LAW AND MOB LAW by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 13, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 11.

“LAW AND MOB LAW.”

By T.

In a recent New York World there appeared the following paragraphs under the caption of “Law and Mob Law”:—

“Down in Texas the Legislature has been asked to consider a bill providing that it shall be justifiable for a man to kill any one who slanders his wife or female relatives. It is not expected that the measure will pass, but so open an attempt to sanction manslaughter by statute is noteworthy.

“In the Indiana Senate a bill has been introduced to legalize ‘joint-smashing.’ It provides that any number of persons not exceeding twelve may enter any saloon, booth, store, boat, or other place where liquor is illegally sold, and ‘smash’ the paraphernalia, and any one interfering with them to prevent the smashing shall be deemed guilty of assault and battery. Thus would the Hoosier statesman license fanaticism to destroy property.

“Mob law and private vengeance proceed from a feeling that legal penalties are too light, too easily escaped, or administered with too little promptness and adequacy. But the remedy does not lie in the abdication of penal authority and a permit to individuals to work their vengeful will. This is why the raids of Mrs. Nation and her followers partake of lynch-law methods—why they share the lynch-quality to a degree even with the retaliatory church-wrecking.

“Violence outside the law inevitably invites like violence, and statutes officially neglected are not improved in standing when their friends take to the violation of other statutes.”

“Violence” is one of the characteristics of this time. Society is wrought up to a high tension. This is not an opinion, but it is a fact, that any one knows who observes the condition of things. It is inspiring to note the great-hearted hopefulness that so many persons have in regard to the peaceful outcome of these things, but disappointment and despair must not fill the soul, if matters should continue to get worse and worse. What we see of the spirit of violence at the present time is as nothing compared to what we will see a little later on. How do we know this? you ask. The Saviour says plainly, “As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” Luke 17:26. Of the condition of things in the days of Noah the Word of God tells us, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” Gen. 6:11.

Now when the conditions of the times of Noah are reproduced in fulfilment of the prediction of the Master, this earth will be “filled with violence.” This condition is not reached yet, but it is coming on most rapidly, and any one ought to be able to see it. Our only hope for salvation from this “violence” is to be under the protection of the Almighty God. According to this text, men will be “corrupt,” and they can not be trusted for protection, and nothing short of the strong arm of the Lord will do.

Think of these things. Do not pass them by lightly. The conditions before this world are much more serious than even the most wide awake and thoughtful can think of. After we have put forth every effort to reform the abuses and evils of the time, and find that things continue to get worse, do not despair. Study the prophetic Word, and know the meaning of these things, and in the place of discouragement the soul will be filled with the keen delights that arise thru the knowledge that the Lord is coming soon in person to put an end to all this violence. Let us all get ready for the bright joys of that day.