The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-11
TO Be A CHRISTIAN
Russian Jew Could Find
No Church That Would
Admit Him.
By LEO ToIsToI.

cided, for the peace of his soul, to
embrace Christianity and consulted
some of his Christian friends about
the ways and means to crafty this in
clination.
They were overjoyed, and welcom-
ed him with open arms. but" they
said, what Christian church appeals
most to you? If you incline for
Catholicism. you have to choose be-
tween the Roman and the Greek be-
liefs; if for the Evangelical church,
YOU may become either a Lutheran,
Calvinist or reformist. Again, old
Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Uni
tarians, etc. must be considered.
az will consider no names, or
branches said the good Jew. Il in
terd to embrace Christianity, pure and
simple. Christianity without any adj
mixture of isms."
christianity pure and simpler" re-
peated the Jews friends. And they
vainly racked their brains to locate the
Christian church, consulting, in the
end, encyclopedias and inquiring of
priests and laymen, to no better pur-
porse than to be forced to say to their
friend the Jew: There is no such
church, as you desire to enter. You
must choost between those mentioned
and the several hundred others enum-
Grated III the ndnU-DOOkS. IL YOU 10
not, you are like the man DESTROYS OF
eating fruit, yet refusing every sort
offered by the market and nature"
The Jew thought it queer that one
cannot become a Christian pure and
simple, but as all were agreed on the
point and he remembered that there
are also several kinds of Jews those
adhering to the ancient belief. and
Reform Jews, nothing would do but
submit to the inevitable. And he de-
cided to apply for membership in the
largest existing Christian church.
Catholic Priests Welcome.
He went to a worthy Catholic priest,
who received him kindly and congra-
tulated him on his resolve to sub
NIT to the Pope in Rome. There are
10 Christians outside the Catholic
church, he said, "and those assuming
the name and style without authority
will fare no better as regards future
life than the very Jews. The Catholic
church alone guarantees heaven to its
members, for the Catholic church is
infallible."
II will consider what your reverence
has told me-" said the jew.
Protestant Parsons Claim.
Next the Jew addressed himself to a
pillar of the Protestant church, high
ecclesiastic. renowned for his wisdom
and uprightness. The church-councel-
Tor received the Jew very kindly and
told him to thank God that he had
mot fallen into the clutches of the
Catholics" for ten times better a
Jew than a Catholic. To have Juda
ism to enter the Roman church would
be jumping from the frying pan into
the fire." And he explained the alpha
and omega of Protestant belief: mo
sound minded person can have faith
in tradition-the word of man. Our
belief rests solely upon holy Scripture
wherein the word of God lies en-
balmed."
Am / permitted TO read your Bible
in order to convince myself of its
Godliness?" asked the jew.
You are not only permitted, it is
Protestant Christians duty to read the
Bible
The good Jew took the Bible home
with him and studied it. Old Tesla
ment and New, with an open head and
a receptive heart finding much to ad-
mire in the good book, much that 2D-
pealed to his reason. But there were
also passages that he could not posi-
bly, believe. as they seemed to deny
the goodness of God. God being. the
synonym for "good, what wicked
ness to impute mean actions to him,
he thought.
And being a candid man, the Jew
repaired to the church councillor. and
spoke of his mind freely: 81 believe
in the good book but cannot sub
scribe to all it's teachings If YOU
want me to become a member of your
church, you must allow me to disre-
gard certain biblical statements that
illharmonize with the nature of God
and man.
Sir" cried the councillor. indig-
nantly, 'you must not attempt to make
merchandise of holy writ--your very
suggestion is blasphemous. Either
you believe the whole Bible, or let ii
alone. The audacity of Jew ESSAY
Ing to decide what is Gods word and
what not" he added in a low voice.
At this the Jew was taken greatly
aback, yet decided to make a third
trial. He went to Lutheran parson
man known for his great tolerance
With a smile of superiority the par.
son listened to the story of the Jews
experience with his colleagues. you
are right to assume that every man
of sense should be permitted to reaC
the Bible with d critical eye in order
TO distinguish between Gods word an6
that of man" he said. Our greal
Martin Luther proclaimed that opinion
hundreds of years ago, declaring tina
only the man living like a Christian
was a Christian.
But continued the parson, "a
Christ is the pivot of Christianity, yol
must begin by believing in the unity
Of His being"
The Jew asked the reverend gentle
man to explain his language.
'All Christian belief rests on tn,
recognition that Jesus was true MAJ
and. at the same time, a true God"
But, your reverency, such a belle
would stamp me a polytheist?"
No, no, you must break away iron
that ancient Jewist prejudice. Like tho
Jews, we Christians believe in bu
one God, but i'm the God-unity we &C
knowledge three persons. And we be
lieve that the second person, the son
stepped down upon this earth durin,
the reign of the Emperor Augusta.
and became a man, born of woman
AS the prophet puts it. For unto II
a child is born, unto us a son is given
and the government shall be upo
his shoulder; and his name shall b
called Wonderful. Counsellor Tht
Mighty God. the everlasting Father
the Prince of Peace isaiah tx 81
"The Prince of Peace was Christ
Do you understand now?"
The Jew replied that he did not
and asked if it was not possible TO