The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-01

The. history OF. the ] Jewish people plainly
demon trates how they. have caught. N the
true spirit OF this doctrine, making the l1
nlial relations jins the> homes Of israel TO
be among the most beautiful on earth.
without degenerating tintott the superstl-
tons which characterize the Celestial
Empire. e
Not An Evil Course.
Does Buddhism offer me the hope OF
5Nirvana, as, the solace for the pain and
evil Of this life, will answer that my
Jewish faith teaches mo a far nobler
concept. Life Is not an evil nor q, curse.
1t 4 is a gladsome gracious gift at 1.-THE
hands OF the Almighty Fountain Of all
life, It has its trials3and its sorrows, but
these are not evil. They are the neces-
sary steps Of my soul training They. are
but temporary and their final outcome
is for good. lsremember, how much more
sunshine than rain there is on the path
way Of my life. and have faith that
when, that pathway ends and IGBstep
across, the threshold Into the chamber or
eternity, It Is not to a senseless, feel
ingless, unconscious tence, but to a
clearer, fuller llfe in the nearer knowl-
edge Of the all-father Of all the human
race. ft ~ 5
wil-destroying doctrine OF fasallsm, that
shield Of the weak and the 5unmanly,
l will answer that I canot square that
doctrine with my conception Of a just
Coda God who judges and rewards
each nation and Individual according to
their deeds, and who cannot deny free
Will to man and then hold him respon-
Jsible and accountable for that one which
ilo has no control. liisnet fatallsm, pre-
destination is the doctrine Of those who
g.ve up the struggle. / cannot recon-
cile 1t with my belief that life is Il gra-
c!ous gift and u glorious opportunity to
prove ourselves WorthXsof our kinship
with the highest and noblest spirit of
the world; for "Thou hast made man
hut little less than angels, and hast
ci owned him With honor, and with dig
siity." Mans highest dignity is his free
dom Of will and It's consequent moral
responsibility.
y Should you come to me with the Chris
tan doctrines Of the trinity, incarnation
and vicerious atonement, ] shall answer.
my reason cannot conceveFof a. supreme
being other than as one, only and In
devisible. The very idea Of supremacy
recessltated unity and undivided author
!ty There cnn be to me no nober ex-
ITtSsloHi W VIC t|if''i Wv
battle cry of my faith, Hear, oh Israel,
the Eternal our God, the Eternal is Che. !"
So, too, my soul shrinks from teh thought
that this Supreme BEING should have
lived as q man or the son of man, to have
EN- born of woman, to have been subject
10 tho weaknesses Of flesh. and sur
fered mortal death in order to explate
for all humanity n guilt that is said to
lave stained thousands Of generations
by reason. Of the so-called sin OF our
primal parents, do not argue hese
doctrines, for they have been and are the
.soluce and hope of millions Of human
beings, among whom are the wscst and
best of orr human race, I simply say
that my reason and my conscience do
not permit me to accept thcm. But they
do permit me to accept the doctrines OF
the One God, who alone governs all
The universe In loving Kindness and JUS
tice, the ali meroful and compassionate,
who is ever might to those who call
supon Him" and who without mediation
freely pardons the penitent heart that
seeks His throne. who hears the lowest
whisper OF His humblest child, and
whose protecting grace shields even the
sparrow, that falls5sssnot without His
knowledge IS 3
a3 The Final Reason,
And for a fourth and final reason, that
Il am a Jew, 4 offen the fact that I find
ii, Judaism The basic principles OF the
universal faith VI which shall be- the