New-York tribune., 1906-12-27
THE CRIME OF SUICIDE.
Cardinal Gibbons Discusses Its Moral
aspects.
Aspects.

In the January issue of '@rhs Century Magazine
Cardinal Gibbons writes on 1.-THE Moral Aspects OF
Suicide In the course Of the article he says:
oiso haye now lying before the ofcaI record Of
end humane breast sentiments Of compassion and
crease in nineteen in this class OF crime and
=, In the history Of the Hebrew people. recorded
tory Of the primitive Christians, as contained in
fRs Es Dssons @Po ends ts sss a B & IF
hands And, to the honor Of the female sex. # can
BbIs thsSS + not ns .oIt%Ty iastaR2s q any my
slippers of jehovah and Of Christ are easily 'Sx-
self murder was a srievoas SIN and that man was
responsible to God IN the life to come for the
viTgil. tha great. Mantuan poet. following the
to TaTtarus victim of seifdestruction though
she ,,y'so was stained with no other crime. 49,.
tue n} a4nE the stocs Of pegan Bone Ma Many of
ample served as an incentive to others By lend
Of daSng IN caTn 's Ps f h a1d
was sanctioned and exercised by cirizens enjoying
Cato was reguted among the most distinguished
life rather than submit to the humiliation Of hav-
Cesar He dsdai5ed to survive BY the grace and
sgeT Of hs S Ss Ad ND e by se rabge rs D9SS
Cesar For surely It could not be dishonorable In
son to accept fayors from triumphant adversary,
BY the canons Of right reason, Cetos sci inflicted
courage but Of moral cowardice
As to the causes of suicides, there is doubt
ordered and an unbalanced mind for which 1t Is
sP6nbe s0RS9 fe Bnt @ ag al s Ta for
sucida} mania the great Pulk Of t1Gss Who COM
they commit.
sucides they may can be 'S rariiy traced to moral
cowardlce ana to the absence. OF religious re-
scSes these acts to want % moral
biddgn 6y the divine law One Of The c0mWgand. q W
6 % t eko e a% as sna' m @9s
sible;, It IS not said: Thou shalt not kin thy
IN some Of the other commandments; as for in
stance Thou S shalt not bear I ftss s. THe5s 1
=, s T3G tbs f05 to af M b m @ sSe1 sss
By suicide or homicide.
Voluntary self-murder is not only a violation OF
s ne Sys aTs soo beings duty the
nnonweath as well es to ,. ourselves & we mutually
Ss 2R' ,: E ns
Of which has special place and mission assigned to
@ post Of duty nrusted to sentinel Is regarded by
pmniahd rg With f0as etree rsor What less does the
suicide DO man basely sband9n Dc aY The situation as
And there is no vice more contagious than cow
ardy desertion. 1t IS often followed hy a general
desy deeds Of a leer naq re Tdey cTuSed by tSs
press. they are not intrequentfy foiiloWed by M
over the land.
The faIlacy Of the assertion that the sutoia. in
tures no one but himself Is manifest when
slider the dire consequences which such a state
t esng eR Of aT we're IN Blow W 6n
their brains in the height Of financial crisis Ths
as TSss wSG b a Of i5 5
get and woFd @ preys SefGre for S cont
Of ForEow and Of suffering fer , which the fdestroy5
It would be a painful fruitless task 20 discuss
the moral disease Of suicide unless remedy were
eettons aeesesnso "'"'" IS the '"s' purpose Ok '''
ttts IS 8haTo tha c5san m Tsi9n e4erciseS
dominant sway and where IFS teachings are faith
and T when such tragedy Occurs 1T excifes unWOnfsd
horror Throughout the community com sc..a,, .r.,so..
against suicide is to be found in strict compliance
with the lessons set before US by the religion Of
The righteous man, therefore. when subjected 20
respev e or o to the nnmered ross Of his good
name sees the hand OF Goa IN the the a6veTsi,Ies
and euusninity.
The upright Christian believes not only. IN the
" co4pense When endured for chr4st's sake He
e thf % TS 4 %RG S
light, woriEeth for US above msaEElre es;ceednsfy
ines Of th,s world are not worthy to be compared
with the glory 70 come which shall be revealed
10 us"
But the religion Of Christ is not only q consols-
tion to the righteous man in his trlhulations! u
also exerts n powerful influence IN deterrtng the
Christian transgressor from taking hts own
life because he knows that suicide Is murder. and
that ''NO murderer hath eternal life abiding in him
self" He believes in the priceless value OF re-
pentance. which transform moral leper into
one of Gods elect and sn angel Of DARKNESS into
that t nv contriteiv accusing f,nEef If his sns be
as scarlet they shall he made white as snow, and
% - rod fms ilAys he Vr7if
wool
Surely. ~ any might be excused for shorten
ing his life the patriarch JOB would have been
Justified IN putting end 70 his miserable exist
ence when he was oppressed by the overwhelming
weight OF misNries which afflicted him. His BODY
&c covered with ulcers: he is suddenly deprived
his possessions bereft Of his children: ne is stune
nv the renroacheS of his wife and Knocked nv his
false friends The words Of this model Of patience
have bcen the comfort and support Of ell succeed
ING ages. "1he Lord gave. and the Lord hath
taken away: n hath pleased the Lord so ts II
done; blessed be the name Of the LORD p" Every
hat of Cato win accord hishsr degree Of heroic
TTtcs The ono vielAad to the storm OF adversely;
the ethsr hTaYeiy confronted t.