When the congregation had gathered, and the service was about to begin, heavy iron chains were drawn tightly across the streets adjacent to the various places of worship.

It was the hour for serious meditation.

No distracting noise was to be allowed to fall upon those devout ears.
Abram C.Dayton, in his "Last Days of Knickerbocker Life," left a description of the service at the Dutch Reformed Church of that day.

He told of the long-drawn-out extemporaneous prayers, the allusions to "benighted heathen"; to "whited sepulchres"; to "the lake which burns with fire and brimstone." Of instrumental accompaniment there was none, and free scope was both given and taken by the human voice divine.

Then the sermon! Men were strong in those days! Clergymen had not become affected with the throat troubles prevalent in later times.