The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-07-18
is LYNcHING LAWFUL.

10 l. j NSGlllN1 EAWF OIs
, The lynching of George White
u whose color was black, at WTr9ing
e ton. Delaware, recently has received
: the sanction of some Christian minis
d ters who profess to be followers and
imitators of the meek, patient and
: merciful Redeemer. A Prebyteria1
minister, Rev. Robert A. Elwood told
his congregation, whilst White was
under the surveillance of the law
: that the mob should do what the law
was too slow in doing, namely. kill
the prisoner. He exhibited from his
pupit to the congregation leaves of a.
book that were saturated with the
blood OF the deceased. The cougrega-
ton was so worked up with the infam-
matory remarks and the spectacular
exhibition of the blood-stained leaves
that at the end of the services they
resolved to endorse their pastors
Christian views. Rev. w. A. Bart.
lett, of the First Congregationa5
church, in Chicago, also justified the
| Wilmington mob who took the 1av
into their own hands. With him re-
venge was sweet and the law of retail
lat1on, which was revoked by Christ
should again be introduced. and bu-
man laws brushed aside He said he
would rather see a communitv
wrought to the highest pitch over
crimes that would seem impossible
this side of hell than to remain ana
thetic." Mr.. Bartlett paid his respects
TO timid preachers, editors and all low
ers OF law and order who denounce
lynch1ng. For those moulders of pub
lie opinion he has the greatest con-
tempt. His Christianity sentiments
are expressed in this one sentence:
1 have seen so many sermons. edt-
tor1als and resolutions denouncino
lynching and mob law that one gets
the Impression that the citizens who
nang or burn the destroyer of life :
nome and all that is held sacred bv
"omanhood, are the race offenders
'ather than the monster whom tbev
Destroy"
In morals there are two, questions =
o be considered; for every culprit
air trial and just legal sentence -
The civil power comedies this. and .,
mess the state abdicates its rights =,
'h1ch it never will. any sanction -,
wen to mobocracy even by church =,
len is only new phase of anarchy =
ne right to ignore the civil power in :.
ne case establishes a principle which
men pressed to its logical conclusion =,
yes the anarchist and most advanced
'claIst the right to press their de- -
ands and ignore the rights of the. y,
ate 1t should be the mission of D.
cry true minister of religion to nm :
I'D the rights of the state and its
Ilzens, because these rights are de-
'ed from God, aud His agents. as -,
ose ministers represent themselves M,
be, whilst those ignoring -,
undermining the AUTHORITY ~
the state are traitors TO ~
d. Neither class nor raca die luz
ctlons have any place in our po3it- 49,
system which is based on rieb+
lot privilege-that is. the eoual W.,
hts of all men. The state provides @
1alr trial, and due punishment of y
worst criminals. 1t never Yields asfc
rlgnt to the mob. When Presidents up
neld and Mckinley were assassi-
cd, the state maintained its right "a
- ~ n'nu the Dloodthirsty Grim Wor
s over to the mob who were ready
ynch them. Here were instances Tt
re ynching, if ever justifable who
Id receive the sanction - -, his
But the state maintained its All. %
lty, set the machinery of the law but
lotion, and in due time legally ex- does
ed the two depraved criminals
eDy maintaining its own rights now
the dignity and majesty of the in M
Those preachers, like the friend
'sus, who was near when he was Sci
;ted in the cordar - o." your
d take the law into their hands const
eatn tneir swords, and not only harsh
re the criminal and cut off his well.
but they would burn him at the
, and swell the cry of the mob to voors
fy and torture the object of their you n
d. II lynching be lawful. yhv useful
,hrist command his friend. op,+ largel
ain thy sword into its place: For fi p~4t