The Quakers and Moravians Act 1838The citation of this Act by this

short title In certain jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and other Westminster-influenced jurisdictions (such as Canada or Australia), as well as the United States and the Philippines, primary legislation has both a short title and a long title. Th ...

was authorised by the

Short Titles Act 1896 The Short Titles Act 1896 (59 & 60 Vict c 14) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It replaces the Short Titles Act 1892. This Act was retained for the Republic of Ireland by section 2(2)(a) of, and Part 4 of Schedule 1 to, the ...

, section 1 and the first schedule. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the

Interpretation Act 1978 The Interpretation Act 1978 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act makes provision for the interpretation of Acts of Parliament, Measures of the General Synod of the Church of England, Measures of the Church Assembly, subor ...

. (1 & 2 Vict. c. 77) was an

Act of Parliament Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the Legislature, legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of ...

of the United Kingdom, signed into law on 10 August 1838. Prior to this Act,

Quakers Quakers are people who belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations known formally as the Religious Society of Friends. Members of these movements ("theFriends") are generally united by a belief in each human's abil ...

and Moravians had been able to give an affirmation in lieu of an

oath Traditionally an oath (from Anglo-Saxon ', also called plight) is either a statement of fact or a promise taken by a sacrality as a sign of verity. A common legal substitute for those who conscientiously object to making sacred oaths is to g ...

where one was required; for example, when giving evidence in court. This Act extended that privilege to those who were previously members of these groups and had seceded from them, retaining the conscientious objection to oaths. Any person choosing to make an affirmation under this Act was required to give a declaration to that extent, and would remain subject to the normal penalties of perjury for falsehood.

References

*''The British almanac of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, for the year 1839''. The Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, London, 1839.

External links

Full text as enacted
as adopted by the Republic of Ireland
Full text as enacted
as adopted by the state of

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

(page 117) 1838 in British law United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1838 History of the British Province of the Moravian Church Christianity and law in the 19th century History of Quakerism Quakerism in the United Kingdom Law about religion in the United Kingdom {{UK-statute-stub