Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-11-29
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THE AIMS OF GENIUS"
BY Rabbi Jacob Kaplan
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Gen. 1927. And the angel said to
Jacob. Let me 60 for the morning
dawns.' and Jacob answered I will not
let thee go until thou bless me-
In my last lecture I spoke to you on
'"rhe Penalty Of Genius" showing how
great men have always suffered In &c.
cordance with their greatness. because
Of their greatness. ] asked why did
Israel suffer? Why do great men suffer
anywhere? And found no more suit
able answer than this: They suffered
simply because they were great; great.
or than their surroundings. All great
men suffer because they are not under
stood because they are not OF proper
ton with the environment.
Let me ask this evening. What for
has and does Israel suffer? What for
DO great men suffer anywhere? In
other words. what is the aim OF gen.
ius? And the answer to the question
Is found in the words OF Jacob: II
will not let thee go. until thou bless
me-"
All great movements and inventions
OF any consequence to man work hav-
oc with human society at first; but II
they be Of real value. they will In the
end be a blessing to Humanity. II great
men and great movements and inven-
tons depended on popular applause at
first there would be no progress what
ever In the world. because most men
see only the immediate result and not
distant ultimate good.
Political and economic history
abounds with Illustrations.
The French revolution, its immedi-
ate result was evil to the superlative
degree. It's distant. ultimate result Is
the greatest blessing that ever visited
Europe The immediate result of the
freeing OF the negro increased HIS mis-
cry and brought die ord to thousands
CT human beings. but the ultimate re-
suit depended and still depends on
those who are great enough to persist
beings. II the freeing Of the negro has
not yet been recognized a blessing
everywhere. can only urge for your
thoughtful consideration that tho last
pages of history have not yet been
written. and when those pages will
have been written we are sure that
they will read thus: The freeing OF
the negro in the United States was a
blessing to humanity"
The introduction OF the sewing ma.
chine threw out Of employment those
whose livelihood depended on needle
work. but the ultimate result was a
saving of labor, a benefit to society.
The introduction Of the steam en-
CINE had for it's immediate result the
shelving OF thousands OF public con.
vcyances, and the air was rent with
curses for the steam engine. but the
steam engine persisted In spite OF the
curses. until II is universally recognize
ed public blessing.
Every Introduction OF labor saving
machinery for manufacturing purposes
has been followed by curses from
those who were thus thrown out OF EN-.
ployment for 1t always means a re.
construction OF a greater part OF socie.
ty; but machinery has persisted. and
when the wounds have been healed
and society has reconstructed itself
the curses are exchanged with an &C
Acknowledgement that these inventions
are indeed a blessing to civilization.
The wonderful almost alarming
strides that have been made IN the i'm.
provement Of farming implements
yearly throws out OF employment thou.
sands OF farm hands. but when these
have found and fitted themselves for
other employments there usually fol-
lows and there must follow an &C.
acknowledgement Cf the blessings which
these useful instruments bestow on
man.
Thus on every hand examples may
be multiplied where great movements
would have died In the inception were
their life dependent on popular approx,
al. II Is always the persistency OF
some man or men great enough to see
beyond popular prejudice to whom the
world owes It's geatcst blessings.
Inc ann OF THESE towering seEiuses
OF humanity has ever been In the pres.
ence OF ridicule. curses and persecu-
tion the scperhuman determination:
~ will not let 20. until thou bless me-"
Every great man Is a thorn In the
side OF little men. for every great man
brings problem to the world which
means one or two things. "a either
the little men must change their sys-
tenn OF life. or CD the genius must
give way. and though sometimes the
mighty heart OF Caesar breaks. more
often he says: II will not let go. until
I bring from the hard hearts Of the
prejudiced world real, heartfelt
blessing for my cause"
In recent history We have Shakes
peare. DIR. Johnson, Luther, Lincoln.