Fined for Hauling Hay

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 11, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 23.

Fined for Hauling Hay.

The Daily Mail of Fredericton, N. B., of May 11 recites that two seventh-day men were haled before the court at Harvey for hauling hay to the station. When the constable who served the summons entered the court room he did it with "a bound, and treated the Presbyterian populace present with a sample of Cork clog-dancing and high kicking, which caused much merriment, some applause, and catchy remarks from several persons, one to the effect, 'This is a great day for us.'" The integrity, good citizenship, and high standing of the men were laid before the court; their work was allowed; but they pleaded that they had obeyed God and observed the Sabbath He taught, and had harmed no one. They only asked the religious liberty granted by the English throne:

"Firmly relying on the truth of Christianity, we declare it to be our royal will and pleasure that none be in any wise favored, none molested or disquieted, by reason of their religious faith or observance."—Queen Victoria.

"It is my constant desire that religious and civil liberty should always be enjoyed by my subjects in all parts of the empire."—King Edward VII, to the Plenary Council of the Roman Catholic Church in Quebec, Canada.

The magistrate would not give the names of the accusers. On account of "the seriousness of the charge," he fined the defendants ten dollars each, in default of payment within six days, their property to be levied on and the amounts forcibly collected; and this for resting and working on the same days that Christ did.