Maine State Statutes (1911):
<LORD'S DAY. Statute provided penalties for "whoever on the Lord's Day or at any other time, behaves rudely or indecently within the walls of any house of public worship; willfully interrupts or disturbs any Assembly for public worship within the place of such Assembly or out of it"; for one "who on the Lord's Day, keeps open his shop, workhouse, warehouse or place of business on that day, except works of necessity or charity"; for an innholder or victualler who, "on the Lord's Day, suffers any person, except travelers or lodgers to abide in his house, yard or field, drinking or spending their time idly at play, or doing any secular business except works of charity or necessity."
"No person conscientiously believing that the Seventh Day of the week ought to be observed as the Sabbath, and actually refraining from secular business and labor on that day, is liable to said penalties for doing such business or labor on the first day of the week, if he does not disturb other persons." Service of civil process on the Lord's Day were forbidden, and, in fact made void.
ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS. Oaths were administered by all judges, justices of the peace, and notaries public in the form prescribed by statute as follows: the person to whom an oath is administered shall hold up his right hand, unless he believes that an oath administered in that form is not binding, and then it may be administered in a form believed by him to be binding; one believing any other than the Christian Religion, may be sworn according to the ceremonies of his religion. Persons conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath may affirm.
BLASPHEMY & PROFANITY. Statutes provided "whoever blasphemes the Holy Name of God, by denying, cursing or contumeliously reproaching God, His creation, government, final judgment of the world, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Scriptures as contained in the canonical books of the Old and New Testament or by exposing them to contempt and ridicule, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than two years or by fine not exceeding two hundred dollars". A five dollar fine was provided for one who "profanely curses or swears."
USE OF PRAYER IN LEGISLATURE. There were no statute on this subject, but since Maine became a state it has been customary for the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives to invite in turn the several clergymen of Augusta, Hallowell, and Gardiner, to open each day's session in their respective branches with prayer.
Until 1891, Protestant clergymen alone were invited, but since then Catholic priests were invited and officiate in their turn.
RECOGNIATION OF RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS. Statutes provided that "no person shall be arrested in a civil action, or mesne process or execution or on a warrant for taxes, on the day of annual fast or thanksgiving, the thirtieth day of May, the fourth day of July, or Christmas."
In 1907, the Legislature passed an act abolishing the annual fast day, substituting it with Patriots' Day.
SEAL OF CONFESSION. There was no record of any attempt to obtain from any priest information acquired by him through the confessional.
INCORPORATION OF CHURCHES. Statutes provided "any persons of lawful age, desirous of becoming an incorporated parish or religious society, may apply to a justice of the peace" and full provision is made for their incorporation into a parish, and "every parish may take by gift or purchase any real or personal property, until the income thereof shall amount to three thousand dollars, convey the same and establish by-laws not repugnant to law. By Act of the Legislature approved 27 February, 1887, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland was created a corporation sole.
EXEMPTION OF CHURCH PROPERTY FROM TAXATION.
Statutes provided that "houses of religious worship, including vestries and the pews and furniture within the same, except for parochial purposes; tombs and rights of burial; and property held by a religious society as a parsonage, not exceeding six thousand dollars in value and from which no rent is received, were exempt from taxation.
But all other property of any religious society, both real and personal, was liable to taxation, the same as other property."
EXEMPTION OF CLERGY FROM CERTAIN PUBLIC DUTIES.
Settled ministers of the Gospel were exempt by statute from serving as jurors, and by the constitution 'ministers' were among those entitled to be exempted from military duty.
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE. Statutes provided that "every justice of the peace, residing in the State; every ordained minister of the Gospel and every person licensed to preach by an association of ministers, religious seminary or ecclesiastical body, duly appointed and commissioned for that purpose by the governor may solemnize marriages"...Another section safeguarded the rights of those contracting marriage in good faith by making it valid, although not solemnized in legal form, and although there may be a want of jurisdiction or authority in the justice or minister performing the ceremony.
Grounds for divorce were: "A divorce from the bonds of matrimony may be decreed by the Supreme Judicial Court in the County where either party resides at the commencement of proceedings for cause of adultery, impotence, extreme cruelty, utter desertion continued for three consecutive years next prior to the filing of the libel, gross and confirmed habits of intoxication, cruel and abusive treatment, or, on the libel of the wife, where the husband being of sufficient ability, grossly or wantonly and cruelly refuses or neglects to provide suitable maintenance for her...But when both parties have been guilty of adultery, or there is collusion between them to procure a divorce, it shall not be granted."
EDUCATION. Under the heading of normal schools was the statute: "Said schools, while teaching the fundamental truths of Christianity and the great principles of morality, recognized by law, shall be free from all denominational teachings and open to persons of different religious connections on terms of equality."> 1911ME001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
1911ME001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Maine State Statutes, 1911.