South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-10
MAKES SUICIDE
SERMON THEME
Rev. Allison Says Society
Shares Guilt of One Who
Kills Himself.


who commits suicide. Society also
shares the guilt Of one who murders
himself SHOULD there not be an rf-
fort TO eliminate its causes such as
the use o. liquor Murder and sui
eide has been very frequent in tins
city during the past few years. Dur-
ing ten years from 1902 10 1911 there
were ia south BEND III cases. Dur
ing the same period there were IN the
state 3.40o suicides" said Re-
George William Allison. sunday
morning In his sermon on the subject
The King Who Committed Hari
Hiri." at the Hope Presbyterian
church.
In speaking on the theme and HOY
crimes are treated Rev. Allison sad
in part
10 is always deoatable whether q
great crisis ia national history pro-
ouces a lender. or whether the leader
produces tho crisis. Al any rate
they are usually cOntemporaneOus II
vas a time of grave crisis in He
brew history with which out though
is concerned today. The Philistinss
we're overwhelming the country. Tn
Hebrews were ir danger OF being on
saved and crushed. If not EXTERN
mated Yet they were always pro-
fOundlv conscious OF a divine des-
Tiny as the rcvealers OF God 20 tho
nations So samuel the ancient p~o-
phet selected a rather inConspIcu-
man for leadC~ I'm the persD0 Of saul
s.cuI WIS then anuointed king. though
some tribes Of the Hebrews express
"a their disfavor 10y refusing 10 send
lifts. He became a great military
lower md drove the enemies OF his
PEOPLE from the land This won hin
many friends from among his for
ner urfriendIy feuow-cOuntrymel
and then ne was proclaimed "a a
rational king with common consent.
Success Turns Head.
Put success IN this as i'm many
other cases turned his head He be
came moody and suspicious. He lost
Inc support OF the RELIGIOUS leader
samuel. thus losing q powerful re-
Ftraining and ST. Engineering force IN
his realm. He was great as a mill
tsry genius with aggressive tactics
cut he lacked the steadiness required
for constructive administration. At
the same time ne became subject 30
1nelauC ho!ia at the very time his
strength was most needed From
this time on his power wanes and
Gwindles. Until in a final conflict
with the Phil.st' mes where each ma
ton is fighting for very sheer exist
,uce. nc saw his sons killed. his ar
my defeated in rout. and then ended
lis life bv falling upon his own sword
q pitiable suicide such is in outline
the story Of a great opportunity ard
"a great promise In life. degeneratinl
into its ignOble failure. defeat, and
ignomy.
"Au Of this brings as TO n cousid-
Cration OF an unusual theme for tn
lulpit ] wish TO speak briefly Of
suicide. II is the act OF Intentionally
taking ones own life. The Christian
attitude toward that act cannot DC
rista zen. Il is 20 be plainly regarded
as "a violation OF the command Thou
shalt not kill' i'm self murder. All Of
tsis however regards the act as a
purely personal matter. IL is TO ne
Questioned however whethe' this is
wide enough for consideration.
Ratio BY Nations.
THE following facts ought Co he
considered. First that different na-
tiors have CoCn an average rate Of
suicide per million inhabitants Witch
remains practically static year ny
.ear. the increasing i'm all slightly
Tor instance France has $50 per mil
lion: Belgium Toe. England 70; Scot
land 80. and Ireland L. There are
about 3.5 males 20 each female who
suicide. The rate is increa sing in an
1.ations.-having grown in ENGLAND
Tor Instance roDi 90 per million i'm
1865 TO leo IL 1910. and i'm other
countries likewise. While the cauS. =
ure not clear the following things
must be considered Climate is a.
factor insanity IS q .-eQuent cause.
the use OF alcohol and other drugs
contribute Religion has a re-
straintlye force. Suicide is very rare
among the Jews: does not occur OFT
en- among ROman Catholics. is not
frequent among Protestants but doe
occur most frequently among those
no are irreligious. suicide is moro
common among educated than the
ignorant: more common in cities
than rural districts. It's average rate
Is highest among the following class
- In order named soldiers. doctors
saloon keepers druggists OF chemists
II is lowest FOR the fouowine classes
IN order named clergy sailors en-
rfneerS and fremen. one OF the most
important factors Is that Of uneU-
uiovment Two men unemployed
commit suicide 20 every one who IS
az work The period or edolscence
ia productive Of considerable suicide.
while the most prevalent age is be-
tween 50 and 50 for reasons perhaps
associated with sex and employ
1uent. Season must he considered.
The rate Is lowest in mid-winter ard
highest In midsummer
a curious feature OF this study
= that a sudden epidemic may break
cut in certain districts. Periods ot
sailtry heat. disagreeahle weather
ard unemployment all work together
20 start such an epidemic. Then the
newspaper publicity gives details Ia
a1 Of their grdesome morbIdits
which feeds the minds Of those VII,
are susceptible. md they ina turn or,