Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-25

JuualSm-a religiOn-We are jews.
ARGUMENTS FOR JEW.
"The word Jew represents the
new and broader conception of
our world mission II is to
certain extent unfortunate that the
non-Jewish world so closely Identifies the
jew of to-day with the jew of Biblical
times. Do not for one moment under
stand me TO say that IL IS a misfortune 10
be identified with the Bible. for that IS
our all and everything; but what j wish
TO make clear is, that the non-Jewish
world considers the Jews Of to-day iden-
teal in thought ideals and in conceptions,
and even in practice, with the Jews Of
Biblical times; that il looks upon the his
tory of the Jews as closed when the
canon Of the Scripture closed, and that
the religious development of the world
has been taken up by the daughter when
the mother faith had laid it down. 1t is
against this conception that / protest
Judaism IS based upon the Bible, yet has
not ceased with the Bible Revelation has
not ended with the prophets. The uncOn-
sumed bush flames in every generation
Judaism is not closed and balanced ac-
count in the ledger OF history. With The
peerless moral heritage Dcqueathod TO
them by the heroic spiritual giants Of the
TO their credit, they have continued TO
advance, Identifying themselves with
every step of human progress, making
themselves felt in every honorable avenue
of human activity. and aiding in upbuild-
ing the magnificent structure of human
civilization.
JEW" AND "ISRAELITE."
1T is noteworthy in this connection"
continued the speaker, "to remark that
The non-JeWish world uses the word
lsraolite when it wishes 20 speak kindly
or respectfully, and that we ourselves use
the word jew. Renan titled his book,
History Of Israel; Cornill and Robert
son Smith called theirs 1.-THE Prophets of
lsracp; Boieau his, Israel Among the
Nations; Kuenen. "The Religion Of
Israeli; but Graetz says History Of the
Jews" and Abrams writes Of Jewish
Life in the Middle Ages" and Jewish
Literature" Dr. Weiner speaks of the
Jewish Question" and Amram Of the
Jewish Law of Divorce" The only nota-
bic exceptions to this rule that ] know Of
are Millman's History of the Jews" and
Or. Wise's history of the hebrews Sc
c0nd Commonwealth" These illustrate
the point which / wish 10 make. that the
Christian world Identifies us with the
Biblical period, considering that we are
uninhuenced by the circling centuries, so
to speak a petrihed religo-ethnic pheno-
menon, a fossil of the tertiary period Of
religious development. and by our very
hardness invulnerable to the rodent tooth
Of time.
In conclusion, DR.. Calisch said that some
among the Jewish people themselves did
not like the use of the word Jew, for the
reason that they felt that 1t had an unde-
sirdble connotation TO the world at large,
that it was used with sense of contempt
and reproach. but he said that this was
the very reason they should cling to 1t;
they should not desert their colors under
fire. but by their conduct and life show
to the world how false and untrue was
this conception Of them. He said that by
their life and character. as Jews. they
should compel the world to recognize the
fact that Jewish teachings and the Jewish
faith made them stand Tor the highest
type Of life and the most beautiful char
acter.