Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-04-17

Hnterestinx Meeting of the l. I.yceum
Last NiRht-Mr. HammershIaR
SAYS IL is ReligiOn-Mr.D Demens
Differs From Him.
There was large attendance at the
Lrccum meeting last night. The off,
GERS elected at the last meeting were in
stalled and entered on their duties. These
officers are: Ii. b. Stevens, president ;
II. Buell., vicc-presdent W. Ward, secre-
tary, and 7 X. Gaines. treasurer.
S. Hammershlag made the opening
speech. The subject was: "Thc Persecu-
tion Of the Jews"
lie first gave extracts from published
opinions on the subject, one of them from
Rev. M. l.. Haincs, pastor of the church
N Indianapolis of which President Har-
rison is a member, and said every state
mcnt to be made could be substantiatcd
by prominent men. He then stated that
the Jews, tor thousands of years, have
been the objects Of bad treatment and
ne target at which the vicious have
AIMED, and charged that "the minds of
the people of Russia and especially of the
malicious czar and his cabinet were
poisoned against the Jew many years
ago" Tracing from the reign of Cassmer
~, l441 1892, when Jews were colo
nizcd, until 1866 and 1867, when the
cars lite was attempted. he said that
TINS oiiense was laid, for the greater part,
TO the ews. When the czar was assas.
sInated in loSl he said, and his auto
ratio son came , rule. the latter swore
vengeance against all supposed enemies
OF the church, OF which he was the head
80, ), said Mr. Hammcrshlag, "thc
cause as plain. The persecution is based
upon the false principle that no set of
people have right to differ from the es-
tabl'shcd religion of the Russians. Now
IN order to cxtcrmlnate all opposition
the Gar attacked t he weakest first. That
was the Jews. This, he reasoned, was
the weakest, for what nation would de
tcnd the despscd killer of the Savior p"
MIR. llammcrshlag then related how
three million of them were settled upon
an area Of county not more than ten
miles square and were forced to battle
with starvation and corrupts official, who
pillaged their homes and abused the men.
insulted and tcrrorizcd the women. He
SAID that they were forced to leave their
homes, and foot sore and weary press on
not knowing where to go, as all tn,
European nations appear to hove closed
their gates to them. He expressed his
gratitude that there was "onc free coun- |
try" the United Statcsof America where
religion was no hindrance.
MIR. llammcrshlag was followed by
Hillhouse Bucl. who read long and in
terestmg article on the subject, consum-
ing about torty-hyc minutes in his dis |
course. He was followed by p, A,
DcmcnS, who said that as he had been a |
resident and citizen OF Russia and also |
mad held government position, he had
every opportunity atfording him of he
coming familiar with the treatment off
the ews by the Russian government.
he Jews, SAID he, are not prosecuted on
account of their religious belief, but he
cause they attempt to deiraud the Chris
tlans by their sharptrading and trckery.
Tie stated that he had never seen a lew
IN Russia who was a soldier and that
these people evade the operation of the
laws i'll every conceivable way.
most frequently by cutting off the right
thumb and by bribing the officials.
The Lyceum is to discuss politics. On
motion of 7. K. Gaines, II. T. Collins,
the peoples candidate for mayor, was
invited to address the Lyceum two
weeks from last night on the subject:
What does it take to constitute a model
mayor" Next Thursday night, John
w. Starnes will talk on Latter Day
Politics."