Thus we see that pecuniary success and pleasant weather were as influential in 1792 as they are in 1886 in diverting individuals from their ordinary religious privileges.
The following extracts from the "Salem Impartial Register" of July 27, 1801, will perhaps have interest when considered in connection with some circumstances which have taken place in Salem within a year or two:—
THE CONNECTICUT SABBATH.
IN ancient days, 't was God's moſt ſacred will,
To give his law on Sinai's lofty hill,
Whoſe top terrific iſſued clouds of ſmoke,
And thus, amidſt the flames, th' Eternal ſpoke;
Six days, ſaid he, (and loud the ſame expreſs'd)
Shall men ſtill labor, and on the ſeventh reſt:
But here alas! like yon great pious town,[A]
They break his law, and thus prefer their own:
"And let it be enacted further ſtill,
That all our people ſtrict obſerve our will:
Five days and half ſhall men and women too
Attend their buſineſs, and their mirth purſue.
But after that, no man without a fine,
Shall walk the ſtreets, or at a tavern dine.
One day and half 'tis requiſite to reſt,
From toilſome labor, and a tempting feaſt.
Henceforth let none, on peril of their lives,
Attempt a journey, or embrace their wives:
No Barber, foreign or domeſtic bred,
Shall e'er preſume to dreſs a lady's head.
No ſhop ſhall ſpare (half the preceding day),
A yard of Ribband, or an ounce of Tea.
Five days and half th' inhabitants may ride
All round the town, and villages beſide;
But, in their travels, ſhould they miſs the road,
'Tis our command they lodge that night abroad."
From hence 'tis plainly ſeen how chang'd indeed,
That ſacred law which GOD himſelf decreed!
In this one act they think to merit heav'n,
By taking half a day from ſix to add to ſeven.
[A] Boſton—where a ſimilar law was formerly enforced with rigour.
"One Man eſteemeth one day above another; another eſteemeth every day ALIKE. Let every man be fully perſuaded in his own mind."
Romans xiv. 5.
The old cuſtom of opening Barbers' Shops in this Town on Sunday ceaſed yeſterday, in conſequence of the determination of the Grand Jury to make preſentment of all ſuch violations of the Sabbath. Cautions have alſo been given to the Horſe Letters, againſt loaning any Horſes or Carriages on Sunday; and there appears to be a very ſerious and wiſe determination in the "Gentlemen of the Grand Jury" to put a ſtop to thoſe ſhameful practices, which have for twenty years diſgraced the moſt ſober and quiet Town in Maſſachuſetts! Laus Deo! There will be no more horſes killed now of a Sunday in going to Boſton, either by lack of bating, or by hard driving! It is whiſpered, that the public are indebted, for this ſalutary reform, to the covert exertions of a ci-devant Preacher, who lacking the ability to lead his wakeful flock formerly, is now determined to drive all within his Circuit, into the pale of obedience, and thereby make up for former Sins of Omiſſion. The Federaliſts predicted the loſs of Religion, ſhould Jefferſon be Preſident. We certainly have a good Sample (thus early under his adminiſtration) that its ſtate will be improved.