Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-04-29
HIS SIDE
In the Recent Con.
troversy.
Rabbi Philo Explains It
In a Sermon.
Real Meaning of State
ments Made.
The Attitude Of Jews Toward
Christians.

Rabbi Isidor Philo, pastor of the
Hebrew Reformed church, on Sunday
evening, preached sermon on Jews
and Christians, an Explanation" His
object was to explain more fully his
position in his controversy with Elder |
Bouck, of Cleveland, Christian
Catholic preacher. The church was
crowded and among the audience were
several supporters of Elder Bouck's |
statements and theories.
In part Rabbi Philo said: Il feel that
my Christian friends ought to have
enough confidence in my Integrity to
feel that only n sincere motive prompt
ell me to take tine radical position l
did rels ting to Christ, Christians and
Christianity. And if they have con-
fidence that such was my motive an
explanation to them is unnecessary.
For those, however, who may have
been misled by anti-Christian zealots,
though radical, were based upon sound,
historical research. The most radi-
cal statement made by me. and to
which exceptions were taken, was to
the effect that personally do not be-
lieve that such a man as Christ ever
lived. The statement. though radical,
may he variously construed. | know
hundreds of good Christians who share
this belief-namely, that tho character
of the man Christ is not sufficiently
historically authenticated to dissipate
every honest doubt that may arise in
the minds of historical students. Then
again. there are hundreds of Chris
of Christ. as pictured in the New
F. Testament, is beyond human concep
tion-that such perfect human be-
ing never could have existed, that he
is simply the product of some lofty
mind, magnificent ideal, and that
the ideal alone is real.
Even the most orthodox Christians
believe that Christ was not man finite,
but God infinite. so that in whatever
manner one wishes to construe this
radical statement. it is certainly elias
tic enough to stretch TO the most Or
thodox, as well as to the most radical
view.
The second statement made by
me was that the Jews are not respon-
sible for the crucifixion of Jesus. Il
held then and hold now that in no
direct manner were rhe Jews respon-
sibIe for tie death of Christ. And
even if the Jews were responsible for
the crucifixion of Jesus, the love and
| humanity, the peace and the brother
hood forbid it to promulgate a doc
trine that poisons the minds of inno-
cent children and perpetuates hatred.
1t ought to be stopped. IL has done
enough harm already. for the preach
Ing of this creed has been and is the
greatest menace TO the progress of
true Christianity.
For the Christianity of that
Christ pictured in the New Testament,
We have nothing but love and admir-
alton. 1t is with the dogmas of Chris
tianity that we dissg gree. No one more
fully recognizes the good effected by
Christianity as expounded by good
Christians than the Jews. Believing
thar We all have one Father, and that
one God created all of us, the Jews
regard the Christian as child of
God, therefore, a brother. For my
self, some of the dearest friends have
ever possessed are Christians. Our at
titude of opposition is taken toward
those who, i'm the name of Christian
ity. practice hatred and bigotry and
wilfully misrcpresent the jew.
so long as so-called Christians per-
sist in calling us damned, aecursed.