mourners' bench

American  

noun

1. (at religious revival meetings) a bench or seat at the front of the church or room, set apart for mourners or penitent sinners seeking salvation.

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Etymology

Origin of mourners' bench

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example Sentences

Far into the night this performance would continue, and when the mourners' bench became empty the audience would be searched for sinners.

From Project Gutenberg

I noticed that several boys, who were not in good standing with the parents of girls they wished to court, found the mourners' bench a convenient vehicle to the homes of these girls—all of whom belonged to church.

From Project Gutenberg

The first thing to attract his eyes was the sight of Shorty sitting ruefully on the "mourners' bench," as the boys called the settee at the foot of the class.

From Project Gutenberg

Briggs, sitting at the foot of the incarcerated dozen, jocularly hailed him with, "Hullo! for once in his life Hoover won't have to sit on the mourners' bench."

From Project Gutenberg

As for the Doctor himself, he came at the same hour every day, poked his cane and the old jokes at the occupants on the mourners' bench, and never seemed more tickled in his life than when, from the distant front, there came a joint letter from Damon and Pythias, who happened to meet for one blissful evening.

From Project Gutenberg