The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-09-04


the prophet announces. 1t is notsec-
tarianism, this or that particular
creed, this or that system of dogmas;
! it is much more the creed of all creeds,
the elements of universal religion,
that which is dear to every hs1
lieving soul, and reason itself must
accept as thessultimatum- of thought;
it is. universal religion and universal
salvation for which Israel lived and
sacrificed so many martyrs, and which
mustabe taught first and foremost in
this. and every other temple of Israel,
because it is our life and the pros
longation Of our days. In the, essence.
of religion and the substance of ethics,
there can exist no real difference of.
opinion, among enlightened men; we
differ with. the rest of mankind only
in that which was added to our heri-
| Itage. We differ where reason differs
| from the dogma, or where the creed is
adverse to the genius iof religion.
Where religion, reasonY dogma, and
creed are. unity, we fully agree with
the rest Of mankind. We hold, how
ever, that these are the only points
from which. the religion of future
generations will be constructed, and
| therefore maintain that we possess,
and have preserved during all the
ages of darkness and tumult, the pure
elements of universal religion, This
was and is, the mission of Israel; the
Messianic vocation of Gods chosen
people, the very cause of its preserva-
ton and existence gevaa bee n1l
Here again we must notice differ
ence between, synagogue and temple,
the old and the new school in Israel.
Our older brethren likewise know
and understand that we possess the
elements of universal religion, and
that Israel's hope is based upon the
final triumph of truth. But Juda-
ism, having been, for so many centu-
ries, a prosecuted and derided reli-i
gionv little known to the choicest
disciples of. theology, misrepresented
by many, and unknown to the multi
tudes, our sires naturally came to be-
lievef that Israel himself could not
possibly fulfil his mission and the
final triumphsS truth must be achiev-
ed by mirl les, as though the
natural course of history was
not marvellous enough Israel was
rendered altogether passive, and
his mission was placed in the hands of
the Messiah, son of David, who, to-
gether with the miracles which God
would design TO work for him, should
effect the redemption of mankind, and
the. final triumph of truth, freedom
and justice. Therefore they desire
the separation of Israel from the Gen
tile world, and lay the chief stress, not
upon the elements of universal relig-
ion, but upon, laws and .observances
which characterize Israel as peculiar
and distinct people, which one day will
return to Palestine to be governed by
the Messiah s9 35ii .ode 3mos 81
We maintain, that God works no
miracles. True wisdom never changes,
alters or amends its plans, or suspends
its own laws. History abundantly
/ testifes to the steady progress of hui
nanity, justice, good will, reason and
truth. Once arbitrary despots Cow
erned the family of man; now liberty
extend its dominion with every pass
ling day. Once man was a st anger
outside of his tribe and the small ter 4
iritory, which it !, occupied; 4 now the,
American is no stranger. In Japan or
India, and the Chinese feels himself
at home ON our soiljl So justice and |
freedom progress and the human
family is fraternized without any par |
.ticular miracle. Where in. former
days the wretched slave trembled be-
fore his taskmaster, there the inalien-
able rights of man are now protected /
and respected. bl,t0g aW s7a8a.I
Where the poor and needy starved,
or, creeping in the dust, begged a
miserable morsel of bread, there are
now plenty of hospitals, poor houses, 4
asylums for widows and orphans, and
benevolent societies. So philanthro-
ply progresses without any particular
miracle. goo 81 EVho2 1883 ie et3'p3
b The triumphs of science over igno-
rance. of philosophy over superstition,
of right over might. of reason and
light over darkness, are so numerous
that we are forced to the conclusion |
that God leads us in natural course
of events to, the final triumph of truth,
and this is also the final triumph of |
Israel. The course Of history points
not to the restoration of Israel to |
Palestine it points to the restoration
of mankind to one good and enlight-
ened family, The course of his |
tory promises no king to Israel; it |
promises freedom to all. s'N 2fV-" z "
. Having MOI Palestine, no Messiah,
and no miracles;we have country
where we, are, and brothers where |
good men dwell, and the mission
Of Israel returns to Israel him
self. Therefore we put much less
stress on peculiar observances and
laws, and much more on the elements
of universal religion and the mission
of Israel 'A f.nFe D /