The Meaning of Exemption Clauses
WHEN objection is made to proposed Sunday laws, the answer is often returned that an exemption clause has been inserted for those who observe another day. This seems to be regarded by Sunday-law advocates as all that could be asked for by those who keep the Sabbath of the Bible. The true meaning of these exemption clauses has been well stated by the Sabbath Recorder, from which we take the following editorial note:— The Recorder has frequently called attention to the fact that few things more clearly establish the religious character of Sunday legislation than the exemptions which are made in favor of persons who “religiously” observe another day of the week. Such exemptions show that the religious observance of one day of the week is the object and intent of the legislation. From a compilation of the laws of the States of the Union relating to the observance of the Sabbath recently issued by the Massachusetts Bureau of Statistics of Labor, the American Hebrew of New York learns that “the laws exempting those persons from the provisions of the Sunday labor law who conscientiously believe the seventh day of the week to be the Sabbath, and who uniformly observe such day by refraining from labor, are quite general.” Such exemptions are made in Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The exemptions are also requirements demanding that those claiming the provisions must “conscientiously believe”6that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and must “actually refrain from secular business” on that day. Such provisions do not meet the demands of Christianity for liberty of conscience and freedom in obedience, and they do establish beyond controversy the fact that Sunday legislation is religious in origin and purpose. Reduced to lowest terms, the law requires a religious observance of either the Sabbath or Sunday, although the laws are inoperative and self-contradicting.