The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-02-10
THE BLUE-LAWs or CONNECTICUT.
FROM DR.. PETERS WORK PRINTED NINETy-sIx
YEARS AGO.


81 Boston Pilot
q The remarkable work by an eminent Pro
5testant divine, entitled "a General History o
NConnectiout." published in London in 1881
Rhas been recently republished in this countr!
lby d. Appleton & Co., Now York. This work
was exceedingly rare in America, every copy
of the frat edition having been publiol!
burnt. In March, 1877, at sale Of old works
a copy of the book brought the fabulous pic,
of one hundred and fifteen dollars. The author
! Of the work was o resident clergyman Of Con
q Nnecticut, the Rev. Samuel Peters, LID.
whose people for three generations had lived
in that colony, and had made notes of the pro
oeedings Of the government and the people
We extract the following sketch of the Blue
Laws, which, says the author, twill give 9
Atolerable idea of the spirit which perv ades the
whole:
unless he be converted, and q member in full
=commnnion of one Of the Churches allowed in
this Dominion.
No man shall bold any office, who is no.
found in the faiths and faithful to this Domin-
ion; and whoever givea n vote to such per-
lson, shall pay fine of f1 for q second Of
fence, he shall be diseranenis
No Quaker or disseuter from the established
worship of this Dominion shall be allowed
Ito give vote for the election Of Magistrates,
or ssuy officer.
No food or lodging shall be afforded to o
ZQuakef, Adsmite, or otter Hereto.
If any person turns Quaker, he shall be
bsnished, and not suffered to return but npon
pain of death.
No priest shall abide in the Dominion he
shall be banished, and sBffer death on his
return. Priests may be seizsd by any one
without q warrant.
No one shall Iun on the Sabbath day, or
walk in his garden else ewhere, except rev
Ierently to and from meeting.
No one shall travel, cook viotuals, make
beds, sweep house, cut hair, or shave, on thel
Sabbath day.
No woman shall kiss her child on the Sab
bath or fasting day.
The Sabbath shall begin At sunset On Sat
lurdsy.
When it appears that an accused has oon-
foderates, and refuses to discover them, mel
may be rnoked.
A drunkard shall have a master appointed
10y the seleotmen, who are to debsr him fromi
the liberty OF buying and selling.
Whoever pnblishes lie TO the prejudice OF
his neighbOr, shall cit in tie stocks, or bel
whipped fifteen stripes.
No Mnister shall keep q school.
Every rateable person who refuses to pay
his proportion to the support OF the Minister
Court G2, and ga every quarter, until he or
she pay the rate TO the Minister.
debtor in prison, swearing he has no es-
tate, shall be let out, and sold, to make satis-
faction.
Whoever brings cards or dice into this Do
minion sh all pay q fine of S5.
No orc shall read Common-Prayer, keept
Christmas or Saints-dsyB, mako nnuoe pies,
dance, play cards or play on any Instrument
of music, except the drum, trumpet, and jews
harp.
No Gospel Minister shall join people in mar.
riage the Magistrates only shall join in mSr.
riage, as they may do it with less scandal to :
Christ's Church.
The selectmen, on finding children ignorant
may take them away from their parents, and
put them in better hands, at the expense of
their parents.
No man shall court q maid in person, or by 4
letter, without first obtaining consent OF her
parents: G5 penalty for the first offence G10k
Tor the second and, for the third, imprison-E :
nent during the pleasure of the Court.
Every male shall have his haiE cut round
to a cap.
DIR. Peters, comment on the above laws is as )
follows "Of such sort were the laws mRdeE
with Ssybrook and Hertford s
colonies by the charter. They copsist of o
vast multitude, and were very properly teruedE
Blue Laws !. c, bloody Laws; for they were
Iii ssnotfed with eXcommupicAtion, con6scs-
ion, fnes, bhnishment, whippings, cutting OF
,he ears, burning the tongue and death. Eu-a
;ope ct tais day might we'll cay the Religion
If the first settlers OF NswhAVen was fanati.
,ism turned mad and did not similar laws q
Till prevail over New England ss the common ;
Aw OF the country, l wonld have left them in &
Ilence along With DR.. hather's PatreS con.
cyiyti and the renowned Saints OF EfF. Neal,
20 sleep to the end of time. No one, but q
projectors Of them we're men of GTGoc, Justice,
and Liberty, when nothing but murders, plumbers,
Ind PeTsesWtiOHs marked Sheir steps,"