ITINERANT PREACHERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22102, 4 November 1933, Page 16

ITINERANT PREACHERS

SUNDAY ACTIVITIES i UNUSUAL COURT CASE. (Peb United Peess Association.) NELSON, November 3. A case with unusual features came.before Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., to-day 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 a Sunday. Both pleaded not guilty. Senior Sergeant Stark said that the defendants were two of a party touring in caravans. They were representatives of some religious society. Constable M. Lines stated that the defendant, Frank Butt, came to his i place’ and displayed a number of books. The> defendant said he was not giving the books away, but asked for a contribution in return for which he would be given a book. The defendant had asked if witness was not willing to help in the Lord’s work, witness replying that that was not the point. He expressed the opinion that the defendant was committing a breach of tbg law by doing his business on a Sunday. The defendant said he did not recognise Sunday, which had ended 2000years ago. On witness saying that he. would report the matter the defendant'' became abusive. The male defendant in evidence said he was a true and sincere believer of j Christ. He was a minister of the gospel and he and others enjoyed their voluntary work for the society he represented. It was their mission to go from home to home and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom.

The magistrate: How do you live?— I have friends who help me. What do-you earn?—l earn nothing. What becomes of the money?—lt is all paid into the Watchtower Bible and •Tract Society, of 114 Street, New York. The magistrate: This is becoming complicated. However worthy your motives’ you are breaking the law. Why don’t you confine your, work to the other six days?—Sunday is the best day as the' 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 at the matter from the mundane side they .were getting their food, etc., from grants from the society in return for their services. “It is the most extraordinary case I’ve ever come across.”

Addressing.the sergeant, the magistrateasked, “Are they humbugs or are they sincere, erroneous as they might be?" ' , Sergeant Stark’s reply was that he considered they were 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, with that suggestion neither would give an undertaking. •

■ Well, the law ’.must take its course,” said Mr. Maunsell. f “ I’m not going to allow you to defy the;law.” > >•' , '5. . The defendant: The law was made fpr evil-doers. We are not evil-doers. Wears preaching the Gospel as any other, minister does on Sunday. Three’ times the/magistrate , asked <’ifthe defendants intended -to 'continue to defy the law. On the final opportunity the defendant Ftank Butt replied" “No.” 1 Both were convicted and fined 10s andcosts (11s 6d). The defendant Frank Butt: Whet is' the alternative? ! ; Vs-. -/ ;

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.