40 History of Methodism 



by all liis art, can make so pleasant a sight for the 

 whole year." The manners of the town are pictured 

 as simple and unsophisticated: "The young girls re- 

 ceived their beaux at three o'clock, having dined at 

 twelve, expecting them to withdraw about six o'clock, 

 as many families retired to bed at seven in the winter, 

 and seldom extended their sitting in summer beyond 

 eight o'clock— some of their fathers having learned to 

 obey the curfew toll in England. In those days — one 

 hundred and fifty years ago— their rooms were all un- 

 carpeted; the rough sides of the apartments remained 

 of their natural color, or complexion, of whatever wood 

 the house chanced to be built. Rush-bottomed chairs 

 were furnished, instead of the hair-seating or crim- 

 son velvet of our day, and without which, and a hand- 

 some sofa to match, many do not think it would be 

 possible to exist." 



At the Revolution, Carolina, in dissolving the bonds 

 of her allegiance to the mother-country, severed for- 

 ever within her borders the union between Church and 

 State. The Constitution adopted March 26, 1776, being 

 temporary, and looking to a possible accommodation 

 of the unhappy differences between the two countries, 

 ordained nothing on the subject of religion. Reviving 

 the old distinction between toleration and establish- 

 ment, the Constitution of 1778 granted the former to 

 all who acknowledged " that there was one God, that 

 there was a state of future rewards and punishments, 

 and that God was to be publicly worshiped," and de- 

 clared " that the Christian Protestant religion was the 

 established religion of the State," and should embrace 

 every Church of fifteen persons who would associate 

 for public worship, give themselves a name, and sub- 

 scribe to the following terms of communion — viz.: 



