Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-11-18
The Blue Laws of New England.

The following excerpts, taken from
the blue laws of the Plymouth Col
ony, Mass, and from the Connecti-
cut statutes beginning 1886, enforced
by the civil magistrate, will be of in
terest to the liberty-loving American
OF the twentieth century:
whatsoever shall profane the
Lords day by doing unnecessary
servile work, by unnecessary travel
ing or by sports and recreatiens, he
or they that 80 transgress shall forfeit
for every such default 40 shillings or
be publicly whipped; but if it clearly
appear that sin be proudly, pre-
sumptuously, and with high hand
committed against the known COM
mand and authority of the Blessed
God, such person therein despising
and reproaching the Lord, shall be
put to death or grievously punished
at the Judgment of the court"
"If any man or woman be a witch,
or consu lteth with familiar spirit,
they shall be put to DEATH"
MAY II, 1875: If any person
henceforth either on Saturday night
or on the Lords day night, though it
be after the sun is set, shall be found
sporting in the streets or fields of
any town in this Jurisdiction, or be
drinking in houses of public entertain
ment, or elsewhere, unless for neces
sity; every such person so found,
shall pay 10 shillings for every such
transaction or suffer corporal punish
ment for default of due payment.
''Andit is further ordered that no
servile work shall be done on the
Sabbath; viz, such as are not works
of piety or necessity; and no profane
discourse or talk, rude or unreverend
behavior, shall be used on the holy
day."
"If any person turns Quaker, he
shall be banished and not suffered to
return, upon pain of DEATH"
stNo priest shall abide in this domin-
ion; he shall be banished and suffer
death on his return. Priests may be
seized by auy one, without a war
rant" In force before 1861
"Adultery shall be punished with
DEATH" (Reenacted in 1869
"The judge shall determine con-
troversies without jury"
.No man shall hold any Office who
is not sound in the faith and faithful
to bis dominion; and whoever gives
q vote to such person shall pay fine
of one pound; for second offense
he shall be disfranchised.
"Each freeman shall swear by the
Blessed God to bear true allegiance to
this dominion, and that Jesus Christ
is the only King.'
''No Quaker or dissenter from the
established worship of this dominion
shall be allowed to give a vote for
the election of magistrates or any
officer"
'tNo food or lodging shall be afford
ed to Quaker, Adamite, or other
heretic."
''No one shall run on the Sabbath
day, or walk in his garden, or else
where, except reverently to and
from meeting"
''No one shall travel, COOK victuals,
make beds, sweep the house, cut
hair, or shave on the Sabbath day"
''No woman shall kiss her child on
the Sabbath day."
"The Sabbath shall begin at sunset
on Saturday"
"No one shall read any prayer,
keep Christmas or saints days,
make mince pie, dance, play cards,
or play on any instrument of music
except drum. trumpet, and jews
harp"
mo gospel minister shall join peo-
pie in marriage. The magistrates
only shall join in marriage, as they
may do it with less scandalto Christ's
church."
''If any man shall kiss his wife or
wife kiss her husband on the Lords
day, the party in fault shall be pun
ished at the discretion of the court
or magistrate"
"Gathering sticks on Saba tn [Sun-
dayl when unnecessary, is punishable
by death, but if gathered privily or in
need, a lesser punishment may be ad-
ministered by whipping the offender \
McAdoo Says Party Is Not Dead.