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Echoes of Oregon History Learning Guide
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Document No. 5329 - Enlarge image
An Act to Prevent Sabbath Breaking, 1854
Transcript of original document:
An Act to Prevent Sabbath Breaking, 1854
Sec 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative assembly of the
Territory of Oregon- That no person shall keep open his or
her store, shop, Grocery, Ball=alley, Billiard Saloon,
Tipling house, or any place of Gaming or amusement, or do
any secular business, other than works of necessity and
mercy, on the first day of the week commonly called the
Lords day or sunday, provided however; that this act shall
not be so construed as to have effect when the
cir=cumstances of the case render it necessary that the
above provision be not observed.
Sec. 2. Any person offending against the provisions of this
act, shall upon conviction before any jus=tice of the Peace
of the proper county, be fined in any sum not exceeding ten
dollars, and such fine when collected shall be paid into the
county Treasury for the common school fund.
Sec. 3. this Act to take effect and be in force from and
after its passage.
Passed the Council January 12th 1854
Passed the House of Representatives January 13th 1854,
ZC bishop
Speaker of the House of Rep's
R. Wilcox
President of Council
Background
This act prohibits doing business on Sunday, the
traditional day of rest in much of the United States. The
act focuses on two types of activity. The first type
consists of amusement or entertainment, which would occur in
ball-alleys, billiard saloons, tippling houses, and gaming
places. The second type of activity is broader, and includes
stores, shops, groceries, or any secular businesses.
Simultaneously, however, the law turns around and exempts
situations where circumstances make it necessary to do
business on Sunday. Jewish merchants, who observed the
Sabbath on Saturday, were particularly opposed to this
law.
Words and Terms
Sabbath?
Ball-alley?
billiard saloon?
tippling house?
gaming?
For Further Discussion
1. What kinds of activity were forbidden on Sunday?
2. Why would the legislature forbid these activities?
3. can you think of any types of business that cannot be
done on a Sunday today?
4. Do you think this law could cause hardship for
anyone?
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