The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-22
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Leod, d. d.. Of the First Presbyterian
church. DR.. Mcleod said:
This Is a significant gathering. Such
a meeting of Jews and Christians, Of
Jewish rabbs and Christian ministers
would have been out Of the question a
few years ago. 1t Is a noteworthy
sign of the times. 1t is visible, a
striking proof of the fact, that religious
bigotry may be supplanted by religious
toleration, and that Jews and Christians
may occupy enough Of common ground
to justify them on occasion in extend
ing mutual congratulations and to en-
courage them to dwell together in unity.
"Christianity owes much to Judaism,
and modern Christians are under ever
lasting obligations to ancient Jews.
The God of Abraham is our God. We
claim an interest in the father of the
faithful and the friend of God Your
inspired historians, and poets, and pro-
phets have left us a goodly heritage,
and we appreciate it. The moral law
which was written by Gods own finger
and which was formulated by your
Moses. is ours too: and we believe it
expresses the very mind of God. We
do not forget that Notwithstanding all
the trials and trbuatons and bitter
and cruel persecution which your
fathers suffered, they preserved intact
the holy oracles without the change of
a single syllable or even a single letter.
We Christians received from them with
gratitude the old testament scriptures,
and we have such implicit confidence In
| them that we call them: The Word of
| God" We Christians, like you Jews
| and some of u.s. more today, perhaps,
than some of you-regard these books
not only as entirely true and trust
worthy, but also as having divine au-
| thority.
LAS your eloquent rabbi said on Fri
| day evening, it is true that the Chris
| tian church is largely indebted to the
Jewish church. Our Jesus. according
| to the flesh, was a Jew and so, too.
were all His apostles. That fact how
ever seems to be forgotten by those
| nominally Christian people and govern
| ments who hate and persecute Jews.
| Instead of being disciples of Jesus, they
are trampling upon His precepts when
they persecute. Their Christianity is a
minus quantity. Thank God there are
| two good Christian nations, where the
Jew Is as free as the Christian and
where he may worship God as he
conscience dictates"
WHAT THE JEW SACRIFICED.
Rev. Joseph II. Odell of the Second
Presbyterian church, followed Dr. Nc
Leod. After dealing Interestingly with
the significance of the meeting, and ex-
pressing the hope that divided Christi
anity would some day be brought to-
gether. Rev. Mr.. Odell went on to speak
of the devotion of the Jew to his faith,
in terms of the warmest commentator.
1.-The Jew might have avoided perse-
cution, attained wealth and honor, and
be saved from disagreeable and har-
rowing experiences If he forsoOk his
faith and accepted current beliefs, but
he sacrificed all, even life itself, and
held tenaciously to his faith"
The erection of the pew temple, he
further said, was new force for
righteousness in our community and
the whole city, as we'll as the Jewish
people, were to be congratulated on it's
completion.
Rabbi Hirsch made the closing re-
marks He thanked the ministers who
participated in the meeting not so
much for what they said as for what
lhSS oiihltSu " say. i1c, IllHlScll, WAS
not a believer in fellowship meetings |
Had he been asked as to the advisable
ity of it, he would have advised that it
be omitted. He had attended one in
Chicago and was almost nauseated by
what the speakers said in trying to
praise the Jews. There was too much
honey. This meeting, however, was de-
void of that, and he was pleased with |
1t. He was also pleased that the min
listers spoke out" There is such |
thing as a federation of Indifference"
counterfeit, pseudo liberation. A man
can be tolerant of another's convictions
and yet have positive convictions HIM
self. He was glad to hear Mr.. Bate
man speak of the chasm between the
two PHILOSOPHERS.
True fellowship, he said, was in hav-
ing each religion as a r4giment in q |
grand army warning on the same en-
emy. Jew and Christian, as Jew and |
Christian, can each be fulcrum for |
uplifting.
He also was thankful that none of
the speakers had referred to them as
Hebrews. There are no Hebrews, he
said. The race of Hebrews has become
extant. II am" said the speaker,
"racially Caucasian: nationally, an
American, and in religion a Jew. To
talk of us as a Hebrew race is a con-
fession of ignorance"
In closing, he warmly congratulated |
the congregation on their new temple
and hoped it would be the source of
many blessings.
The addresses were interspersed with
music by the choir and the Hemberger
quartette.
SATURDAYS SERVICES.
The services on Saturday morning con-
sisted of sermon by Rabbi J.. Leonard
Levy, of Pittsburg; an opening prayer
by Rabbi, Anspacher; a union prayer
service led by Rev. William Lowenberg,
of Philadelphia; benediction by Rabbi
Emil G. Hirsch, of Chicago, and an
excellent musical programme by the
choir.
The sermon by Rabbi Levy was on
the subject of Samson, the Jew" 1t
was an eloquent dissertation on the |
deeds of Israel, and their mission as |
witnesses of Jehovah and teacher of His |
word.
Saturday night, a dinner was tender
ed at the Jermyn to the visiting rabbls |
by the officers of the synagogue. Direc-
tor of Public Safety f. l.. Wormser
was toastmaster. Addresses were made |
by the guests of honor, and by b. Moses, |
president OF the congregations Solomon |
Goldsmith, the vice-president; n. G.. |
Goodman, treasurer; Samuel Samter,
trustee and others