It being for some reason thought expedient to reinforce the Army at Canada, 4 Regts had orders issued to be ready to imbarque on the 15th, & this day they set sail for Albany under command of Brigadier Genl Thompson.
In the afternoon, being disirous to attend publick Worship, not having had an oppertunity of so doing for a long Time since, I went into a small Meeting House, expecting it to be a Congregational Meeting; but I soon found my Mistake, for when the Priest arrived I could not in a long Time understand a Word he said. I inquired & found it was Dutch Church, & in this Church they used the high Dutch Language. They began Service with Singing, accompanied or led by a small Organ; then (as I took it) with Prayers, some of which were formal, others Extempore. It is worthy of Notice that during the whole service the Congregation kept to their Seats, excepting once, when the Priest Read (as I was informed it was) his Text, & then only the Men arose. When he had finished this they again sat down, & kept their Seats during the Service till the Blessing was given. The Priest delivered a very lengthy Sermon, chiefly without Notes, & in the whole of his performances appeared as compleat an Orator as ever I heard speak. The Priest was dressed in a black Gown similar to that of the English Clergy, & performed the whole Service without the assistance of a Clerk; the People some Times repeating after him, that is, when he used forms for Prayer. The Terminations of their language seemed greatly to resemble Greek. This was the only high Dutch Church in Town, tho there are several other Dutch Churches who use the low Dutch Language; these Languages being as different, as I am informed, as are the French & English Languages to each other.
SOURCE: Edward Bangs, Edited, Journal of Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, April 1 to July 29, 1776, pp. 27-8
No comments:
Post a Comment