No spitting in church!

There is much to be gained from examining Woodmason’s comments on the dress and habits of the people of the Carolina backcountry prior to our War for Independence, but one of the most fascinating aspects of his journals are his accounts of the church services he held.  As if he didn’t already have enough problems dealing with the overt antagonism of his Presbyterian foes, he also had to deal with the rather loose behavior of those folks who actually attended his services.  Here is Woodmason’s instructions to his congregants on how to properly behave in church:

"Always contrive to come before Service begins — Which You may do, as we begin so late. ’Tis but putting and getting things in Order over Night—Whereas many will hardly set about it till Sunday Morning. Contrive too, to go as early as possible to rest on Saturday Night so that You may rise early and refresh’d on the Lords day and not be hurry’d in dressing, and ordering Matters. The coming late to Sermon discourages People, for lack of company — and coming in after Service is begun is very troublesome — Disturb both me and ev’ry One and should be avoided as much as possible — But if it is unavoidable, pray enter leisurely — tread softly — nor disturb any who are on their Knees or are intent on their Devotions. Bring no dogs with you — they are very troublesome — and I shall inform the Magistrate of those who do it, for it is an Affront to the Divine Presence which We invoke, to be in the midst of Us, and to hear our Prayers, to mix unclean things with our Services.

When You are seated — do not whisper, talk, gaze about — shew light Airs, or Behaviour, for this argues a wandering Mind and Irreverence towards God; is unbecoming Religion, and may give Scandal and Offence to weak Christians: — Neither sneeze or Cough, if You can avoid it — and do not practice that unseemly, rude, indecent Custom of Chewing or of spitting, which is very ridiculous and absurd in Public, especially in Women and in Gods House. If you are thirsty — Pray drink before you enter or before Service begins, not to go out in midst of Prayer, nor be running too and fro like Jews in their Synagogues — except your Necessary Occasions should oblige You — Do You see anything like it in Charles Town or among Well bred People. Keep your Children as quiet as possible.   If they will be fractious, Carry them out at once for I will not have Divine Worship now consider’d by You, as if I was officiating in a private House.

Those among you who have not the tunes we do now, or shall sing, and are desirous of them, I will write them out for.... Many among you possibly prefer Extempore Sermons, to those which are Premeditated, and may call my Mode of Delivery, rather Reading than Preaching. ’Tis true, extempore Discourses have their peculiar Merit — but there is hardly one Man in the World, but will speak better and more useful Sense, premeditatedly than Extempore…

Ev’ry Sunday Afternoon, I purpose catechizing as Many of You, Young and old, as can possibly attend…

When Banns [official announcement of an intended marriage] are published — Don’t make it a Matter of Sport; but let it stir You up to put up a Petition to Heav’n for a Blessing of God upon the Parties." ¹

Christ, not man, is King!

Dale

1)      Richard J. Hooker, ed., The Carolina Backcountry on the Eve of the Revolution (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1953), p. 88-9.

Washington on Providence

"VALEDICTORY MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNORS OF THE STATES"

       "From his Headquarters at Newburgh, New York, Sunday, June 8, 1783, General Washington issued a circular letter on disbanding the army, which was addressed to the governors of all the States.   The following extracts show his deep religious sentiments:

       When we consider the magnitude of the prize we contended for, the doubtful nature of the contest, and the favorable manner in which it has terminated, we shall find the greatest possible reason for gratitude and rejoicing. This is a theme that will afford infinite delight to every benevolent and liberal mind, whether the event in contemplation be considered as the source of present enjoyment or the parent of future happiness; and we shall have equal occasion to felicitate ourselves on the lot which Providence has assigned us, whether we view it in a natural, a political, or moral point of light. . . .

       They [the citizens of America] are from this period to be considered as the actors on a most conspicuous theatre, which seems to be peculiarly designated by Providence for the display of human greatness and felicity. Here they are not only surrounded with everything, which can contribute to the completion of private and domestic enjoyment, but Heaven has crowned all its other blessings, by giving a fairer opportunity for political happiness, than any other nation has ever been favored with. . . . The free cultivation of letters, the unbounded extension of commerce, the progressive refinement of manners, the growing liberality of sentiment and, above all, the pure and benign light of Revelation, have had a meliorating influence on mankind and increased the blessings of society.

