What Next?

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 29, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 34.

We have at times supposed that the ridiculousness of judicial decisions on Sunday-law matters had been reached, but that of a Canadian magistrate caps the climax. We stated at the time the event occurred that Robert Watt, a farmer of Chatham, Ont., was haled before the magistrate for violation of the Sunday law of Ontario. The law reads, “Be it enacted that no tradesman, artificer, workman, laborer, or other person whatsoever, shall do or exercise any worldly labor, business, or work of their ordinary calling on the Lord’s day,” etc. Hitherto the courts have held that the expression “any person whatsoever” applied only to those classes named in the law,—tradesman, artificer, workman, laborer,—and that these did not include farmers. Therefore Mr. Watt, a Sabbath-keeper, was set at liberty. But on August 9 Mr. Matheson, Mr. Watt’s hired man, who is also a Sabbath-keeper, was cited to appear before the magistrate on the Sabbath. Of course Mr. Matheson could not go that day, and told the magistrate the reason. Tuesday following he was taken on a warrant. At the trial it was very clearly shown, and acknowledged by the magistrate and crown lawyer, that the seventh day, not Sunday, was the Sabbath. They also acknowledged that the law was in the interests of religion. The case, however, was decided over the term “laborer,” the magistrate believing that it applied to farm hands. In such case it would be lawful for one man to work on Sunday, while for another at his side doing the same work it would be unlawful! Mr. Matheson goes to jail for thirty days. These facts are furnished us by Elders A. O. Burrill and W. H. Spear. It is a good commentary on the “consistency” of Sunday laws.