Actions have been instituted in the Recorder’s Court by the Montreal Police Department against upwards of 15 Jewish bakeries in the metropolis alleging infraction of the Lord’s Day Act. The court subpoenaes — returnable two weeks hence—charge the bakeries with having baked bread on Sunday mornings in direct contravention of the Federal act, this Sunday labor necessitating the employment of Gentile help and thus disturbing the peaceful enjoyment of the Sabbath by Christians.
This police action will bring before the Recorder’s Court once more the question as to just what are the rights of the Jews under the Lord’s Day Act. Louis H. Rohrlick, attorney for the bakeries, indicated as much, pointing out that the Federal act stipulates that Jewish firms which remain closed on “Saturday” can remain open on Sunday, providing they do not disturb or interfere with the enjoyment of Sunday by Christians. It is plain, therefore, that if Jews observe Saturday closing, they are permitted to remain open on Sunday.
“But the Jewish Sabbath is from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday,” Mr. Rohrlick said, “Jewish businesses observing this Sabbath are open, then, after sundown on Saturday. But the police hold that for Jewish firms to fall under the Saturday saving-clause in the Federal act they must remain closed from midnight on Friday until midnight on Saturday. The question is: Did not the Federal legislators, in drawing up this saving-clause
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