New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-08-25
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
ZIONISH OF THE BIBLE.
Home an Palestine Not Whole End
of Increment, Says DIR. Mendes.

of Increment, O0yS LIT. MeitteS'
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: To the ordinary reader the editorial on Zion
ism In last Sundays Tribune may convey wrong
| IMPRESSION for it emphasizes the expression 10
obtain a legally assured home In Palestine IRON,
the Zionist platform as that the whole END
aim of the movement
Amercansm does not mean to true Americans
merely the possession OF America the deVeiopieH9
OF her material resources, the increase OF her h-
+.r,aI mower or influence. 1t the extension
of its high ideals for mankinds veal over inc
whole world ideals such as liberty. equauty' re-
pubIcansm or government OF the people 1or tho
people by the people. with all the safeguards Oh
true democracy.
Zionfsu does not mean to true zionists merely
tho legally assured home In Palestine OF the pos
session OF Palestine. tho development OF hs re-
sources or any material power or influence IL
means the extension of the high Ideals OF inc
prophets of God for mankind's veal over the "nole
world. ideals sufficiently indicated for the pur-
poses of this letter by our three Rs-hsVefehce
Righteousness and Responsibility
The legally assured home in Palestine part OF
Zionisrn only small part of the ZonisTn OF the
Bible The possession of Palestine is only means
TO an end as I will presently attempt to indicate
The larger or Bible Zionism originates in what
the Bible calls the "Brcath Abraham or the Bless
ing of Abraham (Cf. Gen. xviii Al. and Is ioenti-
cal herewith II contains the following three
postulates conveyed TO the Hebrew patriarchs and
developed by the Hebrew prophets. psalmists and
sages:
Postulate 1 God Is our God (Cr Gen. xvii. 49,
He is the God OF all mankind. and not OF the Jew
only Hence Abraham preached at Beersheba. pro-
claiming Him God of the Universe. or the Universai
| God Gen, xxi. 33). Hence we Hebrews IN our
prayers or benedictions constantly call Him Meech
OIam the Universal King. not King OF the Jews
only Hence Moses calls Him GOD OF the spirits
| OF all flesh" Numb. XVII %; xvii. 16. and In his
death song declares. Yea, he loveth the peoples
/ Deut. xxxii. 81. 1t is peoples" In the heDre"
| text. plural number. Hence Isaiah declares Ahe
God of the earth shall he De called INV o.
And the psaImists sing The peoples shall praise
| thee: yea the peoples. all of them. snail praise
| thee dxvii 35D. "An the nations whom thou hast
made shall come and worship before thee anu
| shall glorify thy name (1xxvt 81
But He is God. practically. only in so far as
l ", recognize and obey His guidance in our con-
duct Just as king or president is king or pres'
dent only in far as We so recognize MN anu
obey the government he represents
How far He is God of America can De deCl'ied
only by noting how far the consciousness Of His
Guidance Influences American life. He certainly IS
not God in the eyes of directors of corporations al
ready fined threatened with punishment for
wrongdoing: of those patriots VINO draw pen
slons even when able earn living: nor of those
/ Legislators who make politician a word OF re-
proach; OF those officials who misuse public
funds
/ He is God in the eyes of those Americans who
recognize the three RS Reverence for God. Right
/
the Responsibility of every man TO dare and do MS
/ duty a citizen man and brother
( Zionism Bible Zionism. declares these three RS.
/ for thew mean God is God, actually and not theo-
| reticalIy a force In human conduct
! PostuIata 3 We Hebrews TO be source of
blessing mankind Gen Kill 3: xvii. $: xii.
! Is: XVI. 4: xviii IA
! II is interesting to note that Gods first message
! to Abraham contains the positive command BE
! blessing" Gen. xiii In the Hebrew text 1t
| is the imperative mood
! We recognize that every nation had or has some
thing to teach the world at large and so be bless
! ing to mankind. Greece taught the world beauty
in art. Rome taught government France
teaches combined with love for the artistic
! Germany teaches organization. thoroughness In
study and method. America teaches enterprise and
England teaches how TO COLOMBO. and together the
two teach the value of free institutions All
these blessings TO all mankind" But all these
Municipalities.
We Hebrews have also been appointed by God TO
teach the world at least something. to give ii
blessing too But blessing 70 mankind is spir-
tuaI. is the message of the three R's-Rever-
ence Righteousness. Responsibility Bible Zionism.
larger zionism. stands for Just these three RS.
BY giving this message to the world
I blessing To all mankind.
! And we dare o say the proudest mightiest
nations of the day. Heed that message. your pride
might shall and die surely did
strength and magnihcence of Egypt and Babylon.
| Greece and Rome.
! Postulate 3. We possess Palestine. (Gen.
Kill. Is: XIV. Z; xviii s: XVI. 3: xviii. 1S.)
maintain all earth is Gods (Fx
| XIX 50. and that He glveth ii whom Ii seemeth
meet unto Him. der. xvii. So If Palestine
| is ours. II Is by Divine right For gave IL
/ o the texts above quoted declare. II is an
| idea But of ideas nations born and for
/ ideas nations live.
/ have already stated that our possession of
Palestine is only a means to an end 1t means
! fha,f etoy of.
ministers and members The church is nothing
except inspiration to its priesthood or min
isters they live church buildings or
elsewhere, and it's members their lives no
in what of the city they happen to live
! or even II they live out of the city.
The possession - Palestine VII IAN ne<hine