The Feilding Star, Oraua and Kiwitea Counties Gazette. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14.1907. Anti-Suicide.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 191, 14 February 1907, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oraua and Kiwitea Counties Gazette. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14.1907. Anti-Suicide.

The greatest social movement which saw its birth with the first day of tbis year was undoubtedly the "Anti-suicide Bureau," opened in london by General Booth, the head of the Salvation Army, and the phenomenal success which had attended its inception within the first few days was convincing proof that the scheme was on right lines. The office was in charge of experienced officers of the Army, and the following rules were laid down in connection with its operations:— The office was open between 10 a.m. and 5.30 p.m.; confidences are rigidly kept or private circumstances of applicants; nothing is committed to writing without the express permission of applicants ; and no financial assistance is promised. Referring to the scheme General Booth says: — "The act of self-destruction is a violation of the sacredness of life, the law of the land, and an outrage upon the moral sense of the people. Suicide is indefensible. Yet it is on the increase in every laud and among all classes. Modern civilisation cannot claim that it has fostered and developed the bonds that bind men to a just appreciation of life. The offence is either committed in a way that baffles human skill in its efforts to determine the cause of death, or means are found by influential and wealthy friends to hide away the crime. But if so many with suicidal intent find courage for the sad deed, who can calculate the number who would cut the sacred thread which binds them to this world if they dare? Nay, how marly of the gay, laughing crowds around us have at one time or another contemplated suicide; and how n<any this very day would hurry away from tho present stage of being but for an indefinable dread of the future? I believe the number is larger than most people have the slightest conception of. As to the causes that lead to suicide, they are numberless. No doubt "temporary insanity," the reason commonly assigned by the gentlemen who are so often called upon to inquire into the matter, is frequently the correct one. For who, not worked up to some terrible pitch of excitement, tantamount to mental derangement, would commit so foolish a deed? But how does that derangement come about? What is behind it? The rfcESons comnonly suggested are diink, speculation, dissipation, gambling, and similar follies. These things lead, it is said, to all sorts of disappointments and vexations, under the influence of which weak, illbalanced, passionate, and unassisted minds reel and give way, ending enly too often in the dealy resource to poison, the water, the revolver, or the rope. But further back in the string of causes for this melancholy transaction I should say there too frequently lies a sense of failure in the struggle of life ; especially is this the case with those who have "come down in the world." With many, I believe, the step is taken in the struggle to be good — in the vain effort to master some hated evil habit with the sense of utter friendlessness. No one is at hand with sufficient sympathy or sense to understand them to whom the poor, bleeding heart can be laid bare. So the fatal step is taken. Suicide in ninety cases out of a hundred must be the triumph of despair. I cannot help believing that had Judas, instead of ignominiously rushing out of existence, only gone in his agony to the feet of the Master whom he had so cruelly betrayed, and cast himself on His mercy, he would have leceived forgiveness, and instead of being pilloried through the world and through all time as the prince of traitors he would have been repa rded as the most triumphant trophy of grace. 1 therefore propose — at the suggestion of the Daily Express — to set apart two of my offi-r-ers for the purpose of rendering such counsel and advice as may be calculated to arrest despairing applicants on tho path that leads to self-destruction."