Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1900 — A Virginia Blue Law. [ARTICLE]

A Virginia Blue Law.

The old blue laws of colonial New England were severe enough, but here is one drawn up for the government of the colony of Virginia in 1612, eight years before the Pilgrims lauded at Plymouth Rock: “It is ordained that no man blaspheme God's holy name upon paine of death. That no man speak impiously or maliciously agafhst the holy and blessed Trinitle or against the knowne Articles of the Christian faith, upon paine of death. Every man and woman duty twice a day upon the first towling of the bell shall upon working dayes repalre unto the church to hear divine Service, upon paine of losing his or her daye’s allowance for the first omission, for the second to be whipt, and for the third to be condemned to the Gallies for six Moneths.”