Voted, that the Clerk be requeſted to ſend a copy of the doings of the Convention, to the Editors of the public papers in Boſton, Salem, Newburyport and Haverhill, and that they be requeſted to publiſh the ſame in their reſpective papers.
A full account of this convention can be found in the "Salem Gazette," Oct. 31, 1815. It does not appear that there was any disturbance of public worship to complain of, only many people neglected to attend the meetings, or walked or rode for pleasure on the Lord's Day.
In the same month and year the "Worcester Ægis" gave expression to opinions on the question of "Sabbath-breaking" which we think accord more with modern ideas than do those of the Essex convention. The views of the "Ægis" probably represented the average liberal sentiment of that day.
WORCESTER, OCT. 25.
BREACH OF THE SABBATH.
At the late ſeſſion of the S.J. Court at Northampton it was decided that a juſtice of the peace could not iſſue a warrant for a breach of the Sunday laws againſt an offender that is not an inhabitant of the county where the offence is committed, but that he muſt be proſecuted only before a grand jury; and that juſtices of the peace could not iſſue warrants, nor ſheriffs ſerve them, on the Lord's day, for any breaches of thoſe laws. Damages were awarded againſt a juſtice, a tythingman, and a ſheriff, upon the latter principle.
Upon this deciſion we congratulate the public. It has taken a formidable weapon from the hands of thoſe petty tyrants, who are labouring to revive the reign of religious perſecution. We truſt we ſhall no longer ſee the Sabbath treſpaſſed upon by theſe official harpies, who, inſtead of ſpending the day as they ought, in worſhiping God, confeſſing their own manifold ſins, and praying that they may be endued with a more chriſtian temper, are riding or walking the highway, "ſeeking whom they may devour," and gratifying at once their malice and their avarice, by plundering their fellow-citizens, and filling their own pockets. In ſome towns they have been ſtationed at every turn of the road, ready to dart out upon the traveller, like a ſpider from the corner of his web. We rejoice at every occurrence which checks this perſecuting ſpirit.—Thoſe who know us, know that we reſpect the Sabbath and its holy inſtitutions: for this very reaſon we reprobate conduct which has a direct tendency to bring theſe inſtitutions into contempt. In all ages, the anti-chriſtian ſpirit of chriſtian profeſſors has done more injury to the cauſe of religion, than the attacks of its declared enemies. Real Chriſtianity cannot flouriſh by perſecution. Exceſſive rigour defeats the very purpoſes it is intended to ſubſerve. In time there will be a re-action, and men will go to the oppoſite extreme—religion and morals will be as much too lax, as they were before too ſtrict.
In no part of the world is the ſabbath ſo ſcrupulouſly obſerved as in New-England. As we keep it, it reſembles more the Jewiſh Sabbath, than the Sabbath of all other parts of Chriſtendom. We had much rather ſee this nice punctiliouſneſs, than that indifference which prevails in ſome places. But we think there is ſuch a thing as drawing the cord too tight—ſo tight that it will be in danger of ſnapping in ſunder! The good habits of our countrymen, and the increaſing regard which is entertained for religion, will be a ſure guaranty of the reſpectful observance of the Sabbath. There are very few men in the community, who dare to outrage public feeling by a wanton violation of the ſolemnity of the day. We have excellent laws to puniſh thoſe who diſturb the devotions of any ſociety or individual. Let theſe laws be put in execution without fear, favour or affection. But for the reſt, let religion take care of itſelf—it needs no aſſiſtance from the feeble arm of the magiſtrate.