A Terrible Epidemic by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Nov 19, 1903

A Terrible Epidemic

By L. A. S.

In the Century Magazine for November, Dr. J. M. Buckley, editor of the leading Methodist paper in the United States, calls attention to “The Present Epidemic of Crime.” That there is such an epidemic is shown by facts which Dr. Buckley cites. Although he is not a believer in the nearness of Christ’s second advent, yet he is candid enough to admit that existing conditions, so far from suggesting a coming millennium of peace and righteousness, are such as Scripture has foretold would be characteristic of the days just prior to the end of the world. Here are some of Dr. Buckley’s statements:—

An appalling epidemic of crime exists in the United States. . . . Among the evidences of this epidemic is the recent rapid increase of juvenile and youthful crimes, and of crimes of premeditation and ingenuity committed by persons under or but little over what is called legal age. Moreover, these crimes among the young are by no means confined to the so-called lower classes. It occasions only momentary surprise to read that a scion of one of the best families is guilty of some heinous offense against law and morals. Indeed, the number of crimes committed by the highly educated is an alarming feature of the situation. The list of defaulting bookkeepers, bank tellers, clerks, and college graduates constantly lengthens, reflecting a lurid light upon the theories of those who attempt to account for the origin of all sin, vice, and crime by ignorance. Those who attribute all crime to intemperance are also silenced, since many prevalent crimes are incompatible with that vice, for they require the keenest intellects, the most concentrated attention. It is noteworthy also that representatives of the clerical, the legal, and the medical professions are furnishing an increasing number of crimes of dishonesty, violence, and pollution of domestic life.

Making due allowance for the number who, in the hope of pardon, attempt to ingratiate themselves by representing that they have belonged to various Christian denominations, and have been taught in Sunday-schools, the fact remains that a majority of the inmates of reformatories and prisons have been connected with different churches, either through their families or actually as communicants. Whoever studies criminals can but note that whereas the traditional type seemed to give a plausible argument to the theorizers who imagine that they can infallibly ascertain character by an examination of the exterior of the skull and the physiognomy, there may easily be selected from a thousand prisoners one hundred who, properly clad, could pass for the judge, jury, lawyers, court officers, and principals in an important civil suit.

About three years ago I delivered an address to the prisoners in the penal institution at Sing Sing. In the audience of eight hundred were two bankers, thirty bookkeepers, forty-seven clerks, four physicians, five lawyers, one United States consul, and twenty-one salesmen. Besides, there were policemen, chemists, dentists, nine merchants, two journalists, an architect, and two clergymen. The balance of the twelve hundred and fifty in the prison, four hundred and fifty of whom were in attendance at the Catholic chapel, included all trades and occupations. Prominent representatives of almost every denomination were there, and several members of families of high ancestral distinction in the country. In addition to these were many skilled workmen. After a similar address in the Tombs prison in New York, I visited the prisoners from cell to cell. Among them were fourteen charged with murder. Of these, ten would compare favorably in appearance and manner with the male attendants at any religious service. It is not so surprising that more than a third of the inmates of the Elmira reformatory are well educated, and many of them refined and ingratiating in conversation and deportment. The alarming fact is that a large proportion of these are among the most incorrigible.

Another peculiarity of the time is that it is common to read the statement that the accused, when brought before the court, “seemed the most unconcerned person in the room.” As a rule, nothing can account for such effrontery except familiarity with thoughts of crime and calculations on the possibility of detection. Again, the most outrageous acts are perpetrated with no very powerful ascertainable motive for their commission. The brutality also which marks

many recent criminal acts has never been exceeded. Outrages upon children and upon the aged of both sexes, and the assassination of benefactors, are every-day occurrences. A single morning paper will recount scores of such ghastly acts. I recently counted fifty-two in a single number of a daily paper. . . .

In any community an average amount of crime, ascertained by comparisons covering several years, would hardly be considered an epidemic. But when crime spreads rapidly and extends to regions comparatively free from it before, and where it has been common—takes on new and startling forms, it is obvious that both usual and unusual influences must be at work. Such has been the recent course of things in the United States. Individual crimes have increased in number and malignity. In addition to this, under extraordinary influences a wave of general criminality has spread over the whole nation. Meanwhile in certain regions there is an outbreak of a particular class of crimes.

Having made these statements, and having noted further that the present epidemic of crime can not be due to hard times, since the country has been generally prosperous, Dr. Buckley enumerates what he regards as the causes which have produced such a deplorable and alarming result. But one cause which he does not mention underlies all the others, and that is that the world is rapidly being given over to the spirit of strife and crime, because men have resisted the Spirit of God until it has been almost withdrawn from the earth. Prophetic scripture tells us that abounding iniquity is to be characteristic of the last days of time; that an epidemic of sin will sweep over the world; and with this there will naturally be also an epidemic of crime, for where reverence is lacking for the law of God, there will be little respect shown for the laws of men. In the light of Bible prophecies the present situation is alarming, but it is not mysterious. We are not left in the dark either as regards what course we must pursue at such a time, or what we may further expect.

Dr. Buckley has no remedy to offer for the situation, though he asserts that “to realize our danger and our deficiencies, to realize that ‘the rule of a republic is a rule of law and order,’ has, in itself, the potency of a remedy.” The Saviour, however, in foretelling such a condition of things as now exists, did not say to his disciples that they should try to remedy the situation, and so save society and the state, but he did say that when they should see these things coming to pass, they should lift up their heads and rejoice because their redemption was at hand. In this lies the only real benefit of calling attention to the perils and calamities which foreshadow the approaching dissolution of earthly things. All these things proclaim the coming of Him who has redeemed the earth, and whose right it is to reign, whose coming will put an end to sin and crime and suffering, and whose reign will be with everlasting peace and righteousness. The long usurpation of sin and Satan is about to end, and “soon the earth with joy will receive her King.” L. A. S.