The Olden Time Series Volume III Part 4

"Ordered, that twoe be appointed every Lord's day, to walk forth in the time of G.o.d's wors.h.i.+ppe, to tak notice of such as either lye about the meeting-house, without attending to the word or ordinances, or that lye at home, or in the fields, without giving good account thereof, and to tak the names of such persons, and to present them to the magistrate, whereby they may be accordingly proceeded against."

"1677.

"Whereas, there hath been several complaints of several persons that doe profane the Sabbath, by unseasonable walking abroad even at the time of publique service, &c.--the Selectmen have agreed each of them to take their turns, with the constables to walk abroad on the Lord's day, both forenoon and afternoone, morning and evening, to redress such miscarriages as they shall at any time meet withal."

But the following license granted by the selectmen in 1672, shows a much greater liberality than is exhibited in these days.

"1672.

"Nathaniel Ingerson is allowed to sell beer and syder by the quart, for the tyme whyle the farmers are a building of their meeting-house, and _on Lord's days_ afterwards."

_Salem Observer_, July 14, 1827.

The interest, which is now felt in the subject of the Sabbath, renders the following article, respecting the curiosity of Le Sage, worthy the attention of the reader. It was extracted from a review of Le Sage, published in Scotland about twelve years ago.

"At the time we are now speaking of the Sabbath was observed at Geneva, with a gloom and austerity of which we, in Scotland can probably form a more correct notion than the inhabitants of any other country in Christendom. Le Sage felt some curiosity to know whether the author of Nature still continued to impose on himself the same law that originally marked the inst.i.tution of the day of rest. It would have puzzled the first philosopher in Europe to think of any method by which this question could be brought to the decision of experiment: but the ingenuity of our young enquirer soon suggested an experiment.--He measured, with great care, the increase of a plant day after day, in order to discover whether it would cease growing on the Sabbath. The result could not fail to solve the difficulty, and to convince the young man, that though the work of Creation might terminate, the work of Providence is never interrupted."

_Salem Observer_, 1829.

Sunday in Salem in 1838.

SALEM AND THE SABBATH.

On our way to church in the quiet city of Salem recently, a stranger overtook us, and inquired where the Rev. Mr. W---- was to preach that morning? We answered that we were going to his church, and would show him a seat. For which he expressed his thanks and immediately remarked, that he had travelled recently nearly over all our country, and nowhere had he witnessed such entire abandonment of all secular avocations on the Sabbath. It seemed like a different country, and made him feel the significance of the name of that ancient town--Salem, City of Peace.--_Christian (Boston) Monitor_.

Fifty years ago hardly any one thought of absenting himself or herself from public wors.h.i.+p. People went to church as a matter of course, partly from a sense of duty, and partly from habit; and this is still the case to some extent. The majority of thoughtful persons of all religious persuasions are agreed upon one point, and that is, it is desirable to have Sunday set apart as a day of rest and change from the ordinary cares and business of life. From a sanitary point of view this rest is no doubt of the highest importance. All people, moreover, who desire to have quiet for religious wors.h.i.+p should at least not be disturbed. Public opinion ought to be protection enough; but unfortunately it might not be, so that laws to such an extent as is necessary for this purpose should be in force. But the idea entertained by certain fanatics, that no one should walk or ride for health and recreation, or even engage in any innocent occupation, on Sunday, is so absurd as not to deserve a moment's consideration.

In 1829 a futile attempt was made to put a stop to the delivery of Sunday mails, one result of which was the holding of a number of public meetings in Salem, the reports of which we take from the papers.

Meetings were also held in Boston and New York.

PUBLIC MEETING.

At a very numerous and respectable meeting of the citizens of Salem, "_opposed to Legislative interference in respect to the religious observances of Sunday_," held at the Town Hall, Dec.

27, 1828, PERLEY PUTNAM, Esq., was called to the chair, and Dr.

BENJAMIN KITTREDGE, appointed Secretary.--The object of the meeting having been stated by the Chairman, it was

_Voted_, That Messrs. George Cleveland, Leverett Saltonstall, Stephen C. Phillips, John W. Treadwell, Perley Putnam, Nath'l West, jun., Franklin H. Story, John Crownins.h.i.+eld, Jos. G.

Waters, Charles A. Andrew, David Pingree, and David A. Neal, be a committee[2] to consider and report at an adjournment of the meeting, what measures it is expedient to take for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of the meeting.

The meeting was then adjourned for one week.

[2] The committee appointed consisted of Episcopalians, Unitarians, and Universalists.

At the adjourned meeting on Sat.u.r.day evening Jan. 3, 1829, the Committee reported the following Resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:--

_Resolved_, That the observance of Sunday as a day of religious wors.h.i.+p and instruction is eminently adapted to extend the knowledge and influence of truth and virtue, and thus to improve the character and increase the happiness of individuals and of the community.

_Resolved_, That under no circ.u.mstances has religion excited such general interest, as when, not rendered odious by legal restraints, it has addressed its claims for support to the understandings and consciences of men.

