The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-02
PASTOR SCORES
SOCIETY ATTITUDE
TOWARD FALLEN
We Talk of Mercy, but Actions
Belle Our Words, DR..
Vance Says.
NOT TREATED ACCORDING
TO THE CODE OF JESUS
Preacher in Strong Sermon Asks
State Institution for Drink
Habit Victims.

Censure for society in its attitude
toward those who fall was the keynote
of the sermon last night by the Rev.
James l., Vance, of the North Reformed
Church. He also spoke for a home for
drink and drug victims. DR.. Vance
said in part:
1.-THE way of Jesus is not always nor
eve often society's way. The look
society gives to those who fall is us
ually a stern look, hard and pitiless.
1t is a look of scorn, whose fiery
breath blisters all it touches, We are
great at preaching charity, but our
practise of it Is less extensive.
Society gives not much of a chance
to one who falls. Once let a man wear
the prison stripes, once let a woman
be branded with the scarlet shame, and
society shows little mercy. We pirate
about mercy, but when 1t comes to
showing mercy to n another, there
is a sudden drop in the temperature
and a biting frost. Society's punish
ment of those who fall is still shod
with the barnacles of barbarism."
Condemns the County Jail.
1.-THE Essex County Jail is not a
credit to civilization. 1 am not c%riticiz-
ing the warden, for he is doing about
as we'll as any man could do with the
plant at his disposal. But so far as
the discomforts of confinement are
concerned, the Jail is worse than the
penitentiary. Remember that the vic
Tins who are confined there are. many
of them, people whose cases are still
in process of trial. They are not yet
paying their penalty, but merely wait
- L. : A--aIEr Il. 20 h~ in
fiicted. Meanwhile they are incar-
oerated in those quarters of horrors
Some of the inmates are not even
charged with an offense. They are de-
tained as witnesses. The only crime
of which they can be charged is their
inability to furnish bail for their APP
pearance in court when the case about
which they are supposed to know
something is called. Meanwhile the
county reimburses them for the stigma
and discomfort of being jailed at the
ate of fifty cents a day. We cal this
civilization"
"Society's treatment of the drunkard
is similar. 1t helps to make him, and
then it kicks him out. By all means
let the Legislature enact the bill for
an Institution in which to treat The
victims OF ne drink n the drug
habit. Society should go out of the
business of producing these unfortl-
mates, but. until it does, let 1t at least
do something to help them recover
their lost character.
Even after the penalty imposed on
those who have fallen has been paid
society refuses to relax its frown. out
hounds ex-convicts back into crime.
Humane treatment is more than a
match for both heredity and environ
ment. Let society beware lest it be-
come itself a criminal by making
those who fall worse than they are.
Once the brand is there it is hard to
remove. Let society at least LEND a
helping hand. Let it do more than
stard by and look on and watch to see
what it may see. Let it give him more
than a fair chance, for he needs it.
Here is a philanthropy that is Christ
like