Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-02-17
BUILDING BATTLEMENTS

| Several weeks ago Rev. /. A.
Ranney of the Methodist Episcopal
church of Barton preached the follow
ing sermon to his own congregation
and later to union congregation by
request. The Monitor believing the
matter of much value and Importance
is printing it in this issue that it may
have still wider hearing and inf1u-
ence.
Following is the text. Deut. %, 8,
"When thou buildest an house, then
thou shalt make a battlement for thy
roof"
The book of Deuteronomy is regard
ed by most people as dry and uninter-
esting, containing nothing but obsolete
laws and dead ordinances, necessary,
perhaps. to the government and welfare
of the half-heathen tribes that had but
recently come up out of Egypt, where
they had been bondmen and bondwomen
for four hundred years, but dead
letter so far as we are concerned,
book which might have been omitted
from the sacred canon and yet nothing
! be lost
Now such ideas of the fifth book of
Moses are erroneous and unfortunate.
A careful study of its tone and teach
ing will soon dispel the notion that it is
not a religious book and cannot fail to
impress the reader with its pronounced
ethical spirit. Here we find not few
of the basal principles underlying our
most wholesome laws and institutions
| What emphasis is laid upon the unity
and uniqueness of the Godhead. What
an insistence upon the love of God as
the motive of all actions. Humanity.
| philanthropy, and benevOlence are
insisted upon. Forbearance. equity,
| e. Ill
Very early in the Scriptures we are
taught the brotherhood of man. Our
| dependence. each upon the other,
runs through every page. The base
ness of selfishness stands out very
clearly, and we soon discover that we
are our brothers keeper. responsible,
in measure, for his conduct. for his
destiny. But in the Book of Deuter-
onomy. Moses takes up this thread,
stained with the blood of Abel, and,
with marvellous skill, guided by the
Holy Spirit, weaves it into web of
laws, precepts, ordinances. aud insti
tutions which excite the wonder and
admiration of every thoughtful reader
of the Pentateuch. He gathers up
the scattered notes of kindness. chart
ty, and good will, the broken chords
of human sympathy, unites them in
one grand theme, and. 10 ! the world is
enriched with his song.
The text is striking example of
the humanity of the Jewish law When
a man built new house, battlement
or, as we should say, a parapet. was
necessary protection, the roof of an
Oriental house being fiat and an ordi-
nary place of resort 1t would prevent
accidents and loss of life Some
through carelessness or foolhardiness,
others through short-si ghtedness or a
slip Of the foot. might fall off. A
selfish man might say: 81 shall
always remember that there is no
battlement and will keep away from
the sides. Let others look out for
themselves. Probably no one will fall
off. anyway. | see no reason why
should be put to this extra labor and
expense. People must learn to keep
away from dangerous places"
The man wise in his own conceit
might say: 81 shall have no battle
ment on this roof. | have nothing but
contempt for those who do not know
enough to look out for number one.
will leave it unprotected, if only to
show my superiority to those weak
cause other people do a thing is no
reason why should do it,
Now, the spirit of this ancient law
concerning battlements is recognized
in all civilized communities. Private
tastes and individual eccentricities are
not allowed to imperil public safety or
to destroy public comfort. Private
persons cannot build houses without
public authorities approving the plans
So this precept Of the Jewish law is
found, in spirit, at least, in GU
modern legislation. We are to be
alive to sense of danger. We are
not to forget the duty of prudence We
are to take all reasonable precautions
against injury to ourselves and others.
An axiom around which all legisla-
ton processes to cluster is this
''The greatest good for the largest
number" Private property can be
and often is, taken to add to the
public comfort and veal. 1t is an
accepted truth that ''no man liveth to
together by common ties and owe
something to those around US, No
man has any moral right to indulge in
things base and indecent, or to engage
in any business derog atory to the COM
mon good, or destructive of the peace
and harmony of his fellow. So clearly
Is tulS ICCOSuILcu bIldb Tue ClVlI Jaw
has taken cognizance of nearly all a
mans actions and states expressly a
score of things he must not do.
We hear not little in these days
about personal liberties. - And. by
the way, let me say, it is usually those
who wish to show their contempt for
law and order that talk that way
Nevertheless, it is indeed true this
is not "the land of the free
How my personal liberties" are
restricted by the laws of the state and
the nation. I really have nothing that
can do I with as please. l cannot
erect any kind of building I choose on
that piece of ground that have bought
and paid for, If my chimney emits q
disagree able odor Or sends out danger
Gus sparks. | am likely to be waited
upon by an officer Of the law. | can.