The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-09
WITH COMMON AIM
ALL RELIGIONS ARE STRIVING,
SAYS DIR. 1. p. MENDES.
BORN OF RELIGIOUS ZEAL
Is THE CONSTANT CONDEMNATION
OF SISTER FAITHS.

Not Matter OF Present 0ay bIrth'
Religious Belief of an Individual
Is Largely a Matter of Birth and
Observation-Disclosures of All Faiths
Are Justified in Attempting to
Perpetuate Teachings of Their
Religion.
From the subject "Does Any Re
.ligion Benefit by Condemning Its Sis
ter Faith" DR.. 1. P. Mendes pastor
emeritus of the Synagogue Micl1va Is
rael. addressed a large congregation
last night, among which were many
of other faiths than his own.
DR.. Mendes took the ground that no
benefit could be thus derived and that
each religion is struggling toward
common goal the establishment of
peace, the brotherhood of man, and the
fatherhood of God. The following is
the text of the lecture:
1T very frequently happens during
the course of our lifetime that
thought will Unexpectedly take possess
sion of the mind and assert so remark
able an influence over US, that strive
as we may we cannot rid ourselves of
the responsibility which is consequent
upon its gradual growth and develop
ment. 1t seems to spread out its roots
and tendrils over everything which is
in any way likely to bear upon its
meaning and significance and holds it
fast until the ultimate results can be
demonstrated and proved. OF course
we realize at the outset, that the un-
expected thought is not always the
most valuable or the most productive
of salutary effects, though we must adj
init that it is seldom it does not con-
tain some ingredient which will ulti-
mately force to the surface a lesson
or an admonition worthy of our atten-
ton.
II have to plead guilty this evening
of having been for some days past UNI
der the influence of a certain thought,
which from the first moment of it's
birth has steadily grown, whilst it has
presented to me so many different as
poets of truth and fact that l deem
it worthy of being transmitted to you,
that you may discover in it something
which may have escaped my own study
and observation.
! ConSie-HnirR tion Prompted by Zeal.
1.-THE thought was suggested by
practice that is so prevalent in the re-
ligious world that 1 sometimes marvel
at the patience and forbearance of the
intelligent and discriminating people
of the world. The leaders of the diff
ferent religions, are altogether respon-
sible for the existence of the evil which
has fathered my thought, though per-
haps it would be just to them to say
that they have been prompted by a
zeal which they construed into a duty
they owed the Father of the universe.
THE rabbi from his pulpit in advo-
eating the teaching of Judaism,
launches forth in burning eloquence
upon the superiority and originality
of his belief. The priest imbued with
the responsibility of Catholicism, anx-
1ous to gain for himself as many fol-
lowers as possible, draws the magic
circle of mother church around the adj
herents of his religion, and proclaims
to the world that those who
stand outside of that circle shall
be debarred from all earthly priv
ileges and eternal hopes. Clergymen of
all Protestant denominations of Chris
tianity, burning with the fire of honest
sincerity, proclaim in earnest tones
that their Interpretation of religion is
the right and only one, and that they
hold within their hands the one key
which is to open the treasure house
of heavenly approval and Gods loving
protection
Not of Present Birth.
This failing upon the part of the
upholders and defenders of religion, we
must remember, is not of present day
birth, but has marched onward in diff
ferent shapes and in different forms,
and in different manner, from the
earliest periods of time. The ages
of history are replete with the tor
lures and horrors of persecution and
bloodshed, that have taken place in
almost every age, and in almost every
land, brought about by this miscon-
ception and misconstruction of a holy
charge received from heaven above.
The cry of the herdsmen of Gerar,
The water is ours has been the
declaration and the war cry of all re-
ligions, monotheistic as we'll as polo
theistic. and the strife and contest
that have invariably followed this I'M
wise and unjust assertion, are the very
best commentaries of such modes of
proceeding.
"The thought suggested by these
historical truths if put into words,
would resolve ltSelL into the questions.
Is a religion. in any way strengthened
by the condemnation of its sister
faiths upon the part of leader or eX-
FOUNDER of that particular religion?
Does this mode of procedure prove
the greater value of the religion that
it has so desired to advocate?
Matter of Birth and Education.
ITO answer these questions we must
recognize at the very outset. that re-
ligion, so far as the human being is
concerned, is mainly if not altogether
first, a matter of birth, and afterwards
the result of education. The existence
of religion as a necessary accompani-
ment to the happiness and welfare of
the human being, as well as a bulwark
of safety for government and COM
munity. are facts that can be neither
contradicted nor controverted. Man
needs something potent. influential
and comforting, that will draw him
from the temptations of the world and
strengthen him to meet the trials and
disappointments of life.
The government and the community
realize that morality can serve
the best interests of the state
whilst it protects the fire side
and the home. People and state
combined, pay homage to that potent
force, which results in state of
a condition of law abiding security
The necessity ot religion being there
fore, an established fact, il behooves
the intelligent, progressive and dis
eliminating, among the sons of men,
90 Il aFsn. Il