New Britain Herald Newspaper, September 29, 1921, Page 10

YESTERYEAR REVIEW OF CHURCH AFFAIRS James Shepard Tells of Activities of Forelathers In the carly days of Connecticut no one ever went to church, not that the people were ungodly but because there were no churches for them to Attend. It is true that in every town there was an organized body of Chris- tians called “The Church,” more than ane In some towns, but they wor- fhipped in “meeting-houses' on Sun- days, Fasts and Thanksgiving days, and went to meeting instead of to church. The early settlers weroe most- ly dissenters from the Chufch of Eng- land and t distinguished thelr house of worship from a church by calling it a meeting house. There was then no house of worship in the col- ony other than a Congregational meet- ing house. The first church edifice in Connecticut, aside from thesc meet- ing houses, was opened for public service at Stratford on Christmas day in 1724 by Episcopalians. They opened their second church at Fairfield in the tall of 1725 and their third church at New London on December 9, 1730 The Baptists came to Groton and or- gnnized a church in 1705 and that was the only Paptist church in the col- ony for 26 years thercafter. There were a few Rogorenes at New Lon- don and a few New York Quakers had crossed over Into the western part of Connectieut. The Quakers and others, » from the churchmen, worshipped in meeting houses while the later alone worshipped in a ehurch, and ealled attending service golng to church. They were, how- ever, particular to designate every non-Episcopal house of worship as a “mecting house.”” Those were go-to- meoting days when the majority of the people rehipped in meeting houses. The Congregationalist clung to the word “meeting house” for more than two centuries. The people enjo d their so-called “Blue Sunday" better than they did any other day in the week. They generally attended “Gospel Service” on Sunday becau it was a pleasure to do ®so and not because those who did not choose to K0 to meeting on Sunday, might go to court on Monday. In the first code of laws, of 1650 it was enacted that wheresoever gospel service was held on Sunday “Every person shall duly resort and attend there” or be subject to a fine of 5 shillings. In 1668 it was enacted, with reference to the foregoing law, that it shall be lawful for the court to find the ac- cused gu! y, “except he make it ap- pear that he did attend the publlque worship of God, or was necessarily dotained from the same.” The nex: law after 1650, relating to Sunday observance was in 1667, when Indians vere forbldden to work or play on the Sabbath but the general law against work, play, travel, etc., or staying outside the meeting house during Sunday service, was not passed until 1668. This old colonial law was continued, In substance, in our first revision of the state laws published in 1821, Seventy years ago I used to put on my go-to-meeting clothes and go to meoting every Sunday in the Congre- gational meeting house at Southing- ton. All the rest of the town went to meeting, either in the Congrega- I, Ba:tist or Unitarian meeting , these three being then the only hous 3 of worship in use. There had been un Episcopal church there for about 30 years, but it was aban- doned and finally sold in 1847 when it was -onverted Into a grocery store and tenem .nt house. The only Epis- gopal service I ever attended In Southington and the first I ever wit- nessed, was about the year 1853, Simeon H. Norton, a merchant, was then residing at Plantsville in the rooms ove- his store. He went from house to house through the nelgh- borhood Iaforming the people that there was to be an Eplacopal service at his ho'se on a certain day and hour and Invited the people to at- tend. His invitation was accepted by a goodly number including myself. The ofMiciating minister was the Rev Collis 1. Potter, then rector of the church at Wolcott. He was assistod by X. A. Welter a lay 1eader, who was then studying theology under Mr. Pot- ter. 1 do not remember whether or not 1 them knew who officlated at that service, but it so happened that both of theso men later became dear friends of mine. 1 4ld not forget attending service at Mr. Norton's houso and in cor- yesponding with Mr. Welton I men- tioned it to him not very many years #ago and much to my surprise he in- formed me that the officlating per- sons were Mr. Potter and himself. The Conagregationaliats in Southing- ton as elsewhere kept Saturday night CUTICURA HEALS WATER BLISTERS On Face and Hands. Itched and Burned, Face Disfigured, Lost Rest. My wouble came in tiny water blisters which would break and form sore eruptions. My face and hands were affected, and the skin was soreand red. The eruptions itched and burned so that [ scratched them, and my \ | face was disfigured. I lost rest at night. “The trouble lasted about three months. A friend asked me to try Cuticura Soap and Ointment, and after using three cakes of Soap and two boxes of Ointment [ was healed.’” (Signed) Miss Agatha Tyler, R. F. D.i. Hox 59, West Lubec, Me. Cutlcura Soap, Ointment and Tal- R e Soap shaves —ag. |while the Baptist and Unitarians did |not. The Lord's Day with us began at sunset on Saturday and then we could neither work or play, but it was good time to study our Sunday school lesson. We were free to work or play on Sunday evening and some who were not Congregationalists did the same. I often heard the remark that “Those who did not keep Satur- day night never kept any.” On Sunday it was seldom that any- one passed our house until about the middle of the foremoon when they began to go to meeting. and yet 1 resided on one of the most frequented streets. The pcople were carly in going to meeting. 