SUNDAY LAWS IN MISSOURI.
By D. C. Hunter
In answer to inquiries about the Sunday law in Missouri, I would say, I find that the last legislature amended sec. 32, chap. 8, Wagner’s Statute, making the Sunday law more strict; but there is no change in sec. 33 of the same statute, which exempts all those that belong to a religious body which keeps some other day for the Sabbath, but the person must conscientiously keep some day for a Sabbath. The evidence required is that the person belongs to an organized church; proof, the church record or the sworn certificate of the clerk of the church. The proof that the church keeps some other than the first day of the week is their articles of faith, discipline, or published writings. It is necessary for all Sabbath-keepers that labor on Sunday to belong to some organized church, or they will be subject to indictment. Each church should have a competent clerk, and he should keep a good, legible record, giving the date of organization, and the name and date of receiving each member; also the dates of dismissal, deaths, marriages, etc. This record may be called for as evidence in court, and it should be properly kept to be received as such. Many of our churches are too careless in this matter, and may get our people into trouble. There are many Sabbath-keepers who neglect attaching themselves to a church, and yet work on Sunday. They do not intentionally violate the law, but they have no competent evidence to prove their religious belief; and we should try to conform to the law so long as we can without violating the law of God.