Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-11
FLOWERS FOR llLONS
Helen Stuart Richings Favors Gov
ering Them With Roses
DEAD ruRDERERS STILL on EARTH
Not in the Body, Hat la the spirit Direct
ing That Vengeance be Melted oat
tor Their Hansin Rank
seatinsentatety.

ment. She expressed regret that she
was to speak for the last time IN many
months here, and of the pleasure that she
had derived from intercourse with
Grand Rapids people. Turning to the
subject, she said that she thought that
discussions on the subject had been dis
cussed from the size of reason or from
the side OF the heart alone. She hoped
10 combine both views. The law OF
Moses was ''an eye for an eye and n
tooth for tooth" Jesus said. IL give
unto YOU a better commandment, that
We love Que another. The law OF Moses
is not for following III this age OF pro-
gresslon. The law OF Jesus Is not the
law OF vengeance but the law OF love.
She referred 10 the law OF Moses pro-
yidlng stonng to death for the sin OF
drunkenness, and asked why that law
should not be held good now II the
other law of Noses should be chung TO.
The idea would be considered prepos-
terous. The answer Is that the world IS
growing better; IL is coming into a
grander conception OF the potent
power of love. The speaker referred 10
the saying OF a reverend gentleman.
abolish the criminal and you abolish
the crime" Ii seems like putting the
cart before the horse. The right way Is
to abolish the spirt of hatred, the SINFUL
heart, and you wall abolish the crime.
Never Abolished Crime,
Capital punishment has been the rule
but il never has abolished the crime.
Taking human life under any clrcum-
stances whatever is murder. Society
owes the murderer duty, and murder
ing HIM is merely Sinking the respon-
sibllity. Mankind hold human life too
loosely. We are too careless even of
our own lives. This lack of conception
of the true value of life is one OF the
causes of murder, but the greatest
cause is the criminal conception of the
human race. Life not conceived IN love
but in lust. What can you expect to be
the outcome when, perhaps, hate Is
rloting in the veins of the one conceiv-
ing and even rebelling against partner
shin in the production of human life.
Another point, We as spirituaiists be-
lieve that in physicaldeath We ourselves
do not lose our individuality. We still
have our loves i'll the physical world
and have direct communications. The
ones who love are they whom we see
after death, spiritually. Selfish spirits
on earth attract selfish, envious spirits
of the other world. In killing the mur-
derers body you do not kill his spirit
and be conimunes with others on earth
producing hate for judge, jury and
mankind. He does not go out of the
world. In carrying the murderez 10 the
gallows you get rid OF his body but his
evil desires remain and society is not
protected. His criminal nature is
the same after death as In life. You
have merely robbed him OF the particu-
lar instrument of his desires, the body.
He seeks another instrument. These
men can influence us for good or i'll,
and he soon finds victim to commit
murder in revenge for the murder of
his own body.
Crime is Not Abating.
Murder is not decreasing, and the
souls of murdered criminals are infiu-
entail in this result. The protective
policy so called is then influential in
increasing the crime. Instead of iop-
ping off the branches of the tree by
killing the murderer let Us strike at the
root by getting rid of sin. Murderers
do not make crime; crime makes mur-
derers. Ii we would bring into the
world children whose life is love, you
must produce them IN spirit or love.
With such spirit you cannot fail OF
Of the desired result, but alas. friends
it is too true that any thought OF the
future results seldom crosses the minds
of the participators. Environment has
TO large extent a determining influence
on the child. II the child be born ia love
and surrounded 10y love. pure, loving,
noble man will be the result, and the
converse proposition Is as true. Then
let us bring up our children so that the
next generation shall see fe ser murders.
Education is the key OF the situation.
Educate the parents that they may
bring forth children in purity. The
criminal is redeemed not by vengeance;
1t does not follow that the reformatory
is not necessary, but it follows that II
should not be an institution OF legal
vengeance, but of reformation.
God Doe. Not Punish.
Even God does not punish in the or
dinary meaning of thu term. Instead
OF condenlning the carrying OF flowers
to the criminal encourage it, as show
ing the criminal love for him, though
not for ms crime. Don't wait tlli be is
in prison, however, before bestowing
your favor of love, but begin even at
the conception of the child. Criminals
are made worse by their prison environ
ments. The lesser criminals should not
be cast IN constant contact with those
who nave been stepped in crime. The
question should not be 10 make the
criminal suffer, bat to make hlm bet
ter. Then let helping hand. the spirit
of love, OF Jesus C'lrist be our guide.
The man 10 put at the head OF the re-
is not the one whose poiiti-
cal influence IS the greatest,
but whose heart is the great.
est The whole affair is smirched
~ politics. Many a proud family
of years ago walks now With bowed
head az the TAIL of brother. father or
the shame Of daughter or mother. 40
any time may come 10 IA the terrible
1nen your eyes viii open
"a the fact that love not vengeance
should rule. ii your friend u NUT
deged you SEQ the Necessity Of ven
gesnes. then when your eyes are
sllmmed aud your Judgment warped.
~ the murderer lsa 81 yuiif family Then
'i0 yon ses lt the same Esii ts one =
eTll a. all Jesus never uttered a wofl
the thought Of an eye lot sn
eys. strive 10 sssnfs g. universal love.
the love 81 tod IN suss srif,t Jesss
loseai iovsa ali. tssrssssss i've af lle tses
l,t iasssi. e.ish love the Love THAT
vsil lift vss watid.
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