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Show PEWB IN OLD MEETING H0U8E. Ages, Sexes and Condition! Careefully 8gregattd by Our Ancestors. Around three sides about on & lovel with tho pulpit In the old meotlng house at Hatfield extended the galleries, gal-leries, reacbHl by staircases on the northeast and southeast corners, where In the front scats sat tho sing-nrs, sing-nrs, trebles on tho north and basses on tho south, and counters and tenors on the cast. Tho next two rows, of ncats were occupied by children, girls Inktho north and boys In tho south, frollcsomo youngsters they wero, If wo roey Judgo by tho frequency with which the town wns obliged to renew tho brass tips to tho staves of the tithing men, three of whom wore always al-ways on duty to keep the youth from dlsordor. Behind tho children and still higher, In squaro pews against the wall, sat tle young men and maidens, tho latter on tho north and the formor on the south. Ono gallery pew was reserved for colored men and ono for colored women, and, queerest of all, a high squaro pow over tho north stairway was assigned to old maids and a similar sim-ilar pew over tho south stairs to old bachelors. Just how many years theso two classes had to number before they were promoted from the lower seats In the synngogue tho record do not state, but that thoy sat In those ox nlted seats Samuel Dwlght Partridge to whom we are Indebtod for the description de-scription of tho old meeting house, assures as-sures us Is beyond question. The squaro pews on tho floor wero asslgnod to householders, according to wealth and social position. Springfield Union. |
