Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-30
The Old Maryland Laws in Force
Here.

THE BLUE LAWS OF CONNECTICUT ouTDoNE
The act Of Maryland of 1928 In force In the
District in relation to the observance of Sun
day, &C, &C., 10 addition to the section quoted
by Mr. Padgett, assistant attorney Of the Dis
tr1ct, in answer to the inquiries Of the pastors
committee published in THE STAR of yester-
day., provides: "Tnat II any person shall here
after, within this province, Willingly, mali
clously and advtsedly, by writing or speaking
blaspheme or curse God or deny our Saviour
the Holy Trinity. the Father, Son and Holy
Ghost. or the Godhead Of any of the three per-
sons, or the unity of the Godhead or shall
utter any pfofane words concerning the Holy
Trinity, or any OF the persons thereof and shall
be thereon convicted by verdict or confession,
shall, for the first offence, be bored through the
tongue end fineu twenty pounds sterling to the
lord proprietor, to be applied to the use OF the
county where the offence shall be committed.
to be levied on the offenders body, goods and
chattels, lands or tenements, and In case the
said fine cannot be levied, the offender to suffer
six months imprisonment without bail or main-
prise; and that for the second offence. the Of
fender being thereof convict as aforesaid, shall
be st1gmatized by burning In the forehead with
the letter and fined forty pounds sterling to
the lord proprietor, to be applied and levied as
aforesaid, and In case the same cannot be levied
the offender shall suffer twelve months imprIs-
onment without bail or mainprise; and that for
the third offence, the offender being convict as
aforesaid, shall suffer death without the benefit
OF TIE clergy.
person that shall hereafter prOfanely swear or
curse in the presence and hearing OF any mag
tstrate, minister, the commissary general, sec
Tetary, she. If, coroner, provincial or county
clerk, yeStryman, church warden, or constable,
o. be convicted thereof before any magistrate
by the oath of one lawful witness, or confession
OF the party, shall, for the first oath Or curse,
be fined two Shlutngs and SiXpenSe current
money, ard for every oath or curse after the
first, five sbtllngs, like money, to be applied 10
the uses aforesaid.
In section third, that every person that shall
be drunk IN the presence OF any OF the persons
Aforesaid or shall be thereof convict Ia man
Eer aforesaid before any magistrate shall be
tined for every offence five shtllings current
money, TO be applied as Aforesaid
:. In section ten quoted by Mr.. PadgetD
1t is enacted "that no person whatsoever
shall work or do any bodily labor on the Lords
Gay, commonly called Sunday, and that no per
son having children, servants or slaves shall
command. or Willingly or willingly suffer any
OF them 10 do any manner OF work or labor on
the Lords day, works of necessity and char
lty always excepted) nor Shall suffer or per
NIT any children. servants Or slaves to profane
the Lords day, by gaming, fishing, fowIing
hunting, or unlawful pastimes or recreationS
and being thereof convicted by the oath OF one
sufficient witness, or confession Of the party
befoIe single magistrate, shall forfeit two
hundred pounds OF tobacco, to be levied and
applied sS afOreSaid.'
Section eleven enacts that no housekeeper shall
sell any strong liquor On Sunday except In
Eases VI aosoiute necess;Cyl or SuI1eT any drunk
enness. gaming, or unlawful sports or recrea-
tions, in his or her house, On pain Of forfeiting
two thousand pounds Of tobacco to his lordship;
one-half to the use aforesaid and the other half
to him that will sue for the same, to be recov-
cred by action OF debt, bill. plaint, or fnforma-
ton, wherein no essoin, protection or wager of
law shall be allowed. 1t also provides that
every parish clerk within this province shall
procure copy of the act and that the same
shall be read four times year, viz, on some
Sunday In March, in June. In September, and ia
December, by every minister within the prov
,nce In their respective parish churches, be-
lorfeifiDg one thousand pounds of tobacco for
every omission"