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Story
July 18, 1857
The Cecil Whig
Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland
What is this article about?
A correspondent reports an unrepealed 1723 Maryland Provincial Assembly law punishing blasphemy and denial of Christian doctrines: first offense bores the tongue and fines 20 pounds; second brands 'B' on forehead and fines 40 pounds; third results in death without clergy.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
An Old Law.
A correspondent of the New York Tribune, writing from Elkton, Maryland, gives the annexed portion of a law, passed by the Provincial Assembly of this State, in 1723, which still remains unrepealed upon the statute books:-
"If any person shall hereafter, within this Province, wittingly, maliciously and advisedly by writing or speaking, blaspheme or curse God, or deny our Saviour Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, or shall deny the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, or the Godhead, or shall utter any profane words concerning the Holy Trinity or any of the persons thereof, and shall be thereof convicted, by verdict or confession, shall for the first offense be bored through the tongue and fined twenty pounds:
for the second offense, shall be stigmatized by burning on the forehead with the letter B, and fined forty pounds:
and for the third offense shall suffer death without the benefit of clergy."
A correspondent of the New York Tribune, writing from Elkton, Maryland, gives the annexed portion of a law, passed by the Provincial Assembly of this State, in 1723, which still remains unrepealed upon the statute books:-
"If any person shall hereafter, within this Province, wittingly, maliciously and advisedly by writing or speaking, blaspheme or curse God, or deny our Saviour Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, or shall deny the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, or the Godhead, or shall utter any profane words concerning the Holy Trinity or any of the persons thereof, and shall be thereof convicted, by verdict or confession, shall for the first offense be bored through the tongue and fined twenty pounds:
for the second offense, shall be stigmatized by burning on the forehead with the letter B, and fined forty pounds:
and for the third offense shall suffer death without the benefit of clergy."
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Blasphemy Law
Maryland 1723
Provincial Assembly
Religious Punishment
Where did it happen?
Maryland Province
Story Details
Location
Maryland Province
Event Date
1723
Story Details
Law passed in 1723 by Maryland Provincial Assembly punishing blasphemy: first offense - bored tongue and 20 pounds fine; second - branded 'B' on forehead and 40 pounds fine; third - death without benefit of clergy. Remains unrepealed.