New-York tribune., 1897-01-18
sr1cIDE SOMETIMES JUSTIFIED
THE REV. NJ ST. c. WRIGHT ThiNN'
THERE ARE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
UNDER WHICH SELF DESTRUCTION
woIrr. n RE MORALLY RIGHT.

The Rev Merle 81. &. Wright, pastor OF the ''e'oN
Unitarian Church. One-hundred- d-and-twenty- hrs'-S'.
and Ienox-ave preached yesterday "io' 'e
"suic,de" lie took the ground that suicide uhoer
certain circumstances. and even the kilIins OF oe
were iustifabIe and sometimes duty. BUT ora'-
narily he declared. the killing OF ones se'i Il Wv,
depth OF immortality dishonorable and cowaruy'
He said. among other things:
THE causes Of suicide Of three KINDS. Ihe'e
are those OF physical nature. those that haNe ~ ~
with ones environment and are outside OF MS con
troll and causes that are nscrutable. having TO do
with the mans individuality. which Is not open 10
the world In some cases suicide appears 10 pe an
action OF liberty but liberty unfetiered IL Is
the response of individuality. weak or strong'
10 It's environment. Fatasm has nothing 10 90 WIN
H. and the phenomenon Is not wholly physical AZ ~
the remedy: The causes OF suicide may be traced anu
some OF them may be removable. The nrst remeuy
might be strengthening OF the character OF the IN
dIviduaI We cannot amend the laws OF life. and no
individual has a right to ask for immunity from
them"
Mr. WrIgh, spoke OF Marion and Paulsen. French
and German authors on this subject. who take cp-
posing positions 10 the moral right or person 10
Kill himself in extreme circumstances. The former
argues that does not live wholly TO himself that
he has duties well as rights. and that one VINO
makes away with himself 10 escape arduous duty has
failed In all his duty and that such failure
Is the depth of immortality. He has committed high
treason. The latter while condemning suicide III
general holds that there where the killing
OF ones self Is honorable. Mr.. Wright then read
notes OF some ideas OF his which he had written
out when first asked to preach on the subject. He
said that he took middle ground lie said that he
believed that the last survivor In Clusters rally,
surrounded by savages and with no hope Of escape.
justified in killing himself to escape an inevitable
death. accompanied by torture. I'VE have right."
sail he ITO Kill ourselves our women relatives in
such case 10 prevent outrage" He said that In
cases of sickness incurable and burdensome where
the sufferer longs for death and his friends and rela
tves consent and with the consent OF the State. he
would adNoca that physician be allowed to Kill
the patient. under the supervision of a Magistrate
and other trustees or witnesses.
LAS we have right 10 I've we have right to
die that no man can take from u.s." said he He then
spoke OF cumulative and slow suicide through diss-
patton. overwork or even talking TOO much. and said
that 1t hard &c draw the line where active suicide
began. He said thai one could probably call IL sui
eide where the sef-killng conscious. Praci-
caly. all suicide immoral and cowardly but there
exceptions. The individual alone can Judge Of
his justiiiability. and no person lay out gen.
era1 law. The Christian martyrs committed suicide
for the faiths sake. Perhaps there are exigencies
where duty AM honor bid us make away with our
selves.
However. the preacher thought that the subject.
was perious one TO broach. He said that people
ought not 10 be in circumstances be interested In
suicide. and that II a sign of health to be in
different 10 the subject.