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370 HISTORY OF MARYLAND.
religion contrary to their inclinations, it was enacted, that if any such
parent refused a proper support to his Protestant child, then the governor
or keeper of the great seal had power to make such order therein as suited
the intent of the act; in other words, was at liberty to deprive a father of the
earnings of his labor, for the sake of promoting the orthodoxy of his child."
"Little comment," adds Dr. Hawks, "is here necessary. The enactment
enforced a gross violation of the best feelings of human nature; it forbade a
parent to fulfill the first duty which he owed to his offspring, that of instruction; and dissolving the filial obligations, offered to a wayward child a
premium for youthful hypocrisy. He who can speak of such a law in any
terms but those of indignant reprobation, deserves himself to endure all its
penalties."1 A subsequent provision of another law passed this year (1704)
with more generosity, permitted a priest to officiate in a private family of the
Eoman Catholic communion, but in no other. Out of this privilege grew a
custom of providing chapels, under the same roof, and connected with, the
dwelling of some Eoman Catholic family.2
In 1715, with tyranny still more atrocious, it was enacted, that the children
of a Protestant father might be taken from a Papist mother, and placed
where they might be securely educated in the Protestant religion. In 1718,
Catholics were rendered incapable of giving a vote in any election of delegates
without having renounced their faith by taking the test oath. The fourth
chapter of the same year repeals all former legislation against the growth of
Popery, but adopts the full measure of English severity in the statute of
11th and 12th, William III.8
After such acts, whose recital may well make the Marylander of the
present day blush with indignant shame at the deeds of his predecessors, one
turns with almost a feeling of amusement to the policy pursued by our
earlier legislators with respect to the Irish Catholics. In 1704, an import of
twenty shillings per poll was laid on all negroes and Irish Papists imported
into the province, while Irish Protestants were admitted duty free. A later
1 Rise and Progress of the Protestant Episcopal offence should " suffer death without benefit of
Church in Maryland, p. 126. clergy." This law was not repealed until 1820.
2 As in the old residence of Charles Carroll, The number of Catholics in the province in
of Carrollton, at Annapolis, and Doughoregan 1708 was 2,974, as appears by the subjoined
manor, Howard county. list, sent out by Governor Seymour:
3 By an act of the Assembly passed in 1723, it " A list of the number of Papists inhabiting
was provided: That a person convicted "of in the several counties of this province, as taken
wittingly, maliciously and advisedly, by writing by the respective sheriffs, Anno Domini 1708,
or speaking, blaspheming or cursing God, or of viz: In Anne Arundel county, 161; in Balti-
denying our Saviour Jesus Christ to be the Son more county, 53 ; in Calvert county, 48; in
of God, or denying the Holy Trinity, or the Prince George's county, 248; in Charles county,
Godhead of any of the Three Persons, or the 709; in St. Mary's county, 1,238; in Cecil
unity of the Godhead, or of uttering any pro- county, 49; in Kent county, 40; in Queen
fane words concerning the Godhead," should Anne's county, 179; in Talbot county, 89; in
for the first offence be bored through the tongue Dorchester county, 79; in Somerset county,
and fined £20, or if unable to pay the fine, be 81. In all, 2,974." (London Public Record
imprisoned six months; for the second offence, Office, Maryland, B. T., Red, No. 4, H., p. 79.)
should be branded in the forehead with the let- The whole population of the province at this
ter B and fined £40, or if too poor to pay it, be time was over 40,000.
imprisoned twelve months; and for the third
| Title | History of Maryland - 1 |
| Creator | Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas) |
| Publisher | J. B. Piet |
| Place of Publication | Baltimore |
| Date | 1879 |
| Language | eng |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Title | 00000397 |
| Type | Books/Pamphlets |
| Transcript | 370 HISTORY OF MARYLAND. religion contrary to their inclinations, it was enacted, that if any such parent refused a proper support to his Protestant child, then the governor or keeper of the great seal had power to make such order therein as suited the intent of the act; in other words, was at liberty to deprive a father of the earnings of his labor, for the sake of promoting the orthodoxy of his child." "Little comment," adds Dr. Hawks, "is here necessary. The enactment enforced a gross violation of the best feelings of human nature; it forbade a parent to fulfill the first duty which he owed to his offspring, that of instruction; and dissolving the filial obligations, offered to a wayward child a premium for youthful hypocrisy. He who can speak of such a law in any terms but those of indignant reprobation, deserves himself to endure all its penalties."1 A subsequent provision of another law passed this year (1704) with more generosity, permitted a priest to officiate in a private family of the Eoman Catholic communion, but in no other. Out of this privilege grew a custom of providing chapels, under the same roof, and connected with, the dwelling of some Eoman Catholic family.2 In 1715, with tyranny still more atrocious, it was enacted, that the children of a Protestant father might be taken from a Papist mother, and placed where they might be securely educated in the Protestant religion. In 1718, Catholics were rendered incapable of giving a vote in any election of delegates without having renounced their faith by taking the test oath. The fourth chapter of the same year repeals all former legislation against the growth of Popery, but adopts the full measure of English severity in the statute of 11th and 12th, William III.8 After such acts, whose recital may well make the Marylander of the present day blush with indignant shame at the deeds of his predecessors, one turns with almost a feeling of amusement to the policy pursued by our earlier legislators with respect to the Irish Catholics. In 1704, an import of twenty shillings per poll was laid on all negroes and Irish Papists imported into the province, while Irish Protestants were admitted duty free. A later 1 Rise and Progress of the Protestant Episcopal offence should " suffer death without benefit of Church in Maryland, p. 126. clergy." This law was not repealed until 1820. 2 As in the old residence of Charles Carroll, The number of Catholics in the province in of Carrollton, at Annapolis, and Doughoregan 1708 was 2,974, as appears by the subjoined manor, Howard county. list, sent out by Governor Seymour: 3 By an act of the Assembly passed in 1723, it " A list of the number of Papists inhabiting was provided: That a person convicted "of in the several counties of this province, as taken wittingly, maliciously and advisedly, by writing by the respective sheriffs, Anno Domini 1708, or speaking, blaspheming or cursing God, or of viz: In Anne Arundel county, 161; in Balti- denying our Saviour Jesus Christ to be the Son more county, 53 ; in Calvert county, 48; in of God, or denying the Holy Trinity, or the Prince George's county, 248; in Charles county, Godhead of any of the Three Persons, or the 709; in St. Mary's county, 1,238; in Cecil unity of the Godhead, or of uttering any pro- county, 49; in Kent county, 40; in Queen fane words concerning the Godhead," should Anne's county, 179; in Talbot county, 89; in for the first offence be bored through the tongue Dorchester county, 79; in Somerset county, and fined £20, or if unable to pay the fine, be 81. In all, 2,974." (London Public Record imprisoned six months; for the second offence, Office, Maryland, B. T., Red, No. 4, H., p. 79.) should be branded in the forehead with the let- The whole population of the province at this ter B and fined £40, or if too poor to pay it, be time was over 40,000. imprisoned twelve months; and for the third |
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