New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-16
RELIGIOUS.
INSANITY AND CRIME.

A sermon was delivered on the above sub
iect yesterday morning to large congregation by the
Rev g. H. Hepworth in the Church of the Messiah The
reverend gentleman selected his text from Genesis,
chap w. verse 5"And Cain wroth and his counte-
nance fell" He said that by all modern theories Of
crime Cain would said have been laboring under
alteration OF mind. and therefore to DC unaccounabe
10 any human divine law for his acts. They would
perceive all the symptoms of insanity; he was frenzied
toward his brother; it irresistible passion pas
sion that grew stronger and took deeper hold OF his
own nature every time he sat under the tree thinking or
his wrongs. The moment he set Ills eyes upon his
brother his cOuntenance fell and he was aroused Goa
put mark upon his brow because murder was crime
They had lately been in the midst of most remarkable,
and as they would agree with him, most significant eX
element. We're simple trial OF man Tor crime, ne
would not comment upon it III that place because was
not his business analyZe and criticize the ordinary
events Of city life and make them pulpit pulpit
themes but there public experiences which
were too significant To be passed by in silence IL
touched the welfare o. thousands of homes and the veal
Of thousands OF lives The case 10 "hlch he was
a matter the TOtOry OF which was not confined to Their
own shores but well known IN ali its details in con
tmental Europe AZ IT was IN NeW-> orR ana ne regretted
that IL should be regarded there as typical OF the Ame
can mode OF life aud OF experiences which were Only 700
common in the land of which, Tor many reasons we are
SO Justly proud. III this case strange enough, persons
had been ignored and principles only had been tcd ana
he tell them that the truth was yet to be dls
covered and that impartial Justice, ~ the pubic under
connected with the whole affair. 1t was not private
hrawl which Justice of the Peace settled but ~ IN
yoved the practical application Of the Christian religion.
For Of years back change had come over inc
whole American community concerning this question OF
or temporary alteration Of the mind brought for
ward very effectively in that was then being tried
IL had now lost its novelty, and the comrnu.
nifty shuddered at the many crimes winch spread
hands at what they used to call Justice. The pirate
abe highway may kill his best friend Tor gold OF the
slightest pretext for quarrel and he may be said to be
insane. drunkard, under the influence OF alcoholic and
caoric stimulans, might Kill any one, and yet he can
scarcely be held accountable Tor ms aGnos' Inc Jury
scarcely bring in verdict Of guilty Of murder IN
first degree for the very best reason that the whole
community under the Outstanding influences OF cen
tury under the benign reign of the schOohoiscs and
press are rapidly ougrowng the barbarOus Wcledness
OF capital punishment No matter WHAT the crime may
be- hestaes 10 utter the doom OF man that con-
signs him 10 death Every heart III TINS city suddered
| when poor Jack Reynolds was hung nan ldiot.he
knew what crime he had never been brought mp
under the halowed influences of home. The death sen
temce was outrage on the Christian community. II
| a mau was sentenced TO imprisonment for life, that did
votes of thousand men, andt would do 10 keep
| him in confinement Political influence was stronger than
In the second place this significant, because
it the verdict Of the Christian part Of America
corning the sanctty Of marriage He was glad that they
had been aroused to a consideration of this question
They had changed the motto OF shooting the who
hauled down the flag into whoever Intermediates be-
tween and his wife, let him die the DEATH There
was no relationship quite solemn that between
man and the woman that he takes for his wife. There
excuse under Gods throne for third person to
step and attempt TO break that bond Let them heed
this case. and let them heed its tremendous decision
outside of the Church there all sorts of
theories that have abandoned all isense of justice.
doctrines OF anites that they found everywhere
arrant humbugs. II was simple excuse OF bad men
and women, who thus outrage society on the vile plea OF
able husband they knew that it their duty before
God burden OF It, and To make the best OF it,
and pleasant friend who teaches you 10 hunt among
friends for another wife Is devil In gentle
manly shape, with horns, hoofs aud head In the mar
riage service it making wife a
thing that he she never intends To do. man
that he would endow her with his worldly goods and
live obey and cherish her, when he did not intend
If this continued what can You expect OF the moral
tone OF the community hereafter IL a man married
woman he thought that she inferior Ia him,
he Is who should not enter into that relationship,
there relationship III him. woman means To
love, cherish and obey and she never did II, and ID
would be very wrong indeed If she did do IT, for they
/ all equal and marriage made man and woman equal.
marriage service il simply form and celebration
of dead ritual that has nothing III IT, 1t the duty
of the community learn these things, and all things
which belonged to their place. While the people
going the precipiccs, the ministers were generally
! Wrpngling over spiritual theories. Let them live IN
Christianity 80 that they could die In IT, and walk firmly
through the valley aud set their cyca the God az the
universe and 20 up 10 live IN the bonds of precious i'm
mortality.
TIE REV. CHARLES b. sMYTH LEAVES TIE ELEY-
ENTH-sT CHURCH.
Long before the usual hour OF service the
United Presbyterian Church, East Eleyentl,-st..
crowded yesterday morning by cOugiegat eager 10
hear the Rev. Charles B Smytn deliver hs lat sermon
10 his chargea made necessary by thc action
Of the members of his church at the Prey iery Of which
he is IA member removing hm from the chuTfl bcrssc
of an Indulgence in gin and milk the sabbath la IA
loom in violation of the STATE law and the discipline Of
his Church.
aver prayfrs and nc singing OF The 23d Psalm spoke on
tie 10th chaIt'r Of the Act of tEc Apostles,
, 1th verse: And upon The first day VI tho