Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-10-22
MAY WORSHIP ANY
DAY THEY CHOOSE
Members of Seventh-Day
Adventist Faith Are
Given Free Rein.
THE COURT DECIDES
Must Not Interfere or In
terrupt Worship of Other
Persons on Sunday.

Spooiai 20 The Worli.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 21.-Mem-
bers OF the Seventh Day Adventist
faith in Oklahoma shall not be inter>
fcred with or molested in their OBJ
servance of the seventh day of the
week as their holy time, or worship
day, provided their work on the first
day of the week does not interrupt or
interfere with the worship of those
who observe the first day OF the week
as holy time, is the decision of the
criminal court Of appeals recently.
This is the first time the high court
has construed the statutes bearing on
this question, and is important be-
cause there are great many members
of the Seventh Day Adventist faith in
the state.
c. j. and Isaac Krieger, members of
the Seventh Day Adventist faith in
Blaine county, were prosecuted in the
county court there for working on the
first day of the week, which is the
worship day, or day of rest, commonly
known as Sunday. 1t was conceded
that the defendants did not interfere
with or interrupt other people in the
observance of the first day of the
week. 1t was merely a case TO test
the statutes. They were convicted and
fined An appeal was taken to the
criminal court OF appeals. Justice
Brett wrote the opinion.
The decision, which is considered of
more than ordinary import, says in
part:
Need One Day of Rest.
"Our sabbath law proceeds upon tho
theory, entertained by most OF those
who have investigated the subject,
that the physical, intellectual and
moral welfare of mankind requires n
periodical day of rest from labor, and,
as some particular day must be fixed.
the one most naturally selected is that
which is regarded as sacred by the
greatest number of citizens, and which
by custom is generally devoted to re-
lgious worship, or rest and recreation,
as this causes the least interference
with business or existing customs.
"Our legislature has wisely and
properly. however, refrained from In
terfering with or coorcing the con-
science OF those who uniformly, con-
scientiously and religiously keep an
other than the first day OF tho week
as holy time by exempting them from
the penalties Of the law: providing
they work on the first day OF the week
in such a manner az not TO interrupt
or disturb other pcrsons I'm observing
the first day OF the week as holy time.
Courts which hold that TO require
sabbatarians 70 keep our Sunday does
not prevent them from also keeping
fhe seventh day, overlook the fact that
under the divine commandment, that
those people are striving TO obey. II Is
ao imperative that they work six days
az that they rest on the seventh. And
that. II their conscience compels them
to rest one day. and the law also forces
them to rest another. they Will thus
be forced to violate the first provision
of the commandment they are con-
scientiously attempting TO keep"
The opSnion Of the court holds that
where the legislature referred TO
"serVile labor that 1t meant secular
labor.
ENcmpts Worshipcrs.
"But our legislature. we think.
wisely and properly by the provisions
Of section 2.40C. revised laws 1910
exempted anyone who uniformly
keeps another day of the week as
holy time. and does not labor upon
that day.' from the penalties of this
statute; provided. such person who
uniformly and religiously keeps an