Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1901-07-05
Indignation Over Fraud.

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stops.
Indignation Over Fraud.
There is another sin that We are Of
tentimes called to be angry with, and
when it is sacrificed We are vehement
in denunciation. We hope that the de-
tectives will soon come upon the track
of the absconding bank official, of the
burglar who blew up the safe. of the
clerk who skillfully changed the figures
in the account book, of the falsifier who
secured the loan on valueless property,
of the agent who because of his per-
centage wrongfully admits a man to
the benefit of a life insurance policy
when his heart is ready to stop and
who comes from an ancestry char
acteristically short lived.
One act of fraud told of in big head
lines in the morning papers rightfully
arouses the nations wrath. 1t is the
interest of every good man and good
woman who reads of the crime to have
1t exposed and punished. Let it go
and you put premium on
fraud, you depresS public morals, you
induce those who are on the fence be-
tween right and wrong to get down on
the wrong side, and you put the busi-
ness of the world on a down grade. The
constabulary and penitentiary must do
their work. But while the merciless
and the goddess cry: Good for him!
am glad he is within prison doors!"
be it your work to find out if the man
is worth saving and what were the
causes Of his moral overthrow. Per-
haps he started in business life under
a tricky firm, who gave him wrong no.
tons Of business integrity; perhaps
there was a combination OF circum-
stances almost unparalleled for temp
tation; perhaps there were allevia-
tons; perhaps he was born wrong and
never got over it; perhaps he did not
realize what he was doing, and If you
are merciful man you will think of
other perhaps which, though they
may not excuse, will extenuate. Per-
haps he has already repented and is
washed in the blood of the Lamb and
is as sure of heaven as you are. What
an opportunity you have now for obey
ing my text You were angry at the
misdemeanor, but you are hopeful for
the recovery of the recalcitrant
Blessed all prison reformers! Blessed
are those governors and presidents who
are glad when they have chance to
pardon! Blessed the forgiving father
who welcomes home the prodigal.
Blessed the dying thief whom the Lord
took with him to glory. saving. "This
day shalt thou be with me in para
dise!"
Help for the Unbeliever.
Have lightning in your eye and a
flush in your cheek and a frown on
your brow for a dastardy that would
blot out the sun and moon and stars OF
Christianity and leave all things in an
arctic night, the cold equal to the
darkness. You do we'll to be angry. but
how about those who have been flung
of scepticism, and that is more mil
lions than you viii ever know of until
the Judgment day reveals everything
All. here comes your opportunity fog
gentleness. kindness. and sympathy
The probability is that if you
had been piled with the same in
fluence as this unbeliever there
would not be a Bible in all your
house from cellar to attic. Per-
all your house from cellar to attic. Per
haps he was in some important trans
action swindled by a member of the
church whose taking Of the sacrament
was sacrilege. Perhaps he read agnos-
tic books and heard agnostic lectures
and mingled in agnostic circles until
he has been befogged and needs your
Christian help more than any one that
you kno- Of Do not get into any labor.
ed argument about the truth of Chris.
tianity He may beat you at that. He
has whole artillery of weapons ready
to open fire.
Remember that no one was ever re-
formed for this life or saved for the lifs
to come by an argument, but in hum
blest and gentlest way, your voice sub
dued, ask him a few questions. Ash
him if he had a Christian parentage
and If he says yes ask him whether
the old folks died happy. Ask him if hi
has ever heard of any one going ou
of this life in raptures of infidelity
and agnosticism. Ask him if it is no.
a somewhat remarkable fact that the
Bible, after so many years, sticks to-
gether and that there are more
copies of 1t In existence thar
ever before. Ask him II he
knows OF any better civilization
than Christian civilization and whether
he thinks the teachings of Confuciu!
or Christ are preferable. Ask him if b,
thinks it would be fair thing in thu
Creator OF all things to put in thi.
world the human race and give then
no direct communication for thei
guidance and. if they did wrong tel
them of no way of recovery. / think if q
famous infidel of our time, instead o
being taken away instantaneously, haC
died in his bed after weeks and month.
of illness he would have revoked hi.
teachings and left for his beloved fam
lily consultations which they could no
find in obsequies at which not on
word of Holy Scripture was read. or a
Fresh Pond crematory. where no Chris
tian benediction was pronounced.
do not positively say that in a pro
longed illness there would have beer
a retraction, but think there would.
The Work of an Instant.
A man thoroughly mad can say