The herald., 1897-08-15

Of the efforts Of the whole world to anni-
hilate them-of the miracle Of their dis
tinct existence unassimilated with the
other nations of the earth. Where was
there a literature produced by any ma
tion that had had the moral, civilizing
and enfranchising power over the hearts
and minds and lives of men that the
literature Of Israel had exercised? BY
the literature of the Jews, by their his
tory and by their very existence at this
time there was proof of the existence
Of God. Every Gentle owed to the Jews
the knowledge of his future; the possess
sion of every one Of the books which
make up the Scripture, every single
thought that led to purity, every lesson
Of liberty, of love, brotherhood and
peace, that had found a place in the
heart of man, they owed chiefly to the
race which had preserved to them the
teachings of the Most High. That was
the worlds debt to the Jews. He said.
without fear of contradiction, that the
Jew had covered the world with light,
and wherever the knowledge of Israel's
God spreads abroad, there darkness
must fly, and the light of Zion be scat
tered over the nations. 1t seemed to
him that circumstances were accumu-
lating which tended to show them that
it was time to repay the debt the world
owed to the Jews. But before the re-
payment was made it was necessary to
rouse the Jew to a, sense of his dignity.
1t was necessary to incite the national
idea and national ambition in the heart
of Israel throughout the world. Why
cto ;,,tn Nd f,,ir
be content to be vagrants on the face
of the earth? Why should they be con-
tent to be homeless race now that cir
cumstances were pointing to facilities
for giving them a home? The aristo-
cracy of the Jews, who were outside the
rale of persecution, and who did not
feel the pinch which was inflicted upon
the great mass of their brethren, would
be cowardly if they did not take lead
| ing part in the national movement. 1t
had been suggested by some to purchase
land in America whereon to esta blish
Jewish state. He believedthat if home
| for Israel was established in America,
they would leave the Sepher Torah be-
hind. There was but one home for the
Jews and it was in Paleetine-the Holy
Land which was the home Of Israel's
prophets and heroes, and kings and
poets and lawgivers. At the present time
when the eastern question was exercie-
ing the minds of the powers, it seemed
natural solution of the difficulty that
Palestine should be given back to the
Jews. And if 1t were not, then the
wealthy Jews-the princes in Israel
should buy back the land. No sword
would be necessary for the modern
Joshua, There would be many diff
culties in the way, and all sorts Of imag-
Unable and unimaginable opposition
would be shown. The pioneers would
possibly be considered fanatics, but
there never was a great work brought
into the world for the good, of mankind
but it wasinaugurated byfanatics. The
project Of founding a Jewish state in
America reminded him of visit he paid
some time ago to the Sinai temple ir
Chicago--Dr. Hirsch's temple, he called
it He inquired what had become of the
ark and the Seraphim, and was told tina
"all that had been done away with long
ago." The sacred right of initiation hat
also become obsolete in the congrega
ton; 1t was only performed when bigot
ed old folks particularly wished it. Suci
religion was not worthy of the name O
Judaism. 1t was idolatry. They did no
worship the God of Israel, but had SCI