1 remember tha one Mr. Hitchcock, as a rule, was the first person to pass our house on Sunday 1 as he walked by we re- marked “There goes the first bell.”” In- asmuch as all the houses of worship in the town were meeting houses everyone spoke of attending Sunday wervice as “going to meeting.” In fact, I cannot recall that I ever heard any speak of going to church until T was about 20 years of age. I did not start for ; ceting until some time after Mr. Hitchcock passed by. That gave me ample time to stand on the portico of the moeting house with the other boys and watch the people as they ar- rived. Th . greater part of them came by horse and carrlage and we boys knew every team at sight and where the owner lived. In fact we knew almost every person who came to the fonal meeting house on Sun- was a common practice to carry heads of fennel. caraway, dill and the like to meeting and to eat the seeds in meeting time. The wom- en carried them In their hand-bags and the men in their pockets and they were frequently passed along to those sitting neirby who did not have a supply of seceds. One or the other of the three plants above named was cultivated in almost every garden while in some gardens all three kinds were grown. Because these seeds were so commonly used in meeting tim., they were frequently called “Go- to-meeting seeds.”” The slips in the body of th» house were assigned each year to various go-to-meeting goers according to age and dignity. The seats In the two side galleries were not thus assigned but were occupied by children and young people, the girls in one gallery and the boys in the other. The choir occupied the end gallery facing the pulpit. All the congregation stood up turned about and faced the choir during the sing- mg. 1 remember how Parson Jones one Sunday referred to the confusion that arose from the rustling of silks and shuffling of feet when thus facing about, and requested us to simply rise and face the pulpit when the hymns were being sungz. The people had great respect for Parson Jones and h wishes were cheerfully car- ried out. There was no organ in the meeting house but they had a big bass viol and sometimes also a violin and a flute. In prayer time part of the congregation stood up. Isanc Bur- ritt always rosoc and stood erect dur- NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1921, WORKING FOR RED CROSS Miss Mabel Boardman and Chief Justice Taft as they left the White Hous Cross affairs. after a conference with President Harding about Red ing the prayers. He believed in free seats and declared that he would never sit in a slip of God's house which had been sold. In the latter part of his life the church was di- vided and part of its members built a new Congregational meeting house at Plantsville, which My. Burritt at- tended. But the slips were sold and consequently he sat during the serv- ice in a chair which was placed the aisle. He owned a small farm but his chief occupation was teaching school. Notwithstanding his eccen- tricities he was much respected and no man in town was more frequently called upon to make speeches on vari- He was born in New in| Britain, was a brother of the more |tamous Elihu and Elijah, and he re- |sided here for about 25 years before |he removed to Southington. New Britain was the more pro- s ive town of the two, but the cus- |toms here 70 years ago were in most respects similar to those in Southing- ton. No doubt they raised fennel here |and ate go-to-meeting seeds in meet- ing time on Sunday, but how many gardens are there now in our city in which fennel grows year after year? This was a go-to-meeting town having five meeting houses and two churches, one Episcopal and one Catholic. The meeting houses were two Congrega- tional and one each for the Baptist, W The makers of The Fleisher Yarns say—Wash knitted things in LLAX HISK two tablespoonfuls of Lux into thick lather in half a bowlful of very hot water. Add cold water until lukewarm. Dip garments up and down, pressing suds repeatedly through soiled spots. Do not rub. Rinse in three luKewarm waters. Squeeze water out—do not wring. Stretch garment to shape, and spread on an old towel to dry. Woolens should be dried in an even temperature. COLORED WOOLENS. Have suds and rinsing waters barely lukewarm. Wash quickly to keep colors from run- ning. Lux won't cause any color to run that water alone won't cause to run. MADE IN U. S. A. T REALLY MuST Go— I GLAD vou caLLED | FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS e Advent. The the Congre- word meetl L any other denom- ination, their houses of worship being called y the North South Con ional meeting The North meeting house was Iplanted by the present church fic ted in 