The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-12
LEXINGTON AVENUE SYNAGOGUE

LEXINGTON AVENUE SYNAGUGUE.
Father Burke and the Mortara Case Re-
viewed by a Jewish Rabbi-A Parallel
Case In Israel-Disc0urse by Rev. DR..
Huebsch.
Yesterday Rev. DR.. Huebsch, the eloquent rabbi
OF the synagogue in Lexington avenue and Fifty
fifth street, preached sermon partly In review OF
Father Burkes lecture in Yonkers on the 10th OF
last month. In that lecture, 1t may be remembered,
the eloquent Dominican justified the abduction and
the baptism of the Mortara child, which case, some
twenty or more years ago. created such sensa-
ton all over Europe. The case had been almost
forgotten; but having been again rakcd up. DR..
Huebsch deemed it proper yesterday to analyze
Father Burkes philosophy as well as his theology,
and to show that both are inconsistent with each
other and with true philosophy and history.
The basis for the Doctors discourse was found in
l. Kings, xxi, which records the story OF Ahabs
longing for the vineyard OF Naboth, which Adorned
the royal garden Of that wicked monarch. Ahab
offered either to pay the full value for It or to ex
change another vineyard or garden Of equal size and
value for 1t. But Naboth, 'the Jezreelite, refused
every oner and solely on the ground that he could
not justifably or cOnscientiously part with
THE INHERITANCE OF HIS FATHERS
which had come into his possession. JeZebel. the
INSCRIPTIONS wife Of Ahab, determined to secure
the coveted garden for her husband She, there
fore, wrote letters In the Kings name, had coun:
Gil gathered and witnesses suDOrned, who testified
that Naboth had blasphened God and the King, and
according TO Jewish law he was stoned. Then she
reported to AhaD the death OF Naboth. and the
King at once seized the vineyard OF the
murdered man. Naboth's sin was simply that
he adhered to that which he had inherited
from his fathers His action is sure to obtain the
approval of every righteous and right-minded man.
His faith calls forth our sympathy for himself and
our Indignation against those who had so cruelty
wronged and foully murdered him.
But what was Ahab's part in this tragedy He
Nay the murder WI WAS s0 probaby with
his foreknowledge. But he enjoyed the fruit OF
the evil deed, and instead OF Furnishing those who
had perpetrated the crime instead OF saying as
NabOth did, Far be 1t from me before the Lord TO
stain my hands with ilgotten gain,' he welcomed
the consequences OF The horrible crime. He took
possession OF the murdered mans property. But
Elijah, the prophet, speaking In the name Of the
Lord, accused the royal Ahab with
THE MURDER OF NAB0TH
IS well as with the seizure OF his vineyard. The
King might have argued that Naboth was legally
knowledge OF the trial and death Of Naboth until all
was over, and that NabOth being dead, the prop
erty OF the murdered man belonged OF right to the
sovereign. But he makes no such defence In the
eyes Of God and OF the prophet Jezebcl and Ahab
had an equal share in the crime and its conse-
quences Indeed, Ahab had more responsibility
than his wicked wife, because 1t was his business
to see that Justice was meted out to the guilty and
that crime did not go unpunished; but his entire
accord with the crime was manifested in his
prompt seizure Of the murdered mans vineyard.
And now, said the Doctor, have a modern appli-
recitng the facts in the Mortara case which, at the
time they transpired stirred the whole civilized
said, had not an attempt been made lew days
ago, by an eminent priest OF another denomination,
to excuse and justify, If not to
ABSOLUTELY GLORIFY THE GRIEvOus WRONG
that was then committed upon Jewish parents and
the entire Jewish community by the Catholic
DR.. Huebsch, then quoting from Father Burke's
lecture, as published in the Metropolitan Record,
remarked that the reverend lecturer Father
IAl laid 1lxyrn fyun rfn atnln
Justification Of its acts in the Mortara CASE The
first is that Eat the moment the child Is baptized 1t
Of the Catholic Church, and, secondly, that the
Church respects the parents right Are not these
principles contradictory In themselvesS asked the
Doctor. II baptism has the power to tear away
child from the religion IN which he was born and
against the will OF his parents, as was done in the
Of nCiSns 69
empty phrase. But II it means what 1t
says then the first principle falls to the ground and
has been done in its name. The Doctor then ap.
piled these principles to the case OF Ahab and
Nab0th and showed that the former could have JUS
titled himself by them for the murder OF the latter.
FALSE PHILOSOPHY AND FALSE THEOLOGY.
Then taking up another part OF the lecture OF
insisted on educating the Jewish child In Christian
dogmas until he was seven years Of age and then
allowing him to choose for HIMSELF Dr: Huebsch
sense in Ahab turning Naboth's vineyard
into garden for seven years and then
giving IL Tue CHOlCe W 10 DdCk hRhlu w ucuIluB
grapes. child OF seven years has no more choice
In religious matters than the herbgarden. Another
justification ofth Popes action in this case as put
forth by Father Burke, was that Plus TX. was the
sovereign and the Jewish family were subjects.
But Ahab and Nab0th bore the same relations to
each other. This is indeed q marvellous way to
bring the right Of the Church and its sense Of JUS
tice into accord. The servant girl who baptized
the Mortara boy Is acknowledged by the reverend
lecturer (Burke) to have committed grievous sin
and to have fallen under the censure 0fthe Catholic
Church. But the Church had TO acknowledge the
fact that the child had been baptized, and there
fore the Church was bound to educate II In the
faith. The Doctor showed the utter fasity or such
mede OF arguing, and then, referring to the case
OF the Jewish persecution In Damascus In 1910,
when Cremeux and Monten0re went to Mah0met
Ali to plead for them and, receiving his assurances
Cremeux prayed that Gods blessing might come
upon him, Mahomet Ali replied, MAY IL be the
will OF Cod" Cremieux responded that IL must be
SO; for history proves that those princes who have
protected Jews have always been protected by
God. The Doctor then quoted a remark OF Father
Burke, who was witness OF some Of the facts IN
the Mortara case, and who declared that No De-
lieved that was
"THE BEGINNING OF THE TROUBLES
that have issued to-day In the loss OF the temporal
dominions Of the Pope and. bloody revoiuuon -.
The Doctor said he thought this was true IN tme
mouth OF a Jew, but coming now from vath g,
priest he was fully confirmed In lts tIuth. ,ne
Doctor closed with O pertinent appicauon oi nis
theme and appeal to his hearers to hold last 70 Tue