The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-15

them we are lnueDteu IoI Ihe Dioio
and republican institutions. They
were the first people who encouraged
popular education, the first to estab-
lish anything like common schools.
Every boy learned trade, generally
the trade of his father, whether he
afterward followed it or not. Thus
we find Paul was tent maker, and
Jesus carpenter.
The Jews were very patriotic. To
them, there was but one country, Pal
estine, one holy city, Jerusalem, one
shrine at which to worship, the tenn
pie OF David. To such an extent was
this trait of character cultivated, that
it made them exclusive, narrow and
uncharitable. All outside of their
race and nation were despised Cen
tiles, aliens to the commonwealth of
Israel, and unworthy the favor of
Jehovah.
Although they held learning in
high esteem, their researches ran in
grooves and channels. They were
good historians, poets and biograph-
ers, but poor mathematicians and
scientists.
Under the Jewish economy the
condition of woman was greatly i'm
proved, and she not unfrequently led
in the management of national at
fairs.
One of the first colleges of which
we have any direct mention was the
school of the prophets established
by Samuel 5000 years ago. The
prophets were held in high esteem,
and were the teachers and leaders of
the people, but the severest schooling
the Jews ever received was that ad-
ministered by their seventy years
captivity at Babylon.
The Persian Empire succeeded the
Assyrian. The Persians we're averse
to study and absolutely contributed
nothing to science. The Zend Avesta,
or Bible of Zoroaster, is all that re-
mains to us of their literature.
But little respect was paid to women
and they were kept in rigid seclusion
In short, the world owes bllt little
to the Persian, and upon the whole,
his influence was subversive of good
morals and retarded civilization.
Occupying nearly the same posi-
ton in the scale of existence were the
Hindoos, people that have never
made history or done anything con-
tributing to the elevation of the hui
man race.
Bound fast in the corrupting chains
of caste, they have slumbered
through the ages, nonprogressive,
unenterprising, people stereotyped
in the crudities taug hit in the We'd as
and unknown to outsiders, only as
they were sought for purposes of
trade or conquest.
Still more exclusive and isolated
have been the Chinese. Fixed and
fosilized in their habits and manners,
everything came to standstill ages
ago. Their literature is extensive,
but founded on the teachings of Con-
fucius who fourished 2,40O years
ago.
But all the nations we have thus
far reviewed belong to the Orient.
Their development has always been
fettered by despotism, caste and
polygamy; and their literature, except
the Bible, tainted and vitiated by
their superstitions and defective the
ology.
We will now glance at the civiliza-
ton which originating in Greece,
transmitted its energy to Rome,
thence to the Teuton, thence to us.
We cannot dwell on the legendary
love of the Hellenes, their myths or
traditions. These are familiar to
every school boy in civilized lands.
We cannot take time to show how
from small beginnings the literature
of Greece grew to proportions. In
every department of thought and
labor her genius was manifest.
Oriental literature has come down
to us in fragments and is valuable
only as it throws light on the civiliza-
ton of olden times, but Grecian lit
erature exists today to be admired
and initiated.
Still, in spite of all the attention
given by the hero-worshiping Greek
to poetry, oratory, philosophy, paint
ing and sculpture, the development
of the home was one sided. Woman
still occupied an inferior place, and
was the servant rather than the help
meet of man.
Finally. the civilization and litera
ture of Greece is transported to the
banks of the Tiber and leaves its i'm
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