Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-21
AS TO MODERN DOUBT
An Interesting Lecture Last Night by
Rabbi Phillipson.
THE LAST OF THE WINTER SERIES.
The Eighth Street Temple Crowded With
Hebrew Families.
RELIGION AND ITS ASSAILANTS

/ DR.. Daniel Phillipson, Rabbi of the Re
formed Jewish Temple at Cincinnati, de-
livered lecture at the Eighth Street Tenn
pie, this city, last night, to a cultured au-
dience of the representatives. of the best
Hebrew families in Pittsburg and Ale
gheny. The subject of the discourse was
Modern Doubt and Past Beliefs" and the
speaker handled his subject in a mastery
manner. The lecture was given under the
auspices Of the Young Mems Hebrew As
sociation, and was the third and last of a
winters course. The speaker was intro
duced by Mr.. Lawrence Frank, one of the
best known young Hebrews of the city, who
thanked the audience for their liberal
patronage to the entertainments. The
lectures have been a source of instruction to
the Hebrew people of the city, land it was re-
gretted that the one of last evening was the
final one to be given this season. During
the course of his remarks, DR.. Phillipson
said:
The last time was here was three years ago
at the convocation ceremonies of the Jewish
rabbis. remember that sat out there among
the audience and my good friends, one of your
members, Mr.. Josiah Cohen wished to bring
me"out-" He said he had a bashful and unmar-
ried young rabbi whom he wished to introduce.
have since corrected both these mistakes. I
am no longer bashful and 1 am not, well-un-
married.
PROUD OF THE TEMPLE.
I am glad to see you tonight to congratulate
you upon the appearance of this temple. also
want to congratulate the Young Mems Hebrew
Association upon the good work they are doing
by their lectures, and now to my subject.
The first requisite of all progress is doubt.
This means the inquiring into of all established
beliefs. If these beliefs are of scientific char
acter the result of a spirit of inquiry consti-
tutes scientific doubt. In every department of
human thought, doubt is the bridge that spans
the chasm between the old and the new. Every
world-redeeming thought has doubt as
its foundation. Everything in every branch of
thought of activity can be traced to these rest
less inquiries.
We should concern ourselves to the branch
of the far-reaching subject; doubt affecting re-
ligious beliefs. This doubt is necessary part
of our belief. know there are great many
good people turn away with horror and throw
up their hands when the subject of religious
doubt is broached. The reformatory spirit of
this doubts upsets the old religious beliefs. 1t
beginning, but painless in the end. 1t never
harms the deep thinking mind. To them its
action is SO Denenc1al. In all the battles and
contests with wind-mills in the past the batter
ingram of doubt has and will continue to dis
place them from their position, and show their
many weaknesses. The worlds reformers have
always been moved by the spirit of modern
doubt
DOUBTED, DENIED AND THOUGHT.
There is not a person in the civilized world
to-day of any sect but will acknowledge the
good Abraham did. A reformer, he doubted
denied and thought Then he believed, and
preached his new doctrine until he was perse-
cuted and driven out The perpetual belief in
Moses seeing God in the burning bush will be
believed until the end of time. Coming nearer
the time, Socrates was accused by his enemies,
the Stoics, of denying God and corrupt.
ing the youth. The orthodox believers
brought Socrates TO persecution, mar
tyrdom and death. Coming nearer, Mar
tin Luther's doubts were posted on the church
at Wittenberg. The effects are still reverberat-
ing through the great part of Chrstendom.
The people still stick to his teachings All the
Christian churches rest on the foundation stone
of doubt, and they should be the last to prevent
doubt and discussion. The reformatory spirit
has given rise to fresh and new thoughts in
Judaism. Doubt began with thought on the
state of The Jews. Many were leaving the ranks
of religion to join Christianity.
The speaker closed his address by COM
pairing religion to rock in the ocean. The
waves of the latter wash all the impurities
from the face of the rock and when the sun
comes out the rock reflects all the colors of
the rainbow. This is true of religion and
its assailants