The Washington times., 1926-09-14

those not wrong ALL OF TIL
We learn from others, and hope
that women, whether they approve
or disapprove what I say, viii
write me frankly, in care OF The
Washington Times, expressing
their opinions.
One good woman writes me as
follows. requesting that her name
and address be not published.
Ny dear Mr.. Sunday: How can
you. say that you believe the Rev.
y. Hall, after all his sin and de-
ceiving Of his wife, was forgiven,
if he only raised his eyes to heaven
IN true repentance at the last mo-
ment. ask you, how can you say
such q thing?
''Of what value Is q good life,
from birth until marriage, from
marriage until death, IL the vilest
sinner can repent at the last mo.
ment, go TO heaven and sit near
God and that Is the meaning OF
what you said.
You say If DIR. Hall raised his
eyes 20 Heaven in sincere repent
aIice. between the moment when
the pistol barked, and the other
moment when the soul left his
body, he is Ia heaven now. Other
wise he Is IN he'll.
81 am quoting from memory, I
may not be exact, but that Il the
meaning Of what you said.
DO you really believe that the
Lord takes to heaven to live with
Him and be near Him and His Son,
q man that Is wicked. that leaves
his own wife, leads another woman
under his influence into tempta-
ton, sin and death, and merely
raises his eyes and says, I am
sorry, just before he dies?
sYFouldn,E that make q Life of
@lm q little too easy2 Wouldn't it
be rather dfscouraging to those
that lead good lives2 Please answer
this letter. personally to my adj
dress, which give You IN conf
dence. or answer 1t publicly Il you
choose. Signed. Mrs, "
Mercy UnderIies Christianity
I am glad to answer the letter
publicly ana to admit that there
seems to Be strength in what this
lady says.
But It IS for Us to accept Chris
tianity a. We get It from God and
His Son. not try to Improve upon
II. not offer our feeble reason as
opposed to Divine mercy and wis
dom.
We must remember that it Is
MERCY, not stern Justice that
underlies Christianity and Christ's
teachings.
II stern Justice were the rule,
who among MS would escape pun.
lshment, who could hope for eternal
happiness?
I ask the good lady to read again
the dreadful story of Christ's death
upon the cross. and read the words
that the Saviour OF the world spoke
TO the repentent thief
Tragedy Of GoIgOtha
You remember that 1t was "about
the sixth hour, and there was a
darkness all over the earth" It
was a horrible moment In the his
tory OF the world, a dreadful
moment on the barren hill OF
Golgotha, where stood the three
crosses.
.'The sun was darkened, and the
veil OF the temple was rent in the
midst.
On either side OF Him a GRIM
inal was nailed, each TO his cross.
One of these, unrepentant, Knocked
our Saviour, saying:
II thou be Christ, save thyseH
and u.s..
Not so the other criminal.
The repentant malefactor said,
rebuking his fellow criminal:
"Dost thou not fear God, seeing
thou art in the same condemna-
ton?
'.And we indeed justly; for we
receive the due reward OF our deeds;
but this man hath done nothing
amiss."
There at the last moment, It Is
true, was sincere repentance. AMI
the repentant criminal turning his
dying face toward the heavenly
countenance of our Redeemer.
said unto Jesus, Lord, remember
me when thou CONTEST into thy
Kingdom
The woman who writes me the
earnest letter will please ponder
the reply that Jesus made to this
criminal who confessed his guilt
and repented in the last hour. He
did not say to him, 1T is too late
for you to repent. You sinned dur
ing your life, you must suffer fof.
ever afterwards"
His Divine, eternal. limitless
mercy, accepted the repentance.
And in the 43d verse Of the 23rd
Chapter of st. Luke you read:
"And Jesus said unto him."
verify / say unto thee, To-day shalt
ef1Ou be with me In paradise"
Must Accept 1t Humbly
1t would be sin to doubt that
the unrepentant thief who Knocked
our Saviour now burns in hell,
and an equal sin to doubt that the
other thief, humbly confessing his
guilt, rebuking his fellow criminal
and saying to Jesus with his dying
breath. Remember me-" is now
On Paradise.
It Is not for US to argue about
the teachings of our Lord Jesus
Christ, but to accept those teach
tngs hunbly.
The Rev. DIR. Hall and the mis-
cradle, unfortunate woman, Mrs.
Mills, by him dragged into sin and
by the hand OF the murderer sent
into the grave, are not for US to
Judge except by the light Of Chrlst's
teaching.
just Another CrucifixiOn
No man or woman viii grudge
that repentant thief his place in
Paradise.
TTrs&I A. ...IAt, ...a.J-;--x III.