The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-05-04
REV. MIR. DICKERMAN'SREPLY
TO THE COMMENT ON HIS SERMON
 BY REV. c. L. TAYLOR.

TO THE COMMENT ON HIS SERMON
 BY REV. c. L. TAYLOR.
 In Regard to the Sermon Preached at Court Street Temple-Jews Place Re- sponsibility for Their Wrongs on His toric Christianity--A Suggestion to Rev. MT. Taylor-A Splendid sheman.
 In a letter to the Journal and Courier of May Rev, G. L. Taylor comments upon my recent sermon in the Court street Temple in language unmistaka- ble and fully in accord with the con ventional animus of orthodoxy. It only shows how much more agreeable to pietistic conceit it is to revile one ot different opinions than to be fair. Sure ly, being sound in the faith is no assur- ance of sweetness and light" The doctor remarked that "the sermon has no manner of importance whatever to the general Christian public," yet he, himself, has lugged the insignificant thing into public print in order to dls- enchant the minds of the readers of the "Courier."
 The doctor adds, "but the intelligent ones will merely say birds of a feather etc. Nay, they will respect the orthodox Jew more than the spurl- ous misrepresenter of Christianity. Special attention is called to the per sonality involved in the use of the ad- jective. Experience has taught us to expect just such language as this from those who are "born again." have the supernatural graces, and 'the mind that was in Jesus" Verify, the second nature is often not much of an i'm provement on the first. When mlracu- lous and imputed character goes out or its way to find ground on which to DICK a fight, the unregenerate smile and cling closer to the common and more reliable virtues.
 The very brief report Of my sermon was furnished by reporters notes, as no manuscript was used. Hence, pr TayIor's reflection on my use of cap- itals is. to say the least, an error.
 I should be very sorry to have the impression go forth that my sermon in the synagogue was intended to repre- sent historic or popular Christianity The doctrine of eternal despair for many of the best of earth; the thought of a partial, impotent God, with an inn moral scheme of salvation, that savers of indulgence and the kindred dogmas that constitute the creed of so called Evangelical Christianity could not be otherwise than an insult to progress sive Jewish congregation.
 These people from sore experience place the responsibility with historic Christianity for the wrongs they have suffered. They have but little respect for religion that worships a Jew, and turns like a fiend upon his brethren
 We should even refuse to pose as the representative of that dilate and harm less form of orthodoxy which has so recently declared itself to "be in a mist and advised it's followers to ''throw out their anchors and wait for the light" It is quite true that Unita- rian and Universalist exchanges with Jewish rabbis has but little religious or theological significance to orthodox Christianity when in these times of hedging and trimming one can scarcely learn what Christianity really is.
 We should suggest that pr. Taylor, being "uncompromisingly orthodox turn his inquisitorial attention to the theological nondescripts who wear all the signs and badges of orthodoxy, and are thereby classified by the world. It is a question on which side of the fence spurious Christianity resides.
 The respect extended to the ortho- dox Jew is both gratuitous and misdi- rected, for the congregation Miskan Israel does not claim to be orthodox.
 We esteem it a privilege to as- sociate with these people whose "She- man"--"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart etc. .'-Jesus call ed ''the first and greatest command ment."
 If ito love mercy, and to do justly and to walk humbly before God;" if a sincere desire to bring "Malcuth Sha- mayim-the kingdom of heaven into all souls, be spurious, we shall be quite willing to suffer reproach for believing in the living God who is the Savior of all men,
 WILLIAM F. DICKERMAN.