The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-12-21
HOW THE PIONEERS OF OLD
MONTANA OBSERVED SUNDAY
BY Martha Edgertop PIassmann

DTd1lQ, DIS Was my HlOlIlSA, wiz
was the daughter of Western Re
serve, Ohio, pioneers from New
Hampshire and Connecticut. One
of my earliest recollections is of
playing with blocks on the floor
with no thought of what day it
was, when my grandfather came
into the room and seeing how | was
occupied, sternly rebuked me by re-
peating the following couplet that
has chung to my memory ever since.
He named no names, leaving it to
my conscience to make the applica-
ton:
"Thou shalt not work, thou shalt
not play,
On Gods Holy Sabbath day."
Not belonging to the present
generation, and being very young,
| did not wait to argue the point
of Sabbath and Sunday identity
with my grandfather, but reluctant
ly put up my blocks, thinking as ]
did so that God must be like other
old folk in Directing to children
having a good time. This view
of the day was modified in the
course of years, but Sunday obser-
vance was early inculcated, and I
came to take it as matter of
course that this one day of the
week should be different from the
others.
1t was the day when I went to
church morning and afternoon,
dressed in my best. and sat in the
side gallery with other girls of my
age, similarly appareled; where |
heard good music, and sermons |
was too young to appreciate, deliv
cred by our scholarly little minis
ter. who demanded the respect due
to the cloth, and received it. Then
there was the Sunday dinner-the
best ofzsthe week-the command
"Thou shalt not work" never APP
plying to protestant housewives.
religion, if not man made, being at
least man-interpreted.
All this helped to make the day
endurable, and emphasized its i'm
portance. Then our family broke
away from civilization and started
across the plains. In a way, we
kept Sunday there, but it was main
ly as day of rest for the men, the
children, and the cattle. AS usual.
the women worked, either at, bak-
ing or washing, as it was easier to
do this when we stopped, especially
the washing.
When we reached Bannack we
found that Sunday there was like
other days. There was no church,
and the mines, placer diggings,
dance halls and saloons ran with
out intermission; religion, as is
customary, was held subordinate to
profit.
The Indians were receiving reli-
gious instruction from the Jesuits.
who came to what is now Montana
when trappers and fur traders con-
stituted its white population, and
it was long before the Protestant
clergy invaded the field. AS usual.
the first of these to arrive was a ,
Methodist, who might be classed I
among the old-time circuit riders.
He was a good man, and sincere in
his belief, but of scant education.
After being in Bannack for a t
while, he managed to interest a {
few of its residents in the desira-
bility of holding church services on
Sunday. But there was no church.
This difficulty was overcome by
securing the use of the Round t
House, on Yankee Flats, for this k
purpose. The Round House natur- Z
ally had no connection with rail-
road, nor was it round. According a
to my recollection it was octagonal
and was said to have been built F
after the model of a teepee. 1t had T
an attached kitchen or living room h
that opened into the main building v
by door near the rear. n
In line with this door was low "
platform not foot high, on which t,
were set couple of rude benches e
and further along table was plac- b
ed for pulpit. The benches were
for the choir. The room itself t.
was of fair size, and could have ac- h
commodated many more persons n
than ever attended. A few stray t;
CLING benches, like those of the Ii
choir. furnished seats. S
The choir had but three men, ii
bers, and these never held a re- O
hearsal, although it was greatly Fl
needed. My cousin, Lucia Darling, h
was soprano, |, alto, and a prom
inent citizen sang tenor and acted d.