Another alteration, which took place in the language of the Quakers was
the disuse of the common names of the days of the week, and of those of
the months of the year.
The names of the days were considered to be of heathen origin. Sunday
had been so called by the Saxons, because it was the day, on which they
sacrificed to the sun. Monday on which they sacrificed to the moon.
Tuesday to the god Tuisco. Wednesday to the god Woden. Thursday to the
god Thor, and so on. Now when the Quakers considered that Jehovah had
forbidden the Israelites to make mention even of the names of other
gods, they thought it inconsistent in Christians to continue to use the
names of heathen idols for the common divisions of their time, so that
these names must be almost always in their mouths. They thought too,
that they were paying a homage, in continuing the use of them, that
bordered on idolatry. They considered also as neither Monday, nor
Tuesday, nor any other of these days, were days, in which these
sacrifices were now offered, they were using words, which conveyed false
notions of things. Hence they determined upon the disuse of these words,
and to put other names in their stead. The numerical way of naming the
days seemed to them to be the most rational, and the most innocent.
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