Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-11-25

as 1t was given to them. The person
performing this lining out" was usu-
ally remunerated for il by being ex-
cused from paying that tax for the
support Of the Congregational church,
which, in the New England colonies,
all persons, no matter of what religious
belief. were required to pay This con-
gregatiOnal psalm singing and lining
out were continued by many Of the
Congregational churches of New Eng
land until nearly a quarter of CEN
tury ago. Singing seats and choirs to
occupy them met with very great oppo-
sitlon when they were first introduced
into the meeting houses" as the puri-
tans called their churches.
There has been handed down through
many generations an amusing anecdote
Of one of these early preachers-the
Rev DR.. Job Strong. who for many
years was pastor of the Congregational
church at Portsmouth, n. H., where
he began his pastorate in 174S. He was
very bitterly opposed to the innovation
of a choir. but was at length overruled
by the members OF bis meeting and a
choir was organized among the young
people 1t made It's first appearance in
the singing seats" at the morning SER
vice Thanksgiving day in the year 1852.
After its members had sung to a new
tangled, very dorid tune the psalm
which had been given out the Rev. Job
leaned over the pulpit, and beckoning
to the whole congregation with ex-
tended arms exclaimed earnestly:
NOW let the people of God sing He
led off with a good old-fashioned psalm
tune in which the whole congregation
joined with hearty good will. The
singing seats we're quickly vacated.
Nothing more was ever heard of the
choir, and congregational singing con-
tinued in the Portsmouth church for
more than a century a1erward
Thanksgiving being a joyous festival
marriages were frequently celebrated
on that day throughout New England
for many years, there being a supersti-
ton. handed down from early puritan
times. that couples married on Thanks
giving would be certain to enjoy hap
piness and good fortune throughout
their married life. AS a child often
heard my great-grandmother describe
the costume OF the bride and groom at
the Thanksgiving cay wedding Of her
oldest sister, which. in her girlhood,
she attended in Plymouth, now more
than l25 years ago.
The brides long locks were strained
upward over an immel g cushion that
sat like an incubus on ler head. were
plastered with pomataa and sprinkled
over with a shower OF white powder
the whole forming a tower over a foot
in length. a single white rosebud lay
upon the summit Of this hirsute monu-
ment like dove that had newly light
cd upon a parian column. Over her
neck and bosom was folded a lace
handkerchief, fastened in front by a
bosom pin rather larger than a silver
dollar and consisting OF the bride
grooms miniature set in virgin gold
Her airy form was laced up in a satin
dress. its sleeves as tight TO the arm
as the natural skin, with the waist
formed by a bodice worn outside the
flowing skirt. which was distended al
the ankles by an ample hoop Shoe:
Of white kid. with peaked toes anC
heels two or three inches in height. in
closed her feet and glittered with
spangles as her little pedal extremitle'
peeped curiously out.
The bridesgrooms hair was sleekeC
back, plentifully bepOwdered, anC
twisted up into a cue which projected
like the handle of a skillet. A skillfu