AN ABSTRACT

OF THE

Act of the General Assembly of Pennsylvania,

RESPECTING

VICE AND IMMORALITY.

[PASSED APRIL 22, 1794.]

IF

Sect. 1. any person shall do and perform any worldly employment or business whatsoever on the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, works of necessity and charity only excepted, or shall use or practice any unlawful game, hunting, shooting, sport or diversion whatsoever, on the same day, and be convicted thereof, every such person, so offending, shall, for every such offence, forfeit and pay four dollars, to be levied by distress; or in case he or she shall refuse or neglect to pay the said sum, or goods and chat

tles cannot be found whereof to levy the same by distress, he or she shall suffer six days imprisonment in the house of correction of the proper county: Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to prohibit the dressing of victuals in private families, bakehouses, lodging-houses, inns, and other houses of entertainment, for the use of sojourners, travellers or strangers, or to hinder watermen from landing their passengers, or ferrymen from carrying over the water travellers, or persons removing with their families, on the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, nor to the delivery of milk, or the necessaries of life, before nine of the clock in the forenoon, nor after five of the clock in the afternoon, of the same day.

Sect. 2. If any person of the age of sixteen years, or upwards, shall profanely curse or swear by the name of GOD, CHRIST JESUS, or the HOLY GHOST, every person so offending, being thereof convicted, shall forfeit and pay the sum of sixty-seven cents, for every such profane curse or oath; and in case he or she shall refuse or neglect to pay the said for feiture, or goods and chattles cannot be found,

whereof to levy the same by distress, he or she shall be committed to the house of correction, of the proper county, not exceeding twenty-four hours, for every such offence of which such persons shall be convicted; and whosoever, of the age of sixteen years, or upwards, shall curse or swear by any other name or thing than as aforesaid, and shall be convicted thereof, shall forfeit and pay the sum of forty cents for every such curse or oath ; and and in case such offenders shall neglect or refuse to satisfy such forfeiture, or no goods or chattles can be found, whereof to levy the same by distress, he or she shall be committed to the house of correction, of the proper county, not exceeding twelve hours for every such offence..

Sect. 3. If any person shall intoxicate him or herself, by the excessive drinking of spirituous, vinous or other strong liquors, and shall be convicted. thereof, he or she shall forfeit and pay the sum of sixty-seven cents for every such offence; or if such person shall refuse or neglect to satisfy the said forfeiture, or goods and chattles cannot be found, whereof to levy the same by distress, he or she shall be

committed to the house of correction, of the proper county, not exceeding twenty-four hours for every such offence.

Sect. 4. The justices of the supreme court, severally, throughout this state, every president of the courts of common pleas, within his district, every associate judge of the courts of common pleas, and every justice of the peace, within his proper county, the mayor and aldermen of the city of Philadelphia, and each of them, within the limits of the said city, and each burgess of a town corporate, within his borough, are hereby empowered, authorised, and required, to proceed against and punish all persons offending against this act, and every person who shall profane the Lord's Day, or who shall profanely curse or swear, or who shall intoxicate him or herself, as mentioned in the next preceding section of this act; and for that purpose, each of the said justices or magistrates, severally, may, and shall convict such offenders, upon his own view and hearing, or shall issue, if need be, warrant, summons, or capias (according to the circumstances of the case) to bring the body of the person accused as aforesaid be

fore him; and the same justices and magistrates, respectively, shall, in a summary way, enquire into the truth of the accusation, and, upon the testimony of one or more creditable witnesses, or the confession of the party, shall convict the person who shall be guilty as aforesaid, and thereupon shall proceed to pronounce the forfeiture incurred by the person so convicted, as herein before directed; and if the person so convicted refuse or neglect to satisfy such forfeiture immediately, with costs, or produce goods, and chattles, whereon to levy the said forfeiture, together with costs, then the said justices or magistrates shall commit the offender, without bail or mainprize, to the house of correction, of the county wherein the offence shall be committed, during such time as is herein before directed, there to be fed upon bread and water only, and to be kept at hard labour; and if such commitment shall be in any county, wherein no distinct house of correction hath been erected, then the offender shall be committed to the common gaol of the county, to be therein fed, and kept at hard labour, as aforesaid; and every such conviction may be in the fol