The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-09-19
NO. so

| still fail to find his brethren, bis God
a1d Father is everywhere.
Many a jew then, like st. Psul.
dreamed OF a religion of humanity, OF
mankind united by the belief in one
God, as it was actually held together
by the IRON grasp of Rome. But
antiqpity was sspped and exhausted.
Mankind was too feeble to renounce Its
old gods and superstitions. To meet
the wants of the age, Christianity, an
rffspriug of the Jewish Essences, a side
branch of the Pharisees, offered Jewish
morals as a new revelation, moulded
Jewish philosophy and heather beliefs
into the dogmas of the Incarnation and
the Trinity, and turned Roman politics
into q ruling, prosecuting church
Judaism, contending for ITS holy, un-
compromising God, protested. and wss
forced To take shelter in the EIst even
mere against Christian fsnaticism than
against heather Rome. Again the
Jews wander back to BSbylonia.
There, concentrated around two great
seats of learning, with the Phariseean
tradition and lore stored up in the
bulky Talmud and Midrssh literature,
they manifest their patriotism as SOL
diers, "a industrious mechanics, agri-
cul.uralists, and traders, as lawyers,
astronomers and physicians. They
establish kingdoms IN Persian and
Arabian provinces, partake IN the
noble contest of Arabic chiyalry and
poetry. Everywhere they associate
with all classes of society, high or low.
bred, thankfully gather their wisdom,
respect the laws and authorities of
their land, adopt its language, habits
and views, even It's plays and supersti-
tions, yet without forssking their post
as guardians of the pure faith in God,
and without ever allowing heather
license and vice to Stain their home
life, rendered so holy by the extensive
bulwark of Rabbinism.
Soon Judaism gave the world new
child, which was In re-establish the
kingdom Of one God in the E.st.
Islamism, also an otfshoot of Jewish
Essene teachings, inspired the enthu-
sias,ic camel driver of Mecca with pro-
phetical power to build an empire,
which with lightning speed spread
over the three continents to subdue
them unto the dominion of Allah.
Mohammedanism became the sole
heir and protector Of Greek philosophy
and science, while it saved their culti-
vstors, Syrian Unitarians, from Byzln-
tine fanaticism aud idolatry. The L .st
and the West soon mingled their
streams of culture to refresh and to
fertilize the world. The philosophy of
a.
of Ptolemy, Gllen's hygiene aud Hin
d0o fable enlightened and delighted
mankind. The Jews, although de.
spised and prosecuted by their Arabic
kinsmen no less than by their Christian
brethren, dtIw in with joy the sweet
air and light of Mohammedan culture,
helping greatly tn foster and propa-
gate it. Marching IN tAc rear OF Is
lamic conquests, they spread its accu-
mulated Knowledge over the West To-
impart IL to the ChIis,iau world. They,
in company with the Arabiar doctors,
were the torch-beRrers nf sc;tnce and
free thought III the daik H'nhr of me-
dieval ignorance ani b,ibauty. What
ever of philosophy and astronomy, OF
medical and physical knowledge Chris
tianity possessed during the Middle
Ages, was through direct communica-
tions of translations impaired by Jews
They encompassed all the exchange oi
ideas and opinions, even of popula
sayings and fables. The Wandering
Jew, with his enterprise aud talent
with fi- energy and elacticity of mind
:. as, whatever prejudice may have Il
say to the contrary, the true pioneer o
| modern civilization.
i OF course, the Jewish religion wa
also 9uickened and regenerated by tn
healthy breeze which came forth iron
the Arabian peninsula. Koran theolO
gy, so much akin TO Ju iaism, from
which it sprang, stimulated to new an
original studies and inquiries of tn
Bibte, of its language, its text an
teachr1gs. RAbb.Dism was sharpl
assalleG by sort of Puritan Bible
believers, the Karaites; its errors, il
, faults and abuses exposed and its tire
some yoke loose"ed. But, reused froI
/ it's lethargy, Judaism hetrayed -
: its Unborn strength and n.sss. |
) callsd its Ra1asit1r . the front t
- 4(f.oida Arah;au nh