The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-12-11
OLD VERMONT BLUE LAWS

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sion of the legislature in 1879 at Ben
nington was passed an act designed
to prevent dissertation of the Sab
bath. This law was probably similar
to those of the older states at chat
time but it's provisions and penalties
read strangely to us of these days.
The law in full is as follows:
An Act for the due observation
and keeping the first day of the week
as the Sabbath or Lords day; and
for furnishing disorders and profane-
ness on the same.
Be it enacted, and 1t is hereby en-
acted by the representatives of the
freemen of the State of Vermont, in
General Assembly met, and by the
authority of the same, that no trades
man, artificer, labourer, or other per-
son whatsoever, shall, upon land or
water, do or exercise any labour,
business, or work, of their ordinary
callings, or any kind whatsoever,
works of necessity and mercy only,
excepted) nor use any game, sport,
play, or recreation on the Lords day,
or day of public fasting, and thanks
giving, on pain that every person so
offending, and being convicted there
of before an assistant or justice of
the peace, shall, for every such Of
fence, forfeit not exceeding a sum of
ten pounds, as the nature of the of
fence may require. That whatso-
ever person shall be guilty of any
rude, profane, or unlawful behavior
on the Lords day, either in words or
actions, by clamorous discourse, or
by shouting, hollooing, screaming,
running, riding, dancing, humping,
blowing of horns, or any such like
rude or unlawful words or actions, in
any mouse or place, so near to, or in,
any public meeting house for divine
worship, that those who meet there
may be disturbed by such rude and
profane behavior and being convict
ed. shall incur the penalty of forty
shillings for every such offence, and
be whipped on the naked back. and
not exceeding ten strips nor less
than five.
That no person shall drive a team,
or droves of any kind, or travel on
said day, Except it be on business
that concerns the present war, or By
some adversely they are belated, and
forced to lodge in the woods, wilder
ness or highways the night before;
and in such case, to travel no farther
than the next inn or place of shell
ter, on that day. upon penalty of for
feiting a sum not exceeding ten
pounds, as the nature of the offence
may require.
-h
or her place of abode, on the Lords
day, unless to or from the public
worship of COD attended, or to be
attended upon, by such person, or
unless it be on some work or bust
ness of necessity or mercy, then to
be done or attended upon, on penalty
of paying fine, not exceeding five
pounds. for every such offence.
Nor shall any person or persons
keep, or stay, at the outside of the
Westinghouse, during the time of
public worship, (there being conven-
lent room in the house, nor unneces-
sarily withdraw themselves from
the public worship to go without
doors, nor profane the time by play
ing. or profanely talking, on the pen
atty OF paying a fine, not exceeding
three pounds, for every such offence,
as the nature of the offence may re
quire.
That if any number of persons
shall convene and meet together in
company or companies, in the street
or elsewhere, on the evening next
before, or after the Lords day, and
be thereof convicted, shall pay a fine,
not exceeding three pounds, or sit in
the stocks, not exceeding two hours
Always provided, that this act
shall not be taken or construed to
hinder the meetings of such persons
upon any religious occasions.
Provided also. that all present
ments or informations against any
person or persons, for being guilty of
any of the before mentioned Offences
be made within one month after the
commission thereof.
That the granddaughter, and tyth-
ing men, and constables. of each
town, shall carefully inspect the be-
hayior of all persons on the Sabbath
or Lords day; and due presentment
make of any PROCLAMATION of the wor-
ship of God, on the Lords day, or on
any day of public fast or thanksgiv.
ing, and of every breach of Sabbath
which they, or any of them, shall see
or discover any persons to be guilty
Otto the next assistant, or Justice
of the peace; who is hereby impow.
cred to proceed therein, according as
the nature of the offence requires
That each grand-iuryman, tything.
man. or constable, shall be allowed
six shillings per day for each day he
spends in prosecuting such offenders.
to be paid by the person offending, or
the parent or guardian. or master of
such person, when he is under age:
and all fines imposed for the breach
of this act, on minors, shall be paid
by the parents, guardians, or mast
ers, if any be; otherwise, such min
ors to be disposed of in service TO
answer the same; and upon refusal.
or neglect of payment of such fines,
and charges of prosecution, the of.
fender may be committed, unless ne
be minor; in which case, execution
for the fines and charges shall go
forth against his parent, guardian or
master after thp aypfra fion of ono