Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-11-05
A Letter.
Editor Express and Standard, Neac.
mort. W..

indignation and inexpressible sorrow
this Sabbath morning in the year of
our Lord nineteen hundred and fif-
teen of the Christian era; with all
the light emanating from His su-
preme humanitarian teaching. with
the advantages of modern higher
education, from the humblest occu-
patton in life to the highest position
in a national government. Yes, sad
that the commandment, Thou shalt
not kill" has been broken by officers
of the German government as re-
corded in one of their last murder
Gus octs, in what they are pleased to
term the "theater of war" The
execution of Miss Edith Cavill, an
English nurse, as reported by Hugh
Gibson, the secretary of the Ameri-
can legation at Brussels, as pres
enteG by the Boston Post of Oct
ober 22nd.
The example of Cane reenacted,
and the blood of Miss Cavill cryeth
from the ground and calls not only
to the Supreme Lord in judgment
but to all people in an international
expression of disaproval, by refus-
ing to aid the German government
in any manner to prolong this pre-
meditated war, and slaughter in
nocent humanity. Where is they
brother ?, said the Judge to Cane"
Let all demand of Germany,
where is our sister ?" Her inno-
cent blood crys to US from the
ground.
1t is not my purpose to repeat
the account of this act and take too
much space in your valuable paper,
but to call attention to the differ
ence between the power of war and
the power of peace, or in other
words the power of an innocent life
manifested by this self-sacrifcing,
noble, fearless, honest woman. 1t is
said of Abel, though dead, he yet
speaketh." His works were right
eous, God accepted his service and
offerings, and the originators of all
idolatry hated him and he became
the first murderer. Miss Edith
Cavill devoted her life to loving
service for humanity, regardless of
sect or race. 1t was her joy to re-
lieve the distressed, to do all in her
power to save life, and like our
Lord, she laid down her life to save
life. This noble humanitarian could
not bear to see those men stay where
they were liable to be shot down,
and fearlessly gave loving service in
aiding them to escape; not because
she desired to injure the German
government, but to be loyal to her
country, loyal to humanity, doing
as she would be done by. But the
officers of law refused to do so by
her, or to show any regard for her
great kindness to German soldiers,
or as a world factor in teaching
others in medical mission work as
| trained nurse. She was an example
of noble citizenship, and counted
| the cost of an honest confession that
she aided those men to escape, not
as criminals, but in the exercise of
a God-given right to protect life,
and was happy only in following the
example of Christ in doing good,
to save life rather than lose life. "
/ The exercise of inalienabIe right
cost her her life, and when we realize
that an inalienable right precedes
civil enactment of law, and law eX,
lists only for the protection of those
rights, the crime of the German
government stands before the world
as a monster act of inhumanity and
martyrdom in the execution of Miss
Edith Cavill. Her death will yet
cost the German government more
than the loss of five hundred thousand
men. Money can never cancel the
damage, or overcome the influence
of that historical crime of nationa
government, or the Christ-likt
example of her life devoted not only
in loyalty to her nation, but as ;
Samaritan ministering to stranger
of all sects and nationalities.
WAYNE TENNA GIBSON.