Volume III Part 3 (1/2)
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 wors.h.i.+p 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 aegis” gave expression to opinions on the question of ”Sabbath-breaking” which we think accord more with modern ideas than do those of the Ess.e.x convention. The views of the ”aegis”
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 trespa.s.sed upon by these _official harpies_, who, instead of spending the day as they ought, in wors.h.i.+ping G.o.d, 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 inst.i.tutions: for this very reason we reprobate conduct which has a direct tendency to bring these inst.i.tutions 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 a.s.sistance 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.
} t.i.thingman of Bedford in DAVID LANE, } behalf of himself and five } others.
} t.i.thingman of Westford BENJ. OSGOOD, } in behalf of himself and } four others.
} t.i.thingman of Carlisle in JOHN JACOBS, } behalf of himself and one } other.
} t.i.thingman of Bilerica SAM'L WHITING, } in behalf of himself and } nine others.
May 27th, 1815.
Lord's Day.
NOTICE is hereby given, that the Middles.e.x 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.