The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-15
CREED or THE DUSKhRDs.
It Prevents a Farmer from Taking Back n
Horse stolen from Him.

Horse stolen from Him.
CuuRoHTowN. Pa. Sept. 14-The refusal OF a
Dunkard farmer to receive back horse that had
boon stolen from him. has created a great deal
OF discussion In this valley where nearly every
farmer belongs to a religious sect. The farmer
whose horse was stolen made no effort at all to
recover the beast. He did not make his loss
known to his neiRhbors until they had In
uuired what had become OF his big roam. Then
he said that one night somebody broke open
his stable door and took tho horse. but nothing
else. The news soon spread and q township
constable captured the animal on the Welsh
Mountain. but the thief escaped. When the
constable took the horse back to the owner.
the farmer said:
L do not want the horse. The man who took
It must have had more use for the animal than
had or he would not have been driven to
steal. Give it back to him. II he wants my
harness and wagon let him have them also"
Tho farmer was a man Of his word. and the
horse was led away. and Ia still In possession
of the constable. Strangely enough. nearly
every man belonging to his special sect here
aboute approves his action. They refer to the
Bible az their authority. One passage cited is
Matthew V: 40: And II any man will sue you ut
the law and take away thy coat. let him have
thy cloak also" As these bects never 80 to
law. they simply believe that IL any man takes
their coat they should also freely give their
cloak: II any one takes their horse. they
should also let him have their wagon. Once
thing is stolen from them they will never re-
eeive 1t back as their property.
The same thing holds good with the women
folks. They would not think OF receiving back
again any property stolen from them. nor do
they want any one to pursue thief. or to
have any hand in his punishment No
matter how much farmer may owe on his
land. he will bear his losses by theft without
q murmur. The farmers of those scots some-
times 20 into debt when buying land. In al
most everything else they pay as they 60.
The question as to receiving back stolen
horse has created a division in some OF the
other sects. however. The people who favor
receiving back the stolen animal argue that
the Bible does not say that where thief
steals your property you shnll not receive It
back that not to take back stolen goods and
not to punish thieves. is simply encouraging
and inviting such crime: and that it is wrong
for man in debt not to take back stolen
property which he cannot afford to lose. and
which may interfere with him In the payment
OF his interest money.
A recent sermon by one OF the Bishops sets
forth the belief OF those who would not
receive back stolen property He said: Our
Saviour always likens His people to sheep.
q purpose in view in picking out sheep as
type Of submissive character that is most
remarkable to those who are thoroughly
informed on the subject. OF all the animals
that represent the true Christian character,
the sheep stands first. l don't mean the
bucks. have referred to the lambs and the
young sheep. You farmers who are sheep
growers. you understand this. Did you ever
handle an animal that resisted less2 When
you catch a sheep docs it not Immediately
give n1 It never fights you. never resists
you. Even the little rabbit will try to bite
you and escape. Not so the sheep. As quickly
as the sheep finds itself overcome it is docile.
See how 1t lies still to be shsared. Ask the
butcher. He will tell you that the lamb or
sheep will never resist the knife at It's throat,
but will die. oh. so peacefully. without n strug-
gle. There Is not bit Of resentment or Bit
terness in the soft. calm eyes az it looks
at you and bleeds to death. That is the
true type OF submissveness. OF humility
OF inoffensiveness. and 1t fully illustrates
what our Saviour means by saying II a man
smites you upon your cheek turn to him the
other in submission and humility. II a man
wrong you. bear it, II man speak i'll OF you.
love him. II q man steal from you. let him
has need Of it. Do not follow after him to
punish him. Bear your losses in love In
evil. Be kind and msrciful. and true happiness
will come to you and the Lord will sustan
you; You will never lose by it, but always
be the gamer even in 6eath. Do not resist the
man who persecutes you. or beats you. or
steals from you. or does you wrong Rather
love him. and help him, and be kind and merci-
Several who heard the sermon shook their
heads and said they could no. be Christian
and that thieves would strip Thorn of all they
owned.