Virginia House of Burgesses (1632) ordinances of Jamestown:
<It is also thought fit, That upon every Sunday the minister shall half an hour or more before evening prayer examine, catechize, and instruct the youth and ignorant persons of his parish, in the Ten Commandments the articles of the belief and in the Lord's prayer; and shall diligently hear, instruct and teach the catechism, set forth in book of common prayer,
And all fathers, mothers, masters and mistresses shall cause their children, servants or apprentices which have not learned the catechism to come to the Church at the time appointed, obediently to hear, and to be ordered by the minister until they have learned the same:
And if any of the said fathers, mothers, masters and mistresses, children, servants or apprentices, shall neglect their duties as the one sort in not causing them to come and the other in refusing to learn as aforesaid, they shall be censured by the courts in those places holden.
And this act to take beginning at Easter next. Ministers shall not give themselves to excess in drinking, or riot, spending their time idly by day or night, playing at dice, cards, or any other unlawful game; but at all times convenient they shall hear or read somewhat of the Holy Scriptures, or shall occupy themselves with some other honest study or exercise, always doing the things which shall appertain to honesty, and endeavor to profit the Church of God, always having in mind that they ought to excel all others in purity of life, and should be examples to the people to live well and Christianly.> 1632VA002
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1632VA002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Virginia Ordinances, 1632, of House of Burgesses, Jamestown.