Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-05-23
WAYS OF THE OLDEN TINE.
Regulations That We're Once I'm
Vogue at Funerals and
Churches.

Diving into the old records of one
of the most charming cities of our
commonwealth, Northampton. we find
much of deep interest as revealing
customs and habits of olden times,
says the Springfield (Mass.) Repub-
lican. No fire was found in "the,
Westinghouse" in olden time and
comparatively recently foot stoves
were carried to church. as were tai
low candles to the evening meetings.
In 1857 the important vital question:
at legal town meeting was: shall
men and their wives be seated togeth-
| er in pews?" and the vote was an em-
phatic ssNol"
In 1744. about the beginning of
Jonathan Edwards trouble in the
parish, it was voted not ito pay the
charge of bringing his daughter from
Rrookfeld." In 1873 this appears on
the town records: Taking into con-
sideration the difficulty Mr.. Edwards
hath labored under this year and
some time past with respect to his
irewood the town voted that those
persons who have not this year
brought him a load of wood might
have liberty between this time and
next Tuesday night to bring each one
his load of wood" II there was not
suffciency of wood by that time, the
town then voted, the selectmen shall
see that the deficiency should be met
at the cost of the town.
Later, in 1873. we find in the war
rant for town meeting this entry:
''To procure firewood for Rev. Mr..
Williams, to choose committee to
seat the meeting A most
serious business to decide, who should
take preference in the broad aisles:
| The "nigger pew" well remembered
by the writer, caused no trouble to
said officer, as that was readily ac-
cepted by the s'colored brethren" like
cows in the stable, who went dutifully
to their separate stalls.
Not only the living had special rules
governing their conduct, but the rules
about the dead were very quaint, as
by this report Of committee, May IL,
17so, to whom had been referred the
conduct of funerals, as follows:
Whereas, 1t is the opinion OF this
| town that funerals ought to be con-
Quoted with great decency and decor
um in order to impress on rising and
risen generation the Importance of
the awful solemnity, and to render
the house of mourning better than
the house of feasting. Be it there
fore recommended to ali the inhabit-
ants of this town to observe the fol-
lowing regulations at funerals:
| 81. That the relatives of the deceased
follow next the corpse, two and two.
ss2. IL the deceased was male per-
| son the males are to follow next the
mourners, two and two, and the
| women after them, two and two; but
If the deceased was a woman, them
the women are to follow next the
mourners and the men after them.
SO. Those on horseback are to follow
in after the foot folks, horses two
and two, and the carriages are to fol-
low in the rear of the procession.
And it is requested that no persons
walk or ride on either side the pro-
cession from the house to the grave"
Ten of the prominent men of the
city were appointed and requested to
attend at funerals and to regulate the
procession thus recommended until the
same shall become habitual to the peo-
pie. In 1745 the question was raised
in the annual town meeting eff the
town would be at the expense of coli
oring the Westinghouse, and it passed
In the negative!" Evidently they
| thought that nature would do it with
out expense. Not till 174o were the
forts and Notifications of the town
demolished and the timber and boards
sold for the benefit of the town.
Laws were passed relative to the
schooling of boys and the amount of
wood they should bring to the school
house; girls were of no account in
those days.