The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-03-19
STATE Ct MAINE.

va N -
IN The year 81 our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and iDeHfy- one.
AN ACT providing for the due
observation of the Lords Day.
Whereas the observance Of the Lords Day is
highly promotive ofthe welfare OF a community,
by afording necessary seasons for relaxation
from labour and the cares of business for
moral reflections and conversation on the duties
Of life, and the frequent errors of hdman con.
duct, TOR public and private worship OF the
Maker, Governor and Judge of the world and
for those acts Of charity which support and
adorn Christian Society: And whereas some
thoughtless and irreligious persons, inattentive
TO the duties and benefits of the Lords Day,
profane the same, by ecessarily pursuing
their worldly business and recreations on that
day, to their own great damage as members Of
Christian Society: to the great disturbance
OF well disposed persons, land TO the great injury
OF the community, by producing dissipation OF
manners and immoralties of life.
SIC. !. he az cnacte! ~ the Senate and House
Of Representatives., rs Legislature assembled, that
no traveller, drover, WAGNER, teamster, or any Of
their servants, shall travel the Lords Day, or
any part thereof, Except from necessity or chart
ty) under penalty not less than four dollars nor
more titan SIX dollars and sixty-six cents; which
penalty may be recovered with costs OF prosecu-
ton, upon complaint before any Justice OF the
Peace IN the County where the offence may be
committed; one moIety thereofto the complainant
and the other moiety TO the use of the County
within which the offence may be committed;
before the Circuit Court Of Common Pleas OF the
same county by presentment fthe grand jury, in
which case the whole penalty shall enure TO the
benefit Of the county Provided h6a0euer, That
ali prosecutions for the said penalty shall be
commenced within SIX months after the offence
committed, unless the offender resides without
the state.
SECT. 2. BE al further enacted, That no person
persons whatsoever shall keep open his, her, or
their shop, warehouse, or workhouse, nor shall,
upon land or water, do any manner OF labor,
business, or work, works Of necessity and charity
only excepted) nor be present at any concert OF
music, dancing or any public diversion, show or
entertainment, nor use any sport, game, play, or
recreation, on the Lords Day,or any part thereof,
upon penalty OF sum not exceeding six dollars
and siXtysx cents, nor less than four dollars for
each offence.
SECT. 3. BE ii further enacted, That no vintner,
retailer OF strong liquors, nnholder other person
keeping house OF public entertainment, shall
respective towns where they dwell, or others not
BENG strangers, dodgers in such nous
es, to ABIDE and remain in their houses, yards,
orchards or fields, drinking, OF spending their time
either idly or at play or doing any secular busi
ness on the Lords day or any part thereof,
on penalty OF three dollars and thirty-three
cents payable by such vintner, retailer or
innholder, or person keeping such house OF
entertainment, for each person entertained
or suffered; and every person so drinking or
abiding except as Aforesaid shall pay fine
not less than two dollars, nor more than our, for
each offence; aud every such licensed person,
upon any conviction after the first, shall pay
hne OF SIX dollars and sixty-six cents, for each
offence; and having been three times convicted,
shall be debarred from renewing his lIcence for
ever after And although il is the sense Of this
Legislature, that the time commanded in the sa
cred scriptures to be observed as holy time, in
cludes natural day, or twenty four hours; yet
whereas there IS difference of opinion concern
ing the beginning and ending of the Lords Day
among the good people OF this State, and this
Legislature being unwilling to lay any restrictions
which may seem unnecessary or unreasonable 10
persons Of sobriety and conscience.
SECT. a. BE at therefore enacted, That, all the
foregoing regulations, respecting the due obser-
walton of the Lords day, shall be construed to
extend TO the time included between the mid
night preceding and the sun setting of the same
day
SECT. 5. Be ii further enacted, That no person
shall be present at any concert OF music, dancing
or other public diversion, shall any person or
persons use any game, sport, play or recreation,
on the land or water, on the evening next pre-
ceding or succeeding the Lords Day, on pain of
three dollars and thirty three cents for each Of
fence and no retailer, innholder, or person IL
censed to keep public house, shall entertain,
or suffer TO remain, or be in their houses yards
or other places appurtenant, any person or per-
sons, travellers strangers or dodgers excepted,)
drinking or spending their time on the said eve
nings on penalty Of three dollars.
SECT. s. Be ii further enacted, That the fines
and PENALTIES aforesaid, snail be one moiety
there OF to the town wherein the offence shall be
and the other moiety thereofto any
person or persons who shall inform and sue for
the same TO be recovered by complaint to a
Justice Of the Peace, with costs Of suit, or The
said fines may be recovered by presentment Of
the Grand Jury before the Circuit Court OF Com
mon Pleas, in the county wherein the offence or
offences shall be committed, and when thus re-
covered, shall enure to the town wherein the
offence shall be committed. And whereas the
public worship of Almighty God is esteemed by
christians an essential part ofthe due observance
Of the 1rdis Day and reouircs the greatest Dr.