The morning call., 1893-12-23
THE PRINCE OF INDIA.
DIR. VoOrsanger Attacks 1t From a
Jewish Standpoint.


Rabbi Voorsanger's lecture Oh the
congregation to the Sutter-street syna.
gOgue last evening.
"The Prince of India" the rabbi said,
us book which most of you have read,
and which more of you will read, not only
because it is the fashion. but because fol-
many reasons it deserves to be read.
II wish tonight, however. to discuss
this work, which has attracted so much at.
tentiOn and won for itself such high
place in the literary world, not from lit
erary standpoint but from a standpoint
which Is purely Jewish.
There have been very few authors who
have dared 10 proclaim the sacred truth
that all our earthly religions are coexist-
Ing and CO. ordinate. As general thing
every author manages In his own works to
make his own religion appear to be the
best, pre-emlnent above all others. Less
ing, however, had the magnificent coura ge
to do all religions justice, and there is
nothlng IN literature more grand, more
noble or more nearly sublime than the
Three characters IN whom he eXemplifies
the Jewish, Christian and Mohamme an
faiths. In this regard il is painful de-
scent from Nathan der Weise' to The
Prince OF India.'"
hcIc TIC hdDDl gave DTle1 SYNOPSIS oil
the book which formed the subject of this
discourse and description of its three prin-
cipal characteristic Prince, who is the
Wandering Jew, Mohammed and Con.
stantiue.
Wallace is a master of English" he
said, "and you may reaG the book and en-
JOY his wonderful command of language.
his magnificent description of places,
scenery and events, but you must read il
On
ethical nor an historical standpoint can
1t pass muster.
constantine, the Emperor, reminds us
OF Louis XVI, since both were far too
good for their time and deserved better
fates than were accorded them. Muham-
med, who was IN truth a furious, untram-
meled, revengeful wicked beast, is ideal
lied by Wallace into young lover and a
poet and married to a yirtuous and lovely
girl, and the Prince of India, who appears
before Mohammed to preach the Jewish
ideals. turns into revengeful traitor.
wallace never knew a Jew If ne be-
lieves That one of that religion, full of the
spirit OF the old Jewish prophets, believ-
ing in the ideals of Israel as they were
taught by Isaiah, could become liar and
a traitor"
Continuing. the rabbi gave very vivid
word picture OF tartinople at the
lime of its fall. which he decidedly ob-
jected to having attributed to "a puerile
love affair" and the early differences of
opinion which troubled the Christians,
who are now able TO laugh at the silly
things which divided their world them"
Of Ben Hur DR.. Voorsanger said: "In
tha book Wallace showed himself a be-
lever in miracles and the trinity; in the
Prince of India he is a Thei,t-a wonder
ful promotion iDdeeG-and the book indi-
Gates that many men have been promoted
from the level OF dOgmas and creeds to a
belief IL the universal brotherhood of man
aud the fundamental oneness of religion. ''
In conclusion the Rabbi declared that the
day is approaching, though it may be
many years distant. when warning doe
trlnes shall no more exist Then the
wandering Jew-the real Jew, who now
wends his way from land to land, will
journey no more, but will find rest and
peace and happiness with his brethren
the brethren of the world. and there will
no longer be Chosen race since all man
kind shall be one in the sight of the Lord. -