The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-26
Tho Question of What Would Jesus DO as
to CopyriRht9

to Copyright
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: In THE
Sun on Aug. II Mr.. Frederick W. Pangborn
won Id like to know how Jesus Christ would
treat the question Of copyrighting book de-
voted to the spread OF His doctrines He
wishes to question the morality Of copyriGhtinR
purely religious book which is intended and
expected to do good in proportion to It's olrcu-
laton The copyright. he thinks. limits it's
circulation. makes monopoly" OF It for
selfish purposes. and thus sets an example
directly opposed to the teachings Of Jesus and
Of the little book referred to-which Is the
popular little book entitled In His Steps,"
and. think. written by the Rev. Mr.. Sheldon
Of Chicago.
What Jesus would do or sanction in a given
case can best be decided from His teachings.
and not from what He actually did or did not do.
We live in different age and in different cir
cumstances from those OF the days OF Christ.
He never travelled on a railway: must we not
do 1t because OF His negative example7 He did
not dress in the fashion OF our times: are we
wicked for not wearing the same cut OF cloth
ing? He engaged in no Cainful occupation: Is
1t wrong for us to do so? He never got mar
ried: but there is no evidence that He disap-
proved OF marriage. He preached the Gospel,
but not as settled pastor and at a salary. nor
did He preach very often in churches. temples
or synagogues. Are we to follow His example
as TO open air preaching because He followed
that system. or shall we hold our meetings in
church edinces or under shelter. where tho
changes of weather will not generally inter.
rupt the proceedings2
Then again. He did many things that His
followers cannot do and are not xpected to try
to do He healed the sick OF diseases that are In
durable TO any known treatment. He raised
the dead In certain cases. Heforgaye sins and
In one Instance at ieHst. promised paradise 70
only offset his crimes by what may be called
death-hrd repentance; These examples and
man Others, are n2t Tor us to copy except as
sapcrtaseiaIly 4 looks as If either course as to
morally right The hook is the authors TI pro Do
erty,no one can question that-and he can
hs p wdlS pfse f9 FL
o5E p Tnsq ia 5ssss
pies to do IT, If. then oral preaching is to be
paid for at settled rate. why not pay Tor a
dredT Of thousands Of listeners lreadersl, and
possibly millions? Practically. In view Of its
iation; That might even be less were the book
to s be lres or soli only at a cent or two.
hs brss to worn dc I'd. the
n heGagss the purn9ss q the book is noble
engagei in E hny s on Gthe.
Among them are the ink. paper and type manu-
iac.urers' printers. pressmen. book binders.
country. booksellers. and every other person
whose lnhor enters into the production Of a
hound to work Tor nothing and and him m dq
These queries show that the subject has n
probably did not consider when he T rose frnm
tn. pHrusai of the book and penned his
The character Of Jesus was so macmillan an
3ut OF me common. so divine in fact. that il
ga Is an inc3nEru2ms thought that associates Him
n
came ca into the world for special purpose. viz:
tRih Drh bot ssyaI9n t2 fallen race The ons
modern calling is that He preached"that Hs
WI WAS Is preacher As pastor lately remarked
nhilanthropist in the usual acceptance ~ tbs
t thn!s var al" wrought cures and miracles. but
to be the Son oGod He had nothing to n DO S wth
era principle on which it should be condmnGi sh-
that iva was to Ro unto others as YOU would
SnoHf o %" to
he left Ms disciples to establish His ehmr rS on
WoTE PF IN Hafs "na we h9ye the
arr SPincib t Th2t Vas Church founded on tho
there could saares Tor stao S5P1 under
and no copyTightine OF books Tor indiyidnnH9
p pat tton as l. well as no such thing as COM.
il may y, be added that in no way can the t.ssb.
IN or me Srrmon on the Mount be carried In
Ism. Christ and His disciples foIloWe Sot tbnt
ssfs,"p the Golden Rule inculcates IL and ths
ni's"lnIes 81 Jesus. fresh from Ills tcschingSo
a,% rit, 1t s'ter His Ascension. with Rrsat
G en- II Jesus had no such system in mirnJ
T Va nnHsl9e roint Is there to The ten y"rsas
mt TI conclude the sixth chapter Of MattbeWsse'
,, Ky Ky that system having been abandoned
nnproys e W Sb"mGi 10y Roneral consent those who
IIhhh. It Is only mild form Of the selGshneanns
Thai sv ,he ttnristtSnIty q the age jusIaes
PROBABLY the author OF the book in nnes that
hies sp thought that 70 copyright his worE Wa
ID any sense. opposed to the Golden Rule, "NS'
RHrNEREcK. N. Y. Aug. %. Hih'f BINDER