The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-09-26
The Increase of Suicide,

DR.. Talmage on Sunday last at his
church in Brooklyn. spoke on the sub.
ject of suicide.
SIN olden times said Mr.. Tai
mage, ''suicide was considered honor
able and sign of courage. Times
have changed, but the American con
science needs to be toned up on the
subject of suicide. Have you seen
newspaper in the last month that did
not announce suicide Defaulters,
alarmed at the prospect of exposure,
have put themselves out of existence.
Frustrated affections, dyspeptic impa-
tiences, envy, hate, destitution and dis
appointment are considered sufficient
causes for putting an end to ones exis-
tence. There have been more suicides
during the past two years than ever
before more during the last month
than in the past twelve months. The
evil is growing greater and greater
The pulpit has been considcrin.
whether there was anything wrong in
suicide, and III high circles there are
persons who are apologize for suicide,
Let me say at the outset that some of
the best Christians have committed su-
icide, but always in state OF demen-
tia, and / have no more doubt of their
happiness in the future life than | have
of the Christian who dies naturally in
his bed. Scotland is prolific of great
men, but she has produced none great
er than Hugh Miller. Yet his brain
gave way and he was found dead by
his bedside with bullet wound in his
head. William Cooper who shares
with Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley
the chief honors as a writer of hymns,
made to attempts to end his life, and
when God iDterposed to save him he
sat down and wrote that hymn
God moves IN a mysterious way
His wonders 10 perform.
"While we make this merciful al
lowance with regard to those who are
plunged into meDtal incoherence, | de,
clare that that man who steps in be,
tween his body and his soul goe:
straight to perdition. You are more
responsible for your own life than yor
are for the lives of others. Assassina
tion of Others is a mild crime compar
ed with the assassination of yourself
Notwithstanding that the Bible anC
every argument is against it yet suicid,
is on the increase. What is the cause
l charge in6delty and agnosticism a
being the chief Ecause of suicide. |
there be no hereafter why should ",
hold back the folding doors betwcel
this life and death There has neve
been a case of suicide where the sui
eide was not either insane or an intidel
You say the cause was business trou
BILE. Go clear back of that and ao
knowledge that il is the result of teach
ing infdelity. Intidelity always ha
been apologetic for self-demoltion
! After Tom Paine published his bool
there was an alarming increase Of sui
eide.
If infdelity could carry It's way an,
|, persuade the majority of the people i
!. this country that suicide was honora
bic, the North River would be SO ful
! of corpses that the ferry-boats woul
i be impeded and the shot of the sui
!, oide's pistol could be heard every hou
: of the day. For your trouble | pre-
scribe life rather than death. Peopl
who have had it worse than you hav
gone joyfully ali the way throug
life, God knows when TO let you II
from your earthly bondage, For my
self | thank God for a Christians lifC
Christians death and a Christian
immortality