The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-09-21
Religious Esbersy I1 NJ :assaCkn-
seiIs and Ohio.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.l r

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.1
The Republican managers here in
Ohio, who ackno Wedge their defeat on
the currency issue by endeavoring to
stir up crusade against the Catholic
Church, will be shocked 10 learn that
the Republican Legislature of Massa-
chusetts last winter enacted a law hay
ing design similar to the law passed
in OHIO, known as the Geghau Law
The measure met With no opposition in
the Massachusetts E4sembly A cor
respondent, writing from Boston to the
New York Sun, s1ys ttrst noSeae in
Massachusetts has as yet bsen hurt bv
the law, and no one expects to be 1t
meets with cordial approval at the
hands of both parties throughout the
State. We give beneath copy of the
Massachusetts Geghan Law besides the
Geghan Law of Ohio, that the public
may behold them in all their 'enorlnity:' :
MASSACHUSETTS.
(Chsp. 1885,
Gan act to provide for religious instruct ion in
prisons.
BE IL enacted DC as foUors:: SEC l
No inmate of any prison, Jail or House
of Correction in this Commonwealth
shall be denied the free exercise of his
religious belief and liberty OF worship
ing God according to the dictates of his
conscience, within the place where such
Inmate may be kept or confined, and it
shall be the duty of the officers and
boards OF Officers having the manage
ment and direction OF any such institu-
tions to make such rules and regula-
tons as may be necessary to carry out
the intent and provisions OF this act
"SEo. 2 Nothing herein contained
shall be so construed as to impair the
discipline of any prison as far as may
be needful for the good government and
safe custody of its inmates
SEC. 3. This act shall take effect up.
on its passage.
[Approved April 10Th. 1875 J.
ONO.
ga Bill! to secure the liberty of conscience in
matters of religion to persons imprisoned OF
detained by authority Of law.
"SEc L. Be it enacted 6y the General
Assembly of the State Of Ohio, That as
liberty of conscience is not forfeited by
reason OF conviction OF crime, or by
reason Of detention in any penal, re-
formatory or eleemosynary inattution,
or any House of Refuge, Work-house,
Jail or public asylum of the State, no
person in any such institution shall BE-
compelled to attend religious ,oorship, OF
Institution Of form Which is against the
dictates ofhis or her conscience; and il
shall be the duty of every Director, Trus-
tee, Superintendent or other person hav-
ing in charge sny such institution to fur-
nish EQUAL FACILITIES to al
such persons fer receiuing The ministra
tiops Of the authorized clergyman OF
their ovn religious, denomination or per
suasion, under such reasonable rules and
regulations as the Trustees, Directors
Managers or superintendent shall
make; but no such rules shall be 30 con
strned as to prevent any clergyman o
any denomination from fully administer
ing the rights of his denomination tc
such inmates; provided such ministra
ton entail no expense on the public
Treasury.
"SEo This act shall take effec
from and after its passage"
We will be obliged to anybody who
viii point ont to us precisely hom either
Of these laws endanger the liberties o
the people or threaten our institutions