The
Lewis family, pioneers of eastern Tennessee and the Indiana territory.
This
article is part 6 of a series about the travels of my family across the country
and around the world.
Ways
to Stay Entertained in Church
David
had bought some apple trees from a man by the name of Thomas Harvey, who had a
nursery west of Back Creek Meeting House. He had agreed to pay for them in the
harvest, so when the time came, David sent his sons to do the work.
They
went on Sunday evening as it was a ways over there, as they lived in the corner
of the Delaware County then. Monday morning they went to work and worked till
meeting day (Sunday), when the old gentleman came out and told his son it was
time to hitch up and go to meeting. He started at once, but the Lewis boys kept
on working, so the old gentleman said, "Boys ain't thee going to
meeting?"
One
of the boys told him they wanted to get their time and he said, "Thee
wouldn't loose any time going." So they stuck down their wooden pitch
forks (steel pitch forks had not come into use then) and went with the family
to meeting.
When
they went inside the brothers took off their hats, but on looking around saw
that the men all had their hats on, so they quietly slipped the hats back on
their heads.
Well,
the boys had created several ways to stay entertained in church, most were by
remembering what the preacher said, and if that would differ from what David
had taught them back home on their farm.
They
sat there an hour and I don't think they ever saw a set of people with as long
faces in all their life. The next thing they knew, all were shaking hands and
the meeting was over.
At
the dinner table Mr. Harvey wanted to know what they thought of the meeting and
the elder Lewis son told him they were sorry the preacher didn't come as they
were anxious to hear a Quaker preacher. He said all the preachers they had for
common were there but the spirit failed to move anyone to speak.
What
a change has taken place, now the Quakers sing, they shout and the Quaker
preachers of today can wear a fine coat as well as anyone else.
The
Quaker preachers of those early days were ready to speak to any one they
chanced to meet. The current Quaker (Friends) church doesn't have many silent
meetings, as the spirit is sure to move some one to speak and they have some
very capable preachers.