Pocahontas star herald., 1915-03-12

resist not evil.
Duke c. Bowers. Matt. $3.50
lie further said. They that are
whole need not a physician. but ,Ithey
that are sick. come not to call the
righteous. but sinners 20 repentance.
Right here let me cite 4 case, told
90 me by Mr.. George Porter OF Union
City. Tennessee
A man by the name OF Cunningham
killed q man In Kentucky to rob him ot
thirty dollars. He was caught. tried
and convicted through the testimony
Of two gentlemen; was sentenced 10
hang. but by the use OF influence and
money succeeded In gettiuk his sen
tence eommuted 20 life imbl sonment.
When the authorities were departing
with him to take him to Hson he
said. you had better keep me there
for life. for II ever get out, am go
ing TO kill Kruz Watson and Henry
Winters"-the two men who were re-
sponsible for his conviction.
After serving a number OF years In
the Eddyyille penitentiary. cunn.g-
ham became converted 70 the Chris
tian religion and began TO talk and
preach Christ TO his fellow prisoners.
In a short while after Cunningham's
profession OF religion. there was a plot
made among the prisoners to kill the
guards and break for liberty. Gun
ningham reported this 10 the prison au-
thorities. The break was made and
one guard was killed. but the officials.
by being forewarned. we're prepared
for the break and failure 20 secure
their liberty was the result to the pris-
oners who made the break The Gov
ernor, as mark OF appreciation 10
Cunningham. pardoned him.
Cunningham returned to his home
town. One OF the men whom he said
he would kill II he ever got out was
dead. He went TO the other man. Mr..
Kruz Watson. and begged his pardon
for ever having had such a feeling in
his heart toward him.
Now, according TO Christ's teachings
Cunningham needed a physlcian-he
was a sinner. no doubt, but II he had
been hanged. then he would have been
deprived OF his chance to repent ano
would have been sent into eternity a
murderer instead OF a righteous man.
AS It was he lived TO repent and TO be
OF great benefit 10 his state.
Apostle Paul said. "And when the
blood OF thy Martyr stephen was shed.
also was standing by and consenting
unto his death" thereby making him
self murderer. yet thinking he was
doing a righteous cause. Suppose he
had been hanged. then the world would
have lost It's greatest missionary and
apostle.
II we we're still living under the old
Jewish doctrine. we would even be de-
prived OF eating and enjoying back
bone. spareribs, hog sausage and good
old country ham, for the Old Testa-
ments teachings are against eating
hog meat Of any kind. Ueyiticus 4,
s and 81
II Christ had not shed HIS blood on
the Cross for the.remission OF our sins
and n the law Of revenge had remained
IN the hands OF the human beings,
then we would have 10 be hanged If
we committed even the smallest Of
fense. for It IS written, For whosoeyer
shall keep the whole law. and yet OF
lfend in one point, he IS guilty Of an!
] think the Christlike law OF love,
OF mercy and OF forgiveness takes
away from man the right of the law Of
vengeance, retribution and punish
ment
Therefore from a Scrlptural stand
point / consider It wrong for the state
TO take life.
The question az all times, in regard
TO crime, should he-what and how Is
the best way to handle It, in order that
society shall be protected and the
criminal made better?
Is the death penalty a deterrent Of
crime? Judge W. c. Cherry Of Nash
wills writes: "At one time England
tried to discourage piracy by hanging
and allowing to remain strung up, the
bodies Of the pirates at the mouth Of
the Thames. In six months piracy had
increased tenfold.'
Brand Whitlock states that, On the
debate in the House Of Lords on the
bill to abolish the death penalty for
stealing from a dwelling-house to the
amount Of fifty shillings, Lord Chief
Justice Of Ellenbc-cush declared that