The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-08-20

[ his special attention. Otherwise he is
doctor, poet, jurift, economist, and states
man. His modern literature, like that
of therest of the world, differs from the
ancients in scientific treatment. To the
higher arts he has also aspired, and
Meddelssohn, Moscheles and Myerbeer
are stars ou.his horizop. Need we speak
| in higher terms than those uttered to
derogate, yet expressive Of the greatest
praise "obstinate Judaism writhes and
twists itself through all sorts of obsta-
cles, and whenever 9 new culture
arises, it fastens upon it, to suck up
into itself its essence"
Literature has been most unkind to
the Jew. His vices have been degraded;
his virtues dispargede,A monstrosity
in greed and malevolehce is her COM
mon delineation. Even Shakespeare
has drawn sorry and faithless picture
of him, unless it is intended as speci-
men of the worst element in the Jews
most fallen state. In all of England's
ponderous literature, George Eliot's
Mordecai alone stands forth as a true
representative of the Ancient Jew. Ger
many, in Lessing's Nathan, has fur
nished the counterpart-the modern
Jew.
Mordecai possesses the learning, in-
ward wealth, and spiritualism of the
greatest Jewish leaders, and is, at the
same time, that which is so characteris-
tic of Jewish leaders, layman. Great
in mind, he was wise in reslgnation-a
mender of watches, Deep as the phil
osopher, he cannot be called to mind
without his family love- In his excl
ted moments the inspired voice Of the
prophet; in every day life, the English
shop>keeper. He is tho impersonation
of Jewish resistance, Of. Jewish whole
souledness. He is geetle and tender,
surely not free from bias, but free from
hatred. He is "mystic" and "vague, 4"
as Judaism is mystic and vague. He
is impossible" as the Jew is impossible.
A personal Messiah and the resumption
of Palestine by the Jews are his con-
slant longings. He desires to perpetu-
ato that which history, perhaps, emf
ncntly proves-that the Jewish religion
is the religion of the race exclusively.
Seperateness is the general tone Of his
character. The scene Of his activity,
too, is important. It is in England,
where progress is stamped upon evcrs-
thing. To be conservative there, to be
Retrospective there; tr 8 ancient ! No
tice especially here the contrast with
Nathan. In the Orient, with every
...-s7. -......'no nm sFl,is n~-c7-i--
rious past, amid the very ruins Of Jeru'
salem, Nathan appears. Yet what is
Jerusalem on her ruins to him! He
sees in them rather the tokens of mis-
sion accomplished, perhaps, Though
error in conception. To bin, if we
may make bold enough to read the un-
written by the written-Jerusalem is
cndeared for her past, but the salvation
of his race she shall never be. He is
the active, diligent, progressive, occi-
dental Jew.
1t is q matter of no importance here,
whether Lessing intended to teach De-
ism or tolerance. To me the meaning
of the drame lies in the words:
"Is Christian or Jew, more Christian or
Jew,
Than he is the mani"
Lesslng raises US beyond the narrow
ness of sects, into the province of true
religion, into recognition that we are
men. And in his capacity as man,
Nathan seems perfect. Whatever vir-
tue, whatever nobleness, whatever pur-
ity of heart, what love, charity, honor,
or honesty we can conceive Of, they are
all in him. Learning, correctness of
conception, brOadness of view, religious
tolerance, these are all there.
Lessing, too, gives us glimpse of the
Jews Messianic state.
Observation-Disclosures Nathan you
arc Christian BY God, you are a
Christian A better Christian never
wasl
Nathan-Well for us For what
makes me Christian in your eyes, makes
you in mine, Jew !!