Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-12
GREAT RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS
Judge Martin Morris Lecture Before the
Young Mems Hebrew Association.
influence of Different Beliefs on the
Progress and Development Of
the Human Race.

Judge Martin F. Morris, judge of the
Court of Appeals, lectured last night at the
Sth Street Synagogue, under the auspices
of the Young Mems Hebrew Association,
on The Great Religious Systems of the
World" A fair audience attended. Judge
Morris was introduced by Mr.. Lyon, presi-
dent Of the association. vino made several
fattering illusions to the lecturer. Judge
Morris said:
In that wonderful exposition which
closed few months ago in the most won-
derful city of the modern world not the
least remarkable spectacle was the congress
OF religions, in which representatives of the
great religious creeds of the world, for the
first Time in the history of the human race,
met upon common platform to discuss in
the spirit of fraternity the merits of their
respective systems. The Buddhist and the
Zoroastrian, the followers OF Mohammed and
the Notaries of Brahna, even the disciples
! OF Confucius and the adherents of agnos-
/ ticIsm, met there and mingled with The
Christian and the sew; and all. no doubt
went away as they came, devoted adherents
| of the tenets which they came TO defend
before the largest and most varied aud
fence ever assembled on earth. That con-
gress. i venture to assert, has made few or
no converts from any one creed to an
other; nor has it left behind it any in
iiuences that viii result in the speedy unfit
cation of the worlds creeis But the con-
gress has served one great purpose. 81 no
other. IL has brought the scattered frag-
ments of the human race into closer con-
tact with each other, has taught them to
be more tolerant Of differences Of opinion,
and has impressed upon the nations a sense
Of the wisdom of a better understanding
of each Others religious systems
There may be many cassifications of
the great religious systems as our tastes
and our notions require. Religions are al
M. asFaHnE
tribes into which the population of the
world is divided. But there are certain
general characteristics that enable us to
group them all under seven heads. Three
OF these originated with the Semitic races
Judaism. Christianity and Mohammadan-
! ism: three with Aryan nations-Brah Imam
ism, Buddhism ana Zoroastrianism. and
one, the worst, Polytheism with the ma
! tions sprung from Ham," lie then touched
at some length upon the contests Of these
systems between themselves their alter
nate triumphs and disasters: their salient
characteristics and the influence of each
upon the history and aspirations Of HUI
manity.
Judge Morris introduced vast fund OF
classical lore. and tincturei his lecture
with a strong flavor of ancient history
He told of the good points and the evil
parts or the various religions, and. in con-
clusion. said:
II trust 1 have indicated enough to show
how much religious system has had TO do
with the civilization Of the world, and 10
show that the contest Of the ages is still
going on and yet awaits a final determina-
uon. Two OF the seven great systems
POlytheism ana = crOastrianisnl-haVe fallen
and persisted. Five remain TO participate
in the final struggle for the empire of the
world. Judaism and Christianity in the
west are matched against Brahminism and
Buddhism in the east, with Mohammedan-
ism between.
"Agnosticsm is not creed or a system:
but ii has grown " mainly within the
bosom of Christianity, and finds its prin-
clnal occupation in combating the doc
trine Of mono-heism. built upon the rev.
citation Of Sinai and its principal ally
strange to say. is the pantheistic nihilism
OF GCatama. II has undoubtedly become
an important factor. though probably only
temporary one. in what, 10 borrow a
Ioroastrian idea. We may designate the
endless war between good and evil. Truth
/ is one. eternal ana immutabie. and Of ne
4 ceSsity II must ultimately triumph. The
gods Of Asshur. Egypt and olympus have
/ fallen. The mirage from the Arabian des-
ert viii vanish uD1n nearer approach 10
the substance ana the reality Of truth. The
Panthe!stic despair. the elaborate nysti-
cism and the inlDaipable Niryana Of Bud
dhism can never suffice either for the in
teilect or the helrt Of humanity any mere
than can the fantastic manifestations OF
Brahminism. portrayed in the sculptured
wonders OF Flepnanta and Eilora. Neither
can the nihiism of the 2gnostic suffice.
When the temporary Authorizations Of the
! hdHlan illeA4ftt nave paSSt1 AWAY. IKE tDe
phantasmaEoria Of a feverei brain. the
truth will be plain enough again: the truth
/ that was PROMULGATED a; Sinai. ana IL win
/ be no less the truth that IL viii appear as
the setting sun, whose noon day has been
obscured by cloud and storm as its dawn
was ushcred in on the sacred mount by
: thunder and lightning"
On motion made by one Of the audience
( il was agreed that the lecture of Judge Nor
ris should be printed at the expense Of the
Young Mems Hebrew Association.