half way up on the wall between the
ceiling and the floor. IL was reached
by u Hight Of. straight narrow steps.
When the preacher was seated, unless
quite tall, no one would be aware OF
his presence until he stepped upon the
little stool TO look out over his audi
ence and announce the opening hymn,
Frequently they would get 30 enthusi.
astlc that they would fall from the
stool. The preacher was always known
by his white neck tic and silk hat. The
desk upon which the Bible lay was fas.
tened 70 the pulpit by hinges and could
be raised 10 suit the render.
This denomination like many others,
built the meeting house at one end OF q
lot containing n few acres. This was
called the graveyard. There was laid
away the dear ones TO sleep their long
sleep. a.. ,nr ..sa ua
il, wl. AcoMpAnIsoN AeHAV'
In conclusion the speaker referred TO
the churches Of the present day being
Of the most improved architecture, OF
the minister having A. M. or ID. ID. TO
his name, of the absence Of the amen
corner, the finely cushioned pewe, the
fine altar, the $4,000 or $4,000 pipe
organ and oftentimes an entire braos
band