The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-15

ms ot tHe LlnnolOBlcal BOclely dhu lHe New York Academy of Sciences Dr. Maurice. Fishberg. a we'll known anthro pologist delivered an address in which he made the declaration that there was no such thing as Hebrew race and that Hebrews were not descended from Abra- ham, Isaac and Jacob, but were in reality Armenians.
 "The Armenians," he said, were, until quite recently. considered to be a race on account of their linguistic affinities. al- though in the light of modern anthro- biological research we know that there is no such thing as an Aryan race"
 After citing opinions on the origin of the semites. pr. Fishberg advanced the theory that they were differentiated from other races in Africa, and not in Asia, as was generally believed to be the case, and reviewed the physical characteristics of ancient and modern Semites
 The above interesting article has zen printed in every daily paper in Alabama, and given the widest circulation, without single criticism that have seen.
 These scientific gentlemen have great courage to back their theories against the grand testimonies of the ages. Jerusa- lem, the sacred city of the Scattered Nation" Is "builded on other Jerusalems, on the distinguishable remains of eight older cities-those of Solomon, Nehemiah Herod, Hadrian Constantine, Omad Godfrey, Saladin and Sulelman." The first axf Romans. Omad and Saladln, Mohammedans, and Godfrey, the Crusader Jerusalem has been beseiged twenty-seven times Burned, sacked, razed to the ground it's inhabitants of every faith put to the sword All it's woes uttered by It's own prophets against 1t have come to pass against that city of which David sang and over which Jesus wept" David cap tured it from the Jebusites and estao- llshed this stronghold of Zion as his capitol. Old as is Jerusalem, yet the period of antiquity to which the Jews trace their origin is far beyond that oi their sacred city.
 Let us, who are not anthropologists look into this.
 tLNtH d cat may lOOh dl eh hihSf -N the only excuse l can offer my readers for dissenting publicly from these sngu- lar statements. The historical biblical idea has been graved into my mind and heart forever. Even the greatest mer must have too great a regard. for the truth to be offended at those who show it to them with all that deference and respect which is due to greatness. TO pe- gin with let us see whether the history of Abraham is certain, and whether the Jews descend from this patriarch. Before offering any testimonies 1 will say broad ly that pr. Fishberg ct al. are only 1oi- lowing the same arguments that Noltalre and the anthropologists of his day or fered-that is, that Abraham is one Of those names famous in Asia Minor and Arabia, like Thaut among the Egyptians Zoroaster among the Persians ete.-peo- pie better known by their celebrity than by well attested history" The histories of Thaut Zoroaster, etc., are indeed not well attested. for of these famous names we scarcely know anything but uncertain facts, dubious dates, false or contradlc- tory accounts. But, surely, these learned gentlemen must know, and admit, that Abraham Is better known to us. Why should they be reminded that we have history, connected and particular, written by an historian who was near his time and whose grandfather lived faboVe thirty years with the lsraelitish patri- archs grandson? Tn this history the ex- act and impartial historian informs us of the origin and native country or this great man; of his travels, his virtues, his failings. He there points out to the He- brews, who were returning into the coun- try which Abraham had inhabited, the xuho la atriarch his and grandson had resided, the altars they had built. the wells they had dug, the lands which they had acquired the kings and nations with whom the yhad dealings anc alliances. The historian enters into the same particulars on the various places which the twelve great-grandsons had rendered famous by their adventures or their crimes. And, yet, the learned the orists write them down as fabulous per sons
 As testimony of their ancient descent from this patriarch the Jews produce their genealogies, which they regard as authentic geneologies, on which were founded not only the hope and common right of the nation to the possession oi the land of Canaan, but also the respec- tive rights of each tribe No other people or person can produce titles so incontest- ible of their descent
 But this is not all. The Jews are moi the only people who claim the title of Abrah hams descendants. The Ishmaelite- Arabians boast of it. too. Thus, two na- tions, ever jealous, ever enemies of each other, so far from dsputing this common descent. join in attesting it to the whole earth. and both of them bear in their flesh the proof and stamp of it.
 And the testimony of these two nations although strong in itself is yet confirmed by that. of two other nations who are asos neighbors and enemies-the Moabites and Ammonites-who say they descend from the nephew of Abraham; and 1t is also confirmed by the nations of Canaan who, by the name Hebrews, which they gave to the fathers of the Jews, declared them strangers to their country and org inally coming from beyond the Flu pirates. In short, the God whom the Jews worshipped. the religion which they professed, the land which they lived on the monuments which they had before their eyes, their traditions, their script ures, verything-announced Abraham If after this number of proofs, the exist ence of the patriarch and the descent oi the Jews are not well attested facts there is not a well attested faet In all ancient history. And yet the scientific theorists, borrowing almost the exact words of the Voltarian school of a cen tury and a half ago, confidently say that the Jews boast of their descent from Abraham just as the Franks do from Hector and the Britons from Tubal. :. Trulv. one is apt to lose patience who considers the multitude of connected facts which establish the descent of the
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