Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-30
RELIGIOUS DiscUsslOE.
sew, Inhdels. Lutheran and Other Forms
OF Belief.

jew, lnudel6s Lutheran and other FOrih
OF Belief.
The INTELLrGEscER having printed
what DR.. Greenwah says about the Jews
as we'll as what Gov. Hoyt's friends sa,
about DR.. Greenwald what Mrs. Hop
kins thinks Of Anglo Catholicism, and
likewise what Rev. DR.. Knight says about
his church, its readers and other people
understand that it considers it the func
tiion of newspaper to provide ''entertain
ment and instruction" for its readers and
that /" one of our chief aims is to give ex-
preston to the current thought Of the
community." In accordance with this
idea we lay before our readers the fol low.
in9 communications evoked by that part
of Grecnawald's sermon which was
published in the INTELLIGESCER
what an Isrselite Thinks.
The uncalled for harangue about pagans
Jews and infidels in DR.. Greenwald's
Thanksgiving sermon, combined with the
severe reproOf of our worthy governor fox
emitting "Christian commonwealth and
substituting "a commonwealth Of free
men," has excited even outside Of Lancas-
ter considerable comment.
Had our governor been prompted only by
q respectful demand of Israelites in correct
ing his expression, he would haye shown
the magnanimity Of q man and of Z states
man especially. But the correction was
made on the suggestion Of an attache of
the state department, who noticed that
the expression t'Christian commonwealth"
was not as broad as tho statute book de-
manded.
The reverend gentleman seems TO de-
light in denOuncing any creed outside Of
Lutheranism. We remember his attack
against Catholics, in which he was signal
ly defeated. This time he takes the Jews
for his target. Who come next ? After
having vividly but truthfu;ly cul"gized
the lofty state Of society in this beautiful
country, the doctor gives to Christianity
alone the credit for this blessing. But
why has not Christianity produced the
where Christianity has been fos:eycd for
many hundred years before the discovery
of this country? Why are the noun
tains of Greece and Italy swarming
with banditti: Why DO We almost
daily road Of so much oppression
in Ireland and Russia, and Roumania
Why does even the enlightened German
nation eroan under too burdcnsome tax
alton caused by a gigantic standing army
of soldiers and is ready ut any time to
throw her murderous missiles against any
neighboring nation?
Now, doctor, be candid. Has not lib
crty and the wise constitution Of this
country by which tho rights and privi-
leges Of all men and women IN this couu-
try (without distinction of creed) ara
guarded, a share in producing the happy
state of affairs in this commonwealth?
Indeed science and art, the invention Of
steam engines, telegraph, Of instruments
useful to industry and agriculture, and
last but not least, tho free press, are great
factors in producing the happiness Of our
great country.
DR.. Greenwa!d, in calling Israclites tie
''enemies of Christianity" betrays a very
limited, nay, false conception Of the
ideas and the character Of the 1sraelites of
our times. The enlightened Israclitc fees
and expresses all due respect for Christ as
reformer and prociaimer of brothcrly love,
but at the same time he holds tcnaciousiy to
the exhortatiOn Of Moses in Deuteronomy
chapter six, verse 4, "Hear, Israel! the
Load, our God, is the one Eternal Being"
Has the doctor forgotten that he who
sows tho wind will earn the whirlwind?
and would it not he to his congregations
benefit to interchange ideas with the II, y
Doctor VIM II. Furness, who delivered !:
Thanksgiving sermon to IsE.elites and
Gentiles in a synagogue iii Philadelphia
Hoping that the doctor will bc soon
cured, remain
A True IsRAELITE.
An Infidel Defender.
The unjustifiablc onslaught of DR..
Greenwald on pagans, Jews and infidels
has stirred up storm Of indignation
among ali righteous-thiuking men. Gov.
Hoyt, in changing term in his Thanks
giving proclamation, acted on the advice
of q subordinate, knowing at the same
time that tho term ."Christian" was
misapplied, excluding all citizens who
happen by birth and breeding to secure
method than that followed and taught by
Lutheran ministers. No doubt the
greater part of citizens of this state pro-
fess to believe in Christianity, but is that
a reason to exclude 4 minority of peace
loving and prosperous citizens from giving.
thank to the Almighty for the many bless
ings bestowed upon them? No doubt DR..
Greenwald assigns our illustrious fellow
citizen, Thomas Paine, the front rank
among infidels, and yet he did as much for
this country as any single man ever did
for any country, to which the following
testimonial formed by three Christian
gentlemen and taken from the congress
sional records will testify
"FRIDAY, August &c, 1885.
"On the report OF committee, consist
ing of Mcssrs. Gerry, Petit and King,
to whom was referred 4 letter of the 18Th,
from Thomas Paine:
"Resolued, That the early, unsolicited
and continued labors Of Mr.. Thomas
Paine, in explaining and enforcing the
principles of the late Revolution by ingeni-
Gus and timely publications upon the
nature of liberty and civil government.
have been we'll received by the citizens of
these states, and merit the appreciation
of Congress; and that, in consideration
of these services and the benefits produced
thereby, Mr.. Paine is entitled to a liberal
qualification from tho United States
On October 3, 1856, the treasurer was
ordered to pay Mir. Paine $1,000. Penn
sylvania gave him $780, and the state of
New York presented him with farm.
The above quote only to show the ill.,
tellectual power Of an "intidel," and now
a few words as to his spiritual belief. I
copy from his Gage of Reason:
"I believe in one Coz and no more, and
I hope for happiness beyond this life.''
Il believe in the equality of man and
believe that religious duties consist in do
ing justice, loving mercy and endeavoring
to make our fellow creatures happy"
II do not believe in the creed professed
by the Jewish church, by the Roman
I,,,& tho Torly