RELIGIOUS ADVANCE.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES-ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES— INSTRUCTION IN JAILS-SUNDAY LAW.

ALMOST no development in religious matters, as related to the laws, is found in the ten years from 1878 to 1887. So large has been the opportunity already granted that the pressure of religious wants against legal religious possibilities has scarcely been felt. The most notable change is that which concerns the growth of the Orthodox Congregational churches. The historic organization has been twofold-the church and the parish. But latterly has been developed the policy of abolishing the parish entirely and of making the church the sole organization. At first this policy was introduced by the incorporation of churches separately by special enactment. Thus there were incorporated the Broadway Congregational Church in Somerville (1883, c. 269), the Highland Congregational in Lowell (1884, c. 202), the Orthodox Congregational in Ashby (1885, c. 177), the Union Congregational in Wrentham (1886, c. 56), the Central Congregational in Chelmsford (1886, c. 249), and the First Congrega

tional in Ayer (1887, c. 359). Near the end of the session, in 1887 (c. 404), came the general law, whose first sentence is: "Any church now existing or that may be hereafter organized in this Commonwealth, may be incorporated according to the provisions of this act." This provides a uniform method for the incorporation of churches, and marks a radical departure in church history. Church members only can be members of the corporation, and the historic parish is wiped out in every church so incorporated.

A general law for the formation of religious societies (1880, c. 21) provides the method by which ten or more persons, male or female, in the state, may become a corporation, with the powers and duties of religious societies previously recognized. A method for the incorporation of Roman Catholic churches has also been provided (1879, c. 108), by which any such church may be incorporated. The archbishop or bishop of the diocese, the vicar general of the diocese and the pastor of the church, respectively, or a majority of them, and two laymen, members of the church, may be incorporated as members of the church, with the powers usual in such cases.

The law giving religious freedom to prisoners in jails and houses of correction has been extended to inmates of public charitable and reformatory institutions (1879, c. 158), but the inmates of all public

institutions may be required to assemble in the chapel for such "general religious instruction, including the reading of the Bible, as the board having charge of the institution may deem wise and expedient."

"All religious societies shall be exempt from obtaining a license required by the laws of this Commonwealth for public entertainments, provided said entertainments are for a religious or charitable purpose" (1880, c. 188).

The law for an annual election sermon before each new state government has been repealed (1884, c. 60).

Churches and religious societies may appoint not over five trustees, who may be incorporated and hold funds in trust (1884, c. 60).

In 1887 was made a thorough revision of the Sunday law, showing how far the sentiment of the state had changed as regards Sunday observance. The whole affair grew out of the labor agitation of the times. Certain barbers objected to shaving on Sunday, and had recourse to the old Sunday law, which had fallen into gradual disuse, to enforce their position. The law was clear, and there was no course for the courts but to convict upon the evidence presented. Upon the announcement of the decision of the supreme court, to which the test case had been appealed, the police commissioners of Boston ordered the old law to be enforced in regard to barber shops, sales of Sunday newspapers by news-dealers, and other similar matters.

Thus the matter at once became of vital interest to the whole community, and the revision of the Sunday code by the legislature was made the subject of much agitation. Finally an agreement was reached, and the things formerly prohibited, but now permitted, appear chiefly in this list (1887, c. 391):

-"but nothing in this section shall be held to prohibit the manufacture and distribution of steam, gas or electricity for illuminating purposes, heat or motive power, nor the distribution of water for fire or domestic purposes, nor the use of the telegraph or the telephone, nor the retail sale of drugs and medicines, nor articles ordered by the prescription of a physician, nor mechanical appliances used by physicians or surgeons, nor the letting of horses and carriages, nor the letting of yachts and boats, nor the running of steam ferryboats on established routes, of street railway cars, nor the preparation, printing and publishing of newspapers, nor the sale and delivery of newspapers, nor the retail sale and delivery of milk, nor the transportation of milk, nor the making of butter and cheese, nor the keeping open of public bath houses, nor the making or selling by bakers or their employees of bread or other food usually dealt in by them before ten of the clock in the morning and between the hours of four of the clock and half-past six of the clock in the evening.”

The prohibition of unlicensed games, sports, plays or public diversions upon Saturday evenings is also removed, as is the prohibition of Sunday travel. The railroad commissioners are authorized to allow the running of such steamboat lines and of such railroad trains on Sunday as, "in the opinion of the board, the public necessity and convenience may require, having regard to the due observance of the day."

PUBLIC MORALS.

BETTING AND GAMING-LOTTERIES-ILLUSTRATIONS OF CRIME -OPIUM-CHILDREN AT PUBLIC SHOWS-GAMBLING DENS—

DIVORCES.

IN no degree have the laws for the punishment of offences against good morals been relaxed, but the record of the ten years shows that the state is ever vigilant to suppress what it believes tends to the injury of its citizens. In 1878 (c. 165) the registering of bets and wagers and the buying and selling of pools "upon the result of any trial or contest of skill, speed or endurance of man, beast, bird or machine; or upon the result of any game or competition; or upon the result of any political nomination, appointment or election,” or being in any way concerned with such practices, even as owner or lessee of the property where they occurred, were made punishable by a fine up to two thousand dollars, or by a year's imprisonment, or both fine and imprisonment.

Pigeon shooting for amusement or as a test of skill in marksmanship, not including wild game, is punishable (1879, c. 187) by fifty dollars' fine and thirty days'