Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-11

ferrea TO the Coronet, for no God in
His infinite wisdom would have ever
sent 66 people OH such a vessel.
The district attorney said it was
personal pride that led Sanford to at
tempt the voyage TO Greenland-pride
in the evangelistic achievements of
Frank w. Sanford. At one time the
vessel was $50 miles from Freeport
her home port, and yet they did not
run in for provisions. They might
have gone into Halifax harhor, but
they didn't. They had money enough
to get al the provisions they wanted.
George Mckay never said that Sand
ford refused to order them to get
meGt. He simply said he had not
heard that the leader asked that this
be done Mckay wanted TO be put
ashore, but he was told that he was
only q. shipwrecked sailor and that the
vessel was run by God.
June one moment" interrupted Sand
ford
Pardon me, sir said the district at
torney, but I believe | have extepded
TO YOU all the =eourtesies that can. Yon
must not interrupt me now
Mr.. Whitehousc told of the sick man
night and day and asked if Sanford
was sharing these conditions-sharing
them as a Christian man in common
with his fellows. lie and his family
lived In a cabin of their own and had
their own food prepared for them. The
district attorney declared that the men
who died, lost their lives because of the
wilful neglect of sanford. tust rs surely
zfat
food and air from them, just as certainly
as il he had taken them by The throat
and crushed the life oat of their bodies.
II believe In The freedom Of religious
belief, he said THAT is what our fore
fathers came te this country fer It s
that for which they fought. bled ami
died But, gentlemen, there is proper
limit TO this belief When my religious
conviction began TO materiaiize and take
the form of action and that action be
came dangerous 10 my fellow men, that
religious freedom must cease. To the
majority. to the laws. to the dictates OF
rhe common good, religious freedom
must yield and self-revealed prophets
bow. 1t is sometimes said that if Christ
We're TO come back to earth He would be
unreeognized and villifed as in the days
of old, but that doesn't follow that YOU
are TO give credence TO any man who
rises up and claims to be the forerunner
of Christ today The teachings of Christ
were humility, humanity, pity and a life
of unselfish service / ask you TO look
with me over the life of this man. What
of actual service do You find in his work.
What do You find OF humility? What do
you find of pity for those poor sufferers
on the trip TO the north? What do You
find of unselfshness in separating his
family from the others?
4 ask you what Kind of a forerunner
OF Christ is this that would let loose on
the community such n wrathful gospel
1t is not in issue whether he is of sound
mind or that he is able TO distinguish
between right and wrong. Mr. Sanford
is apparently sorry for rs He thinks,
perhaps, may the Lord forgive us for
what we are about to do. Gentlemen.
as | have studied this case and seen him
here, / have been very sorry for him.
All the weight of sorrow ON him! Would
that We could bring him back to the
channels through which is seen the ordi-
nary human outlook. l wish he might
be led to use his talents as a minister
VI the SOsptl uUlHS Suiilb real service Tor
his fellow men-some real Christian SER
vice. All! what might he not have ac-
complshed.
yet he stands today a greater menace
TO the community than an ordinary
criminal. The ordinary criminal takes
his stand in opposition to society This
man is in the position of an apparent aid
| to society. The temple at Shiloh stands
as mausoleum to wrecked homes and
wasted lives. So ! do not hesitate to ask
you to find this man guilty and remove
| this danger spot from the community"
Judge Hale's charge. though occupying
but few minutes was one of the finest
ever delivered in a court in this city. In
comparatively few sentences he laid the
whole case before the Y men selected to
determine the guilt or innocence of the
defendant, so that their duties were un-
doubtedly made much easier. He told
them that no man who assumed to be
or thought he was acting under the di-
rection and Immediate will of God could
thereby escape from being amenable II
the laws of men, and that sincerity I'm
ones religious belief would be no legal
defence.