The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-20
THIS is GODS TIME.
Hebrews, Oppressed
the World Over,
Have a Refuge.
SUMMONED BACK TO ZION.
Rev. DR.. Stephen Wise of
New York Sounds
the Tocsin.
SUMMONED BACK TO ZION.

Rev. DR.. Stephen Wise of New York,
who is considered to be the foremost
Hebrew speaker in the United States,
delivered an interesting and instructive
lecture on Zionism in horticultural hall
| last evening to a large audience.
The meeting was arranged by the
| four Zionistic societies in Worcester
Daughters of Zion, Lovers Of Zion,
Maccabees Zionistic Society, and the
branch of the Zionistic society which is
connected with the Hebrew Debating
Assembly. Although all four represent
practically every Hebrew family in
Worcester. the prime movers in the
organizations feel that much more
work can be done to interest their fell
low countrymen, and the meeting last
night was for that purpose.
The decorations in the hall consisted
only of a large Zionistic banner, the
design of which was chosen at the last
national conference in Basic, Switzer-
land, as the official flag of the proposed
Hebrew colony at Palestine. A large
golden star was attached to the end of
the staff surmounting the banner
which was spread across the rear of the
stage, forming a pretty background.
The meeting was called to order by
Mrs. J. j. Damn, secretary of the COM
mittee which brought DIR. Wise to Wor-
cester. Short speeches were made by
James Rose of Providence, Joseph Gold
of Providence, Rabbi Friedman of
Montreal and by Mrs. Damn.
The address Of the evening was de-
livered by Dr. Wise, and he said in
pat:
When 1 was first invited to Wor-
cester it was with considerable hesi-
fancy that accepted the invitation, as
and every true American citizen are
aware that your city is the home of
the illustrious senator George F. Hoar.
I know that he is opposed to any ex-
pansion, but when thought the matter
over, it came to me that he, grand old
man that he is, would never utter a
word detrimental to the project upon
which l am to address you this eve
ming.
While some persons may look upon
the idea of the Hebrews of the world
colonizlng Palestine and establishing
there home for the Jewish people as
imperialism, careful study OF 1t will
give a proper conception of our inten-
lions.
The establishment of colony is, I
regret to say mournful necessity, but
it is also glorious ideal for the He
brew people. feel that it will relieve
our people from the bondage they have
been held in for years Our people
the world over have ideas Of their own
on the subject, but when you come to
look into the condition of the Hebrews
you VIII find that seven-tenths of them
are in bondage and suffering under the
hand of an oDpressor.
Our people in Russia suffer under the
tyrannical hand of the governors of
that land and here the children of the
ghetto are misused to such an extent
that it Is almost impossible for those
uEacqUainted with the circumstances
to understand it.
The condition of our people in 1882
was better than it is today, and with
the lapse of another ten years no one
knows what will happen. In Roumania
lit is even worse. While the Jewish
people of that country are heavily tax
ed, their children are deprived of the
benefits of the public schools.
They are, one might say, outcasts
thrown on the world. They grow up
in ignorance. while their parents toll to
support them.
In other countries the condition is the
same, and even in the eastern countries
of Europe we are oppressed and tor
tured short time ago Christian