CHURCH ATTENDANCE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20171, 25 February 1931, Page 2

CHURCH ATTENDANCE.

/ , Ax' * ''iTu THE LAW OF 1677. (CITY COUNCILLOR ADMONISHED * ,^ > { '* ' - taunt ons own co*&EspoHjjiKsrr.) I * 'v ' , , s : _/ s | - LONDON, January 15. I Because he failed to attend church on the Sunday before, "Councillor I Leonard Bramwt 11 Cox ivaa admonished by the Stipendiary Magistrate ifc ; Manchester Police Court last week. The case was brought by? the Sunday Games and Freedom League,- who had declared'that it, wan intended to 9 tart a campaign to ridicule ancient statutes -relating to the observance of .Sunday. Beceritly the High Court decided under'an old law that it was illegal Issued under the 1677 Act, the summons against Councillor Cox,/who is a member of the Manchester Citjr Council and Watch 1 Committee, alleged: {'That on' January. 4th/ thfct being -tfieJ j Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday, he did unlawfully fail to exercise" himself {hereon in the duties of piety and I true religion publicly and privately, 1 contrary to Section 1 of tho Act." . ! A few days ago the Chief Constable of Manchester refused to give £i»> consent to'a summons being taken out, but two jTustices of the Peace 'were 1 preached by Mr E..T. Heya;"ind'Hr H. Cox (brother of defendant), chairman and secretary respectively of the Manchester anol Balfotd Sunday Giuiw and Freedom League, and the neecßsary permit was obtained. Councilor Cox, t who resides Green Drive, /.West Poiht, Levenshulme, is a Justice,of the Peace for the Cityfof Manchester. '-V s > /. , $ r"' -wyj-si ".'Mr, T. M.- Backhouse - (instructed by Mr F. E. Monies)-, prosecuting, said that there was 10 intention in bringing the case of shoeing disrespect for the Court. * 1 ,iThe Stipendiary Magistrate (Mr J. "Wellesley Orr)': '*That wondering. I understood the object "of this prosecution wis to torn ud somu propaganda f orfeomething ; Mr /Backhouse; 'said that the object of -the .prosecution ivr& to bring to the notice of othor people the fact tlu}t they cculd be fined under tlie Act. That was tho way the police acted- bn< occasions. * y'* .. He did not claim; that Cduftcillor^Cpx ; should have been at church "on Sunday, i but that he should have exercised him--1 sett in the' duty of piety and religion publicly Qt privately. He r>ould. ' call evidence to" show that at no time on Sunday did Councillor Cox make any§i v action of- a publicly religious nature whatsoever. ■ Councillor Cox should 'h&jre: publicly rendered thanks to God by prayer and.supplication Glint w~s tho definition of -piety' and truo religion given- in an Act of Parliament. Mr Backhouse said that in hig view'-tho'i position was that undo/ an Act of Edward VI. therp "was 11 duty on Councillor' Cox to go to church, That* was only repealed Jiy the IS4O Act in so > far as it allowed some persons tojgfo to places of worship other than churches. ><■",' ' ' T > '■ r - Mr Beginald ZTarold Cot said that on Sunday he went to; the' house his brother, Councillor Ctox, at 1 breakfast, time,'and told him that observation, would bo taken to see if ho "attended church that- day. He was with him from then Until? 6 .pija,, andCouncillor Cox did nqt attend at' any. place of worship or make any public supplications' or prayers. ' Mr ( Backhouse submitted that from a legal point of view Sunday ended at & p.m. That was so uudor canon law, and he claimed that that law was now embodied- in, civil *lawi? Councillor Cox, addressing'the Coiut, said: J Implead guilty to not. attending worship "Jast' 4«®#3T» I often ao .so. I am not;..-bjr anymeantj an irreligious man. 1 did'not go last Snndajf . because I do - itot;,tJ|ijJ;k "right to be-forced by the law tocatfettff a place of worship. In'all protabffi-fcy I shall break that law again, in conjunction with » quarter of • miUitm

adalts in this city I submit .tfcfit this law toftfer whiehJ X* have been summoned is a bad lawy audi a bad law should be kHtea.*/" i*££ The saxfi: "I .Tnnat to .the' conplnflixai'that yoaYjtonw the .Bt»t^lte^^< «Mru«tn>r lution that joy not propose tO'lflo thaljff