The Stron ge Case of

George\t/ilsonft is rore for a person undersentence of death to refuse apordon. Yel there is one case on record, in the annols of thz UnitedStates Supreme court, in which a mon sentenced to die octuolly did refuseto occept o pordon.

The court record shows thot two men, wilson ond porter, were convictedand sentenced to be honged for robbery of the u s moils in 1829. porterwss execufed on July 2, 1830. Threeweeksbeforethe time set for

wilson's execution he wos gronted c pardon by president Andrew Jackson. Thepeople resented this clemency immensely. However, insteod of accepting the pordon Wilson chonged his plea from'not guilty' to 'guilty'. He was given the opportunity to plead the pordon, but he ref used to do so. The Supremer ,- J-,,,t.Court, ofter consideritng the guestion, handed down the following decision.

uA pardon is an act of grace, , which exenpts the individual... fron the punishnent the law inf/icts fora crime he has connitted"'..., delivery is nof conplefe without accepfance. ft nay be rejected then by the person fo whon it istendered; and if rejecfed, we have found no power in a courf fo force if upon him.o

This wos unique, ond most people would consider Wilson o fool for refusing to accept opordon. Yet these some people reject every day the pordon which 6od hos provided :for them through the Lord Jesus Christ. Such people would tremble ot the thought ofimpending death, and would snatch at areprievefor af ew extra years af lif e,yirdeliberately ond corelessly refuse 6od's pordon from eternol deoth.

6od's pcrdon ist'on acf of gracd'. rt connot be earned,or bought. rt is not reservedfor those with personolity, or those with influence. 6od's porJon is olso one whose" de/ivery is not complete without acceplancau.

To sotisfy justice, sin must be punishad. But to reconcilejustice with mercy, God gaveHis own Son os our substitute. The Bible pufs if this woyr ith" LoBD has loid o,., Him the iniquity of us oll,,.Through the death of christ, pordon is off ered,but it must be occepted. wilson,spordon cost the scrotch of thePresident's pen. A pardon for you would cost the life-

Presidentinl parrlon

blood of 6od's Son.

Wilson's pardon meont only af ew years odded to the sordid lif e of o common criminol. your pordon is a reprievefrom hell and o deed to heaven. But, never forgel; accepfance is essential fo delivery.

Wilson most certoinly believed thot his pordon hod been granted if he wanted it, but refused to avoil himself ofit. Wilson's wos a strong e case. But then, Wilson was o fool.

Todoy, you could obtoin what so many want, the forgiveness of their sins. As you turn in repentonce from yoursin, take thot offer of pardon from the hand of ihe 6od who offers eternal life to those deserving eternai deoth,

Ileath Rowo Sing Sing Frison