The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-22
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
."VOLUKTARY ENTRANCES INTO THE OTHER
WORLD.
no rnR EnrroR or rae HERALD ].

To THE EDIroR or TIRE HERALD: =
Looking over the Sunday HERALD, in the de-
partment Of religious intelligence, my eye CHANGED
70 rest on an article under the above heading,
and as read j was panied TO find there some
arguments which might lead some one who was
blue" to cut short his existence in the hope Of
enjoying blessed hereafter" especially at this
time, when the rigors of what promises to be
severe winter are so suddenly upon rs. Every
thoughtful, strong minded person should try to
cheer his weaker neighbor, and, at all events,
beware how he incites to the dreadful crime OF
suicide. Motives are not already wanting. De-
preston of business. high rents, food costly and
many other evils in this train are FAST having
their banefu influence and 10 TO counteract TINS
tendency that now ask you to give place 10 TINS,
from one who has no other motive in view than TO
prevent some poor, dlsconsolate, weary spirit
from soaring away on the point Of cold steel or
poison. or even watery grave, to an unknown
bourne from which no traveller returns" To even
hint to MS that such entrance, in direct defiance
Of Gods creative law, Is or can be in any sense
"peace or joy"-no! Oh no! You who have
ever thought of changing your lot here, which
however dreary has had some bright oasis, for that
you know not of, forbear until God calls you by his
natural means; not your own hand. Stop and con-
slider ere you attempt the irretrevable step; stop
and consider, say. ere you take the fatal leap in
the dark down yon yawning precipice-a grave
dug by your own hands. Stop, say, and ponder
well the following from the French Of Rousseau
Thou wouljst cease to live but should like
70 know if thou hast yet began with life?
What, vast thou placed on earth to do nothing
there? What answer hast thou ready for the
Almighty Judge when He shall ask thee for thy
reckoning? Unhappy mortal, show me the just
one who can pretend to have lived long enough;
let me learn from him In what manner life must
have been borne to give US q right to abandon it.
Thou reckonest the ills Of humanity, and thou
sayest, Life is an evil Look around thee and
search In the order OF things for benefits which are
not mingled with evils. Is that q reason to say
there is no good in the world! And can you con.
found what is evil by nature with that which is
subject to evil by accident! Mans passive life 10
nothing; it merely concerns body from which
no will soon be deliyered but his active and
moral life, which must influence his whole
being, consists in the exercise Of his will Thou
art weary of life. and thou sayest Life is an evil.
Sooner or later thou shalt be comforted,
truly spoken; for nothing will have changed but
myself. Change, then, myself, from to-day; and
since the evil lies in the peccant disposition Of
thy soul, correct thy disordered desires, and do
net burn down thy house to escape from keeping
1t in order Say not any longer, then,
that it is bad for thee to live, since 1t depends
entirely on myself that it be good; and even il it
be an evil to have lived, do not say either that
thou hast right to die, for well mightest thou
Say thou hast a right not to be man as to rebel
against the author of thy existence. Suicide is q
Otealthy and abomnable death-it is theft prac-
tasod on mankind. Before you leave the world, at
your own bidding, return what 1t has done for
thee. Knowest thou not thou canst not move .
step on this earth without finding some duty to
30 done. and that every man is useful to his kind
BY the very fact of his existence
Rash youth il there still fingers In thy heart
the least principle Of hope and virtue come with
me, and let me teach thee to love life. Every
time thou art tempted to leave il, say to myself,
Lot me do another act of charity before die;
then 60 in quest of some poor man to be relieved
(poorsr than myself, for thou wilt find many such)
some unfortunate to be comforted, or some op-
pressed man TO be defended; and if this considera-
ton restrain thee to-day, 1t viii restrain thee to-
morrow, the day after-al thy life long till thou
shalt be taken by Him who gave thee thy being
and endowed thee with those means which thou
wilt Thus have learned to use to make thy life
happy and at last thou shalt sink to thy rest at
His bidding in peace and happiness:
" 30 fades tho summer cloud away,
So nnks the gale whom storms are DER;
30 gently shuts the eye Of day,
30 dies the along the shore.
How mildly beam the closing eyes
How gently hesves tho expiring brsastr'