The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-06-13
CAN HE BE A CHRISTIAN
AND BE 4 WYER, HER CHI fl VT,
 EDITOR OR POLITYCIAN?


 CIub-Judge Baldwin Says a Chris
 tinn Lawyers Duty is to Defend
 Self Con fessed Criminal.
 The discussion at the meeting of the
 Congregational club Monday evening
 was very interesting, and the subject z under fire was very ably handled. Tht
 topic was, Gan a man be aChristian?'
 and follow certain avocations, whicl
 were specified.
 After an anthem by the choir Presi-
 dent Clark said that a number ot
 questions had been arranged for the
 evenings programme, and he called
 upon Judge Simeon E. Baldwin to an- < swer the first "Can man be a Chris
 tan and be q successful lawyer?'
 Judge Baldwin's reply combined an an-
 swer to the frequently heard question,
 'How can a conscientious lawyer de- fend a client whom he knows to be
 guilty?" He said:
 "What is the relation of Christianity
 to the lawyers and the law? Modern law is the outcome of Christianity. The first law book was written fourteen hundred years ago by Roman empe- < TOT, and the three rules of law therein laid down are extant to-day. They are: Live honorably, injure nobody, give every one his rights. But some body says, How can lawyer defend his client on a criminal charge when he knows that the man is guilty?' Pre- nTc on, thiS ho Gic of law Ia i'd down fourteen hundred years ago-to give every one his rights. The criminal has just as good a right to his defense ' as the state has to it's prosecution. He has a right to be heard; he may be able to excuse his offense, to offer some explanation which will paliate it's commission. The government is sure to be represented by an officer of abil- ity and power. who will make the most of his case. Who, then, shall appear for the prisoner, guilty or under great pressure of suspicion. It is the right of every criminal that he should be de- tended, if he cannot defend himself, and it is the right of every lawyer to undertake that defense His client should be properly and truthfully put before the state and society. His case should be thoroughly looked after But the lawyer should in honor do no more for his client than the client could do for himself were he a lawyer. It is very rare that a lawyer knows that his client is guilty. Is he to thrust aside judge and jury and say, You are guilty; I'll not defend you By no means. His duty is to take up x T ,1 1.;r l>A.+ T,, ,,1l t6r walks of life I am glad to say that I know of none where the professions of Christianity are held higher than in the bar. A man cannot be successful lawyer unless he be true, honest and upright, and if he be these he certainly has gone far toward becoming a Chris st:fn."
 Answering to the same general ques- tion, Dr. Henry Fl. Smith was to have replied for the physicians, but was un- able to be present. Answering for the business man, Solomon Davis, of Da- wis &1 Co.,, said:
 "Ability is an inheritance, large or small increased by use, diminished by abuse. A good man, minus ability can hardly be successful in any line of business, and man of ability, without the fundamental grounding of moral- ty, can scarcely succeed. But the man | of high character will succeed, and more than any other man he contrib 1 utes to the success of others He es- tablishes and fosters confidence In our government, money, stores, in every thing even to the sweetness of the milk | left on our stoops in the morning. So, | then, Christian men assist others to success. The Christian character is | wonderful in it's power, elevating a community, a nation. The same spirit i enters into business, compelling even men who are not protesting Christians to conduct their business on Christian principles. Commerce follows Chris A tianity as the day the night. Plant the seed of Christianity and there springs up the desire for a better place to live in, better things to wear, and more ad- of all sorts"
 Editor Pickett, of the Leader, re- piled to the question: Can a man be a Christian and be successful edi- tor?" Naturally, he remarked, he had faith that an editor does possess some of the graces and better clements, de-
 
 that an editor is wicked by instinct and by desire, revelling in wickedness and never quite so thoroughly satisfied as when seeking and finding wrong do- ing. Many Christians pray earnestly for editors, and the latter need it. But the rule for conduct is the golden rule, and the man who follows it must have the Christian feeling somewhere in his heart. No newspaper man can be suc- ,essful without practicing it. If to be Christian means work as well as words performances as well as promises, con- { stant effort to do the right thing at the right time, may not the editor hope 70 pass the golden gates as a Chris tian?" George B. Hurd spoke from the teachers standpoint, saying that to { 1in the question seemed to be, tIs ] Christianity a practical thing for us { 10 adopt and take into our daily lives md practice?" He was convinced that ] t is. The central thought of Chris- t ianity is not the following or imita- ( ion of Christ, but something deeper, t broader and further reaching. The ( eacher who goes about his duties with he central idea of the fatherhood of Bod and the brotherhood of man must ucceed. Place, position or preterment Ire not the teachers goals His sue T 1,.z ,l., |, slr, .,,l