The San Francisco call., 1896-08-24
Self-Murder Is a Crime Against
Self, Against Society and
Against God.
VIEWS OF REV. J. SMALL
He Denounces EuthanaSia and Uses
for a Test the Parable of the
Good Samaritan.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALI
COS Rrnadvav Anr 22


The discussion of the subject of suicide
and the death of those whose sufferings
are incurable, that was brought up by the
publication of Rev. DR.. Wendte's sermon
in THE CALL two weeks ago, is broadening
out and is now the theme of pulpits and
lecture-rooms all over the country.
DR.. Wendte went deeper into the subject
this morning, his theme being, "Is Suicide
Ever Justifable?' and his text, do
Thyself No Harm" Acts xvi:2S.
After reviewing at length the history of
suicide and giving some statistics of the
ages and nationalities of suicides, DR..
Wendte said:
"And yet. when am asked TO ask my
self the question whether or not suicide
can ever be justified from moral point
of view, despite the largest charity, the
profoundest sympathy for suffering which
l can bring to bear, I am compelled to
answer mol suicide is never justifable.
Some hold, indeed, that seIf-destruetion is
anindication of insanity; that only the
insane take their own lives. In that case,
of course, there would be no moral re-
sponsibility for suicide, and it would not
call for ethereal treatment.
MANY suicides are the result of insanity,
but many are not. Suicide in general
springs from a selfish concentration on
ones own interests, which no high, moral
conception OF life's purpose can palliate or
excuse. 1t is always uniustifable. Every
violent attempt to shorten our own or an
others days is wicked defiance of divine
laws established for the good of humanity.
Again, suicide is a grieyous wrong
against our higher self ana mas its roots on
seIfshness. The man who embraces the
good of others equally with his, own enter
tains no such sickly, morbid feelings as
would prompt him to voluntary death.
Thirdly, suicide is wrong against ones
family and near kindred. It deprtves
them of your presence and services, and
casts stigma upon them, and inficts a
lifelong pain and sorrow.
"Once more, self-destruction is a wrong
committed against human society. Your
fellow-man has a right to your services
and loyalty, and should not be deprived
of them.
81 believe in and have recently advo-
Gated the right and duty of society to cut
short the life of certain of its members in
exceptional and extreme cases. Instances
of this would be capital punishment, war
in protection of society and eutheanasia
in mercy to the sufferers.
'1n enthanasia, as I would conduct it, no
wrong is committed against the betterself
of man, for in cases OF extreme physical
torture the higher faculties of man become
clouded and unbalanced, and the suffering
endured serves no moral purpose. 1t
would not wrong theI family, for they
would assent to it. 1t would not wrong
society, for society itself would undertake
the duty, and be spared the narrowing
spectacle of unnecessary suffering. It
would transform society, rather, into a
ministering angel OF Gods mercy or peace.
"But self-murder fuIflls none of these
conditions. It is wrong against self.
against ones family and fellow men, and
fnally-it is an act of impiety against
God"