CHAPTER XXXVII

THE SONGS OF THE GENTLY COMPASSIONATE

WHY is it that so many "good" men and women—

especially the latter-are so stern, unforgiving and inflexible in their condemnation of certain types of wrongdoing. I know women whose faces turn to marble and whose conversation is as frigid as an arctic winter, in the presence of those declared guilty of sexual crimes. Others cannot tolerate one whose

word is not to be relied upon. Still others are inflexible towards those who get into debt without full knowledge as to how they are going to pay. In a novel recently read one of the characters is made to say of a gambling, spendthrift woman, as his mouth and eyes hardened and the line of his jaw looked square and ugly: "She squandered money that wasn't hers, and gambled to buy rubbish she could never pay for." And though a woman he loved pleaded that he be more kind to the offender and cried: "Don't be so hard. Perhaps she was only foolish-perhaps she didn't mean " he exclaimed in reply: "The pal-"he triest of excuses. I suppose no woman deliberately means to steal when she orders things she can't pay for, or even calls it stealing to fling away money be

longing to other people, but it's theft all the same. Dishonesty is the meanest, most sordid of vices. For me those whom I can't trust cease to exist. They are snuffed out of my life like a candle flame."

Observe the sternness, the unforgiving attitude, the uncompromising hostility towards those "whom he could not trust."

Again, later, he is made to say "I can't believe that we're ever forgiven for sin or even folly on the grounds of lack of intention. After all, we're reasoning human beings, with brain and will and heart. There are essential rules laid down which we must not transgress. It's no excuse for us if we do so without meaning to. We should mean. We should control our actions, our impulses. We're given our powers of reasoning and free will for no other purpose. It's as if one deliberately let go a rudder, and then excused oneself for allowing the ship to dash upon the rocks by saying one didn't mean it! We all have rudders if we care to use them. We must use them if we mean to steer through life with any success."

All true and incontrovertible, yet

Once again he speaks:

"The men and women who drift into debt, ordering everything in the world they want without an intention of paying for it: the people who look upon gambling debts as debts of honor and think nothing of owing their tradespeople for the luxuries or even

the necessities of life. What is a debt of honor if not the latter I should like to know? It is a subject on which I feel very strongly indeed."

It is not that one wishes to condone, to palliate, or to tolerate wrong-doing, that he longs for a tenderer view of the wrong-doer. Punishment for such wrongdoing is doubtless needful and beneficial, but even in the administration of punishment there can and should be compassion, sorrow and helpful sympathy. Those who use the Lord's Prayer ask that they may be forgiven as they forgive. And Christ declared that "seventy times seven" was the measurement he placed upon human forgiveness. Yet society as a whole totally ignores this tender teaching. Its prisons and penitentiaries are still a disgrace to civilization-even the best of them. Arizona and Colorado, which have sought to put into practice more humane measures for the treatment of its convicts than most other prisons, have been compelled, by the force of public criticism and opposition, to take backward steps. Once condemned by the officers of the law. and sentenced to the penitentiary one meets with little or no tenderness, sympathy or compassion. Yet enlightened medical science, and psychological knowledge is daily making it more clear that much of what we call sin, inherent wickedness, persistent criminality, is as much the result of disease as are smallpox, typhoid or yellow fever. As well sentence the man, sick with these forms of disease, as those in whom

the manifestations appear as theft, forgery, burglary and the like. Cure the disease, by all means; restrain the criminal, so-called, if necessary just as we quarantine the patient suffering from smallpox, or bubonic plague, but do it kindly, gently, sympathetically and with tender compassion. Nor does this mean a mushy, sickly sentimentality. The strongest men and women are those who can look upon wrongdoing and wrong-doers with the tenderest heart, for they are powerfully moved to practical and effective steps to cure the sinner of his desire to sin.

Harshness, sternness, inflexible justice, never yet softened a human heart. Pure justice, in this world of conflicting passions and interests, should be meted out, but it should ever be tempered with mercy, and its judgments and punishments softened by tenderness and sympathy.

How well do I recall, although the incident occurred many years ago, visiting a parish rector with his organist, who had been "overtaken in a fault"— the inordinate craving for alcoholic liquor. The latter was full of penitence, of true repentance, humbly acknowledging his wrong and not resenting punishment, yet how did that "good" man receive him? Did he seek to restore him in "the spirit of meekness; considering himself, lest he also be tempted?"

No! with inflexible sternness, cruel coldness and intolerant harshness he bade the temporarily disgraced man begone and refused to listen to a word in

extenuation, or that he generously pardon the offense.

I cannot think that that rector on that occasion sang with God. I heard no song over the returning sinner, no pæan of thankfulness for sin forgiven, for transgression tenderly overlooked, though uncompromisingly condemned, and had I not taken the humbled man to my home and kept him there until body, mind and soul were somewhat restored to their normal condition, there is little doubt but that he would have gone on a prolonged debauch, to his and his family's wretchedness and undoing.

I never cease being thankful for the tender compassionateness of my own father at the times of my own childish delinquencies. There was no shirking justice or due punishment, but it was never given in haste, in petulance or in anger. The need for it was even made clear, and its reformative purpose fully explained and understood. Then, with tender prayers for the wrong-doer, and sympathetic regrets that his own actions had rendered the administration of such justice necessary, the agreed upon punishment was inflicted.

To my mind one of the great secrets of the spirit of stern condemnation and unforgiveness is intolerance. And all intolerance is a form of righteous self-conceit, or Phariseeism. "My standard is the only right standard. I live up to it; so must every one else. Here is the path of right. Every step