III. Resolved, that we earnestly recommend to Tythingmen, Civil
Officers and the friends of the Sabbath in every town, to
prosecute, or cause to be prosecuted, without distinction and
without delay, all, who are travelling without sufficient reason,
or in any way wilfully violating the laws respecting the Lord's
Day.
V. Resolved, that we recommend to all the friends of order, to
circulate as extensively as possible, such tracts and pamphlets
as are calculated to promote the due observance of the Lord's
Day.
Voted, that the Clerk be requested to send a copy of the doings
of the Convention, to the Editors of the public papers in Boston,
Salem, Newburyport and Haverhill, and that they be requested to
publish the same in their respective papers.
A full account of this convention can be found in the "Salem Gazette," Oct.
31, 1815. It does not appear that there was any disturbance of public
worship to complain of, only many people neglected to attend the meetings,
or walked or rode for pleasure on the Lord's Day.
* * * * *
In the same month and year the "Worcester Ægis" gave expression to opinions
on the question of "Sabbath-breaking" which we think accord more with
modern ideas than do those of the Essex convention. The views of the "Ægis"
probably represented the average liberal sentiment of that day.
_WORCESTER, OCT. 25._
_BREACH OF THE SABBATH._
At the late session of the S.J. Court at Northampton it was
decided that a justice of the peace could not issue a warrant for
a breach of the Sunday laws against an offender that is not an
inhabitant of the county where the offence is committed, but that
he must be prosecuted only before a grand jury; and that justices
of the peace could not issue warrants, nor sheriffs serve them,
on the Lord's day, for any breaches of those laws. Damages were
awarded against a justice, a tythingman, and a sheriff, upon the
latter principle.
Upon this decision we congratulate the public. It has taken a
formidable weapon from the hands of those petty tyrants, who are
labouring to revive the reign of religious persecution. We trust
we shall no longer see the Sabbath trespassed upon by these
_official harpies_, who, instead of spending the day as they
ought, in worshiping God, confessing their own manifold sins, and
praying that they may be endued with a more christian temper, are
riding or walking the highway, "seeking whom they may devour,"
and gratifying at once their malice and their avarice, by
plundering their fellow-citizens, and filling their own pockets.
In some towns they have been stationed at every turn of the road,
ready to dart out upon the traveller, like a spider from the
corner of his web. We rejoice at every occurrence which checks
this persecuting spirit.--Those who know us, know that we
respect the Sabbath and its holy institutions: for this very
reason we reprobate conduct which has a direct tendency to bring
these institutions into contempt. In all ages, the
_anti-christian spirit_ of _christian professors_ has done more
injury to the cause of religion, than the attacks of its declared
enemies. Real Christianity cannot flourish by persecution.
Excessive rigour defeats the very purposes it is intended to
subserve. In time there will be a re-action, and men will go to
the opposite extreme--religion and morals will be as much too
lax, as they were before too strict.
In no part of the world is the sabbath so scrupulously observed
as in _New-England_. As we keep it, it resembles more the _Jewish
Sabbath_, than the Sabbath of all other parts of Christendom. We
had much rather see this nice punctiliousness, than that
indifference which prevails in some places. But we think there is
such a thing as _drawing the cord too tight_--so tight that it
will be in danger of snapping in sunder! The good habits of our
countrymen, and the increasing regard which is entertained for
religion, will be a sure guaranty of the respectful observance of
the Sabbath. There are very few men in the community, who dare to
outrage public feeling by a wanton violation of the solemnity of
the day. We have excellent laws to punish those who disturb the
devotions of any society or individual. Let these laws be put in
execution without fear, favour or affection. But for the rest,
let religion take care of itself--it needs no assistance from the
feeble arm of the magistrate.
* * * * *
Tythingmen's Notice.
WE the subscribers, Tythingmen of the several towns annexed to
our names, having taken the Oath of Office, it becomes our
indispensable duty to see the laws of this Commonwealth, "for the
due observation of the Lord's Day," faithfully executed; which we
are determined to do as far as may be in our power. We,
therefore, call on all persons to abstain from the violation of
said laws; as they would avoid "the several penalties annexed to
the several offences therein described," and save us from the
painful necessity of a prosecution, which otherwise must
immediately follow.
} Tithingman of Bedford in
DAVID LANE, } behalf of himself and five
} others.
} Tithingman of Westford
BENJ. OSGOOD, } in behalf of himself and
} four others.
} Tithingman of Carlisle in
JOHN JACOBS, } behalf of himself and one
} other.
} Tithingman of Bilerica
SAM'L WHITING, } in behalf of himself and
} nine others.
May 27th, 1815.
* * * * *
Lord's Day.
NOTICE is hereby given, that the Middlesex Convention for
suppressing violations of the Laws of the Commonwealth, relative
to the Sabbath, stands adjourned to the third Wednesday in May,
at Hamilton's Tavern in Concord, at 10 o'clock, A.M.
JACOB COGGIN, _Sec'y_.
N. B.--It is particularly requested that all the Clergy, and
others in the county, who feel interested in the object would
attend. may 13, 1815
THE SABBATH. An ecclesiastical council was lately convened at Kingsbury,
N. York, to decide a controversy which had originated between the minority
and majority of the Baptist Church, in Kingsbury, respecting an observance
of the Christian Sabbath. One of the Elders of the Church, Mr. Culver, had
written, preached and published a discourse, which, in the opinion of the
Council, amounted to a full and complete denial of all Scriptural
authority, for observing a day as a Christian Sabbath. The Council, after
stating the reasons, which in their opinion, conclusively proved the
obligation of the Christian to observe the Sabbath, recommend an union
between the parties to this controversy, and if the majority do not comply,
the Council deem it their imperious duty, to recognize the minority as the
regular Baptist Church.
In a former paper, we alluded to the manner in which the Sabbath was
regarded by our ancestors. It appears, that the following special
instructions on this subject were given to Gov. Endicott, by the
New-England Plantation Company.
"And to the end, the Saboth may bee celebrated in a religious
manner, we appoint, that all that inhabite the plantation, both
for the general and particular employment, may surcease their
labor, every Satterday throughout the year, at three of the clock
in the afternoone, and that they spend the rest of the day in
catechising and preparation for the Saboth, as the minister shall
direct."
_Salem Observer_, Aug. 4, 1827.
In the "Salem Register" of Oct. 11, 1820, we find the report of the trial
of a man charged with the crime of Sabbath-breaking by delivering milk to
his customers. The presiding judge (Mitchell) seems to have made a very
sensible address to the jury on this occasion. Probably the surest way to
bring about speedily the much-dreaded "European Sunday" would be for some
person or persons to prosecute such individuals as they happen to know who
violate certain obsolete Sunday laws.
_Law Intelligence._