282 THE IMMORTALITY OF ANIMALS 



cruelties of other nations while we are permitting 

 worse things frequently in our own country. 



There is a tendency among even Christian people 

 to overlook the subject of cruelty to animals, and 

 regard it as only a mere fancy of sentimentalism. 

 We do not hope to reform that class so much as 

 to educate the rising generation to a higher and 

 nobler sentiment. It is the young mind, now in a 

 process of cultivation and discipline, that we expect 

 to influence for good. When we look over the pages 

 of history and see the vast amount of time, money, 

 and suffering it takes to bring about any great 

 reform, our hearts are made to ache at the sinful 

 nature of man. The efforts which are being made 

 to-day by many of the best people in the civilized 

 world to prohibit vivisection should have the sup- 

 port of all Christian people of all nations, and I 

 believe the cause does have their support. Right 

 here is where the line should be drawn ; if a man 

 or woman refuses to help support this great humane 

 cause, he or she cannot possibly be a Christian ac- 

 cording to the teachings of the Bible, w T hich says, 

 " Open thy mouth for the dumb ... be merciful 

 as your Father is merciful . . . what doth the 

 Lord require of thee but to do justly, love mercy, 



