Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-05-09
AN OLD TIME SUNDAY.

Straight-Laced Observance of the Day
Half Century Ago-Some Queer Gases
in the Courts
j. b. BeIfordS Forthcoming Boot
A Sabbath IN Pennsylvania lhirty-tiVe
years ago was regarded by many young
people as holy terror" The day might
be defued as bundle OF negations-"rhou
shalt not do this, and thou shalt not do
that"
Attendance on Sabbath school and
church twice on Sunday was part of the
unwritten law OF the household. The
only thing that modified the rigor Of this
day 8 observance was quiescent permits
sion to accompany the grrl of your love
home after evening service, provided big
brother did not interpcse and prevent.
Church discipline was rigorous beyond
measure, and many of the most serio comic
trials took place that have ever bean wit
messed in or out of courtof justice. The
law prohibited "all hunting or fishing, or
sport of whatsoever kind" on this day. 1t
was dead and awful calm, except as bro
ken by the Changing OF the church bells
and psttering of feet on the way to the
sanctuary. But by aud by people became
FESTIVE and weary. They began to discuss
what was meant by day OF rest Those
who had been 10 school six days OF the
week did not think they were rested by go
Ing to school twice on Sunday. They could
not see where any play or refreshment or
ease of creation" came in They played
truant-stole of to the fields and woods
Many of them took their guns and hounds
for day recreation, aud matters became
so that it was deemed advisable TO resort to
the courts and see if this laxity could not
be prevented.
A man about to die had made his will
on Sunday. The whole town was in buzz
Could such thing be? The Will WAS con
tested and the Case vent to the Supreme
Court where it WAS solemnly decided that
The making of will is solemn matter,
performed without the slightest disturbance
of or dissertation OF the Sabbath" and
therefore might be made.
John Jones undertook to ride horse
fro% Csnolsburg 10 Wheeling, Va John
was caught on the said horse one Sunday
by justice of the peace, and arrested for
desecrsting the Sabbath. The case reached
the Supreme Court, aud after exhaustive
Argument c. ]. Gibson held that to ride q
hopse on sunday did not violate the act of
l704, but he must not use the horse to
carry any one else.
One William Johnston, on September
5, 1853, was arrested for driving an omni
bus from LsSFenqeAurg 20 Pittsburg on the
Lords day. He set up as Gil answer that
the omnibus vas used 70 convey people to
church The plea was held bad and William
was fined.
There was canal that ran through the
town where l resided cad lawsuit grew
out Of ca attempt to open the locks and
let the boats pass through. After mature
consideration it was held that il might be
done.
1t was held to be unlawful to get shaved
on Sunday. You might drive to chGFeh
in your own conveyance, Int woe betide
the Jehu gha took you there in a public
cue.
But the great controversy that stirred
Pennsylvania from her centre to ciroum
ference YES the running Of street cars on
Sunday in the city OF Philadelphia. The
judicial discussion enoompassed the whole
field OF human lesrOing on the Sunday
question. All that God uttered, or Moses
wrote, or Constantine ordained, OF Psrlia
ment enacted, or the colony ordered, or the
Legislature established, touching this sub
ject, Ves ezhsustively considered The
case was presented 10 every phase, and the
conclusion reached Wss that the sole mis-.
sion Of Sunday is to inculcate a temporary
weekly cessation from labor but il adds
not to this requirement any religious obi
CATION" that the running Of tha cara was
a mater o. n2aestitG and charity and could
not be er iioined. This discussion aud de.
cision took place in March, 1867, and from
that tiRs enssrd no attempt has been
made to carry out the old, rigid rn,::oops
the. had been therelofoTe seauous!y en-
forced and Observed.