The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-01-17
A LESSON TO BE NEEDED.
To the Editor of THE TIMES:

Sir have ventured to ask space
in the papers of Butler, because there
are certain things which | think
should be said. and should be said to
more people than / can reach from
my pulpit. Providentially, too. |
have, perhaps. more knowledge of
that of which | speak than have
some others.
| think | may say this with no
self-conceit, and as a justification for
what might otherwise seem presump-
ton.
In my interviews with Noah McGin-
mis-, one thing which impressed me
was the foolish waste of which we as
people have been guilty. He had
the material for a noble man. am
aware that that manhood had been
perverted. | know he had the repu-
tation of being Il bad boy. But had
the right methods been used, he
would be alive to-day, good, use
full honorable and honored citizen
The family should not be the only
mOurners over Il wasted life.
Another element of folly has i'm
pressed me. | have little idea what
the cost of the arrest, trial and exc
cution of this young man was-in
mOncy-but there can be no doubt
that the same money, rightly eX-
pended, at the right time in moral
and religious training, to say moth
ing OF improved public schools,
would have brought in returns for
which we would have reason to be
thankful instead of the horror which
will remain with some of us, at least,
so long as we live.
Still another thought demands
consideration. We had not taught
this young man reverence for law.
Laws could be broken with compare
tive inpunity He had proof of that
every day. He had reason to belle We
that he might SOW wild oats and get
a crop of tame ones. At an awful
cost we have taught him that he was
wrong. How many bright, keen
boys, with nothing more than the
average tendency to evil, are learn
ing the same awful lesson, false as it
can possibly be, learning it by Obser-
walton and experience, within the
limits OF our own county? Are we
willing to repeat the lesson OF Dec.
31st, 1900? l, for one, am not. |
do not regret one moment which |
gave. one effort | made TO bring that
man to repentance and faith. But
| God grant that such an occasion
may never be forced upon me again.
To the Christian people of this
county. | bring this message, taken
from many things which he said: If
| had only come to Christ when
was a boy, | should not be here
now That was said from cell, a
condemned cell. And the hammers
were ringing in our ears as they
drove home the nails of the stOckade
about the scaffold. My brothers and
sisters in Christ. SAVE THE BOYS
AND GIRLS. | may also quote a
lesson from one man who did his
duty at an awful cost to him: ut Is
time for us to prepare to meet God.
Unless We learn some of these lessons
this execution will be of but little
value. This should serve as q deter
rent from crime both for those who
have gone far astray, and for the
young who are Just beginning &c
wander into sin. 1t should teach Us
all to reverence law. To every goOC
citizen it says. Train these children
Alright if you would make good citi
zens of them. To Christians it say:
Two for the conversion OF the chill
dren." To Us all it says, prepare
to meet thy God"
STANLEY ID. JEWELL.