Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-20

able lOCluentS--pi Il NOME u u'ttu' ~
behalf OF spiritual conception of re-
ligfon Whatever else may separate
them, the Puritan is at one with the
Catholic in his claim that the affairs
of the soul are far TO sacred TO be
touched in any degree by unhallowei
hands
The great point upon which the
Puritan insisted was the supremacy
of conscience as the guide of human
conduct AS Mr.. Moulton observes;
Upon thu, standards of conduct the
Puritan influence has PROFESSIONALLY
told strongly for good In the day OF
his power the Puritan was narrow
and hard He banned many q harm
less pleasure and inculcated many "
profitless discipline, with the result
that the nation bounded TO the oppos-
tie extreme OF license when the re-
straining hand WAS removed at tae
restoration But the glory of the FUR
itan was that he brought everything
to the touchstone of his conscience
Punishment Of Harry Orchard.
The conversion of Harry orchard
presents a problem in punitive fespon-
sibllity that has a more or less DAHillls
effect upon the Judgment. the views
of the secular press were presented III
our issue OF July 6, the New YORK
Times frankly owning the dilemma
which the case offered TO civilized
crininologists Religious papers are
inclined TO be conservative in their
view of the evaded responsibility OF
the prisoner now that he is born anew
The Presbyterian Banner (PittsbufE),
in speaking for the religious press, de-
clares that they will feel somewhat
reluctant to make much OF this con-
version, for obvious reasons. but the
seculars papers are doing so without
reserve" This journal permits Itself
to say nothing as to how Orchard
should stand in the eyes of the law
We read the following:
Accepting the sincerity of Harry
Orchard in his confession. as with our
present light we feel bound TO do, he
presents another marvellous instance
of the forgiving power and the trans
forming grace Of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Thai, he is dripping with
blood and covered with infamy does
not III the least shut him out as
penitennt from the throne of mercy.
Skeptical meu of the world may
sneer at this and say it turns our re-
ligion into ar absurdity, but We know
1t is the glory of the Gospel of Christ
that he can cleanse the Whist sinner
and the wickedest criminal into purity
and peace. Harry Orchards confess
sion does not wipe out his wickedness
or release hirn from paying the penal
~ of his crimes; but 1t enables God TO
forgive him and make him u new man.
And as to the penalties we leave that
matter TO the authorities of the state
and to the mercy of God"
The Lutheran World (Springfield.
Ohio, after reciting the main facts of
Orchards story, remarks that it has
been made transparent in this re-
citai of diabolism that the president
was right when he said with his usual
courage and frankness that the peo-
pie on trial are undesirable citizens
The Western Christian Advocate (Cin-
cinnat) admits that Methodist the
ology lis certainly put to its test when
a man who las murdered a score Of
victims claims conversion and ac-
ceptance with Cod" 1t goes no fur
uher than reaffirming the efficacy of
repentance even for the greatest or
criminals. Thus:
1T would be highly dangerous to
deny the grace of God in its application
to even the vilest wretch who ever
lived. Orchards confession ought not
In the least to palliate his crime or
to evoke any maudlin sentiment In his
behalf. But If he has in reality re-
pented and received the pardon OF
God so as To be conscious of it, tho
he may go to the gallows, every sim
cere lover of men, however low fallen.
will hope that he may enter the other
life with some better chance and des-
tiny before him than that awful char
acter of a general assassin which he
has borne upon the earth"