Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-02-17
JUDAISM IN THE FUTURE.

The persecution of the Jews in the Old
World which has gone 10 such lengths
during the last year or two is only the
expression Of the abonnding hatrd felt to-
ward them upon the part Of the people of
other creeds, a hatred which has seemed
more or less virulence, yet never succeed.
ing i'll crushing them ar hinderng to any
great extent their material prosperity.
But that crisis has come To this Nation
seemingly set apart from all others, seems
TO be the opinion Of the advanced thinkers
among them, and crisis which must re.
suit III breaking down the barnes that
have been 30 long set between them an d
the rest OF civilized humanity.
The expression OF tins feeling WAS made
very strongly in Il lecture recently given
by Prof. Felix Adler, of New York, before
u large audience OF Hebrews in that city.
This gentleman is at the head of the So.
ciety for Ethical Culture among The Jews,
and is well known for his intellectual nc.
quiremenls, the result of II long course OF
careful thought and study. Speaking OF
the carly history OF his people, 0f their
simple faith and pure worship, as compar-
ed with the image worship OF those who
surrounded them, he said that their claim
to superiority WIS we'll founded. And il
was their belief in their being he chosen
people of God, and that their future SUI
premacy among nations WAS assured from
this fact, did they obey the commands
which had been given To them, that kept
them from falling into the corrupt ways vi
the children OF the world.
Prof. Adler said that orthodox Judaism
had leen Uverbuilt, and WAS now beng
torn down To give IL foundation for reform
ed Judaism:
Jews now need new laws. better laws, purei
morals, mere fairness and brulherly hove
THESE should be the Incentives to leading pnreI
lie instead Oi expecting salv alton because Ii-iI
fathers have been the body guard "i the grea
Jehovah, or from n lear uI hell he by the
muro modern Christian. Neither Liberal Juda
ism M: liberal christianity had provided any
way for the liberal jew out at the dilemma
The thesis Ui the Jew Was no better than thai
oi Theod"re Parker, Chunning Schiiler. Al
that ieIoi uvd Judaism amounted TO withou
laws, Was 1" repeat There is Gpd There
is G"d They must let all the old barrier,
tall; let Jews marry Christians 'snd Chrisiia ian,
marry Jews; ur. no let those whoare M Ion
ger Jews aud thosc wbo are NJ longer Chris
tan marry. IL - impossible IN Keep up tlit
ole lines ni Tacenge. IL MAS science that ban
islied superstition. mol Judaism. Remiuiscen
cas- oi the past would not suffice for the peopl,
wilo We're starving fur fuod and asking fu
light. The niissinn for the Jews was To ceas,
hugging their pride. listen to their teachers
aud make the name of Jew II passport for hon
| esty, the name Of Jewess certificate for mod
esty and department. M man on en- rt wouI,
object n such missiun. Let universal happi
ness hereafter be the promised land
| In Rnssiu Poland and Asia, the Jewish rnc
would like to be a distinct people, ,perseculed y
NJ "ld l"r generation to come, but in wester
Europe aud in America the time was not ~
distant when they would be Jews in faith n
longer. They w"uld leave Judaism, the motl,
er OF religion i"- 8 900 Years, mt with bitter
ness aud curses, but with reverence, venera,
lug her ever. only leaving her because the ca
| oi duty was stronger than affection. They le
her nul faith essiy. but as sou reaching hi
| maturity.
The fact that these are utterances of
Jew made to an audience ui the most il
telligenl Jews Of New York shows III
wonderful progress Of liberali- in tn
century. That people whose ideas ha
seemed cryslalIzed around belief of man
centuries sllor Id thus change seems almo
II miracle, and shows that The time il con
ing when the religions faith of the worl
shall rest upon broad foundation Of fre'
dom and the good will towards all me
which teaches the true modes Of rigl
acting and living. Toledo Blade.