قراءة كتاب The Olden Time Series, Vol. 3: New-England Sunday Gleanings Chiefly From Old Newspapers Of Boston And Salem, Massachusetts
تنويه: تعرض هنا نبذة من اول ١٠ صفحات فقط من الكتاب الالكتروني، لقراءة الكتاب كاملا اضغط على الزر “اشتر الآن"
The Olden Time Series, Vol. 3: New-England Sunday Gleanings Chiefly From Old Newspapers Of Boston And Salem, Massachusetts
tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">10
NEW-ENGLAND SUNDAY.
Seeing in an old paper that General Washington was stopped by a "tythingman" in Connecticut in 1789 for the "crime" of riding on Sunday, we were naturally led to think about the "Sabbath question," as it is sometimes called. We find the account referred to in the "Columbian Centinel" for December, 1789.
THE PRESIDENT AND THE TYTHINGMAN.
The Preſident, on his return to New-York from his late tour, through Connecticut, having miſſed his way on Saturday, was obliged to ride a few miles on Sunday morning, in order to gain the town, at which he had previouſly propoſed to have attended divine ſervice.—Before he arrived, however, he was met by a Tythingman, who commanding him to ſtop, demanded the occaſion of his riding; and it was not until the Preſident had informed him of every circumſtance, and promiſed to go no further than the town intended, that the Tythingman would permit him to proceed on his journey.
This Sunday question has been so often discussed of late years, and the opinions expressed on the same are so diverse, that it may be well to print a few selections on the subject from some of the old newspapers, that those who are interested may see, as a matter of curiosity, if for no other reason, what views have been entertained within the past century, more especially in New England, in reference to Sunday.
In a Salem paper of 1775 the following notice appeared:—
Whereas the sober and thoughtful People of this Town are much displeased by the great Noise and Disturbance made in the Streets, on Saturday and Sabbath Day Evenings. It is earnestly desired that all Heads of Families would keep their Children and Servants at Home, on those Evenings, and thereby greatly contribute to the Quiet of the Town and Peace of the Inhabitants.
The appearance of Essex Street in Salem at the present time on Saturday evening would seem to indicate that "heads of families" do not now "keep their children and servants at home."
From a communication in the "Massachusetts Centinel," April 30, 1788, "riding on the Sunday" is held to be a "flagrant crime."
For the CENTINEL.
As the devoting one day in ſeven to religious purpoſes is a bounden duty we owe to God our creator, and a moſt reaſonable law of our Commonwealth—to ſee people riding on the Sunday in purſuit of their worldly affairs, is ſo diſguſting to the man of true principle, that the neglect of our executive authority of ſo flagrant a crime, is to be lamented. The common practice of a Mr. C——fl——n of H-pk——n is notorious on this account. Would not wiſh to traduce the character of any man, but would only query, whether ſuch conduct is not highly reprehenſible, and deſerving the cognizance of the magiſtrate.
Suffolk.
This is not at all strange from the point of view from which Sunday was then regarded. Indeed many people feel about the same now. They would have the old laws enforced in regard to riding and neglect of public worship. They have fears that the day may degenerate into a European Sunday, with prayers in the morning and amusements in the afternoon and evening.
The changes in the past fifty years in reference to Sunday have indeed been very great, but we think they arise chiefly from a reaction from the too strict Puritanism of the past. While we would not have the day too strictly kept, we yet have no sympathy with that class of minds who think there should be no "day of rest" or no time set apart for religious exercises or church services, but would have all days exactly alike.
According to the "Salem Mercury" of Aug. 12, 1788, the ministers of Connecticut, in convention, publish an address on the "increasing negligence of the Publick Worship of God," etc.
The Miniſters of the State of Connecticut, convened in General Aſſociation, have publiſhed a ſerious, ſenſible, plain Addreſs to the People of the Churches and Societies under their paſtoral care, on the ſubject of the increaſing negligence of the Publick Worſhip of God; which they conſider as one of the moſt painful and alarming, among the various inſtances of declenſion and immorality, which at the preſent time threaten the very exiſtence of religion in this country.—"In what manner," ſays the Addreſs, "does this evil affect the political intereſts, the eſſential wellbeing, of the community? All the branches of morality are indiſſolubly connected. From one breach of moral obligation to a ſecond, to a third, and to all, the tranſition is eaſy, neceſſary and rapid. From negligence of the duties we owe to God, the paſſage is ſhort to contempt for thoſe we owe to men. The Sabbath, in the judgment of reaſon and of revelation, is the great hinge on which all theſe duties are turned. When the ordinances of this holy day are forſaken and forgotten, the whole ſyſtem of moral obligation muſt of courſe be also forgotten; the great, ſubſtantial and permanent good, of which religion is the only ſource, is effectually deſtroyed; the political peace and welfare of a community, the ſalvation of the human ſoul, the infinitely benevolent deſigns of redeeming love, the inſtitution