SUNDAY HAWKING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 276, 4 November 1933, Page 9

SUNDAY HAWKING

CURIOUS NELSON CASE DO NOT RECOGNISE SABBATH. RELIGIOUS WORKERS FINED. By Telegraph—Press Association. NELSON, Nov. 3. A case with most unusual features came before Mr Maunsell, S.M., today when Frank Butt and Myra Fanny Butt were charged with working at their calling, hawking books for sale, in view of a public place, on Sunday. Both pleaded not guilty. Senior Sergeant Stark said that the defendants were two of a party touring in caravans as the representatives of some religious society. Constable M. Lines stated that the defendant Frank Butt came to his place and displayed a number of books. Defendant said he was not giving the hooks away but asked for a contribution, in return for which he would be given a book. Defendant had asked if witness was not willing to help in the Lord’s work, witness replying that that was not tho point. Ho expressed the opinion that defendant was committing a breach of the law by doing his business on Sunday. Defendant said he did not recognise Sunday which had ended 2000 years ago. On witness saying that he would report the matter, defendant became abusive. The male defendant, in evidence, said that he was a true and sincere believer of Christ and he was a minister of the Gospel. He and others enjoyed their voluntary work for the society he represented. It was their mission to go from home to home to preach the gospel of the kingdom. EARNED NOTHING. The Magistrate: How do you live? Defendant: I have friends who help me. What do you earn ?—I earn ingWhat becomes of the money?—lt is all paid in to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of 114 street, New York. “This is becoming complicated, stated His Worship. “However worthy your motives, you are breaking the law. Why don’t you confine your work to tho other six days? Witness: Sunday is the best day, as men are at home then and it is to them we wish to preach the Gospel. Do you not recognise Sunday?—Yes, of course we do. It is the Sabbath we do not recognise. His Worship said that looking nt the matter from the mundane side they were getting their food, _ etc., from grants from the society in return for their services. “It’s the most extraordinary case I have ever come across,” he added. REFUSAL TO GIVE UNDERTAKING Addressing the senior-sergeant, the Magistrate asked: “Are they humbugs or are they sincere, erroneous as they might be?” Senior-Sergeant Stark's reply was that he considered them sincere. The Magistrate said he did not intend to inflict a penalty, but the defendants must stop their Sunday activities. Asked if they would comply Xvith that suggestion, neither would give the undertaking. “Well, the law must take its course,” said Mr Maunsell. “Im not going to allow you to defy the law.” Defendant: “The law was made for evildoers; we are not evildoers, we are preaching the Gospel as any other minister does on Sunday.” Three times the Magistrate asked if defendants intended to continue to defy the law. On the final opportunity defendant Frank Butt replied: “No.” Both were convicted and fined 10/-, with costs 11/6. Butt: What is the alternative? Mr Maunsell: I’ll fix the alternative now if you wish. If you don t pay the fine I’ll issue a distress warrant on your van. On this intimation the defendants left the Court.