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44
The Progress ok the Races
safe from lynching, safe before the court, that he might have a fair and impartial trial and safe from race discrimination.
E. W. MAXSON 601 P Street, Northwest Washington, D.C.
July 11, 1923.
Capital Punishment
To the Editor of the Post, Sir:
I understand that certain distinguished lawyers, who are opposed to capital punishment, are trying to influence Congress to abolish capital punishment in the District of Columbia. If such a law is enacted by the Congress, it doubtless means that all of the States, will, in process of time, be influenced to follow in the same wake of being too lenient in cases of murder, and thus permit a saturnalia of crime to prevail throughout the United States.
There is a state of unrest in this country, probably caused by the World War. Bandits and murderers have increased, and unless the law is rigidly enforced on these outlaws, the life of a person will not be safe anywhere. A life sentence in the penitentiary does not mean anything to a man who has committed willful murder. He stands a chance of being pardoned, or escaping to commit another crime.
I favor capital punishment because the Bible favors it, which is our infallible guide. I favor it when a man is proven guilty of murder in the first degree by the mouth of credible witnesses. The same God who said, Thou shalt not kill, said also, “Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses.” Numbers 35:30.
I would not convict the devil on circumstantial evidence, however much 1 am opposed to him, and yet, Jesus Christ said, “He was a murderer from the beginning,” which makes him guilty to start with. But I would give him a fair and impartial trial, and if found guilty of murder by the mouth of witnesses, I would say let him be executed according to law.
It is as absurd to say that capital punishment should be abolished because it does not prohibit murder, as it is to say that the courts should be discontinued, the judges discharged, and the licenses of lawyers cancelled because crimes and misdemeanors have always been committed, and doubtless will continue as long as the world shall stand. Let every man look out for himself as in the days when every man was a law unto himself.
If capital punishment does not prohibit murder, it certainly will reduce the number of murderers and restrain some of those who have murderous intents.
E. W. MAXSON
601 P Street, Northwest
February 3, 1926.
The Progress ok the Races
45
This Contributor Waxes Warm on John the Baptist
To the Editor:
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? Luke 20:4.
The critics and enemies of Jesus, were always trying to tempt and ensnare him with hard questions. But He knew their thoughts and how to answer them. These wise-acres were often disconcerted and put to silence by Jesus. The proper answer to this question would have condemned His enemies and exposed their hypocrisy. Therefore, they evaded a correct answer to this question, by saying:	“We cannot tell.” It is significant to note
that, there are many agnostics along this line today. There is no command in the Old Testament for baptism of one person by another. There were dippings, washings, and sprinklings, but nothing corresponding to the New Testament baptism. John came preaching, sent by God. He brought baptism with him. His baptism was from heaven. To reject it was to reject God’s command. But the substitutes for baptism today, are of men.
Shall men continue to evade the truth and to make a solemn mockery of this ordinance?
E. W. MAXSON 601 P Street. Northwest October 29, 1928.	---------<
Ancient Miracles Contracted withJTodeiIn Inventions
To the Editor of the Post, Sir:	/I
Doubtless the airplane w'ould Be as wonderful to Elisha, and the sons of the prophets as the chariot of fire that carried Elijah to heaven is to the people of today. Probably the airplane fulfills these words of the Psalmist: “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”
No doubt the submarine would seem as incredible to the Ninevites, as Jonah’s three days and three nights in the belly of the big fish is to some of the modernites.
Possibly the radio would be as great a mystery to John the Baptist, and the disciples, as the Voice that came from heaven when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, transfigured on the mount, and speaking in the temple at Jerusalem, is to the people of this generation. What a wonderful piece of machinery is man! Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty.
E.	W. MAXSON
615 P Street, Northwest
November 25, 1930.
The Sanctity of Matrimony
To the Editor of the Post, Sir:
The sanctity of matrimony must be affirmed and divorce condemned by the Church and State if the home is to kept off the rocks. A part of the church is lax on this matter and the State is too loose. Both should conform