The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-10-18
SUNDAY LAWS.
Some of the Old Statutes Against Vio-
lations Of the Sancity of the Sab
bath.

other forms OIL IODdCCO dl1O IL uie 10
concerned. except for the more for
tunate members Of clubs, and Colum-
bias only leisure class, the profession
al gamblers, have been put out of
business by repeated raids and prose-
cutions. But the police commission,
in way driven to take this step
by the boldness of venders uselessly
offending passersby going to and re-
turning from religious services, are
going no further for the present at
least. Columbia's stand in the matter
has excited a deal Of interest through
out the State, and there is much talk
ing and guying and condemning and
praising and cussing inside and out
side of Columbia about the affair. In
practically all the smaller towns IN
the State the drug stores are selling
everything they have in stock and the
hotel tobacco stands are doing a good
Sunday business, but in these commu-
mites the good judgment is exercised
to have these places closed while peo-
pie are ging or returning from church.
In this connection brief review OF
the Sunday law of the State might
prove interesting as showing how far
the authorities of any town, or the
magistrates in any rural community,
might go if goarded to do it by an ag-
gressive minority presuming and
claiming to represent public senti-
ment.
It is not the purpose Of this article
to go into the old card playing law of
this State further than to recall the
fact that year or so ago the auth0ri-
ties of the town of Rock Hill proc ed
ed so far under it as to make arrests
in the lobby of hotel Of persons
playing whist, this on a week day and
without there being a charge Of even
a prize at stake.
1t. is generally known there are
many harsh Old Sunday laws which
were inherited from Colonial times
and customs, and which have never
been repealed, but it will surprise
many people to know it is invioiation
Of the present law of this state to re-
frain from attending church on Sun
day, and that magistrates have the
authority to to compel such attend
ance. \ Digest Of the Common Law
of Crime" made in 1881 by Junius H.
Evans. of Marion, says:
Persons TO Attend Meeting; All
and every person and persons Yhatso-
ever shall, on the Lords day, apply
themselves to the observation Of the
same. by exercising themselves there
on in the duties of piety and true re-
ligion, publicly and privately; and
having no reasonable and lawful eX-
cuse, on every Lords day shall resort
TO some meeting or assembly Of re-
ligious worship, tolerated and allowed
oy the laws Of this State. and shall
there abide, soberly and orderly, dur
ing the time Of prayer and preaching,
on pain and forfeiture. for every neg
lect of the sum of one dollar"
Following are other interesting
Sunday laws which are also copied
from this digest and which Recorder
Stanley says are still in force, he and
other magistrates using this book as
a guide:
Penalty for Working on Sunday:
No tradesman, artifcer, workman, Ia
borer, or other person whatsoever,
shall do or exercise any labor, busi-
ness work Of their ordinary callings
upon the Lords day, or any part
thereof (works of necessity or char
ity only excepted), and every person
Is years old and upwards offending
in the premises, shall for every such
offense, forfeit the sum Of one dol
lar.''
For Selling Goods: No person or
persons whatsoever shall publicly cry,
show forth, or expose to sale, any
wares, merchandise, fruit, herbs
goods OF chatteIs whatsoever, upon
the Lords day" upon pain of forfeit
ing the goods.
"No Sports or Pastimes Allowed
Sunday: No public sports or pastimes
as bear-baiting, football playing,
interludes or common plays, or other
games,~exercises, sports or pastimes
whatsoever, shall be used on the
Lords day"
Section forbids travel on Sunday
not only by any sort Of public carrier
by land or by water, but by private
conveyance, excepting it be to go to
the place Of public worship and re-
turn again, or to visit or relieve any
sick person, or unless the traveller