Bisbee daily review., 1922-01-26

Every little while something hap. pens to show that Christianity, as it was taught by its founder, is yet a long way off. Those of us wno are responsible for this fact (and who is not?) should engage in a serious med ltation concerning this manifestation or our lack of either conscience or courage, or perhaps both. A few months ago the papers reported a case that was undergoing judicial in- yestigation and hearing. The occas- ion was the arraignment of some 10 or 12 boys under the age of IA years. who had been apprehended in steal ing. A few days after there was some or even younger than the first mentioned, caught in the act as the other boys had been. The last lot was arrested and brought into court for investigation. Questions brought the information from the boys that most of them were allowed to go where they pleased after school was let out in the afternoon. One or two admitted they had been out of school for two days. Such boys must be de- prlved of the home training that should be the privilege of every home Ill a Christian community. It was disclosed that some of these boys knew nothing about any God, nor had they heard of the ten commandments To make the general ignorance more conspicuous, one boy testified that he knew about the ten commandments. and when asked to repeat them. an swered by reciting: Thou shalt not steal" These lads live in a city with many churches. and probably a large majority of professed Christians. or if not professed. then probably here ditary Christians, who have never re- pudiated the name. Is it possible that some of these were in the class of the boys father who was reported by his sou, when asked as to his de- nominational connection: Well. he used to go to church any way, but he was not working much at it. just now" We. however. need not call one another names, now or at any other time, for we are all responsible for the conditions under which such statements can be true. The real thing about it is what shall we do about it?
 These boys are the unfinished pro- duct of society as it exists today in Bisbee. They are the little brothers of every one of us. Nobody wants to punish them, if that can be avoided and it is an open question how much ought they to be punished. They are natural product of the kind Of train ing we give our young folks. These commandments, five of them at least, are principles upon. which society IS founded. They may be called natural laws, perhaps as much so as the rule that keeps us from falling in the ire. To set them aside has the same effect that it would have to set aside the law of self preservation long enough to jump in the fire and be burnt to death. Society is impossible without the right to hold property. Much more is life impossible in a society where anybody is permitted 10 kill anybody. Personal liberty is merely q farce in any society where q bad man can swear the liberty of another by bearing false witness against him. These commandments, therefore. are essential to human life and liberty The story about Moses and the pro mitigation or these laws is not need ed to give them authority. Like the rocks n the mountains and the water lu the oceans. they are unChangeable facts. They have the same religious authority that every wholesome rule