#blue laws

A long gone tradition.                                           SUNDAY DRIVES There existed a tradition back years ago that has not survived to the present, at least not to the extent that it existed back then – the Sunday drive.  With today’s complex society and fast-paced lifestyles, to say nothing of gas prices, no one just drives for the sake of driving, unless you’re a teenager with a…

But you can buy a gun on Sunday?

Make that one make sense

The concept of the Sabbath—or a recurring sacred time set apart from the rhythms of ordinary life—is one of the oldest and most significant practices in the religious life of humanity. Though commonly associated with the Jewish tradition of resting on Saturday, different faiths and religious communities around the world have adopted their own unique observances. These observances reflect not only…

"Crown Not Prosecuting," Border Cities Star. May 9, 1934. Page 7. --- Lord's Day Act Cases Up to Municipality, Says Mr. Allan --- Trials Postponed ---- Parole Breaker Asks For Hearing at Place Where He Was Sent Up --- Before Magistrate Brodie laid over until next week hearing of the charges of operating on Sunday brought against six Windsor factories, in police court today, Crown Attorney James S. Allan announced he is in possession of definite instructions from the late Edward C. Bayly, K.C., deputy attorney-general, in connection with prosecutions under the Lord's Day Act. These, he said, are purely a matter for the attention of the local municipality and the Crown has no connection with the prosecutions.

SIX FIRMS AGREE All six firms were represented in court and agreed to the postponement. They are: the Windsor Bedding Company, Limited; the Canadian Containers Company, Limited; L. A. Young Industries, Limited; Bryant Pattern Manufacturing Company, Limited; Kelsey Wheel Company, Limited, and Auto Specialties Company, Limited.

His Worship explained to Walter Anderson that his request for a trial in the city where he broke his parole would have to be considered by the Attorney-General's Department, with little reason for expecting it it to be granted. Anderson elected a jury trial on the charge of breach of parole. He was arrested as a vagrant in Windsor.

Assistant Parole Officer E. J. Hetherington testified that Anderson was convicted of forgery in Toronto in 1932, sentenced to three months definite and nine months indeterminate in Guelph Reformatory and paroled after about four months. He reported to the parole officer three times, it was stated, and then disappeared.

"I learned a lesson from the time I spent in Guelph," Anderson declared. "But the hours were too long at the hotel in Niagara Falls where I was working and d I I set out for another job in Toronto. I was afraid they might send me back to Guelph because I didn't tell them I was going, so I did not report.

GETS BENEFIT OF DOUBT The proverbial "benefit of the doubt" was extended to Clarence Cosgrove, 20, in a charge of stealing automobile tires from a trailer at the Kennedy Collegiate Stadium. Mrs. Margaret Cosgrove, his mother, told the court Clarence could not have taken the tires, since she knew his every movement during the period in which the theft occurred.

"Clarence was never in any trouble," she asserted stoutly. "His younger brother runs around with a bad lot. He told me the other boys took two tires, not these, and drove a car away some time ago. It might have been them, but not this boy. Two of the lads my younger son runs with have gone away on the freights and no one knows where they are."

Board of Education employes identified the tires, and W. Lecroix, from whom Cosgrove bought his car a few days before the thefts, declared the allegedly stolen property was not part of the equipment sold. The tires on the car at that time, he declared, were worn almost to the cord. Accused claimed he had noticed no change in the tires.

"Do you mean you bought a car without looking at the tires?" inquired the bench. "I thought the car was worth five dollars without tires at all," Cosgrove explained.

I tried calling you yesterday.

Oh yeah. Sorry. Blue Laws.

Blue Laws? What is that?

I keep forgetting how much younger you are. Blue Laws banned certain Sunday activities like buying liquor and shopping.

What does that have to do with cell phones?

Well, nothing. But had they existed in the time of Blue Laws it would have been illegal to use them on Sunday.

Yeahhhh?

Yes. Anyway, maybe I should hire a Shabbos Goy.

I thought you were an Episcopalian?

I am.

Look, I gotta go. Leave your phone on, wouldya?

The Blue Law Life, an update:

Nostalgic for the peaceful Sundays of my childhood I created my personal Blue Laws.

One month in, I am happy to report that spending Sundays with my phone shut off, eschewing all commerce, and performing zero school work is working out darn well.

I pack a lunch, fill up a water bottle and find another wonderful New England town to explore.

I’m happier and sleep better. My outlook is sunnier.

A flip phone may be next.

"LONDON MINISTERS OPPOSE SUNDAY CARS," Toronto Globe. December 29, 1913. Page 3. --- Sermons Preached Against Them in Some Churches ---- NO CAMPAIGN IN FAVOR ---- Thousands of Dollars' Worth of Jewellery Stolen-Travellers' Club Decides to Have a Large Addition to Present Building. ---- (Special Despatch to The Globe.) London, Ont., Dec. 28, - Although the supporters of the Sunday car by-law have organized no campaign this year, as was done a few years ago when the question was put before the electors, many of those ministers who are against the proposal urged their congregations to day to vote against the by-law. When the question was submitted before, both those for and those against conducted lively campaigns. There was a large majority for Sunday cars at that time, and since then the demand for them has increased, so that the supporters of the by-law did not think it necessary to have a campaign this time. Until the Ministerial Association passed a resolution a few days ago it was thought that there would be no organized opposition, the chief consideration of the citizens being to get the street railway to put on the necessary service, which has since been promised. Following up the resolution at the Ministerial Association a number of sermons were preached to-day opposing the by-law, though many ministers made no reference whatever to the question. Rev. R. W. Norwood of the Memorial Anglican Church has publicly favored Sunday cars, and it is understood that several other ministers believe that the new service will be an aid to church attendance.

Burglars Make Big Haul. While the family of Mr. Gustave Rice, manager of the Rice Box Manufacturing Co. were absent from their home, 81 Ridout street, South London, yesterday afternoon, burglars entered and stole a quantity of jewelry valued at several thousands of dollars. Among the things taken were several valuable diamond rings. When the theft was discovered last evening Mr. Rice reported to the police. but far no arrests have been made.