Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-11-16

ing the Protestant church all over the
Continent, he managed the civil gov
ernment of the state Of Geneva, enact
ed and enforced sumptuary laws that
have never been exceeded in auster-
ity; founded the University Of Geneva
and the system Of free schools in that
canton. and directed their work. He
made Geneva the strong fortress Of
Professionalism and safe refuge Of per-
secuted Protestants Of all nationali-
ties; and he looked after the architec-
ture and the public works Of the city;
he built markets and warehouses and
took hand In commerce, he wrote
ninety-six books and innumerable
pamphlets; he preached every SUM-
day, sometimes twice: he took part in
every great theological controversy Of
his time, and carried on voluminous
correspondence with Protestant lead
ers everywhere, which Is tremend-
Gus record Of twenty-eight years for
a chronic invalid, often so feeble that
he had to be carried about in chair.
Calvin's father was notary and
showed some of the characteristics Of
his son. He was communicated
from the Catholic church for refusing
to show his private accounts to the
priests at Noyon. Calvin's brother
was also an apostate, refused the sac
rament on his death-bed and was
buried in unconsecrated ground.
Calvin came to Geneva an unknown,
inexperienced young man, twenty
seven years old, but before he had
been under what he considered proper
spiritual and moral discipline. The
powerful individuality. the inflexible
will which inhabited his frail body
dominated everything. He sent the
richest men in Geneva to prison for
flirting with their maid servants; he
placed the gamblers Of the town In
the pillory with packs Of cards hung
around their necks; he punished hair
dressers for inducing their patrons to
use dye and for trying to improve
their appearance by artificial means.
He stopped the tongues Of local kick
ers" and knockers" by riding them
around town on the backs Of donkeys
carrying placards upon which apollo
giles to the public were inscribed. A
man named Ameau, who, under the
influence of drink, accused Calvin Of
being a despot, was paraded through
the streets in his shirt, with bare legs
and bare feet, lighted torch In his
hand, and was compelled to ask on
bended knees the pardon Of God, Of
the city council and especially Of CAL
vim; q man named Gruet, who forgot
himself so far as to compose scandal
Gus verses about Calvin, was punish
ed by being tortured every day for a
month and then beheaded. And told
you yesterday how he ordered Boni-
wards wife to be sewed up in sack
and thrown into the river.
That sort Of discipline soon brought
the citizens to "a realizing sense Of
their sins" and made them behave
themselves The statutes of Geneva,
prepared by Calvin in 1541, and strict
ly enforced by him, contained some
extraordinary provisions. The penal
ty for profanity was kissing the ground
for the first effense; for the second Of
fence a fine Of three shillings was
added; for the third offence fine Of
three-score shillings; for the fourth
offence three days imprisonment on
bread and water, while the fifth Of
fence was punished by banishment
from Geneva for a year and day.
Everybody "of whatever estate,
quality or condition" was forbidden to
wear ornaments of gold, silver or pre-
cious stones. or pay penalty of three
shillings for each offence, and If the
jewelry was imitation the fine was
doubled. Women were forbidden to
wear "verdingales, gold upon their
heads, quoises of gold, billiments, or
such like, neither any manner Of en-
broidery upon their sleeves"
mo person at dinner shall serve
above three courses, and to every
course not more than four dishes.
"Vain, dishonest and ribald songs,
dancing and mummeries" (play act
ing) were punished by three days
imprisonment.
Everybody must be at his home
at 9 o'clock at night, upon the pain
of the indignation Of the Lord. Ev-
erybody was required to say grace be-
fore and after meat or pay fine Of
four shhillings for each offence"
The minutes of the consistory or
city council of which Calvin was the
presiding officer. have been preserved,
and may be read at the public library,
and they show how strictly these and
other ordinances were enforced. A
certain woman was punished for van
ity because she wore her hair hang
ing loose over her shoulders. 1t was
long and beautiful and she wanted
people to see 1t; man was punished
In church during one Of Calvin's SER
mons, another was fined for address,
ing a neighbor concerning matter Of
business in the vestibule Of the
church.: a third for calling his cow by
the Scriptural name Of Rebecca; an
other was fined four shillings for COM
pairing the reading of the Psalms by
the clerk in Calvin's church to the
braying Of a donkey; several citizens
were sent to prison for neglecting
their aged parents, while Clement Ma
rot, the leading merchant Of the place
was sent to prison for playing a game
of backgammon on Sunday. Two lads,
caught pitching quoits on Sunday.
were handed over Go says the entry
in the minutes Of the consistory) "to
NJ de Rez in order that he may cause
them to be given such fustigation as
will prevent them from doing 1t
again."
To those who complained Calvin
said: "Go and build another city II
you want to be free to live in your
sins, but as long as you live in Geneva
it will be vain for you to try and shake