The herald., 1895-09-14

theless each and every one of them. after
close examination, proves to be but the
natural result of the one main cause, per
verted religion. For how can people
preserve its identity after having forfeit
ed the right of political existence by its
religious and moral perversion, especially
when its religion is of a local character,
identified either with the king or the
state. when with the death OF the one OF
the other all duty and obligation ceases
when there is no strong common tie to
keep that community together? And
this was exactly the case both among the
eastern and western nations.
In the east the king enjoys, and enjoys
yet. the divine authority. In the west
the state, and later on, the church. Per-
sonallty was a nonentity with them, the
individual conscience oentered either in
the King. STATE or church. In Assyria the
throne of the king was the throne OF
God. In pagan Greece or Rome the state
was the "sanctum sanctorum." In the
holy Roman empire the pope was the
almighty father on earth. The result
was that the Assyrians. when deprived
of their king, scattered like flock with
ont a shepherd. With the downfall OF
the Greek and Roman states the strong
est bond, community feeling, was sew.
ercd forever, and the nations gradually
Iost their identity.
The Roman empire. through having
become Chriatians, could not escape dis
solution tor the reason that 1T was just
pagan. However. the authority of the
state had been usurped by the Caesars,
eastern rulers. The decline of Spain, all
agree upon, is the result of fanaticism,
the counterfeit OF religion. And in all
the lands under papal dominion we no
tice decline for the very same reason.
Thus we see how clearly these historical
facts are to paganism and paganized
Christianity that Assyria, Greece and
of their religion. Not So Israel. lie
stands by and through his religion
Though deprived of his political exist
ence, he has identity through this lone
course of centuries by the very force Of
his religion.
With monotheism as his safeguard he
could pass through all the exiles, endure
all prosecutions and outliye his enemies
Monothsism was Israel's rock OF saliva.
tion. But this was not monotheIsm with
monasteries and ascetics, with hierarchy
and celibacy, with doctrines of fatalism
or foreOrdinatioD, all detrimental to So
cisty. But it was monothsism. pure and
simple, of chastity. charity and morality
"a universal fatherhood. This is his be-
lief and his salvation. Thus has he ex
listed and so he will continue to exist as
long as his motto will be Hear, oh, Is
rael. God is our Lord. God is One"
Let us, then, follow in the wake of our
fathers and forefathers, and surely the
God of our ancestors, the God of Abra-
ham, Isaac and Jacob, who has been our
guardian in the past. will not forsake us
in the future. And if, then, after many
centuries to come, a lonely wanjerer per-
cahnce, passes by the road and sees the
bush yet burning and not consumed. he
Will indeed be amazed at this great sight.
I'm ai1 do Ia. L, HI, oh
is not burned, he too, will perhaps soon
hear the voice of God call unto him
Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for
the place whereon thou standest is holy
ground"
on Father of mankind, shaper of des-
TIMES! In thine infinite grace grant us
Thy assistance so that we may be able to
follow the footprints of our ancestors, to
keep Thy commandments. Then the
words OF Thy prophets will be verified
'lsrael is saved in the Lord-an ever
lasting salvation Amenh