The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-11

he Is regarded with admiration or disgust in pro-
PORTION 70 the amount OF bravado, GOODNESS or Du-
But this Is not ALL some OF the prelimnarles to an
execution are OF such nature as not TO be other
demned man is surrounded by numbers OF the clergy
| and others who are anxious TO exhort MIN; he Is
urged 10 prepare for the great change he Is TO under.
go; the object IS to make him hi to die. Now,
according to the arguments OF these gentlemen tthe
clergyl II man Is III TO de he Is certainly ut 10
live. Then why hurry the poor repentant sinner to
the gravey But no. the sentence OF the law must be
carried ont; the majesty of the law must be sns-
tanned. Ii the EFFORTS OF the clergy crowned with
success the culprt goes to the scanold surrounded
by his spiritual advisers with every earthly appli
ance that may DC elicacious in propltating the pi-
Can anything be more natural than that the igno-
rant should suppose that the executed has greater
chance OF salvation than The petty sinner The effect
cannot be other than perncious, for under the pre-
sent system the advocates or capital punishment are
Offering the vicious o premium for crime-tne man
VINO has the good fortune to be hanged IS sure OF
heaven, while the petty criminal must risk his
chances. the impression thus made no doubt
commentaries all the good that can possibly dow
from the punishment and paves the way to crime.
on the part OF The criminal and Others by example
The fear of death being considered the most power.
ill motive that can be presented TO the human mind
lts infection Is the penalty for murder.
IL Is asserted That the knowledge that Its infection
VIII DE the consequence OF the crime OF murder
serves as electual restraint from such offence
For our part we do not believe that men fear
death so much rs is pretended, or that the OF 1t
mas much influence III restraining men from crime
Death Is met readily for the merest tribe which en-
gay the affections. There IS no religion princl
pie without It's army OF martyrs. There Is scarcely
a day but that hear Of some one laying down his
HE in WEAKNESS or disgust or In the excitement OF
some disappointment; the fear OF poverty or want
mas driven many to suicide being the lesser evil.
Lord Bacon has APPLY remarKed:-"There Is no pas
sion In the mind or man so weak but that 1t mates
and masters the fear Of DEATH" What q wretcned
lot would be ours II the prospect OF death were so
dreadful! 1t Is only when the grave yawns berore
awaiting our instant dissolution that death inspires
Its terrors.
The convict on the sca1old. with the fatal moose
around his neck, may experience the most acute
fear and agony the full force OF his horrible cond-
ton may then break upon him; but we must re-
member that the circumstances different to those
In which he committed the crime. The consequences
were then subject too remote tor MS consideration
Then he realized none OF these dreadful prepare.
TONS and, even II he did, he likely consoed himself
WIN tue commonplace epcurcanlsms Of the reck-
less and dIssoute.
1t Is evident that in but few instances does the
rear OF death become an all-controll,ng passion.
Many go TO the scaffold composed: some in stupid
insensblity others the careless gayety despera
uon; while others seem even gratided by the tenn
porary glory achieved by the occasion.
But, 1t WIN be asked. what form of punishment
would we substitute for the death penalty, and IN
what manner would we punish the man guilty OF
the grossest outrage against the laws Of society2
Our answer Is, by solitary imprisonment for life,
and the abolition OF the pardonng power so far as
IL relates to convictions Tor murder.
Death at a distance IS far different from what it Is
when met face TO face. Suicide is Of daily occur
rence but voluntary Punishment Except in cases
among the sane. The pam of dying is nothing A
lew moments OF suspense and all IS over, ana in
lew days the criminal and ms crime are alike lor-
gotten by the people; but TO be made to live without
the hope OF escape or pardon, confined solitary and
compelled to labor nara. would be worse than DEATH
While at the same time 1t would operate much more
powerful y IN the way OF example 10 deter others,
which Is the great OBJECT 0! punishment In all
Civilized societies.. LOUIS III. WILSON.
Nature and Grace--A Lay Sermon by the
Author Of tho ssConfession og Siu.''
The question that arises is, what Is sin? That 1t
is evil, that it is mistake, that ii ought not to
exist but after all, that 1t is perfectly natural and
In general harmonlzing with mans nature, cannot,
think, be denied. There, for instance, Is q young
man OF twenty-five years, OF good physical proper
tons, in vigorous health, possessing mind skilled
and cultivated III human science aud mere secular
learning but never having been Instructed IN rel-
glon, knowing nothing of supernatural grace, but
possessing however, enough Of natural grace TO
keep within the pale of civilized society this man,
then, Is sinner, for he lives in the
order OF nature, not curbed restricted
by divine grace and when he giyes way
TO natnral feelings and desires, he therefore
Now, the otner nand let me give you contrast.
l will now introduce TO you u young man FROM
Italy from the Roman States-within the shade OF
| the Vatican, OF the same age, VINO, when child,
| was baptized; when youth was confirmed, and
VINO never mingled with the world much--iived
| always in the atmosphere of religion. ana by pre-
| cept and example became thoroughly indoctrnated.
as 1t were, III grace; OF cultivated mind no doubt;
but oil this learning ana cultivation are suDortii-
mated to sold religious teaching. Now, then we
find this young man at twenty-five not an intel
lectual animal-witn a mind that could give per-
haps a Shakspearian glance q. the EARTH but with
| the morals Of Durham bull-but young man, at
once man aud Christian-sucn men as Keep
civilized society together, advance true CIVILIZATION,
~ ana hS sp z S9P lpis lover
y4 one Is The W onsr Of nature
nature, assisted 10y that supernatural power. Which
one now my friend, WI. VIII you choose' There is.
: Coweyer, sort OF natural grace-a higher human
: >.ure-wniCh attaches 10 man, and only for ia
exist, uce human society In irrellglods comihities
could No endure long WHAT prevents the beastly
| i,bertne Il ON assaulting, when the opportunity
Oilers. The han. some v:..hous young woman whom
he may happen to meet ii yo.ae bylane street. to
say NJ 49, animal ns Knows Hoan Psg
No; in tie excitement Of ? passion that that
depths OF sin; man, in general, possesses some
| feeble sparks OF this natural grace. But this
natural grace is not enough to make man 1--we az
a Christian IN harmony with his great destiny. Let
u.s. then, pray for Gods strength aud grace. II We
| only pray earnestly and from the heart God WIN
give Us grace to curD unruly passions, and
! II we persevere we could initiate that life led by
Joseph and Mary. Let us, them rise superior to
! brute creation. and by prayer and communion with
| God rise to the highest standard of Christian man.
| hood and womanhood; live IN harmony With our
position in creation: live immortal beings who.
| when released OF TINS burden OF clay, expect and
hope TO meet and enjoy God In His eternal home IN
| heaven.
! Memorial Services Touching the Late Bishop
Csnrk-ResOiutions and Addresses.
Instead or the usual devotional exercises held by
the Preachers Association on the first Monday
| OF every month special memorial service was
! neld in regard to the recent death OF Bisnop
| d. W. Clark. After singing and prayer, Rev. DR..
Harris read paper illustrative Of the religious ex-
! periences of the Bishop during the closing weeks
and days OF his earthly existence. Bishop
James very touchngly spoke also OF the
pleasant relationship he held with the
deceased superintendent whom he greatly admired
| and loved. DR.. Curry, who was n classmate in
/ Wesleyan University with Bishop Clark thirty.six
! years ago, and had been Intimately acquainted with
! him ever since, also spofe warmly OF the prominent
traits OF character OF the deceased both as PASTOR
| an editor and an author and Bishop The Doctor
/ said the Bishop was one OF the few men whom he
| loved as a brother and with whom he had corre-
| sponded pretty regularly for thirty.ive years The
/ following resolutions presented by the committee
appointed ~ the last meeting were read and
! adopted, after which the hymn, 'Servant or Cod
1 wall nona tyoa nv mi md prov