The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-31
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.

"IIow 20 Deal with Crime'-Sermon by
the Rev. Henry Powers.
The Church of the Messiah, Fourth avenue and
Thirty fourth street. was crowded yesterday morn
ing with an earnest and deveut congregation, who
had gathered TO listen to a sermon by the pastor,
the Rev. henry Powers, on the subject "How to
Deal with Crime" The text announced was
Romans Kill. 10, in part-"LOve Is the fulfilling OF
the law" Accepting this doctrine Of the apostle
as announced here in respect to the nature, the
purpose and the limitation OF law as without
doubt the true one, let us consider, said the rev.
erend gentleman, whetheri 1t throws any light for us
upon that most difficult and most painful question
the proper treatment Of the dangerous classes.
TO day we find ourselves confronted with the
saddening truth that somehow this precious
faith Of ours is failing reach very large class OF
our fellow citizens to such On extent as to make
them intelligent and virtuous and happy. Here in
New York there are thousands on thousands of
persons who have no fixed abiding place, who fit
from attic to attic and cellar to cellar; there are
thousands more who make crime in some form or
other the business OF their lives, and other tens OF
thousands there are who swarm In tenement
houses and are poor, hard pressed and dependent
for daily bread on their small, uncertain earnings
PEELED to beg or steal or to starvc. And mean
time they behold the gtterng display OF wealth
ana ,, luxury sy all about them , and cannot
forts. Among these many thousands there are
10000 homeless children, $4,000 persons above ten
our city prisons last year there were not far from
fifty thousand inmates. Facts like these will give
US but q faint idea OF that mass OF
IGNORANCE AND CORRUPTION
IN our midst which is chiefly the cause of the many
deeds OF violence and blood that are constantly
occurring and which, whenever we think 81 them,
make the cheek to pale or crimson with alternate
fear and shame. But what, the while, are our
courts OF justice doing to help us In the emergency
Possibly the best they can in the circumstances,
encountered as they are with system which Is
not adapted in many respects to the age IN which
the people or provoked to spasmodic action
by the capricOus and blind zeal of pubic opinion.
The forms Of law too complex and too involved
making technical distinctions otentimes where
real ones do not exist; permitting efforts at delay
through money influence, to the defeat OF
justice, and suffering the poor and unfrended to
20 out OF court stay there If they prefer with no
redress for their wrongs. witnesses are incar-
cerated as criminals, party politics influence ap-
pOintments and decisions, judges are elected by
the local popular vote, and are, therefore, de-
prison. there is conflict of interest ottentimes be-
tween the City and county authorities. Altogether
the methods of procedure In our courts are better
adapted to the wants of primitive civilization in
small inland town than they are to the exigencles
OF metropolitan capital like this. And so, again,
with regard to trial by jury, there the same
anachronisms. The system which suited old times
is very poorly adapted to the demands OF justice
now. For to-day the question usually submitted
to jury Is avery complicated one, involving many
issues; there are points OF law as well as OF fact,
and motives are to be discussed, multitude OF
considerations to be taken into account which then
had no existence and with regard to all OF which
1t is impossible that twelve men should agree In
Judgment; and, besides; men are now going to (,
that the restriction In respect to previous
acquaintance with the circumstances OF an occur
renee has become absurd, Tor under Its workings
no one can sit as juryman except he be
FOOL OR KNAvE.
Now, these and such like anomalies must be In
to be what once it was proudly termed-"the
palladium OF our liberties" And so, again. the
Overhauling In many cases. DIR. Powers then
argued in regard to the death penalty, treat
the conclusion that It was unnecessary and, con-
tinuing. said that although society here on the
earth may not yet have virtue enough or moral
and spiritual power enough to take care Of
Ito own wicked, it is shameful confession Of
weakness, pusanimity and bankruptcy in
pliances Of religion, education and phian.
thrOpy, especially among the children OF neglect,
poverty, ignorance and sensuality should, be such
as to render the death penalty unnecessary. DR..
Powers then glanced at the fruitful sources OF
crime, saving that in looking over the reports OF
prisons and penitentiaries of the United States
in the year 1868, % per cent could not read when
tIaSe % ncr cent werp of fnraon hirtb Iover
go per cent were in New York and Boston,, % per
cent were under age and 80 per cent were insane
and feeble minded. And ignorance. idleness, home
lessness, Orphanage, Righteousness and drunken
were the sources of at least 90 per cent OF all
crime and hepessness in some form describes
the great majority OF these causes, as they are
negative and preventable. description OF the
process by which
THE AVERAGE CRIMINAL
Is made was then eloqnently given by DR.. Powers,
when the question of "What can be done by
society to lessen crime and to save men from be-
coming and continuing TO be criminalsYr was
asked. The laws we have must be enforced. All
OF us should discharge our duties as citizens. DO
your duty as jurymen when called upon. II q
large percentage of crime is the result OF depriva-
ton then let this be remedied Unpack our tene-
ment houses. Give us rapid transit and means to
scatter this vast population into the country, ana
that will lessen one-half the crime OF the
city. Give light to the minds Of these
people. Compulsory education is the word,
and let the State see that such laws, when made,
are carried out Reform our penal system, and
let the penalties for crime in early youth be such
as will allow of reformation Keep criminals in
the hands of the law until they can be returned to
society proper men; and If such reformation cam
not be made let them die there; and then every
man and woman, every boy and girl, will be able
to walk the streets OF city with the feeling that
their lives are not at the disposal Of others.
CHURCH