The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-25

the Puritan fathers-and the vast
increase in our population by immigration
from foreign shores. With the introduc-
ton of the "Dutch theatre, as it Is or was
called-never opened except on Sunday
evening-came Concerts of sacred music"
on the same evening, each religious demon
ination vieing with the other as to which
should present the most attractive pro-
gramme and reap the richest pecunary
harvest--toi money price had to be paid
to obtain admission to both alike and each
had the abomination of preserved seats"
With this example set before them--"music
halls" and "opera halls" being ostentatous-
ly secured for the ''sacred concerts"-it
seems to us that 1t cannot be SO much a
matter of surprise, TO any one, that the
lessees and managers of these same music
and opera halls, as well as of theatres and
other "places of amusement" should fol-
low the example furnished them by the
churches and provide entertainments for
that evening coach one after his own
kind"
While there is no doubt relative to the
moral and religious duty to properly OBJ
serve Sunday, and while each person must,
in a great measure, decide for himself what
is a p,oper observance, yet there is still an
other question and one, too, which has
two sides to (which is looming up in the
near future for decision. 1, is how far the
civil authority have the right to interfere
and attempt to regulate mans conduct
on Sunday more than any other day in the
week That the attempt is now made in
several of the New England states. Yer
mont among the number, is apparent from
the most cursory examination of statute
and common law. Turn to the ninety
third chapter of our general statutes and
read that Z" the first day of the week shall
be kept and obser, ed by the people of this
state as Sabbath day, holy day, or day of
rest from all secular labor, recreation, and
employment" under the penalty of fine !;
that no person shall be present at any
public assembly" except those held for
50 social and religious worship and moral
instruction .; that they shall not " ctsit
from house to house, except it be from mo-
tives of humanity or charity. or for moral
and religious edication y; that " no per-
son shall travel " on that day, except from
necessity or charity that no person " al
ter the setting of The sun on Saturday I'M
ill after midnight Sunday. shall hold, oil
resort to any ball or canoe, use or exercise
any game, sport, or play or resort TO any
tavern, inn, or house of entertainment
for amusement or recreation Any person
offending IN any of these particulars is sub
ject to fine and accompanying costs, ant
Oh non-payment thereof to commitment t.
the common jail We submit that thes'
provisions are relics of the dark ages. The,
are, TO be sure, dead letter on our statute
book, but any person can invoke their pen
altles to crafty mean revenge. We G.
further and say that they should be en-
forced up to the very letter. visitin!
from house to house" and al.-or els
struck from our statute book. But query
are they constitutional under the guarant.
of the right TO worship God according t
the dictates of ones own conscience VIII
is to decide the question between the Jey
and Christian If the Jew observes hi
Sabbath may he not, also, work an
recreate on his week days We claim TIL
right for ourselves and, while prohibitin
it to others, guarantee equal rights
all. The tendency of the age is towar
liberaity in thought, action, religion ; an
the progress of the world has not been re
tarded thereby. On the contrary, ii is ad
vancing with giant strides. Men may con
tend for the construction of creeds an
dogmas, but the world cares little whic
way they may be decided so long as tn
tendency of the age is ever toward tn
truth and the right. The Christian religion
needs no such laws for its protection. 1t
vitality, thanks to its Great Founder, rest
upon something broader and deeper thai
mere human enactments. 1t has for sol
foundation the word of God Himself, an
if it cannot grow and thrive, and spread
by the preaching of the truths He incu
Gates. no legislative enactments can save il