History of Fitchburg Part39 Rufus Torrey 1st Printing 1836

(In which meeting-house Sunday singing is much discussed and the
Fitchburgers approve the new U.S.Constitution)

The force headed by Shays himself having been dispersed, the
agitation on this subject principally subsided in the
following year.  John Hancock was chosen Governor, and a
majority of the House of Representatives were disposed to
regard with a more favorable eye the interests of "the
people."  A check was placed upon the system of sueing, by
passing a law that a debtor, when sued, might have whatever
articles of his property he should choose appraised, and the
creditor was compelled to take such articles at the
valuation, or lose his debt.  This law, in derision, was
called the "hog-trough law," as a man might have his
hog-trough appraised, and turned in to pay his debts.

One circumstatnce relative to the singing in the
meeting-house at this period, is deserving of notice,
inasmuch as it shows the carefulness of our fathers in
guarding against innovations in all things pertaining to
religious worship.  It was the practice, previous to this
time, in our churches, to have the minister select and read
the psalm, or hymn, as now, then the oldest deacon would
read one line, which was sung by all who could sing, sitting
promiscuously in every part of the meeting-house.  Then
another line was read and sung in the same manner, and so on
through the psalm, or hymn.  It appears that in 1787, some
bold innovators in psalmody undertook to introduce something
similar to our present mode of singing, together with some
new tunes.  These latter were quite incomprehensible to some
veterans whose sweet voices of fifty years' standing were
hushed in consequence.  They of course exclaimed against the
innovation; others objected to it as irreligious and
unscriptural.  The point was argued with so much warmth on
both sides, that it attracted the attention of the whole
town.  Accordingly, an article was inserted in a warrant for
a town meeting, reading thus -- "To see if the town will
vote to come into any general rule in regard to carrying on
the singing part of the public worship of God; and whether
the singers shall sing a part of the time without reading
and how the psalm whall be read -- whether by line or verse,
or act anything theron."  A committee was chosen to take the
thing into serious consideration, and to report at the next
meeting.

The committee made the following report, which was accepted.
"There shall be singing five times in the worshiping on the
Lord's day, in the following manner: The first singing in
the morning before prayers, shall be without reading and
singing line by line.  After prayers, in the singing, each
line shall be read and sung separately and such tunes shall
be set as the congregation can, in general, sing.  The first
singing in the afternoon and before prayers, shall be
without reading and singing line by line.  Afer prayers,
each line shall be read and sung separately, and after
sermon, the singing shall be without reading and singing
line by line."  Thus happily was this difficult matter
compromised.  Enough of the old fashion was retained to
satisfy the aged people, whose prejudices in this matter
were probably imbedded in their very existence, while the
taste of those who were pleased with the change was
gratified by carrying three-fifths of their point.

In December of this year, (1787) Dea. Daniel Putnam was
chosen to represent the town in the State Convention which
was held at Boston on the second Wednesday of 1788, to
deliberate on the subject matter of the new proposed Federal
Constitution.  He was unanimously instructed to vote in
favor of the Constitution, with amendments.

(to be continued -- next Fitchburg as beheld by a traveler approaching from
the east or south in 1787.)

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