18 d now gen- | »wn as the church. It History of | Mcthodist and ists used ' lor th and house. sup- edi- t Church of Chr 1807), sometime ’ > and sometimes as a house of | hip. How long after 1867 this edifice was called meeting house I am unable It is re the Russell and observing the s men his usual seat man why he tayed a meeting. He replied that he aid not have clothes which were zood enough to wear to meeting. “That is not a g0ood excuse,” says the Dr. “You ought to go to mecting somewhere every Sunday. If your clothes are not good enough to wear to the Con- gregatiol meeting, then go to the Methodist.” Going to mecting or to church was formerly the principal social event of the week. There was little or noth- ing else on Sunday to turn one in any other direction. There were no trol- no automobiles and no Sun- y trains. For my first ride on a Sunday train I came home from Bos- ton. It was with great reluctance that T decided to do so and I could not help feeling somewhat guilty as 1 boarded the train. After taking my seat in the car I was both surprised Woodruff of rwin M Co. on ence of one of the the company from | Sundays = the and delizhted to find that I had one of our New Britain ministers for L fellow passenger. The Sunday trains sponsible for our Sunday mails which were fo lowed by Sunday ball games and Sun- day movies. There are many who till go to church in spite of the numerous ctions elsewhere. The of worship for all Christ denominations @ now universs known as churches and those who tend them =o to church. The go-to- meeting phrases of other days, miliar as they were, are now no more houses heard e { NUTMEGS PRACTICE. ! Barnikow To Give Chatk k Te Players Tonighit. toni Nutm s indoor practice which will hold at the Ukrai-n ian Hall, Barnikow, the best broken field runner that ever ed in this§ Iacality, will give a black board mn;? te the players. Besides Barnikow, eorze the one-time Ve ment star Anselle coach, and ' at present the high *hool mentor, well be present to assist the line-men, Despite scveral reports that the American Chain and the Williams have signcd Barnikow, that elongated hlete will be with the Nutmegs dur- ing the entire season. The local football fans will be great- tv elated when they hear that William Kenneth “Bill” Parsons will be at an ©aa position with the Nutmegs in the October 9 game. Parsons injured his liand in a baseball game on Labor Day and the hand will be fully healed At when he jumps into togs. Parsons is without doubt the best forward pass receiver that has ever stepped upon a lceal grid: 1. The famous combina- ion o lle and Parisns will never be forzotten. On Sunday the heavy Mohawk team of Meriden will attempt to defeat the Nutmegs in their first game of a home and home series. The All-Hart- ford team did not score on the Meri- den cleven until the last quarter. The seme no doubt will draw fully a thousand Mohawk followers besides the usual Nutmeg attendants. The highest one-piece structure in the world is said to be the new 660- foot wireless tower at Toklo, Japan. e ——————————— BYE THAT FADED DRESS YOURSEL! mond Dyes” add years of wear \ded skirts, waists, coats, sweaters, coverings, hang- everything. Every ¥ ns directions so simple ny woman can put new, rich, fade- less colors into her worn garments or draperies even if she has never dyed before. Just buy Diamond Dyes —no other kind—then your material will come out rizht, because Diamond Dyes are guaranteed not to streak spot, fade, or run. Tell your drusr gist whether the material you wish to dye is wool or silk, or whether it is linen, cotton or mixed goods.—advt. The Gray Enamel Victory Crawford is the Easiest Range to Keep Clean YOU know how hard it is to keep the ordinar; soils your hands, and how grease” it takes to put a nice polish on a stove. But you can keep this new Gray Enamel Victory Crawford perfectly spotless b, simply wiping it off with a damp cloth Hot water, soap, and a little take off the grease and spots. And remember, the Victo: gray enamel, or black finish, the double advantage of being gas or coal, separately or together. You stove looking clean, and black, and shining—how stove blacking burner using the uch “elbow / s , feet without with them. From Crawford is only to the ovens you ammonia will ate this generous Crawford, in ives you r able to use If you haven't make dealer who sells can broil and bake at one time with one right hand oven. There is plenty of oven space—634 square e racks, and 13 square feet end to end, the Victory 43 inches long. When using both coal and gas, in addition can have nine kettles cooking all at once, four on the coal, five on the gas. When there’s a big dinner to get, or at preserving time, you'll appreci- capacity. yet seen the Victory Crawford in its new gray dress, you can s acquaintance at the store of any rawford Ie a nges A. A. MILLS, 80 West Main Street He Had a Reason for All This! T'™M AWEULLY B\ AWW — MRS BANDY STAY AWHUILE }V:{ BUT REALLY, TAG, T MUST 60 HOME AND GET ! | SWPER (" )= OU, PLEASE DON'T GO HOME { BUT 1 MUST, TAGALCNG - THOUGH TD LIKE To STAY == AND IT'S So NICE OF VoU To LIKE PLEASE, PLEASE YoU WENT DON'T Go= MOM SAID SHE WUZ GONNA WHIP ME AS SooN ASS © BY BLOSSER =