The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-13

odus, chapter 20. verses 1890 and 81; chap
ter 30. verse So: chapter 81. verse II; and all
the way through the Old Bible you will Ind
the same to exist. Note also the destruction
Of the Inhabitants OF the world by the food
Again. the cities Of Sodom and Gomorrah. Now.
shall step over onto the Christian side Of the
question and what Is to be found. Now,
In Luke, chapter 2. verses 10 and IA, we nnd
DELIVERED this first heavenly message: Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
will toward msn. This is something the world
had not before known. for there had always
=ttstancy= enusity- between the SER
wants OF God andss those that disobeyed Him.
They had never known peace nor the fullness
OF their free agency liberty. But Christ has rec
ogniEed the full liberty Of our free agency,
for II shall rain on the unjust as well a. tho
just. The unrighteous shall live to enjoy the
fruits OF the rain. for they shall grow up
lures among the wheat until the harvest NOT
AZ Of the old law. be put to death Tor the hrst
offense: Christ appoints q fixed time for Judging
and Furnishing. and that time 10 after the
pirGtion Of this life. According to the order of
natural law In the old law man was judged and
pUnfshed by being deprived of his life. Isn't
this ali absolute reversal Of conditions? What
grounds. then, is left for capital punishment
to exist On? On earth peace. and good will
towards men must prevail. for that Is Christ's
fixed principle of dealing with US. Since have
by Christ been given the privilege OF enjoying
the full liberties Of my free agency. 1t matters
not how much 1 sin against God and His law.
There is not a law in existence. neither natural
nor supernatural. that demand my life
a penalty for IT, What. then, becomes OF the
Old law to kill. for murders. for adultery, for
for failing to observe the prescribed rules Of
worship In general? Again. observe Christ in
dealing with the woman taken in adultery. Did
ha say, stone her according to the la Of Moses?
No; but said: Neither will condemn thee:
go and sin nfore." John s: Ii. Now. II tho
law of capital punishment In this case was valid
under Christian principles, why did he not con-
denim her to be subject to it's penalty? The
fact that he did not Is a positive fact that It
was not by him recognized as legal order OF
justice under the principles he establish
ing. II Christ never advocated capital punish
ment in principle. in actions. In words,
what legal right has any one to 30 do In this,
the Christian. age: Since he, according to
the Scripture stands ~ pattern fer as, that
We should follow In his footsteps. Again. Mr..
Farley says that should remember that each
individual il brought into being for some wise
and benefcent purpose. This II absolutely true.
i,ut, again. and when person refuses to fulfill
the benefcent object 81 his being. and rebels
against Gods law OF love. he thereby forfeits
his right to live. Jesus Christ does not say 30.
shown above. But says, Let the tares grow
with the wheat until the harvest. Again, God
has delegated to His agents--the powers that
be--the right to take the life OF such beings.
That cannot be because Christ cannot dele
cato rights that conflict with his actions and
principles by him laid down for the existence
Of Christianity. And II he has not delegated
the right in his establishment Of the Christian
law. then 'the powers that be have no such
right. because it Is right that transcends
this natural order. Again II Is manifest that
in order to maintain civil we'll divine
authority circumstances might arise when 1t
W. uld not only be necessary, but just, to nnict
ca itai punishment for other acts Of disohedi-
e#,e than that of murder ] simply say. SIR
that circumstances can Justify an az, the
Iauthcrity for which does not exist. Again. no
ore. think, will claim that this life 10 more
pre- cious than that which is to come: and sl.e-
ly +. G. d. believes that God will constgn the
habitual thief and Sabbath breaker to the Sec
| ond death. I simply reply that y. q. d. and
Mr.. Farley. neither one has nothing to do With
what disposition God makes OF the sinful III the
future. We concerned only with the pros
Ont IN this Again. not only %, bur r.
G. j. puts himself In exceedingly awkward
position when he says the truth Ia. capital pun
ishment is unjust In all cases II he meant
what he said. he either meant that the Bible Is
not true. that God Is unjust. Neither, Friend
Early. for the Bible Is true in it's statement.
! and Gods commands were legal and just In
tho times for which they were given: but the
| command take life not given for all
/, times. above. Your assertion is made
on the assumption that capital punishment IS
legal for this age but suppose it is--and you
, haven't produced any evidence that II is--to
whom. then viii II apply--to the advocates Of
| capital punishment Tor you hold God to be the
author of your assumed right?
r. q. DUKE.