The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-15
Tho Lords Dny I'm the Land OF inc
Pilgrims.


The Lords Dny ian the l'aho vi '"'
pilgrims.
FROM the New York Evening Post.J
One SUNDAY morning during the war OF
1910 # wr recall the case Alright, post
r;6er ran,e,ed into a New England village
with the news OF the Hilitafy movement OF
she ErjriSb upor Washington, and In haste
spurred bis morse across the green Oh tue
meeting house. thereby disturbing the sing
iny of the seyenty.sccond psalm. Inc oea'
Gems emerged from the sanctuary ana cap
fured the sacrllegiOuS dIsturDer OF tue con'
gresalion; and on Monday morning they
prosecuted him before magistrate lor 'lo-
ialino the LoId's day. The point at issue
was whether the prisoner was traIeuihS
<Irom necessity" and the hlsnest tflouiiai
of the Commonwealth finally adJuoSeo that
If he merely rode poSi-ha>te on the pu6lic
business. without blowing his horn, the dea-
nons were in the wrong; but If he blew bls
horn while he was riding he was dSturber
of The peace as we'll as miserable sinner.
But not to explore so remotely, there have,
in our own day and generation, III the same
cxcnDlary Commonwealth of Massachusetts
in which the deac)ns pounced upon The post
rider. been Authorizations by the court OF
last resort, which are equally droll. In the
wear of grace, 1864, two honest old codgers
were tlllipc an unpI oductive farm IN the sea-
side iowa OF Sci.uate, where seaWeed has
from time immemorial been used for manure
by the country-iolk. james and Gamasiei
Sampson were the homely names OF these
husbapdmen. They were pious and pru-
dent, In their prudence they had purchased
q license, for which they made an annual
payment, from the owner OF beach near
Sci,uate harhor, distant about four miles
from their farm. 1n their piety they attend
ed "meetiDg" three times every Sunday,
besides teaching in the Sunday-school. On
Saturday, November %, 1864, there was
storm winch threw upon the beach large
quantity of seaweed. On Sunday
evening, November 10Th, James and
Ganaiel, when they left the meeting
house, about half-past S O'Clock in the eve
ming, perceived that the tide was coming in,
and that there was a fresh breeze blowing in
such direction as on former occasions had
caused Seaweed to float away from the beach
when the tide rose, and be wholly lost. After
grave consultation upon this state OF affairs
they procured ptchtork, an oX-cart, ana 3
woke of oxen, and proceeded Herewith TO
the beach. where they arrived at III O'Clock.
There vas no house near, and The highway
was at Il CO siderable distance. But even il
the neisuUoIhood had been populouS, all
the rest Of the good people OF Scituate,
according to the usage OF half q dozen
generations. were abed and asleep by half
past 0. Arrived ut. the shore, James
pitched the seaweed into the cart, and
Ganlaliel goaded the oxen into drawing it to
the top OF the beach. where they tipped out
the load above the possible reach OF the tide,
and then they went home and to bed, and
rested from their labors. But their works
followed them. Early the next morning the
town of Scituate was apprised OF this breach
of law and morals by other less prudent
farmers whose selwced had been ttoated far
away. A public prosecution was forthwith
instituted against james and Gamaliel for
violation Of the Lords day, and these two
fragrant criminals, upon proof OF the fore.
going facts, were tried and convicted.
Like the husty post.rider, they were not
content with the decision OF any tribunal
short Of the final court of appeal, which in
the wear of grace 1867 rendered its deciS-
ion by the mouth Of witty judge, who soon
afterward became Acknowledgement OF the
United States, and whose own quick sense
of humor must have occasionally contrasted
the occupations of Sunday i'll Washington
with those Of Sunday in Scitulte. The decision
was "that taking the seaWeed was n0ta work
of necessity within the meaning OF the law"
But the Judge added-perhaps as Sugges-
ton 10 james and Gamaliei for future con-
tinyencies: "How it would be if whale
. happened TO get stranded on the shore We
need not determine"
The same court, in the same year of grace,
drew fine distinction between the animal
Kingdom and the vegetable kingdom under
the Sunday law. Works "of charity" as
well as .of necessity" are permissible by
the statute. 1t has sometimes been attempted
to gain the decision OF the six learned
Judges of last resort in Massachusetts,
whether the work OF shaving, executed by 4
barber upon a customer upon the Lords
!. day, was indeed charitable when performed
with duh razor. But we believe that this
important question remains undetermined.
s'To save life. or prevent or relieve suffering,
and this Ia The case OF animals as we'll as
men," has, however, been pronounced to be
charitable by the same learned judge whom
we have quoted above. Yet the grave tri
bunal Of which he was member, almost at
the same time, s0emnly uGjudged that hoe
ing potatoes ut s O'Clock on Sunday morn
ing. which would otherwise have wilted and
died in the heat OF MONDAY, was neither
AecessarR ror charitable, and by consequence
was unlawful, and Subjected to punishment
an unlucky shoemaker who was guilty OF the
act in the gear o! grace 1866.
The statute-bOok Of The Commonwealth Of
Massachusetts Furnishes severely not only
whoever practices any game, sport, play, or
public diversion, except a concert of sacred
music" upon the evening OF the LorG's day,
but also whoever is present, Willingly or
and, not content with s4is, it applies the
same penslties to & the evening next prece-
dug the Lords day." unless the diversion
shall have been duly licensed BY the public
authorities. 1t has been suggested that, un-
der these provisions, any reverend magistrate
of the Commonwealth would become cul-
prit If a malicious nelgbber should Risit him
on Saturday evening and suddenly dance
Jig In his parlor, or, unexpectedly producing
q pack OF cards, should perform in his pres
ence the demoralizing game called solitaire.
This, however, may be doubted. Cap-
fions critics have also yninly striyeR |
to reconcile the. letter Of the law with the |
lively performances OF operate music In the |
Boston churches.at the religious services on |
Sunday. 1t is even whispered that strains |
from the /" Grapde Duchesse" have been |
heard on such occasions. But, passing alit
this, there Is another provision in the same
statute book which subjects such outrageous
practices as blowing post horns, gathering
or boeing potatoes on the Lords
day, 10 further penalties of fine and iInpri.
soDm4nt, u they IRE conducted 10 such o
manner as 70 disturb dlyips worship, I'll