Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-12-10
Disturbing Religious Meetings,

At trial of twenty-four young men Of
our Borough, on Tuesday last, before the
Hon. A. Q. Hiester, when all were fined,
the Judge in the course Of a very appro-
pirate lecture, remarked, that he would
depart from thesnsual course in summary
convictions, and not on y give the deten-
dants bis reasons for the sentence he was
about to pronounce, but his reasons for
overruliug the several motions made by
their counsel during the course of the trial,
and for his construction Of the law OF 1871,
lie wished every one Of them to feel, that
they had not only been fairy tried under
the law, but lenisntiy dealt with, that they
might leave the Court room not with the
fell purp ose of resentlng wrong, but with
the dissemination Of amending their ways.
lie said that meek and forbearlng people,
Nongregation Of the United BrethIen)
who had SO long been annoyed, and dis
turbed with their improprleties, had sui
fered until forbearance ceased to be a vir-
tue, and it was proper that they, and the
religious community generally should know
their rights. Disturbances, such as now
complained of, had become crying evil
throughout the country, except in few
congregations, where the general education
of the hearers, and consequent appreciation
of propriety, taught all better. tie re-
viewed the act of lS22-showed wherein
it was defeetive-explained why the act OF
1885, which was more stringent than that
of 1922, was passed detailed the difficul.
ties of convicting under the acts of % and
'35, and came down to the law Of lo41,
which he remarked was as stringent as
language could make it, and in his judg.
ment and Interpretation of it, was designed
by the Legislature to cover precisely such
cases as be had under consideration. He
said, be saw around him men from ali
parts of the country, and be wished them
to remember, and to say to their neighbors
when they got home, that he now decided
that the running into meeting after the
services had commenced, and out before
they closed-whispering and laughing du,
ring the Notwithstanding about the
pavement., ,indulging in loud talking, laugh
ing and swearing-blocking up the pas
sage to the doors-puffing tobacco-smoke
into the faces of members of the congrega-
ton passing to and from church, were all
disturbances within the meaning Of the
act of Al, and punishable as such. He
said, further, that he now offered his servi-
ces for FIVE years to conc, should he SO long
retain his Office, to the orderly and religious
portion of the citizens, residing in any part
Of Dauphin county, however annoying
and disagreeable the examination Of such
cases might be to him, for the purpose Of
breaking up, effectually, this disgraceful
and demoralizing conduct. He admonished
the culprits net to permit the sins of their
youth to follow them and lead them to
greater excesses, and cautioned them
against being brought before him for the
like offence, As, if guilty, he should feel
bound to inAict the severest penalty the
law allows. In conclusion, he paid hand
some compliment to A. j. Herr Esq, one
Of the counsel for the defence, who made 8
very eloquent appeal to the sympathies Of
the Judge on behalf Of his clients, begging
that he would remember that it was the
certainty more than the severity of punish
ment that produced the end designed. He
told Mr.. Herr his appeal had prevailed
and that il he had been called upon The
evening previous to pass judgment, wher