The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-19
Why Does God Permit.
Crimes Against
the Innocent
Some Thoughts Suggested by
the Recent Murder Of
the Sheriff's Daughter
at AS0tin

=
school which occurred recently in thi
part Of the country. furnishes food 70
wlsest. With our bonsted civilization
our liberty, our protection under tn
laws Of the land. our christianity an'
our enlightenment OF mind. wherein
can we reconcile these two extrem'
opposites7 We might aok with deeT
sobriety where was the protecting arm
Of the Lord when this Innocent little
blossom OF earth's fairest creation. was
on hef way TO His Worship In the
plst Psalm IL every premise OF help.
support. 0ecurity. and yet can you ask
the stricken mother 10 turn 20 the
Biblp for relief from her suffering. and
eonfde in that which was valueiess
70 her daughter in hor hour OF trial and
death7 when the deughter meets
death on tho bright Sabbath morning.
the Lords day, 40 II ia called, with the
childish faith IN God, thousands OF
prayers were boiag offered all over our
land TO protect us from just such
calamltiea, and 10 the selfsame God
that this innocent child confided In for
her every security. Those who passed |
the day In safety may have thanked
their God for His goodness and mer.
cy: but, what do you say OF this case7
What is the matter OF theology In It's
present presentation and claims on the
average Intelligence OF manY With
Ihls sort OF every day practical expert.
ence can one expect any great amount
N ellghtoned confidence in the prom.
lses given In the Blblo1 Is II that we
do not know God. understand the Bible
or are all thogc occurrences beyond
human prevention or divine guldanceY
What Is ,he good Of the Import OF the
Bible II We fnd Il useless for our pres.
mt neody There would be manlfestly
no wisdom in supposing we need the
moral code ms ibid down by the
prophets and Joaus. WHOM wO are out /
" the flesh, or are into another world .
where the trials OF morality win not
20 our experience. Therefore. II these
moral laws exint for us we must put /
lhom into execution hero. else we are Z
not conforming TO the purpose OF the
'awglver. What use are laws 10 us
unless they pertain TO our present ex. ,
perlenceH II the Blhlo contalns the I
law OF truth, II is applicable In every
age, 10 oyory creature. and not only
noets our ovary need. but IN as much
IN force elsewhere es on thla earth.
truth must be everywhere present.
II the Bible contains this
ruth In the shape OF code for us 10
'ollow, what h the direct reason we
AL 70 receive all the help and benefit
lromisedY The most reasonable reply
would seem 10 Indicate our lack OF
Interpretation OF these laws OF truth
'r else We carry about vest.poeketI
editions OF humanity conceived gods
which Ia not God, There Is no reason
o presume this great law OF truth, 30
'ery effective In the hands OF Jesus
Ind the apostles was impotent IN the
ase In point, especially wherein the
Intelligence was not OF even OF human
apaclty, hut merely brute and animal.
I In also mlsconoeptlon 10 presume
he fault lay In not invoking the law
or are not Gods laws In constant
orce and lrreyooabieG Being In full
oree and effect. an the laws OF truth
aust be, wherein can we reasonably
lain their lnetiieloncyG The world
asses these question by with a sigh
longs 10 know the truth. Il realizes
he dire dlutreas and aching hearts
ecanse Of this great unknown concep.
lon for deliverance. but the palpable
vidence % an inhexible somethlng
awna upon ua with an unlabored Ger
alnly in the face OF these terrible ex.
erlonoes. In the science OF mathe.
latics We needs must know tho cor
ect rule, else all else Ia chaos and
Fror In astronomy We must know the
orrect law 10 ngure accurately the
distances OF calculate an eclipse. In
very department OF life We hnd Il 81.
antlal 10 seek some definite rule or
~ BY which 10 work from; but. in
- -. II