The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-01
GODS COMMAND
 IS NOT ID KILL J. W. Orr of EnsIey Breaches on Sixth Commandment. JURY SYSTEM IS FAULTY More Murders Committed in Alabama Last Year Than in Great Bri-
 tain--some Lawyers Are
 Interruptions.

Bnsley, January 31.-(Special.) )-The Rev. J. W. Orr. pastor of the First Presby- terian church preached to large congre- gation at the morning service today, talk ing as his theme the sixth commandment, Thou Shalt not Killi' In handling this question, MT. Orr did not mince words. He deplored the con dtion of our jury system and asserted that the legal profession was in meas ure to blame for the sad state of affairs. He gave some interesting figures in re- gard to the increase of homicldes in the United States. He compared the number of murders in Jefferson county with those of Great Britain In closing MT. Orr ap- pealed to the people to see to 1t that the the laws of God and man were upheld. He urged the pulpit and the press to quicken public opinion along this line. He said in part:
 The Sixth Commandment.
 The text Thou Shalt not Kill' is part of the Decalogue, which is the founda- ton of all just and righteous laws.
 In it Is contained the eternal right, that exists between man and man, and man and God. No nation or individual has at- tained true greatness only when Gods eternal right expressed in these ten prin- ciples has been woven into all the acts.
 When nation forgets these principles 1t is then that a 'body of deathH is chain ed to 1t, which will decay ali it's parts and finally it falls.
 In taking this text this morning, it may seem out of place, as none Of you have 1r to flo hl1f Of God 8 truth is out of place. It seems to me when we read out papers and when Tn every issue we find how ruthlessly the lives of many of our fellowmen have been taken by the violent hand, and when we hear the ''voice of our brothers blood" crying from the ground we must ask our selves the question, Why?
 This is question that ought to might fly arouse both press and pulpit and they ought not to stay their cry until justice has had her perfect way. We are startled at the facts. We read in the Chicago Tribune that in the year 1902. SSaS per- sons met violent deaths at the hands of others. an increase of over 1000 over 1901. Out of this enormous mum per there were only 12S legal executions.
 Over 5000 persons rushed themselves into the presence of great God, with their own blood on their hands. In Alabama there were more murders than in Great Britain In Jefferson county over 100 in the last year These facts bring us face to face with condition of affairs that is both sorrowful and disgraceful. To think that out of over 5000 only 123 were legally executed
 Why this wholesale murder and no exc cutions?
 Because of Disbelief.
 l. Because of disbelief in God and His word.
 When a man believes that the Almighty God reigns in heaven and on earth, and that every man must stand at His iudg- ment and account to Him for his deeds. and that this same God will mete out a,i impartial justice, then and not until then will his acts be toned.
 Society must be impressed with the idea that God controls and then 1t must get Gods idea of human life. and Gods pen alty for ruthlessly taking it.
 Gods idea of human life is that man and mans life is the most sacred thing of earth, because man Is made In Gods image.
 We count it a crime to deface the statue of some great man. How much more a crime it must be to detroy a man, Gods image.
 We find Gods estimate of human life by the penalty he attaches to the crime
 
 that he die, shall surely be put to death"
 man may escape the penalty here but there is an eye that looketh into the heart and it's intents and will surely re- ward accordingly.
 Let it be taught at home. in the press and from the pulpit and let it be impress ed forcefully on public opinion. Let men know that God rules and He will surely bring 1t to pass.
 Lawyers Are Unscrupulous. Another reason why justice is thwarted and because of this a wholesale increase in murder, is the interruptions lawyer. have great respect for the profession and 1t has been bulwark for both justice and mercy, but there has gotten into the pro- fession a class of low scoundrels who will do anything for money; they will manu- facture any kind of a lie and put it into the mouth of a vile witness and buy up juries, and justice is thus shorn of it's terror to the low and the villlainous. Again our jury system Is a menace to ] justice and is partly at fault Do away with 1t or get men of sense and principle to execute the laws
 As It is now a premium is put on ignor- ance. God has said Thou shalt not kill" Let this ring out in the field. on the street, in our churches and in our courts until public opinion is aroused. Let men who wilfully. maliciously and premeditatedly take their fellowman's life hang IS high as Haman. Let them know that the strong arm of the law will mete out Justice Then the innocent will have peace and safety and not till then.
 
 Committee Meeting Postponed. AshvilIe January 30-(Special Jon ac-