Sabbath in Puritan New England

"Sabbath in Puritan New England" by Alice Morse Earle is a journey back in time to explore the unique traditions and strong social norms that defined how early Puritan settlers observed their Sabbath in New England. The narrative starts with readers learning about basic meeting-houses and their importance to Puritan communities. It describes the building of simple places used for public worship to show the rules about them and the respect given to them. It also brings to life what these early meeting-houses looked like, how their designs changed over time, and how people were seated in them based on their social status. The book shares interesting stories about the tithingman, who kept order during worship, adding some humor and illustrating the strict Puritan religious practices.

Alice Morse Earle was an American historian and writer from Worcester, Massachusetts.