Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-28
CONNECriCurs sLUE LAWS.
How Vice President Aaron Burr aud a
Village SchOOlmSs.er OGce EVaded
go a. ~ York 81.

.thrlft. perhaps the most widely known are
ffhe celebrated code of Blue Laws and the
far-fameddyo0dcn nutmeg. The nutmeg
thsinuatian may possibly he dismissed as
Inc dispersion Of Ilval states, but OF the
actual existence al a severe code OF laws
IN not very distant past there can be
no doubt In Il conversation on this SUB
iect with an old timer the other day, |
heard many "reminiscences OF the time
when Church AM state went hand IN
glove.
i AS the Veterans story ran, the zenith OF
Blue Law activity was in the n1ighbor-
hood of 1920; but III the interval between
the beginning of the century and the time
OF Robert FutOn's invention there was a
pretty lively enforcement of the Joint laws
of Church and State. Among the arucles
OF the code then il vogue none was more
strictly enforced than the law prohlolt-
ing travel on sunday. Many Would-be
desecrator OF the Puritan oabDath was
accosted by the tithing man while quietly
pursuing his travels ON horseback or
foot. and, despite his protestatlons, was
compelled to then and there cease from
his worldly peregrinations for the time
being.
In 1908 Aaron Burr, then Wee Presi-
dent of the United States, was called from
the seal of government of Boston In pur-
suance OF private business. As was the
custom in those days, and especially with
the naughty and aristOcratic Burr, the
Vice President Travelled In State and
pomp. Six horses drew his large and
ponderous barouche, and in advance OF
the turnout a g0rgeOusly appareled out
rider heraded his masters coming.
After the completion Of his business in
Boston Burr hastily returned to this city,
arriving here late one Saturday night.
After a brief rest, he procured fresh
horses, and started for New York bright
and early on Sunday morning. AT about
ii O'Clock the CAV turnout, with It's liverl-
ed attendants, had reached the centre
of the little village OF Milford, aud was
rapidly passing the old Congregational
church near the green when slim but
dignifed figure appeared in the doorway
of the building. Hastily taking mental
inventory of the baTOuche and Its APP
purtenances, the owner Of the Puritanlc
figure advanced to the middle of the road,
and, planting mselfdirectly in the route
of the team, loudly commanded It's llyerI-
ed cOachman to halt his horses. Dunn
founded at the strange command
and the stranger appearance of
the speaker, the cOacnman did as
he was told. Burr quickly thrust
his head from the side of the carriage,and
in a sharp voice calculated:
"SiT by what authority do you stop my
caTriageP'
''By authority Of the town OF Milford"
came the quick response. Il am Deacon
Highly, tithing man, duly appointed by the
town authorities"
At this explanation Burr's features re-
Taxed the frOwn which was gathering, and
the statesman pleasantly said:
"Wel, well, Deacon, | honor you for
doing your duty; but if | have violated
any law of this State. you must report the
matter to the United States government,
for ] am Aaron Burr, Vice President of
the United States"
With stupetied glance at the speaker
the otticicus tlthing man mechanically
dotted his hat, and with rush and rum
BILE the equlpage OF the government dignit-
AIRY resumed it's journey.
But despite the law on this subject of
Sunday travelling, all tithiug men were
not so Jealous IN the performance of their
duties, and many crossed palm quietly
authorized a violation of the law. Other
devices were frequently resOrted to by
Travellers who wished TO eVade the low,
one of the most common and at the same
time efficient schemes being explained by
+. the following narrative:
In 1903 one Amos Phelps was a school
teacher ia Manchester, at the same time
residing tn a town some miles distant.
During the week the schoOlInaster board
ed out among his pupils, but each Satur-
day he was won't t. return on horseback
10 his own home. One saturday he was
unexpectedly delayed, but at an early
hour on Sunday morning ne saddled his
kOZinante and started for home, trusting
TO escape the vigilance OF the several tith-
ing men on his route. He had safely pro
ceeded as far as Bolton when, to his dis
may, he was espied by good Deacon
Strong and formally commanded to stop
in the village until the following morning
when he might resume his journey. Fear
ing such an encounter, the traveller had
muffled his face in his handkerchief, and
on hearing the DeacOn's orders, be hastily
dismounted and graspng the officials
hand, exclaimed:
ION, sir, if you only will accommodate
me here. l have been attacked by the
smallpox, and every village / have enter
ed has pitilessly turned me away"
With one startled look at the supposed
victim OF the then dreaded disease, the
tIthing man took to his heels, and the willy
Bchoolmaster soon lett the town OF Bolton
behind him.
In addition TO the unbending code Of
laws enforced by the civil authority, the
several churches all had codes OF their
own. Hence aman who might have man
aged to escape from Scylla was pretty
sure 20 be cast ashore on Chary bdis. In
AtNN AAAfGh bAu N'JA $ N- sltlblidl we're
in large majority, and the Methodists
did not number a sufficient body OF wOr-
shippers to warrant the building OF
church until 1921. This building was
cheap affair, and several years later was
replaced by a brick edIiice on the northern
corner OF the green, or public square.
The congregation wnich met in the new
building dIgnifed IL by the title OF the
First Methodist Church, but II was al
Ways popularity known by the prolaDe az
"the old eel pot" Among its leading
members was Beiah Lord, a prosperous
nnner and stove dealer, who also Occupi.
% high positions in the city government
and in the local Odd Fellows lodge. Lord
was also member OF the crack military
company of the city beng Sergeant in
fhe Grays. or Company Il. as the company
Is now known IN the second Regiment OF
his State.
In 1896 the Grays gave "A military ball
In the old Pavilion hotel, and among the
attendants were Lord and his cousin,
Mrs. MOfehouse. BON We're members OF
thg Fist Methodist Chnrch. and, IN com
mon win the peculiar beliefs then ueld by
The M0thOdists, looked upon dancing AS
partiGniaEiy slniHl amusement. con-
scientiOusly acting or This belief, both
Iofd and Mrs. Morehouse reirAned from
dAneing, aud merely attended the bail as
epectators. u became nnised about. how-
ever, mat they had attended tne Dali, and
q cpunotl WAS called by the Rev Heman
Rahgt then pastor oi their church. The
nn affIr. If'fiu.r Aa 4 mHINr1 dr.. called Ia