Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-13
PURITAN REVIVAL IN WISCONSIN.

AN NEsEFA Al kN WA9NONSlNs
Down in the Old Dominion it once was
the rule that If man used unlawful
oath, taking the name Of God in vain,
he was severely punished for the first
offense, FOR the second had bodkin
thrust through his tongue, and If he
still continued TO offend in that way he
was brought befoze the court and re-
ceived sentence OF death for his sin.
New England varied the punishment
by compelling the culprit to stand in
public place with cleft stick upon his
tongue. II tbs penalty did not bring
reformation be had q red hot iron thrust
through the offending member, and if
he became notorious for his blasphemy
ne was ordered 10 wear in conspicu.
Gus place upon his person large letter
B. thus advertising his sin before all
the little world in which he lived
And Maryland proved that if any one
used profane language in the presence
CT Justice Of the peace or other public
official he was obliged to pay five shill.
ings TO the king. Pennsylvania made q
better use Of the fine Of ten pounds for
swearing devoting the sums thus raised
for the benefit of the poor Of the colony
In some Of the Spanish colonies the
tongue was cut ont, and, If the offense
was committed in the court, the sinner
received hundred stripes in addition;
If outside the court half Of mis- property
was con6scated
This severity of punishment was re.
aected in many laws of early days under
the constitution of the United States
while the influence of the Puritan real
me lasted. But in the present degener.
ate time 1t seems like s. revival of Crom.
wsllian sternness to read Of the attitude
Of Mayor Hawkins Of New Richmond,
Wis, as indicated in his order to the
1000 souls in the st. Croix county nue..
tropolis. Profanity must go, he says.
IL Is useless Il ia blasphemous in the
sight of God. Ills abominable In the
sight of man. II the profane man
wants to wallow in the yolction Of his
profanity let him betaKe himself to the
lumber camps, but he should remember
that when he crosses the confines of
civilization he should close that chap.
ter OF his dictionary. With such com.
ment he announces his intention to en-
force the law in all cases of willful or
inexcusable profanity, assessing a pan,
atty Of 300 or Jail sentence of thirty
days.
The mayor has started praiseworthy
reform, and If he succeeds in making
his community oathless he may have a
great field for his missionary labors in
all other parts of the world. For pro-
family and useless expietives seem the
besetting sin of mankind nowadays,
and there are few Puritans, even
among the clergy, who take any care at
all TO urge obedience to that one Of the
commandments which declares that,
Thou shalt not take the name of the
Lord thy God in vain" The Sabbath
day Is no longer holy, the father and
the mother get little honor, coveting,
stealing, adultery, the bearing of false
witness and even killing, are offsnsts
quickly condoned In an easy going age.
Possibly it is worth while now and then
for some one to try to enforce respect
for at least one of the commandments,
If with no otEer result than to call at.
tention to the far wandering of modern
people from the strictness of ancient
regulations. Chicago Tribune.