_Resolved_, That a "_system of regulations_" for the purpose of enforcing religious observances is opposed to the principles of religious liberty and to our form of civil government; and it is to be feared that any attempts to introduce such regulations will re-act in consequences detrimental to the interests which it may have been intended to promote.

_Resolved_, That neither the precepts of Christianity nor the design of religious observances are incompatible with the prompt and faithful discharge of the various duties which belong to our social and civil relations; and the urgency of such duties may frequently render it of importance to every individual to receive or transmit intelligence with the least possible delay.

_Resolved_, That for the necessary accommodation of the Government and citizens of this widely extended country, an arrangement of the mails, by which letters and packages are forwarded and delivered with the utmost despatch and safety, has been for a great length of time maintained under the vigilant superintendence of the Postmaster General; and such arrangement, while it is productive of innumerable advantages to the Government and to the citizens, is not allowed to interfere with the public religious services on Sunday.[B]

_Resolved_, That any change in the present arrangement of the mails which shall have the effect to subject to increased delay and hazard the communication between distant parts of the country is impolitic; and if authorized by Congress for the sole purpose of enforcing religious observances, will be an exercise of power for the accomplishment of an object not recognized by the Const.i.tution, and contrary to its spirit and the intentions of its framers.

_Resolved_, That if Congress should prohibit the forwarding of mails and the delivery of letters on Sunday, individuals and the Government will be obliged to resort to such temporary arrangements for transmitting intelligence as their respective exigencies may require; and such temporary arrangements, while they will be attended with increased expense, will be productive of far greater inconvenience and disturbance to the religious public, than can justly be complained of under the present system.

_Resolved_, That a committee be appointed, who shall be instructed to prepare a memorial to Congress expressive of the views of this meeting, whenever in their opinion, circ.u.mstances shall render it expedient to present such memorial; and such memorial shall be submitted by them for approbation, at a meeting to be called for that purpose.

_Resolved_, That the committee appointed in conformity to the foregoing resolution, shall be authorized to call future meetings, to correspond with citizens of other towns, and generally to take such measures as they may deem expedient for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of this meeting.

The following gentlemen were appointed a committee to perform the duties specified in the two last resolutions, viz. George Cleveland, Dudley L. Pickman, Willard Peele, Perley Putnam, Philip Chase, Stephen White, Gideon Tucker, Nath'l Frothingham, Stephen C. Phillips. The Committee was authorized to fill any vacancies that may occur in their number.

_Voted_, That an attested copy of the proceedings be published in the several newspapers in this town, and in one or more of the newspapers in the city of Was.h.i.+ngton, and that an attested copy be also forwarded to the Post Master General.

The meeting was then dissolved.

PERLEY PUTNAM, _Chairman_.

BENJ. KITTREDGE, _Secretary_.

[B] _Extract from Regulations respecting Post Offices_.--"At Post Offices where the mail arrives on Sunday, the office is to be kept open for the delivery of letters, &c. for one hour or more after the arrival and a.s.sorting of the mail; but in case that would interfere with the hours of public wors.h.i.+p, then the office is to be kept open for one hour after the usual time of dissolving the meeting for that purpose."

A very large meeting of citizens of New York, opposed to the proposition to discontinue the mails on Sunday, was held at New York this week. A similar meeting has also been held at Boston.

SABBATH MAILS.

SALEM, (Ma.s.s.) Feb. 9, 1829.

_To the Hon. Richard M. Johnson, Chairman of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, Was.h.i.+ngton._

SIR:--The subscribers, a committee appointed at a meeting of the inhabitants of this town, on the 3d January last, to take such measures as they may deem expedient to oppose any attempts to interfere for religious purposes with the transportation of the Mails and opening the Post Offices on Sunday, have read with pleasure the report of the Committee of the Senate on that subject.

Previous to receiving that report, they were about pet.i.tioning Congress--and the public sentiment in this place is so universal against an interference for religious reasons, that a very respectable and numerous subscription could readily have been obtained.--But the report from the Senate represented the subject in so powerful a light--demonstrated so clearly the want of power in the government to legislate for the reasons given by the pet.i.tioners, and showed so conclusively, that if they had the power, they certainly had not the ability to determine for all the people of the United States, what G.o.d's law was--that we have concluded it would not be necessary at the present session of Congress to take any further steps in the business. We have thought, however, that tho' const.i.tuting but a small part of the United States, yet it might not be uninteresting to the committee, to know how much in accordance with our views are the sentiments expressed in their report and to a.s.sure them for ourselves, and those whom we represent, that we shall at all times consider them engaged in the highest and most momentous acts of legislation, whenever their efforts shall tend to prevent an interference of the religious with the civil power--all union between church and state--all attempts of religious zealots to enforce by law, what _they_ may term divine truth.

You will please to convey to the gentlemen of the committee, our sense of their proceedings, and for yourself, sir, accept the a.s.surance of our respectful consideration.