Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-13

outer world. Every contact with
the surrounding nations was snare,
every word exchanged with a person
outside of its own pale, con-
tair ed a temptation; every
friendly meeting, every meal
taken with him was PROCLAMATION
because it was dedicated to his idols.
Every close association with the sur
rounding pagan world was struggle
offered to Judaism. Imagine the
brilliant pomp of heathenism, with its
alluring wees. Is it to be wondered
that many a son or daughter Of Israel
suffered themselves to be seduced by
this dangerous, bribing power? The
history OF Israel, extending over the
whole period-thatis to say, of the very
establishment of their belief-affords
us innumerable instances of apostacy
OIL the one and of energetic struggles
of which the enthusiastic teachers and
prophets were compelled to carry on
against their depraved brethren.
They had in the face Of a growing dan
ger to contend against the inroads OF
the evil to prevent the worm of cor
ruption from gnawing upon the very
healthful stem. Should we marvel
considering that it was not a piece OF
territory that was at stake but a
great idea that was to be de-
Tended an idea which was destined
to be spread all over the earth by this
people chosen for that purpose; should
we marvel, that in the fire OF
enthusiasm burning within, and here
they now and then uttered sentiments
not very considerable toward those that
designed TO deprive them of their
costliest treasure, their pure religion ;
and yet, notwithstanding those strug-
giles, hostile conflicts. Israel
never forgot to hold all
mankind in her embrace and
to labor for it. 1t afforded tes-
timony OF the profound spiritual life
of Judaism, and we feel Quickened
and refreshed when, despite some ex-
pressions prompted by the heat OF
the conflict, We can again breath the
pure air as it flows from the words of
the prophet: zone law for the sojour-
ner and for the stranger" ''Love the
stranger, for strangers ye have been
yourselves in the land of Egypt" "
''Let not the son of the
stranger, that hath joined himself
Ito God, speak, saying: God hath
utterly separated me from thispeople.
For thus hath said the Lord: And the
sons Of the stranger that join them
selves into God, even them / will
bring to my holy mountain and make
them joyful in my horse of prayer,
for my house shall be called house
of prayer for all people "and I will
take of them (the strangers) for priests
and Levites." At the consecration of
the temple in Jerusalem, Solomon
prays also for the stranger that
cometh out of the far country, hear
thou him, oh God in heaven, thy
dwelling place and do according to
all that the stranger calleth to thee
for" 1t is an exalting strain, re-
sounding from the pages Of all our
Prophets and bards, that the acknowl-
edgement of God shall spread all over
the world. They do not speak of a
limited commonwealth or race. No,
all mankind shall participate in
those blessings on some future
day. God shall be King of
the whole earth on that day. He
shall be one, and His name one.
This is sublime glance beyond ones
self, beyond ones own narrow circle,
an aspiration p' owing that the idea in
Judaism is mightier than the vessel
in which it WAS first contained. 1t
appears as though the words of the
ancient teacher were proclaimed all
over the earth. Break the vessel and
preserve the precious contents, the
contents that cannot be enclosed by
a visible, tangible vessel.
In Deut. IL, Is, we find only
the one law concerning this, namely
to make him a king over Israel or
foreigner, after the sojourn of a long
er period in Palestine, Twas included in
the law canceling debts after six
years, and was entitled, when needy,
to support and assistance even if he
did not embrace Judaism Mum. l5,
Is, l6.) ''Ye shall not Cypress or de-
fraud the stranger; yea, more, thou
shalt love thy brother as thyself."
(Lev. 19, 33). God pleads the cause
of the widow, the orphan and the
stranger, to give him bread and gar
ment.
Sometimes the very frequent repe-
tition in the Bible of these laws COM
manding love and kindness towards
strangers and foreigners might appear
surprising, but at that time, when
other nations so cruelty prosecuted
strangers and foreigners, such laws
could not be urged too strongly.
Now, why this far-reaching differ
ence in the legislation of Lycurg and
Moses? The answer is at hand.
Sparta's law-giver was only concerned
about the physical life of his nation.
To make the people of Sparta bodi-
ly strong, in order that they might in
time became good, able warriors, sol
diers and heroes, was all Lycurg
cared for. Hence he legislated the
common distribution of. land, common
dining rooms, the exclusion of foreign
ers and strange customs, the reduc-
ton of fine metals so that not even
coins of gold or silver were permitted
to be used. In short, everything
tended to make the Spartanians
stable and hostile to every improve
ment and progress.
The Mosaic legislation, however,
while also tending to educate the
people of Israel, was progressive held
out to them a sublime ideal. They
should advance step by step towards
perfection strive to become daily bet
ter, nobler; builders of the kingdom
of righteousness in short, God-like,
or, as Scripture so beautifully puts it !:
Holy ye shall be, for holy am l, the
Eternal, your God.
The Charity Ball.