The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-10-08
The Crime Of Suicide.

nau not lnCcr1ereQ Win IL, suicide was
considered honorable and a sign of
courage. Demosthenes poisoned him
self when told that Alexander's sue
cessor had demanded the surrender of
the Athenian orators. Socrates killed
himself rather than surrender to
Philip of Macedon. Cato, rather than
submit to julius Cesar, took his own
life, and after three times his wounds
had been dressed tore them open and
persisted. Mithridates killed himself
rather than submit TO Pompey, the
conqueror. Hannibal destroyed his
life by poison from his ring, consider
ing life unbearable. Lycurgus, sui
eide. Brutus, suicide. Empedocles
leaped into the crater of Mount Etna.
Zeno, the philosopher, at ninety-eight
years of age, passing out from a
schoolroom, and falling and dislocat-
ing a finger, because of the pain hang
ed himself. After the disaster of Mos
cow, Napoleon always carried with
him preparation of opium, and one
night his servant heard the emperor
arise, put something in a glass and
drink it, and soon after the groans
aroused all the attendants, and it was
only through utmost medical skill he
was resuscitated from the
stupor of the opiate. Times have
changed, and yet the American con-
science needs to be toned up on the
subject of suicide. Have you seen a
paper in the last month that did not
announce the passage out of life by
ones own behest? Defaulters alarmed
at the idea of exposure, quit life pre-
cipitately. Men, losing large fortunes,
60 out of the world because they can
not endure earthly existence. Frus-
trated affection, domestic infelicity,
dyspeptic Impotence, anger, remorse,
envy, jealousy, restitution, misan-
thropy, are considered sufficient causes
for ascending from this life by paris
green. by laudanum, by belladonna, by
halter, by leap from the abutment of a
bridge, by firearms. More cases of
felo de SO in the last ten years than in
any ten years of the worlds existence,
and more in the last month than in any
twelve months. The evil is more and
more spreading. A pulpit not long
ago expressed some doubt as to wheth-
er there was really anything wrong
about quitting this life when it became
disagreeable, and there are found in
respectable circles people apologize
for the crime of suicide. l shall show
you before l get through that suicide is
the worst of all crimes, and shall lift
a warning unmistakable. I declare
that that man who, in the use OF
his reason, by his own act
snaps the bond between his, body
and soul, goes straight into per
dition. Shall prove it? Revelation
xxi, 8: ''Murderers shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with
fire and birthstone. Revelation xxi.
Is: Without are dogs, and sorcerers,
and whoremongers, and murderers. -
You do not believe the Testament?
Then perhaps you believe the Ten Com
mandments: "Thou shalt not kill
Do you say all these passages refer to
the taking of the life of others? Then
ask if you are not as responsible fol
your own life as for the life of others.
God gave you special trust in your life.
He made you the custodian of your life,
as He made you the custodian of no
other life. He gave you, as weapons
with which to defend it, two arms to
strike back assailants, two eyes to
watch for invasion, and a natural love
of life which ought ever to be on the
alert. Assassination of others is mild
crime compared with the assassination
of yourself, because in the latter case il
is treachery to an especial trust, it is the
surrender of a castle you were especially
appointed to keep, it is treason to q
natural law, and it is treason to God
added to ordinary murder.