“1672.

“Nathaniel Ingerson is allowed to sell beer and syder by the
quart, for the tyme whyle the farmers are a building of their
meeting-house, and on Lord’s days afterwards.”

Salem Observer, July 14, 1827.

* * * * *

The interest, which is now felt in the subject of the Sabbath, renders the following article, respecting the curiosity of Le Sage, worthy the attention of the reader.  It was extracted from a review of Le Sage, published in Scotland about twelve years ago.

“At the time we are now speaking of the Sabbath was observed at Geneva, with a gloom and austerity of which we, in Scotland can probably form a more correct notion than the inhabitants of any other country in Christendom.  Le Sage felt some curiosity to know whether the author of Nature still continued to impose on himself the same law that originally marked the institution of the day of rest.  It would have puzzled the first philosopher in Europe to think of any method by which this question could be brought to the decision of experiment:  but the ingenuity of our young enquirer soon suggested an experiment.—­He measured, with great care, the increase of a plant day after day, in order to discover whether it would cease growing on the Sabbath.  The result could not fail to solve the difficulty, and to convince the young man, that though the work of Creation might terminate, the work of Providence is never interrupted.”

Salem Observer, 1829.

* * * * *

Sunday in Salem in 1838.

SALEM AND THE SABBATH.

On our way to church in the quiet city of Salem recently, a stranger overtook us, and inquired where the Rev. Mr. W——­ was to preach that morning?  We answered that we were going to his church, and would show him a seat.  For which he expressed his thanks and immediately remarked, that he had travelled recently nearly over all our country, and nowhere had he witnessed such entire abandonment of all secular avocations on the Sabbath.  It seemed like a different country, and made him feel the significance of the name of that ancient town—­Salem, City of Peace.—­Christian (Boston) Monitor.

Fifty years ago hardly any one thought of absenting himself or herself from public worship.  People went to church as a matter of course, partly from a sense of duty, and partly from habit; and this is still the case to some extent.  The majority of thoughtful persons of all religious persuasions are agreed upon one point, and that is, it is desirable to have Sunday set apart as a day of rest and change from the ordinary cares and business of life.  From a sanitary point of view this rest is no doubt of the highest importance.  All people, moreover, who desire to have quiet for religious worship should at least not be disturbed.  Public opinion ought to be protection enough; but unfortunately it might not be, so that laws to such an extent as is necessary for this purpose should be in force.  But the idea entertained by certain fanatics, that no one should walk or ride for health and recreation, or even engage in any innocent occupation, on Sunday, is so absurd as not to deserve a moment’s consideration.