Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-09-05
A Sermon on Fences.
by BEECHER.

We have received from "Down East a
note from which we make an extract. The
writer says that there is but little "preach
ing" in his neighborhood, and that what
there is relates rather TO the metaphysical
quality of sin than to the actual forms which
it usually takes. He therefore sends for a
little bit of preaching, the following
'My neighbor will not make his part of
his fence sufficiently strong, and his stock
will therefore break over and damage my
crops. He heedlessly sets fire so that the
fire spreads and burns up my part of the
fence. lie does not build the fence so de-
stroyed, as he is in duty bound to do yet
lets his stock run in the opposite field, and
they are every now and then trespassing on
my fields. Now the laws provide for a re-
mcdy by compelling him, if bring suit, to
make legal fence, and build the part he
so care,essly burnt. Now if I compel him
by suit at law to do his duty, l make all
enemy My property is not safe, and in the
end | would probably he the sufferer. |
consider dollars worth of peace and good
feeling with my neighbors worth dollar,
and Il dollars worth of justice obtained by
compulsion by and through the law, is gen
orally dearly obtained, costing two and of
ten ten to get one, beside bad feelings,
lasting sometimes through life Is it my
duty to bring suit for right when it will
perhaps heget malicious retaliation What
course does the Scripture indicate ?"
Oh, sir you could not have touched q
topic that would thrill more hearts than
this OF, fences How simple the topic seems
How little would an innocent stranger,
riding through a rural district, imagine that
fences are instruments Of injustice, engines
of oppression, causes of quarrel Fences not
only separate estates, but divide families !;
they keep out cattle, but introduce teuds :;
they protect land, but squander money in
bitter litigations. To flll up the whole sub.
ject of fences. with appropriate preaching,
would require sermon as long as an old.
fashioned Puritan discourse. In this par
ticular case, we do not see that much is left
for US. The writer has argued his case, and
decided it rightly. Peace is more precious
than gold among neighbors. Don't 90 10
lac, if y0U can help 10.
Some men take medicine for every pinch
and qualm and are never well. Some men
take law for every little spite or right, and
! they never have any comfort Of their lives.
| What Shall man give up his rights Z
In free country, q native-born American,
and be afraid to stand up for his rights
| 1t is true, that men ought to ascertain
clearly what are their rights and that they
should see to it that in the main, they are
respected But even this relates rather to
such rights as involve mans moral and civil
standing. Cases may arise in which one
should sacrifice his whole property, and his
very life, rather than yield a just and i'm
portant right. But in every such case there
must be u clear and unquestionable reason
I for such outlay.
On the other hand, many of our rights
are not to be sefshly Misunderstanding are
| to be waived, yielded, given away, for the
benefit of Others. A man who keeps all his
rights for his own use is selfish and unove-
ly.
| Define and authenticate your rights, and
then, il you can make men happier, use
them generously, and even forego them
A mothers whole life is made up of series
of giving up her rights for the benefit of her
children. Is any other name more noble
among men than that of mother
Yet, there may be cases in which little
law will be useful to neigh5orhood.
If some strong and arrogant man domi-
neers until, by yielding to him, he has come
to think that he can have everything his own
| way, IL VIII Dc Suou iOE uiti anu ioi tnc
whole neighbor hood if some smart, stiff
necked farmer will teach him lesson at
law.
If there be mean and selfish nature in Q
neighborhood, who makes it rule to &c
Just as far as people will allow, and to tlct
and grasp whatever he can, it may be duty
to put up fence of the law around him.
But ifa man is only careless and slow
and negligent, and yet really does not in
tend any harm, think that | should menC
the fence myself before going to law. Coa'
him, talk to him as plainly as you write u
me. 1t is difficult to manage man wh'
has the right on his side, but where all th
right is on your side, you ought to be sol
to manage any man.
Keep out of law 1t will squander NOR
money than it will save. 1t breaks dow
more fences than it puts in order. No bet
ter citizens live than lawyers. But, going {
lao is next to going to grog shop. WheI
a man begins, you never know when he vii
end.