Progress of Persecution in Pennsylvania.

Week before last we announced, that three persons, connected with the German Seventh-day Baptists at Snowhill, had been convicted of working on Sunday, and were expecting to go to jail therefor. We have since learned that they were taken to the county jail, imprisoned six days, and discharged. This was for gathering in grain on a Sunday during harvest, when it was suffering very much from the heavy rains. Had they been nominal observers of Sunday, they might possibly have been acquitted on the plea of necessity, as provided in the Act of 1794. But they were connected with a Society which observes the Sabbath, and denies the claim of the first day to be the Sabbath; hence the law is enforced in all its rigour, and these three men have paid the penalty of its violation by suffering imprisonment six days.

Two of the persons alluded to above, are included in the number whom we have already mentioned as having been informed against for picking apples on Sunday. Judgment has been rendered against them, and they are expecting soon to be taken to jail again.

We are farther informed, that since the decision of the Supreme Court, the fire of persecution has broken out at Morrison’s Cove in Bedford County. Several cases have been appealed to the County Court, where they remain undecided.

Under such circumstances, our German friends are determined again to apply to the Legislature for relief, and have confident expectations of obtaining it. There is, however, some difference of opinion among them, as to the best form of petition—whether to ask for the abolition of the law under which they are persecuted, or to ask simply for protection on their own premises. Our opinion is, that they are doing <<467>>more for the cause of truth about these days than they ever were before, and that they ought not, from a desire of speedy relief, to be induced to take up with a partial recognition of their rights. While doing so much to enlighten and arouse the public mind, they can very well afford to suffer some temporary inconvenience. In due time, and that not far distant, their rights will be fully acknowledged, and they honoured for maintaining them. But of this more anon.—Sabbath Recorder.