Page:Revised Codes of the State of North Dakota 1895.pdf/1258

§§ 6329-6840

§ 6829. Blasphemy defined. Blasphemy consists in wantonly uttering or publishing words, casting contumelious reproach or profane ridicule upon God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, the holy scriptures, or the christian religion.

§ 6830. Serious discussion not blasphemy. If it appears beyond reasonable doubt that the words complained of were used in the course of serious discussion, and with intent to make known or recommend opinions entertained by the accused, such words are not blasphemy.

§ 6831. Misdemeanor. Blasphemy is a misdemeanor.

§ 6832. Profane swearing defined. Profane swearing consists in any use of the name of God, or Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost, either in imprecating divine vengeance upon the utterer or any other person, or in light, trifling or irreverent speech.

§ 8833. Punishment of. Every person guilty of profane swearing is punishable by a fine of one dollar for each offense.

§ 6834. Summary conviction for. Whenever any profane swearing is committed in the presence and hearing of any justice of the peace or other magistrate, while holding a court, or under any other circumstances such as in the opinion of the magistrate amount to a gross violation of public decency, such magistrate inay, in his discretion, immediately convict the offender, without any other proof.

'''§ 6835. Penalties, how collected. Commitment for.''' If the offender does not forth with pay the penalties incurred, with the costs, or give security for their payment within six days, he shall be committed by warrant to the county jail for every offense, or for any number of offenses whereof he was convicted at one and the same time, for not less than one nor more than three days; there to he confined in a room separate from all other prisoners.

'''§ 6836. Obscene language. Public place.''' Any person who shall utter or speak any obscene or lascivious language or words, in any public place, or in the presence of females, or of children under ten years of age, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof before any justice of the peace of this state, or before a county court exercising increased jurisdiction, as provided in section 111 of the constitution of this state, shall be liable to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or imprisonment in the county jail not more than thirty days, or both, at the discretion of the court.

'''§ 6837. First day of week. Acts prohibited.''' The first day of the week being by general consent set apart for rest and religious uses, the law prohibits the doing on that day of certain acts hereinafter specified.

§ 6838. Sabbath breaking defined. Any violation of the foregoing prohibition is Sabbath breaking.

§ 6839. Day defined. Under the term "day," as employed in the phrase "first day of the week," in the seven sections following, is included all the time from midnight to midnight.

§ 6840. Acts of Sabbath breaking enumerated. The following are the acts forbidden to be done on the first day of the week, the doing of any of which is Sabbath breaking: