The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-03
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH.

The Law OF God Applied to Murderers-
An Enemy OF Observation-Disclosures Not
Vengeance, Dcmanded-The killing OF
Putnam and Fisk.
The Rev. Charles A. Stoddard, D. D., preached
at the Washington Heights Presbyterian church
yesterday to large congregation nom the
book OF Genesis, tx, Sat the hand OF every
mans brother will I require the life OF man."
He said the text occurs In part Of the
Bible which has always been regarded as the high
est inspired authority for Furnishing murderer
with death; and although intend to apply the
truth which 1t contains In spiritual sense,
I should think myself negligent in duty
II passed by this word Of God to
all mankind without teaching you that
q murderer does by his act forfeit his right in
human society and incur the doom Of death; that
this is law universal as the race, unchanging as
the character of God, unconditional IN its state
ment and imperative in its demand 1t Is q law in
harmony with the constitution of human nature
and the sentiment of all antiquity It is the justice
of God imposed upon human society, and Is so
truly fundamental that the death penalty for MUIR
der cannot be abolished without weakening the
sanctions of all governments, human and divine.
It has been truly and lOrciby said that 1.-THE State
tenn other social ordinances having like divine
institution; but in doing so 1t discards
nv oTa gnss' asa vs anS esss the
manentiy rest. 1t builds alone on human
wills, and that Is building on the sand" 1t Is
needul to quicken the public conscience upon this
subject, to teach the awful responsibility which
rests upon the whole community when life has been
deliberately taken away. The murderer is the
enemy Of mankind he has attacked humanity; he
has struck q blow at the whole human race, and
all human beings owe it to themselves and to the
Supreme Being, whose image they bear, to arise
and with united voice demand not vengeance,
but the solemn and speedy execution Of Justice
When Putnam was slain, when Fisk wicked man
though he was) was shot, when the victims OF
those twenty-six who are now confined IN the
Tombs upon the charge Of murder were hurried into
fell down." and the law OF God and man
was abolished until the penalty Is paid
pitiful humanitarianlsm, the child OF atheism or
criminal at the expense of the victim; represents
law. which in its nature is passioness and just as
revengeful and malignant, and charges devilish
spirit upon society. which demands the only sacri-
luton Of blood and free 1t from the charge OF being
accessory to crime. Let all good men put away
this spurious tenderness this false estimate OF the
character Of justice, this arrogance against God,
which ignores the unaterabe relation between
divine and human law. and insist upon the punish
ment of convicted criminals as debt to society
and duty to God. Until this IS done we
need not be sanguine respecting any reform;
for community that will tolerate It's own
destroyer, and seek to perpetuate his presence and
influence, cannot rid itself OF lesser evils. II has
not the moral force necessary to frown upon the
adulterer or to imprlson the thief; much less has
1t the vigor and virtue need1ul to redress minor
wrongs and to hold in check the thousands OF evil
doors whom It's leniency to greater criminals in
vites to wicked ways.
Tue speaker then proceeded to show the re-
sponslbility OF every man for the use OF his in1u-
tratng and enforcing the subject with variety OF
arguments and facts, and closed with an earnest
appeal TO the congregation to live so that they
mght be able to render their final account without