New-York tribune., 1879-05-07
rHE rnrGS OE POcASsET.

IT, appears that the "sacrifice " in POcasset
last week of the Freeman child by its father
was approved not only by the mother of the
poor baby, but by the whole sect of Second
Adyentists. to which the Freemans belong.
The murderer and his wife are reported to be
well-meaning and intelligent, and hitherto
were careful, affectiOnate parents; and the
members of the sect to which they belong in
POcasset have been so far law-abiding, edu-
Gated folk, fact which makes their adOp-
ton of the necessity of murder as part OF
their creed more alarming. To certain ex-
tent every man has a right to regulate his
conduct by whatever religious fancies he
chooses, no matter how fantastic. But when
a religious frenzy is strong enough to induce
father and mother to murder their child
and sleep TRANQUILITY by its dead body, and to
lead twenty-seven other fanatics to accept
calmly the deed as a proper one, and to con-
ceal it, it is time for the public to look into
the matter.
There have always been IN every division
of the Christian Church believers in the
Second Advent: that is, that Christ would
come at some indefinite time, i'll person, again
to the earth, to reign a thousand years. From
Iren8us and Justin Martyr to the clergymen
out of all the Protestant sects who assembled
in this city last October this doctrine has had
good men for its defenders. But, unfor-
tunately, in every age there have been, too,
unreasOning and fantastic thinkers who, going
beyond this vague belief, have fixed on GER
tain time for Christ's coming and placed it
within their own generation. The beasts with
horns of Daniel, the vials Of the Revelation,
and countless other prophetic types, have
served from age to age as figures by which
the problem was worked out and the time
fixed for His appearance. The Church conf
dently expected Him in the first, second and
fifth centuries. In later times the date was
positively settled at 1885, and again at 1913.
DR.. Cumming would not consent to delay the
Judgment Day beyond 1866, or at the
very furthest 1867. Many of our readers can
remember the wild feryOr of the Millerites,
who destroyed their property and made ready
their ascension robes, so positive was their
faith. Doctor Cummings disciples belonged
to better educated class, but their faith was
as fervent, and their consequent disappoint-
ment as great. At the present time a large
body of believers, led by Doctor Sess, of
ance of Christ within very few years. They
believe that the righteous dead will be raised
when he comes. 1t is very easy to under
stand how this faith, though harmless enough
in itself, is likely to be cherished by morbid
minds and to bring them TO the insane cOndi-
ton of the sect in Pocasset They reason, not
unnaturally, that if the dead are to be raised in
happiness in year or two, it is an unselfish
and heroic act in q parent TO Kill his child
and so save it that year or two OF earthly sin
and suffering. In fact, the doctrine in every
age has invariably led impractical men into
wild excesses. The MOntanists were Second
Adventists SO were CrOmwell's soldiers, call
ing themselves Saints, and Staying women and
children In the name of the Lord. SO were the
Brethren of the Free Spirit, filthy in morals as
in person. Oddly enough, belief in the inn
mediate coming of their Master has tempted
morbid men into almost every crime.
Christian men and women who find these fan
tastic dreams of coming glory based on horned
beasts and vials pleasant would do we'll
to lay chem aside and take up the real work
and hard actual life which God has given
them to live.
As for this doctrine of " sacrifice" evolved
out of these dreams, we hope the MaSsachu-
setts Courts will give it as sharp treatment
as can be awarded to insanity. Not only
Freeman and his wife but the cOnsenting
tribe of fanatics should be punished, as an
example. Nothing sobers an American relg-
ious fanatic like little cold law. We are in
favor of religious liberty, but not to the ex-
tent of Thuggism.
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