The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-15

THE SUNDAY QUESTION AT PITTSBURGH.
The Sunday question still RACES at
Pittsburgh. The Leader OF Thursday
contains DR.. Hopkins reply to the Pres
bytery OF Pittsburgh, in which he reflects
severely If not excoriatingly upon his
brethren Of that Presbytery for presum-
ing to present him for discipline to the
Cayuga Presbytery OF New York, OF
which he is member. 1t would really
seem that the scOtch-Irish presbyters Of
the Pittsburgh diocese have pretty big
contract on hand. They have tackled
two men who can take care of them.
selves, in tho persons OF Mr.. Neyin, OF the
Leader, and DR.. Hopkins, Of the Auburn
Theological Seminary. Mr.. Nevin, who, is
a member Of the Presbyterian Church
at sewickley, was smoked out by the
Pittsburgh PnesGytery because he held an
interest in paper that issued asunday
edition. They went for him in the first
place by declaring that the publication
and sale Of newspaper on Sunday is in
consistent with membership in the Pres.
byterian Church. Next, by censuring
the sewickley church for its delinquency
in not administering discipline to him,
and, third, by directing and requiring
that church 10 take up his case.
Western Pennsylvania is an old battle
ground on the Sunday question. In the
early part Of this century they had what
were known as "Moral Societies" in
Washington county, one Of the duties Of
the members being to report to the socie-
ties such persons as were found breaking
the Sabbath. 1t is written OF these societies
that in their inception "they were simply
organized bands Of informers," but, by
and by, Hemboldened by the sub
mission Of the people, their members
soon began to make arrests with
out civil process or legal authority"
They not only looked after. and reported
upon those found breaking the Sabbath
but likewise persons who were heard to
use profane language or known to be
guilty OF other vices prohibited by law.
1t is recorded that 'thcy pursued their
vocation with enterprising zeal; that
many violations Of the laws were detected
and exposed, and that every member Of
the community soon found himself to be
under sort OF inquisitorial scrutiny
that was as strict as 1t was novel; and
As distasteiul to the feelings Of many
true friends Of morality as it was incom.
patible with the spirit OF republican free
dom" To such a pitch did these
inquisitors carry their proceedings
that the people began to feel them
burden, and, at. last, to resent their
espionage. "Those who had been fined
through these moral societies began to
sernttnile more closely the character OF
the members composing them, and, in
many cases, soon found that these self
constituted cuatOdians of the public NOR
ais were themselves guilty Of offences
similar to those which they condemned in
Others"
DR.. Richardson, of Bethany, in this
state, Wrote out some years ago a pretty
tuIl account Of these so-called "Moral
Societies" wequote the following Incl.
dentfrOm his record of them.
"Onc Of the members Of the Moral So.
ciely. at Middletown, returning from
meeting on the Sabbath day noticed at
Wilson's tavern, two and 4 half miles
from town, 4 bucket belonging TO him
mat his teamster had forgotten there the
aay before. Taking up the bucket, he
concluded to carry Il home with him, and
On his way was reminded by one Of his
friends that be was violating the law by
SaftyinG burden on the sabbath
Jay Upon his return home the cir
eup'tance naturally gave rise to
serious reflection on his part, and,
amongst his pious sabbath" musings, he