New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-29
SERMON ON THE RIGHT TO KILL
Timely Subject Discussed by the Rev. Henry
A. Stimson.

L. OSAAAAoS4Aa
In the Manhattan Congregational Church the Rev.
Henry A stimson, the pastor. IN the course Of a
series Of sermons the Ten Comm spoke
yesterday afternoon Of The Right to KILL he
pointed out that the Sixth Commandment reads. IN
the revision: Thou shalt not murder" It was =
law for a primitive state OF society and was d.
reCted against revenge and the reckless indulgence
OF passion. II taught the superior value OF LIE
and was necessary to the beginnings Of human So
Cety. He said:
It has no 9iTeot bearing TRGg the questions 0 OF Of
siderations.
We ind everywhere in nature a predatory in
stinct. If not predatory principle. The higher
ganism lives upon the lower, or uses the lower, for
its own purposes; the organic makes use OF the
Inorganic the vegetable of the mineral, the animal
eli 1 P ~ 81 IN me ,tsrast a. tLs Jv5oIs ts 5oI
inant that OF the individual. r. therefore IL
Of the State requires the taking Of the lie Of
criminal-or, indeed. Of any man. as the soldier or
against IT, but it is in the order Of nature OF
surely suffer II It makes mistake Capital pun
which the lswmaking power must settle.
Has the physician. has society, the right to cut
on the life OF the suffering incurable. Of the inn
beetle or the hopelessly insane? Can the welfare
OF others possibly require it, there any cir
SuHStances under which man is Justified In laying
hands upon what IS regarded as Gods appointment
The doctor often has to act. and TO act promptly
upon his own responsibility when life is involved,
so act 1t may be far from wise for him 10 pro-
claim his course
Stil. ne wants a clear conscience. and the com
muuity has a right 10 a clear unders landing. Some
cases are plain The more valuable life has rights
over against the less valuable. the mother over
against the unborn child. the community against
the dangerous person who NAV be injured IN re-
straint. or the family against the burglar or the
woman against the aSs5ilant, who may be shot.
small occasion for debate. S to-day the state Is
ready TO care FOR them under conditions On which
experience SHOWS the chftficeS or recovery are bet
Ter tnan Wnen they are left at home, and there is.
therefore, as manifest reason for curtaiIing their
life They may be comfortably kept FROM impair
ing other lives
with the helpless aged and the hopelesslv incur
able. while II is doubtless true thar every man
has what has been called "the right 10 q natural
the doctor II required against their protest to
force life upon them by every means in his mower
nevertheless humanity claims them. and il would
not De dltucut 10 snow that the helpless and hone
less life IS valuable TO the community n Cnlv for
the demands II makes for the OF the robler
virtues Of compassion and unSeldsh care
When eNcruCiating pain Is added 20 the incurahle
condition another element Is introduced Has the
community the right 10 demand the prOlOnginE OF
IS every reason why the State and the church
should do all In their power 70 prevent any man
venturng 20 settle the question OF life death for
himself But when the physician or the friend Is
called 70 act FOR another the situation sometimes
arises in which the choice must he made between
two forms of death. the slow, inevitable advance
action u the probable fatal drug The occasion f9r
the actual decision should occur far more rarely
death may safely be assumed 20 be far less IS
Nature has her own narcotics. and the stupor o.
approaching death. whatever the movements OF the
BODY As deep and rapidly progressive There is
small need OF interference The situation is prDb-
ably best as II is public sentiment exalting life ns
cherishing II 10 the last. and the wise physician
accepting full responsibility and saying little