The San Francisco call., 1904-02-15
RABBI SPEAKS
TO UN1TARIANS
DIR. J. VOorsanger Occupies the
Rev. Mr.. Leavitt's Pulpit and
Delivers a Powerful Sermon

Rabbi Voorsanger occupied the pulpit
at the First Unitarian Church yester-
day afternoon in the absence of the
Rev Bradford Leavitt, who preached
at Stanford University. There was a
large congregation and the subject
chosen by Rabbi Voorsanger was ''The
Protesting Influence of Propheticism. Z"
The rabbi said:
1t is certainly remarkable fact that the
idealism Of the prophets Of Israel had been
able TO maintain itself, despite the denial of
its integrity by every successive civilization
However highly the Jew thought OF the basic
principles Of his religion, it is certain that the
nations surrounded these principles with sus-
Palestine is but one-thirteenth the size Of
California and is surrounded by nations each
OF which has played an important role in the
history Of the world. There We're Phoenicia
and Syria on the north, Assyria on the north
east, Babylonia on the southeast and mighty
Egypt on the southwest.
In later times the handful Of Jews in Pal
estine was frontea 6y Greece ana Sun later
by the world force OF Rome.
To say to all these mighty empires, each
representing a distinct phase in human civili-
zation, that their culture rested on false
premises and that, therefore II would be
swallowed UP in the evolution Of the ages ap-
pears like supererogation. an expression Of ar
rogance for which, fear, the world has never
forgiven the Jew. And yet history is but the
story of the decline of those empires and of
the vindication OF prophetical ideals which is
attested by the national records OF the Jew
to the dignity Of an international literature.
In the application Of these ideals we come
to the conclusion that as long as civilization
consists OF the mere manifestation of physical
and mental energies IL cannot endure.
PROPHETICISM'S TEACHING.
Propheticism holds that happiness exists in
the harmony Of spiritual and physical ener
peace as precedent to an acknowledgment OF
God.
Whenever war exists the world usually
cross-examines its own belief in God War is
inconsistent with any belief in God. Peace is
not the stagnaney of undeyeloped condi-
tions but the harmony OF divinity and
humanity As long, therefore, war and
all other passions continue to exist the
world in the prophetic aspect needs the con-
tfnuance OF that manifestation by which God
is cognizant in human affairs. In other and
briefer words. God is not great enough yet.
ideaia OF the prophets Will become the con-
stitution Of mankind and civilization VIII rep
resent the complete harmony Of God and man.
WARNS THE ANGLO-SAXON.
And in this respect word of caution might
be addressed to the great Anglo-saxon race.
Rarely 4 OOO 600 in the time of Queen Eliza
beth it now represents 10 per cent of the
population OF the earth, ~ lac. 1000. coo. mainly
contained within the two countries that stand
in history for the maintenance Of doctrines
bv which man has attained to his true dig
nity-the doctrines Of freedom OF conscience
and government by the people. But is 1t not
natural that in the manifestation OF its phys
icaI forces this tremendous should seek
TO dominate the earth because of the natural
manifestation of its inherent strength?
In the inevitable conflicts OF the future, the
Anglo-Saxon will match and measure his
strength with other dominant races, because
history proves that only race can be
dominant the face of the earth at anv
one time. For that very reason the greatest
need Of this powerful race at the present
time is its gentle subordination TO the proc
OF its spiritual and physical energies lest IL,
the arrogant assertion of its physical prowess
and its mere love of dominancy It undermine
its own vitality and prepare the time
when its history. instead of being a witness
of God on earth, will be a mere chapter in
archaeology spelled in the hieroglyphics OF
dead and departed people.