Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-03-28
the Puritan Sabbath.

Ihe i uTItau oaDDatn In the VIII
lagos of New England commenced
on Saturday afternoon. No labor
was performed on the evening which
preceded the Lords day. Early on
Sunday morning the blowing of a
norm in some places announced that
the hour of worship was at hand
In other villages flag was hung out
of the rude building occupied by the
church. At Cambridge, drum was
beat in military style at Salem, a
bell indicated the opulence of that
settlement.
The public religious services usu-
ally commenced at nine in the morn
ing, and occupied from six to eight
hours, divided by an intermissiOn of
an hour for dinner. The people col
iected quite punCtually, as the law
compelled their attendance, and there
was heavy fine for any one that
rode too fast to meeting. The SEX
ton called upon the minister, and es-
corted him to church in the same
fashion that the sheriff now conducts
the Judge into our State COURTS
There were no pews in the church,
signed them upon the rude benches,
at the annual town meeting, accord
ing to their age, Importance and So
cial standing. A person was fined
II he occupied the seat of another.
Our local histories reveal that pride,
envy and jealousy were active pas
sionS among the men of olden times,
and it was delicate and difficult busi-
ness to "seat the meeting house." as
it wos quantity called.
Many Ofthe early churches of New
England had two clergymen-one
who was called the pastor; the other
the teacher. The Sabbath services
were as follows: The congregations
assembled at an early hour-never
later than nine O'Clock. After prayer,
chapter from the Bible was read by
one of the ministers, and eek
pounded" at length. In many of
the churches, however, the Bible
was not read at all, and it took years
or agitation to carry that "innova-
lon." A psalm in metre was next
sung, which was dictated, line by
line, to the congregation; this ser
vice was usually performed by one
of the deacons. The preacher did
not take part in the introductory SER
vices.
The baptisms, cases of church dis
clpllne and collections always took
place in the afternoon. The "long''
prayer usually occupied from an hour
to an hour and half, and many of
the sermons of this period make
from a hundred to a hundred and
fifty pages. There was a contribu.
ton every Sunday, preceded by an
appeal from one of the deac0nS.-
The boxes were not carried round,
but the congregation arose and pro-
ceeded to the deacon's seat, and de.
posted their offerings. The magis.
trateS and "briefgentlemen" walked
up first, the elders next and then fol-
lowed the common people," This
ceremony occupied much time. Be-
sides the money given, persons
brought various useful articles and
goods as offerings. The collections
were distributed by the deacons to
the ministers and the poor.
The trials of ecclesiastical offend.
ers, at the close of the services, often
afforded much excitement and amusc.
ment; for some otfenses particular
dress was worn, aud the "cOnfes
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 in
silence until the clergymen and their
families had gone out.
Few persons, we imagine, would
be willing TO go back to these Sunday
ceremonies of the Puritan Sabbath
1t is wise to adapt the religious insti
tutions of each age to the customs OF
the period and the usages oftho same
Not VERY CONSISTENT. -" James
dear, will you bring me up "A scuttlt
of coal from the cellar 2" said "A busy
wife.
"That's just the way with YOU
said James, with a frOwn, as he pu
down his book and rose from thu
armchair.
"Just the way with me ?"
eyes," he snapped. " As soon a
you see me enjoying myself, yol
have something or other for me t,
do. Didn't you see | was absorbed
in my reading ?"
Well, dear, | will do it myself
Yes, and tell everybody-you
mother specially-that you have t
carry your own coal up from the Gel
lar. No, I'll do it. Let me mari
my place"
So he marked the place i'm tn
book at which he had ceased reading
and when he went down to the Gel
lar, grumbling all the way, sh
picked up the volume, and founC
that 1T was a love story, and that tn
passage he had been absorbed in wa
as follows:
my darling, when you are m,
wife, l will shield and protect yoj
from every care !; the winds o
heaven shall not visit your face to-
roughly, those pretty hands shal
never be soiled by menial tasks, you
wish shall be my law, your happi
neSS-D
Just then he reappeared, and
dropping the scuttle upon the floor
said:
"There's your coal! Give me NJ
book"
WEAZER-I lost a lot of tim
counting my wife.
BeaZer-How was that?
Weazer--Well, l mOnkeyed arOun