ic 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.

* * * * *

In 1829 a futile attempt was made to put a stop to the delivery of Sunday
mails, one result of which was the holding of a number of public meetings
in Salem, the reports of which we take from the papers.

Meetings were also held in Boston and New York.

PUBLIC MEETING.

At a very numerous and respectable meeting of the citizens of
Salem, "_opposed to Legislative interference in respect to the
religious observances of Sunday_," held at the Town Hall, Dec.
27, 1828, PERLEY PUTNAM, Esq., was called to the chair, and Dr.
BENJAMIN KITTREDGE, appointed Secretary.--The object of the
meeting having been stated by the Chairman, it was

_Voted_, That Messrs. George Cleveland, Leverett Saltonstall,
Stephen C. Phillips, John W. Treadwell, Perley Putnam, Nath'l
West, jun., Franklin H. Story, John Crowninshield, Jos. G.
Waters, Charles A. Andrew, David Pingree, and David A. Neal, be a
committee[2] to consider and report at an adjournment of the
meeting, what measures it is expedient to take for the purpose of
carrying into effect the objects of the meeting.

The meeting was then adjourned for one week.

[2] The committee appointed consisted of Episcopalians, Unitarians, and
Universalists.

* * * * *

At the adjourned meeting on Saturday evening Jan. 3, 1829, the
Committee reported the following Resolutions, which were
unanim