Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-07-24
ASSERTS SUICIDES SHOW
LACK OF FAITH IN COD
Rev. o. A. Sauer Takes Muir.
der" as Subject of His
Sermon.
sELr-pEsTnucrIoN I>cREAsEs
10000 In United states Annually Is
Snd Commentary on Religious Con-
dition In the Country, Minister
Hero Tells Congregation

Taxing Tor h!s subject Murder"
Rev. -. y. Saucr yesterday at Both
lehen Evangelical Lutheran Church
said concerning suicide
Another Yruesome subject TO be
treated under the subject uf murder
IS that which deals with suicide. The
Increasing prevalence OF thls crime
renders the consideration OF this subJ
teot imperative In the past half
century suicid. has increased in Eu-
Topean countries 400 per cent while
the population has Increased only 60
per cent
10000 In I. y. Annually.
And 10000 suicides annual, III the
United states is a sad commentary
on the religious condition Of our
country In ten wears an army
greater than that which has decided
some OF tn" srear battles % history
nshers ltself. unCnIIed into tho pres
"nce OF God Il mah.s one sGudder
10 contemplate this suful fact, Tho
chief cause IL thE, men arc losing
their faith In God and their faith
In their own eternal destiny. This
IL shown from statistics In Ger
many fcw years ago. 70 every 1907
ooo population. there we're 7i3 sui
cides. o, these only sixty eight we're
nom!naiiH Christians. forty were
Jews and sos were n-ChristIans
The same proportion no doub, pre-
walls elsewhere. 'rhe suicide says. he
ended /, all But s, is no, ending Il
all. u IL appointed unto mon ono.
% dc After this tho Judgment
A question which injccts !t.slf
Into this discussion 8 that which IA,
To do With the -esponSibil';y ~ the
person who lays dettructive hands 20
himself + would seem that fully
rational being would not do sucn a
hing Blu, whil" many az" not ra.
tioral a, tn. time the deed IS done,
there are many who commit suiclde
"l,h fui! consciousness OF what they
ar" doing. And We mus, no, forse,
that responsibility may go back far
h""ond the time when the deed !.
committed. When due 10 greed
men ruin their health and de,hrone
reason 10 acquire wealth. or II the
''s1c results are brouRh, about by
sin, sGch ~ drunkenness or I'm
morality. tn. responsibilities for SUI.
eide remains. because moral or
spiritual collapse through, on tn. col .
lapse of the mind This fact helps
20 emphasize hor careful and PRAYER.
fui We should ne IN watching the
/ whole sphere OF life In case
OF slIclde where the mind has he
| come unbalanced from causes no,
superinduced by acts Of sin. NC may
suspend judgment and leave IN. Vic.
/ tim to the mercy Of God Who deal,
/ tightly with all.
Deplor~S Rnr~ Suicide.
/ Amid the most aendish and devil
/ 'sh murdeTers aye the married and
/ Unmarried mothers who murder ,n.!r
/ aorn and unborn offSpIinEs or all the
: cfu"! and dsmnable things think the
/ darker and most damnable Is tina,
which Inks tho name which should
{ ne 'ac s"cete1t and mos, sacred
am ing mer- the name mother. With
I OF" or the .Oulcst Of crimes Race
/ suicide NE refusal or men and wo
/ n'= OF certain sor: -selash luxury
owing. without patriotism. women
"ho Wish to be wives bur not moth
er' IS bad enough. though no murder
[ DC committed Il marks condition
/ q! social dr. rot But when TO avoid
/ maternal dut.er. prospective mothers
redden their hands and damn their
souls ny taxing the lie ~ their iin-
/ no:n children language fats 20 ne
an adequate medium FOR expressing
! the feelings ~ condemnation. wNic,
SURG through the souls Of right.
. thinking people"