The herald., 1896-06-29
is IT WRONG TO
COMMIT SUICIDE ?
The Risk Of Suicide


source considered by men in general to
be authoritative, we must consider all
opinions and views of suicide, from what
ever standpoint expressed, as nothing
more than the personal convictions of
the persons expressing them.
The actions of men may be classed, as
to their moral character, in two divLs-
ions, viz, those that are good or evil
per Sc, and those that are good or evil
according to their effects on our fellow
men. And so diverse are the consequent
ces of any particular act. and so varied
are the standards by which men grade
the moral standing of human conduct
that 1t is often well nigh hopeless task
to correctly classify any particular deed.
With suicide we believe this is especially
the case.
The decalogue and the teachings of the
Bible come nearer to being the universal
standard by which the conduct of men
Is measured than any other code of eth
les, yet on this very point the sacred
book Is singularly silent. To be sure,
there are cases of suicide recorded there
in, but they are simply a part of the
narrative and are given without a word
of comment. There is nothing, indeed,
to show that they are intended ito point
moral and adorn a tale" If 1t is claim
ed that the prohibition, Thou shalt not
KILL" is intended to apply to the taking
Of ones own life we reply that it is gen.
orally believed that the ten command
ments enjoin upon us a certain line of
conduct in two directions embracing the
whole sphere of human action) viz, our
attitude toward the Creator and Father
of us all and our conduct toward our
fellow-men. Not a word is said about
our individual self-treatment. Whether
the declaration that mo man liveth to
himself alone" covers our conduct to-
ward ourselves along with our mutual
obligations or not Is merely matter of
personal opinion, and is only such.
Let us discuss the question on the
highest possible plane. Every one will
admit that the possession of free moral
agency is what constitutes men respon-
sible beings. But there accompanies,
of necessity, the possession of the cleo
tive faculty, one condition which Is
equally and everlastingly binding upon
us all, namely, the obligation to seek
for light, knowledge and to consistently
live up to it when found. Here mans
responsibility in the premises ends. 1t
is difficult to see how 1t could carry him
further. Neither God nor nature eX.
poets of any created being aught beyond
their ability to realize; but neither God
nor nature will rest satisfied with the
achievement by their creatures of one
iota less than the utmost of which they
are capable.
Right here many, like Mr.. Severance,
will say: Your theory of free will is
all right, but in actual practice it does
not work. Man is the creature of en-
vironment and the pressure of circum-
stances leaves no room for the exercise
of free Will. Whatever he does or fails
to do is his fate, for he is the helpless
sport of destiny"
We will not quarrel with this view of
the case, but we believe 1t to be incom-
plete. We declare that this very pres
sure of circumstances" of which our
friends complain is what is needed to
evoke the exercise of the will; If it were
otherwise the will would become use
less faculty and would be a candidate
for atrophy anddecay.
The study Of evolution in the natural
world teaches no other truth more plain
ly than this, that an organ nu longer
needed or persistently neglected will
soon become useless or entirely abol-
ished. There is no reason for supposing
that the same law does not hold good in
the realm of psychics. The most skill
full pilot cannot control the movements
of a vessel lying in dead calm; there
must be steeerage-way or she will drift
like log.
1t needs but moments reflection to
see that a man cannot be divorced from
his environments-at least in a mata-
rial sense. 1t needs but little further
reflection to realize the fact that what
cNSi iic OOeS, tuIlihS, DelltNcS, Is the re-
suit OF choice; remembering of course
that choice, which Is but another name
for consent, may be either active or pas
sive, just as resistance may be active
or passive. How shall we escape if
we neglect so great salvation?" was not
| uttered as threat; it expressed truth,
| the working out Of which is pregnant
with untold import to the race.
If, then, this reasoning be accepted,
! it becomes patent that the moral as
| pect of suicide takes it's complexion of
| right or wrong from the conviction of
| each Individual, always bearing in mind
the obligation to find and follow all the
| light within reach.
Speaking broadly, this question, like
many others, is determined, in the alb
| sence of a definite standard, by "thc
| point of view" In other words, so far
as we can see, and so far as personal
accountability bears on the question
personal conviction arrived at by con-
| scientiouS and logical process must be
| the standard for forming ones Judgment
| ment.
Passing over the views of suicide helt
by persons of different beliefs-some ot
which have already been presented il
The Herald, as Theosophists, Free
| thinkers, Christians, etc, which are GER
| tainly germane to the subject, though
they do not in any wise tend to a fina
decisoin, the question presents itself tt
| US thus: Sentient and intelligent beings
possessing the attribute of free mora
| agency, are under a vital obligation t.
guide that faculty by all the light ant
| knowledge obtainable. Having don,
this, their responsibility in the premise.
| ceases. The consequences of the con.
| duct based on this free choice are be
yond their control, and go, with the con.
sequences of all other mems acts, tt
make up the destiny of the race.
There is no escaping ones environ
ment; there Is no evading decision
Man must at every turn Of necessity
take some course. There is no middl,
ground; passive, Indifferent drifting will
the current is as effective in the forma
ton of character, and just as fateful il
consequences as the most energetic ac
| tion.
Granted the crystallization of con
viction formed in the most dispassion
ate and conscientious manner, does 1
follow irrevocably that this convictio,
will be permanent? Every day adds Z
the sum of human knowledge; that sub
tie and mysterious spirit of Light tha
illumines internally. the lives of thos
who earnestly yearn for it, may at an,
moment shed new light upon points tha
you considered already settled and leat
you irresistibly to conclusions that yo,
could not reach before. We all know tha
this very experience comes to man,
men. Why should it not be yours? Ar
you sure that in placing your self be
yond these favorable chances you do no
risk losing more than you expect t
gain? How can you be sure? Does any