Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-11-20
HEBREW MEETING
Jew and Gsntils Working Together
 For Common Good.

The mass meeting held in City hall yesterday afternoon under the auspices of the Jewish societies of Waterbury, to protest against the barbarous treat ment to which Hebrews are being .sup- jected in Russia, was largely attended. 1, Mayor-elect W. E. Thoms presided. Mayor Elton being slightly indisposed and not able to be present The meet 1 ing was called to order by Attorney l Joseph E. Lauber, chairman of the re- lief fund committee. A large number 1 of prominent citizens occupied seats | on the platform. MT Lauber gave in- teresting facts regarding the Hebrew | prosecutions in Russia. which he att i tributed chiefly to the low standard of I intelligence among the masses in that country. Mayor-elect Thoms spoke briefly, but pointedly, saying among l other things:
 We meet here on the common cause l of humanity, not as Jew or Gentle, Protestant or Catholic but as ono blood and one people. We meet here to protest against the tyranny in Rus sia and to devise some method of re- lief. Less than POO years ago people were persecuted in this country be- cause of their religious beliefs, and they were not allowed to become citi- zens unless they belonged to q certain sect. But thank God this is all gone. It ought to be one of our privileges as we'll as our duty to help those who do not enjoy our privileges. For the sake of our common blood and humanity we should do all in our power to help Gods suffering people, no matter un- der what flag they may be-
 The Rev John N. Lewis talked at some length on the subject of Hebrew prosecutions in Russia and urged all to cooperate in bringing about a change whereby the Hebrew may have fair show. He thought we make light of these things because we arc SC far removed from them, because it is | hard to realize what is happening Il thousand miles distant, but he consid- cred this selfish way of doing things and took the ground that the time has come when humanity should step in and demand that these atrocities cease. Tt is only a matter" he said, ''of how strong we say 1t. Our nation. althougl, young. is strong and you have done your part to build 1t up. Ours is the power and the responsibility and they have right to expect our help" The Rev Mir Lewis read a copy of tele- gram sent by Bishop T. S. Futile ut the Episcopal church to the procurato- of the Holy Synod at St Petersburg and the Metropolitan asking them to use their good offices in behalf of the suffering Jews.
 The Rev W. J. Slocum was the next speaker. He was given a splendid ova- , tion. He said in part:
 Tt is no new experience to the He brew race to be persecuted. In his- tory this nation seems to have been marked out for suffering. but it has not stamped out the race. To-day you are stronger than ever before. But you must remember that you are not the only ones in Russia who suffer persecution. It Is only within few years that the serfdom of the peop.s has been abolished. To-day the law against the Catholics is as strong as against the Jewish people. In the Si- berian mines there are thousands who are suffering because they are not of the faith of the Holy Synod. It Is not only your duty to raise funds for the relief of your brethren, but you have other duties.
 You are not all Russian Jews. some of you being from other nations. The Russian Jew is an actual fact in this country and you must deal with him as you find him. When he comes tG this country he comes here not alone for liberty. but for the right to live This is a violent change from his fife in Russia. and you must bear in mind that there is born into him an idea that all government is wrong He is the victim of a system. and part oe your duty is to look after him. Here Is where your work comes fin, not only to raise money and pass resolutions. but to give him that light which win show him the benefits of life under higher education.
 The day is dawning when the Rus sian Jew will be a citizen. Now Is your time to let your example maIe him realize what 1t is to become a citi- zen. to tell him to do it. Your work Is therefore also educational Any man is liable to become desperate un- der such circumstances as are found in Russia. It Is the nature of a man to become desperate ln a crisis. and in the crisis at hand he Is not to blame for 1t. He will soon have the ballot. We are soon to see in Russia the pass ing of the czar and the despotic gov ernment. This is just as sure to come as it is impossible to keep the sun from rising.
 But you must stand together. Some of you here are Russian Jews. some Austrian Jews and some German IewA Your conditions gre somewhat differ ent. but you must treat the Russiar Jew as a brother. You must not do as have heard you have done in this city. refuse him admission to the syna- gogue and burial in the Jewish ceme- tery. Get together and stay together and organize to meet one another as brother and lift him up. Then when it is necessary to raise money. give it If you stand together and lift up, raiss money and then act snd keep acting together you win eet what you want. a free Russia
 II. A. Brooks delivered an address In HelNpw. Letters of regret were re ceiFed from the Rev David Levy ~ New Haven and nT Davenport of this ~ffv awmmnMzfnw rsarnf fer fNrfr frxrN