       •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

       It remains, then, to be my final and only request, that your Excellency will communicate these sentiments to your Legislature at their next meeting, and that they may be considered as the legacy of one who has ardently wished, on all occasions, to be useful to his country, and who, even in the shade of retirement, will not fail to implore the Divine benediction upon it. I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in his Holy protection; that He would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field; and finally, that He would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which are the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation." ¹

 

"TAKES NO CREDIT TO HIMSELF"

       "In an address to mayor, recorder, aldermen and Common Council of the city of Philadelphia, at a great civic banquet, April 20, 1789, in reply to a congratulatory address on his election to be President, he says:

       When I contemplate the interposition of Providence, as it was manifested in guiding us through the Revolution, in preparing us for the reception of a general government, and in conciliating the good will of the people of America towards one another after its adoption, I feel myself oppressed and almost overwhelmed with a sense of the divine munificence. I feel that nothing is due to my personal agency in all these complicated and wonderful events, except what can simply be attributed to the exertions of an honest zeal for the good of my country.

       If I have distressing apprehensions, that I shall not be able to justify the too exalted expectations of my countrymen, I am supported under the pressure of such uneasy reflections by a confidence that the most gracious Being, who has hitherto watched over the interests and averted the perils of the United States, will never suffer so fair an inheritance to become a prey to anarchy, despotism, or any other species of oppression." ²

 

Too bad our current crop of political leaders can’t exhibit that same humility.

Christ, not man, is King!

Dale

1)        William J. Johnson, George Washington, The Christian (New York, NY: The Abingdon Press, 1919), p. 139-141.

2)         Ibid., 158.

Even More From Woodmason's Journal

I’ve been continuing my reading of Charles Woodmason’s  journal and, as I noted before, although one may have to look past Woodmason’s tremendous biases one can still glean some fascinating details about life on the southern colonial frontier.

“March 8 [1768]) Preached at Beaver Creek to a vast Concourse - on the 13.  at Grannys Quarter – 20^th Lynchs Creek – but almost punish’d in these Journeys – the Weather sharp and cold.  Their Cabbins quite open and expos’d.  Little or no bedding, or anything to cover them. – Not a drop of anything, save Cold Water to drink – And all their Cloathing, a Shirt and Trousers Shift and [one word illegible] Petticoat.  Some perhaps a Linsey Woolsey.  No Shoes or Stockings – Children run half naked.  The Indians are better Cloathed and Lodged.  All this arises from their Indolence and Laziness. “¹

 

It is interesting to see the great poverty experienced by the folks along the frontier.  Woodmason comments repeatedly about the sparse furnishings of the cabins he saw.  As a reenactor, is it possible that I carry more in my knapsack than some settlers had in their cabins?  The fact that he also mentions a scarcity of outer garments for both sexes as well as the absence of shoes is particularly fascinating.  Perhaps some people had shoes but chose to wear them very rarely since they couldn’t be readily replaced.  Certainly they would have had access to animal hides with which to make moccasins; perhaps those were also rarely worn around the settlements.  Although Woodmason attributes this scarcity of European-style clothing to the laziness of the inhabitants, it could be more a result of the lack of affordable clothing on the frontier coupled with the fact that dressing like the Charles Town gentry wouldn’t have been particularly advantageous for the backcountry settlers. 

“Last Sunday I distributed the last Parcel of Mr. Warings Tracts on Prayer. It is very few families whom I can bring to join in Prayer, because most of them are of various Opinions the Husband a Churchman, Wife, a Dissenter, Children nothing at all. My Bibles and Common Prayers have been long gone, and I have given away to amount of £20 of Practical Books, besides those I received of the Society -  Few or no Books are to be found in all this vast Country, beside the Assembly, Catechism, Watts Hymns, Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress -- Russells -- Whitefields and Erskines sermons. Nor do they delight in Historical Books or in having them read to them, as do our Vulgar in England for these People despise Knowledge, and instead of honouring a Learned Person, or any one of Wit or Knowledge be it in the Arts, Sciences, or Languages, they despise and Ill treat them -- And this Spirit prevails even among the Principals of this Province. -- total miles 2510”²

This excerpt is particularly interesting.  Here Woodmason gives us an insight into what types of books were available along the frontier.  It is no surprise that with the great influx of Presbyterian Scots-Irish settlers into the backcountry there would be some proliferation of the Westminster Standards there as well.  John Bunyan’s works have already been referred to in a previous post and would be particularly treasured amongst the Baptists.  Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine were Scotsmen who were among the last of the Puritans.  Practically everyone’s heard of the great evangelist George Whitfield and so it’s no wonder that his works would be disseminated along the frontier.  I’m at a loss for who “Russell” is.  Perhaps he was a preacher from the colonies, who knows.  The greater point is that although Woodmason dismisses the settlers as those who “despise knowledge” they must have been particularly knowledgeable in terms of theology.  Most folks today would struggle with reading 18^th century sermons; these folks embraced this type of literature and it was essentially all the literature they had.  If future historians were able to look into our libraries of today, would they be able to say that ours contained such edifying works? 

Christ, not man, is King!

Dale

 

1)      Richard J. Hooker, ed., The Carolina Backcountry on the Eve of the Revolution (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1953), p. 33. 

2) Ibid., 52.