The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-03


address upon the subject of the recent
disturbance in this city at Christ Episco.
pal Church on Sunday night The ad-
dress was astentively listened to by
large number of citizens although no
previous announcement had been made
that such was to be the subject o; his
evening discourse. Mr.. Hall presented
some new ideas upon the subject and
handled his discussion in a manner that
will commend itself to the general pub,
lie. His address in full is herein given
\from the following text:
Jndges 5;23: Curse yo, Meroz said the angel
ot Jenoyah, curse yc bitterly the inhabitants
the Lord, to the help of the Lord against The
mighty
After the speaker had outlined the
historical cause OF the uttorance of the
text as being me luke warmness OF some
OF the tribes of Israel which caused
them to neglect giving assistance to the
divinely chosen authorities he con
tinued as follows:
human government Is delegated from
the King OF kings. The rulers OF the
people are representatives OF the Most
High. This notion Of government has
prevailed in all nations. 1.-THE divine
right of kings" has become dogma.
And In some nations so strong a hold
has the idea taken upon the popular
mind that the actual descent OF tho
ruler from Divinity il assumed as
fact. The ancient Greeks held that
their princes and heroes were directly
descended from the gods. Ancient
Egypt, China and modern Japan are
instances OF the directly held descent
from Divine parentage of emperor and
ruler.
The fifth commandment of the deca.
logue is held everywhere to include
obedience TO rulers as we'll as to parents,
and to both because of the authority
delegated to them by God himself. And
this notion is apparently most natural
one.
Therefore, whether in republic or
In monarchy whether the ruler is
such by reason of natural descent in q
genealogical line or elected to tempo
rary office by the people-once installed
he represents the authority of God. del
egated to him for purpose. This is
what 1t means to take the oath of office.
In republic we have no such direc-
tions from the Divinity as to who shall
rule, as in q hereditary monarchy ia fur
nished by the genealogical succession,
and In the olden times by the mouth of
prophet. But VIC have tho voice OF the
Divinity, nevertheless, heard in un-
mistakable fashion in the fall Of the
ballos wnicn determines tho popular
will. AS speaks the will of the peotls
SO speaks the will of God. 1t NAV
eventuate in evil, but it is Gods voice,
nevertheless, that places the magistrate
in his Office.
.Lose this assumption and we become
anarchists people once released
from this view of human government
is doomed to speedy destruction.
While on tho other hand ruler who
feels not his double responsibility, that
to the people and that to his and their
God, will develop into either tyrant or
tool.
Such is the fundamental thought in
the reign OF law in this republic Law
makers and law executors have their
responsibility placed upon them by tho
Joint voice of those whom they Jointly
represent. the people, and the peoples
God.
1t is for this reason that obedience to
civil rulers is taught as part of the
Christian religion. This church teaches
1T in the words ito honor and obey the
civil authorities" taught her children
as part OF one of the two duties de-
volving upon them as Christians, their
duty towards GCd and their duty TO-
"The laws delay" has become axio.
matte. 1t is fact that proper safe.
guards can be put about any accused
person without having the tedious and
expensive waste OF time In the trial of
the Indictment which too often prevails.
and we may hope that some Legislature
Of Virginia in the near future will follow
the example of the mother country, and
cut off the relic of the past in her com
mon law practice. But there also
should be some way of impeaching any
lawyer who, for q fee, would defend
criminal after he had been proven guilty
OF the crime as charged.
There ls, therefore, this double respon
sibiIlty for the popular distrust OF
criminal trials II rests upon tho com
monwealth, which ultimately is tho
people fanselves-and upon uDscrupu-
lous mem pers of a profession sworn to
uphold the laws and put down crime
1t cannot oa denied that past escape f
criminals had something TO do with the
determination Of many in this city on
the night OF September co.
But temporary insanity was also
factor in that lamentabie affair, for on
this occasion there would have been NJ
delay in the due and proper punishment
OF the criminal.
NOW, there 10 6ucn thing as tenn
porary insanity. And, in a community
like this, taught such a view of the
civil authority as I have just outlined.
the events of September 90 and 81 are
to be explained only by this assump-
ton: The people were tenn porarlly in
sane.
Their insanity was spread by con-
tact. Passion excites passion, mental