The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-15
IN THE SYNAGOGUE
DiscOurses by the Jewish
RabbiS.
DR.. Nieto Thinks We Do Not Manifest
Sufficient Tolerance in Religious
Matters.

AT the Temple Emanuel last evening
Rabbi Vnorsanger addressed his cOngre-
cation on The Jew as Citizen of the
World" This was the second lecture of
the series. and it treated of the times OF
Constantine the Great.
DR.. VoOrsanger reca pitulated part of his
last lecture, wherein he remarked that
Rome was tolerant toward all religions
except Judaism aud Christianity. He
spoke OF the policy of Rome toward alien
and conquered peoples saying that it was
the mbtion of the Romans to make the
lot of the exile as happy as possible.
Schools were esta blished by the captive
Jews under the direct patronage Of their
conQuerors.
The rabbi also discoursed on the philo-
sophcal and other writings of the Jews of
the second century. He spoke of the Tul-
mud, that collection of commentaries. an
ecdotes. history aud biography. The rabbi
considered it to be the creation of a peo-
pie mo in their distress sought refuge and
safety in mental occupations. While there
exists in it great deal which cannot stand
the test OF modern thought, many things
that might be discouraged. still the book
as whole Is an historical monument OF the
culture, science and philosophy of that
time.
Rabbi Nieto's discourse at the Taylor
u
"Heretics. Iu the opinion Of DR.. Nieto
there does not exist at the present day
sufficient federation among the various
religious sects and creeds. 1--WE are to-
day as tree in our condemnation of those
who hold religious opinions not exactly
coincidlng with ours as we're the priests
and bigots of the dark ages. We to-day
denOunce what We are pleased to term
beresies, forgetting that the heresies of
the dark ages are the religious beliefs of
to-day, and that the victims OF persecu-
ton and sO-called heretics OF bigoted SOW
ereignS are to-day considered the be1e-
factors OF the human race. To-day our
religious beliefs are tinged with differ
ent colOring to those of former times. We
have grown TO a clear conception of their
virtues and errors, and we have thus been
enabled to eliminate from the Older relg-
ious systems the bigotries and supersti-
tions which tended to darken a picture
that was meant TO be bright"
At the Temple Beth Israel. on Geary
street, Rabbi NJ. S. Levy lectured on
Friends and friendship" He thought
friendship of a transient or incon-
as an example OF what perfect friendship
should be the love of David for Jonathan,
of which we read, THE soul of iona han
was knit with the soul OF David" Friend
ships like this contracted in early youth
retain 10 the last tenderness and warmth
SoluOtn pUosoooou ny 1EloHuSuIpb 1OImeQ
later in life.
The rabbi concluded: LET me exhort
you not to desert your friend in danger or
distress. Too many there are in, the
world whose attachment 10 those they call
friend is confined TO The day Of bis pros
perity. AS long as that continues they
are or appear. to be affectionate and cor
dial: but as soon as their friend is under
cloud they appear to withdraw and to sep
arate their interests from his. In friend
ship of his sort the heart assuredly has
not had much concern. for the only test of
true friendship is constancy In the hour
of danger. adherence in the season of dis
tress.
''When your friend is illuminated then
is the time to openly and boldly espOuse
his cause. When his situation is changed
or his fortunes are failing then is the time
of affording prompt assistance. When
sickness befalls him that is the ime to
seize for redoubIing all the attentions
which affection can suggest. These are
the duties which religion and virtue I'M
pose on every worthy mind"