The Clergyman's Hand-book of Law: The Law of Church and GraveScanlan, Charles Martin
Religion
The Clergyman's Hand-book of Law: The Law of Church and Grave
Scanlan, Charles Martin
Burial laws -- United States; Ecclesiastical law -- United States
*407.* _Profanity, Proof, Excuse._—The profanity must be in the hearing of
some person.(725) Every time a person profanely swears by taking the name
of God in vain is a separate offense.(726) The prisoner’s confession is
sufficient proof; otherwise the prosecution must show that the offense was
committed and some one heard the words.
Drunkenness is no excuse.(727) Punishment by fine or imprisonment is not
in violation of the constitution of the State or of the United
States.(728)
*408.* _Sunday, Business, Fishing._—The offenses against the Sunday law
are so numerous that it would be almost impossible to review them within
the limits of this work. Of course, the carrying on of a man’s ordinary
business is a violation of the Sabbath laws. But in some States selling
cigars,(729) a butcher selling meat,(730) and even selling soda
water,(731) and ice cream,(732) as well as fishing, traveling, driving,
using a slot machine,(733) and almost every other imaginable act excepting
going to church, has at some time and in some State been declared a
violation of the law, and a penalty imposed therefor.
In California,(734) Tennessee,(735) and Washington,(736) men may be shaved
on Sunday. In some other States it has been held that running a barber
shop on Sunday is a violation of the law.(737)
*409.* _Charity, Necessity, Benefit, Pleasure._—However, doing works of
charity and works of necessity usually are exempt. What is a work of
necessity is a question of law. Charity includes whatever proceeds from
the sense of moral duty or a feeling of kindness and humanity, and is
intended wholly for the purpose of the relief or comfort of another, and
not for one’s benefit or pleasure.(738)
*410.* _Contracts, Marriage, Notice._—The common law made no distinction
between Sunday and any other day as to making contracts, but it prohibited
holding court. In this country the statutory law invariably prohibits any
but works of necessity or charity to be done on Sunday. But marriage
settlements,(739) publication of statutory notices on Sunday,(740) and
promises to marry, have been held legal.(741)
*411.* _Funeral, Physician, Subscriptions._—To attend a funeral, to employ
an undertaker, or a physician, on Sunday, has been tested in the courts,
and finally decided to be works of necessity or charity and not a
violation of the Sunday law. Also, subscriptions made for church purposes
and in works of charity on Sunday have been held legal and binding.(742)
*412.* _Jews, Seventh-Day Observers._—In several of the States it has been
held that Jews and Seventh-Day observers of the Sabbath must obey the
Sunday law.(743) However, in many States there is a statute expressly
exempting people who keep the seventh day of the week; but still they
sometimes have a provision, unless “he shall wilfully disturb thereby some
other person or some religious assembly on said day.”
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