The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-04-07
OLD TINE METHODISM.
The Modern Woman's Headgear wal
Tabooed In Those Days.

Tabooed Ia Those Days.
EDITOR HERALD:-I have read
with deep interest two articles from
the pen Of the Pastor of the First
Methodist Episcopal Church in re-
gard to the early history Of Method
ism in Maury County. Some time
ago chanced to get hold of a little
volume of autobiography published
exactly fifty years ago. In it there
are glimpses of Methodist history In
Maury County of tho earliest period.
Thinking the same might be of in
terest to the large following of that
church among your readers, L will
give you some extracts from the
volume.
The writer says he came from
Georgia to Tennessee in the latter
part of the year 1911, coming with
his fathers family, and that they
settled in Maury County. The
country was a green canebrake and
"a wilderness. We found a Method
ist society in three miles of where
my father settled. The leading
members of the society were old
members from other states. Here
found the society living like the one
! left behind me-"
On another page is a description
of the Methodist folk as they lived
in those days, which we may entitle,
as to dress and diSptdy:
EASTER SUNDAY IN OLD METHoDIsM.
"They had for their place of wor-
ship a little pine log house, which
went by the name of-Meeting-h house.
Those who joined it from first to las st
had to become plain and simple in
their dress; all ruffles, bows, rings
and feathers, whether worn by gen
tiemen or ladies, had to come off. for
men in those days wore rutfled
shirts; after they became members,
if anyone became fashionable, as ii
was called, the church became dis
satisfied with such an one; they
were talked to by the class and class
leader, and if they did not reform
they were dismissed from the
church, for the members were never
suffered to follow the ever varying
fashions of the world. There was &
marked and distinct difference ir
their dress, in it's plainness and SIM
plicity, from that of the world, anC
even other churches who, as far al
their ability would go, followed tht
ever changing fashions of the world
all said there could be no harm il
dressing as fine as their ability
would allow. So you see in this re
spect that society was formed. The
preachers, whether local or timer
ant, all wore round breasted coats
The first Bishops l ever saw, Nc
Kendree and George, had them on
The members did not follow thu
everchanging fashion of the cut o
dress; they remained in the SAM
fashion, they thought be not con
formed to this world meant il
dress, that thy must not take tn
world for their pattern; but in neat
ness and plainness, the church wa
to be her own pattern according t.
the scriptures, and simplicity o
, manner was to be their constan
, aim. But few Of the lay member
wore round breasted coats; the,
wore the coat that was then calle,
the lapel coat; they stood aloO
from extravaganza on the one han,
and from presumption on the other
But alas, unfortunately for tn
church, by her great popularit
thousands were converted, and som
were suffered to join the church
bringing their fashions with then
and in this way we lost our sim
plicity and power to a great degree
The preachers soon by degree
dropped their coat, and wore froc
coats for awhile, and then to grea
, extent went into the fashion accord
ing TO the style of the times, an
, thus we have made the world ou
pattern. My dear brethren, let m
ask you one question. Is this nc
conforming to the world contrary t
: to the plain sense of our rules o
dress, as understood by the mini;
, ters and members of our church u
: to 1921?
ASK the old preachers and men
: bers that are yet living, they will a
: tell you to man that it Is, and
: think if you will ask them they wi
I tell you that they are hurt and thS
: they have no hope that the astonisf
ing display of Gods power will eve
return till former living accordiu
to Methodist rule comes back"
ANTIQUARY.
. ITO he Continued \