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SAMUEL STEVENS, Jr. ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR:

Dec. Ses. 1824

on receiving; such information and warning, shall forthwith cease
to offend against the provisions of this act, and shall remove as
aforesaid at least two miles from such place of religious worship,
then no further proceedings under this act shall be had against
such person or persons; but if such person or persons shall refuse
or neglect immediately to remove as aforesaid, when informed and
warned as aforesaid, then on conviction thereof before a magis-
trate of the county in which the offence shall or may be committed,
all such spirituous liquors, wine, porter, beer, cider, and other fer-
mented, mixed, or strong drink, and other articles of traffic, and all
the vessels, chests, and other things containing the same, belong-
ing to, or in the possession of the person or persons so offending,
together with such booth, stall, tent, carriage, boat, vessel, vehicle,
or other contrivance or thing prepared and used for the purposes
aforesaid, shall be, and are hereby declared to be forfeited, and it
shall be lawful for any justice of the peace and constable, with
two or mart freeholders of the county in which such offence shall
or may be committed, to seize and take possession of all or any
part of the said forfeited property; and at any time within ten days
thereafter, to advertise and sell the same, and after deducting and
paying the necessary expenses attending such seizure and sale, shall
pay over to the county collector for the use of the levy court of
such county the residue of the proceeds of such sale or sales.

Exceptions.

3. And be it enacted, That nothing in this act contained, shall be
taken or construed so as to effect; any licensed tavern keeper, in his
or her ordinary and lawful business, at his or her usual place of
residence, nor shall it be so taken and construed as to effect any
merchant, shopkeeper, farmer, mechanic, or other person in the
usual and lawful transactions of his, her or their ordinary con-
cerns, dealings and business, in their usual places of transacting
or carrying on such, business; nor shall it be so taken, construed,
or understood, as to prevent any persons who may have permission
or authority in writing to that effect, from the person or persons
having the oversight, charge and management of such meeting,
from selling bread and other necessary articles of food for man
and beast, such person or persons conforming to the lawful rules
and regulations of such meeting, and to the spirit and meaning of
the permission or authority so as aforesaid to be given in writing.

Persons sued
may plead.

4. And be it enacted, That if any suit or action shall be insti-
tuted against any person or persons for or on account of the seizure
or sale of any goods or effects under authority of this act, or for
doing or causing to be done, or aiding or assisting in doing any
thing in pursuance of this act, according to the provisions thereof,
the defendant or defendants may plead the general issue, and give
the special matter under this act in evidence.

Penalty for
disturbing a
meeting.

5. And be it enacted, That from and after the passage of this act,
if any person or persons shall disturb any congregation, society,
or meeting assembled for the purpose of religious worship, by
blowing horns or trumpets, firing guns, or by any riotous or disor-
derly conduct or conversation, or by any other means, with intent
to interrupt or disturb the worship, devotion or exercises of such
congregation, society or meeting, or of any of the persons attending
such meeting, he or they, on conviction before any two justices of