Guns in church, an American tradition

[Esaias]

https://theonomyresources.blogspot.c...dition-of.html

"From "The Sabbath in Puritan New England"

For many years after the settlement of New England the Puritans, even in outwardly tranquil times, went armed to meeting; and to sanctify the Sunday gun-loading they were expressly forbidden to fire off their charges at any object on that day save an Indian or a wolf, their two "greatest inconveniencies."

...

"In 1640 it was ordered in Massachusetts that in every township the attendants at church should carry a "competent number of peeces, fixed and compleat with powder and shot and swords every Lords-day to the meeting-house;" one armed man from each household was then thought advisable and necessary for public safety. In 1642 six men with muskets and powder and shot were thought sufficient for protection for each church. In Connecticut similar mandates were issued, and as the orders were neglected "by divers persones," a law was passed in 1643 that each offender should forfeit twelve pence for each offence. In 1644 a fourth part of the "trayned hand" was obliged to come armed each Sabbath, and the sentinels were ordered to keep their matches constantly lighted for use in their match-locks. They were also commanded to wear armor, which consisted of "coats basted with cotton-wool, and thus made defensive against Indian arrows." In 1650 so much dread and fear were felt of Sunday attacks from the red men that the Sabbath-Day guard was doubled in number. In 1692, the Connecticut Legislature ordered one fifth of the soldiers in each town to come armed to each meeting, and that nowhere should be present as a guard at time of public worship fewer than eight soldiers and a sergeant."

...

"In Concord, New Hampshire, the men, who all came armed to meeting, stacked their muskets around a post in the middle of the church, while the honored pastor, who was a good shot and owned the best gun in the settlement, preached with his treasured weapon in the pulpit by his side, ready from his post of vantage to blaze away at any red man whom he saw sneaking without, or to lead, if necessary, his congregation to battle. The church in York, Maine, until the year 1746, felt it necessary to retain the custom of carrying arms to the meeting-house, so plentiful and so aggressive were Maine Indians.

Not only in the time of Indian wars were armed men seen in the meeting-house, but on June 17, 1775, the Provincial Congress recommended that the men "within twenty miles of the sea-coast carry their arms and ammunition with them to meeting on the Sabbath and other days when they meet for public worship." And on many a Sabbath and Lecture Day, during the years of war that followed, were proved the wisdom and foresight of that suggestion.

The men in those old days of the seventeenth century, when in constant dread of attacks by Indians, always rose when the services were ended and left the house before the women and children, thus making sure the safe exit of the latter. This custom prevailed from habit until a late date in many churches in New England, all the men, after the benediction and the exit of the parson, walking out in advance of the women. So also the custom of the men always sitting at the "head" or door of the pew arose from the early necessity of their always being ready to seize their arms and rush unobstructed to fight."

Alice Morse Earle, The Sabbath in Puritan New England (NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1891), 19-25.

[Amanah]

My sister has a license to carry and she packs heat to church along with others I know. we are not sitting ducks for an attack . . .

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by Amanah

My sister has a license to carry and she packs heat to church along with others I know. we are not sitting ducks for an attack . . .

I recently got my CCW license (my pastor runs the class where I took the requisite training) and I've carried every day since. And yes, that includes Sundays. I know for a fact that I'm not the only one, not even counting my pastor.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Is anyone expecting Aquila to stop by to disrupt their church for having prayer for the president?

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Is anyone expecting Aquila to stop by to disrupt their church for having prayer for the president?

he said we need to be prepared, so

[Jito463]

Originally Posted by Amanah

he said we need to be prepared, so

[KeptByTheWord]

Interesting read E. I noticed with interest that Indians and wolves were their main concern.

I live in a wild and remote area. I don't pack, most of the time. I do have a gun, but find it cumbersome to carry. My husband just got me a holster though, for me to use now, because on our game camera, we had a wolf in our backyard. We know that there is a large wolf pack that lives in the mountains just a mile or two from us, so I guess if the pilgrims were concerned enough about wolves to bring their guns to church, perhaps I need to be concerned enough to carry one about my yard, cumbersome though it may be.... lol

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Is anyone expecting Aquila to stop by to disrupt their church for having prayer for the president?

Aquila is a blowhard internet SJW. He won't be going anywhere, he will leave that to others.

He's what is known as an "intellectual".

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Aquila is a blowhard internet SJW. He won't be going anywhere, he will leave that to others.

He's what is known as an "intellectual".

The below is a paragraph from history which I modified to fit what is going on today. Aquila would probably agree with the below thoughts.

We demand the freedom of all religious confessions in the state, insofar as they do not jeopardize the state's existence or conflict with the manners and moral sentiments of the human race. The Party as such upholds the point of view of a positive Christianity without tying itself confessionally to any one confession. It combats the ultra conservative right wing spirit at home and abroad and is convinced that a permanent recovery of the people can only be achieved from within on the basis of the common good before individual good.

[mfblume]

Guns in Church? Yeah! Two 38's! Not only that; an Axe and two 38's!!!