Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-28
A QUESTION OF WORSHIP.

A pecullar question has arisen IN
tho California legislature. 1t APP
wears that Senator Wolfe. of
the Mosaic faith, had asked the
Chaplain IL he could without
sacrificing his convictions, so pray
that Jcw and Gentle on the door
OF the Senate might pray with him.
and IL he found that he could not,
then TO follow the dictation OF his
own conscience
For this San Francisco minister
publicly denounced the Senator as an
atheist. who had demanded that
henceforth the Chaplain Of the Senate
refrain from any mention of the
savior OF the world, the founder OF
Christian civilization" He character
lied the words Of the Senator AZ those
of an "irrcverent and Goddess man
and quoted him as saying The Chris
tian members of tho Upper House
have amplo opportunity TO recognize
the founder of their faith when they
affix the figures l907 TO the proceed
iuss of this session The rest OF us
would like to be excused from any
further reference to the man of MAJ
areth"
Senator Wolfe took notice Of these
accusations and addressed the senate
Is a most dgnifed manner. admins
tering a we'll deserved rebuke TO tho
Christian minister, in language all the
more torclblc because 1t was respect
full and gentlemanly
Tho question raised is ono of great
delicacy. A Christian prayer is a.
petition To tho Almighty In the name
OF Him whom the Christians worship
as the Second Person IN tho Godhcad.
member OF tho Moaaic faith must
necessarily regard prayer so worded
Az displeasing TO the Being he wof~
ships What common ground can they
two meet OH, as supplicants before
the throne of grace? senator Wolfe
says IN his remarkable address ON Inc
question that he will never again, even
by suggestion, attempt To Indicate 70
the Chaplain OF the Senate aught
along the line OF his duty In this posi-
ton; and" he adds. ''if 1t he possible
that can pray with him | will do so;
III not will do AS I DO every dag OF
my life; pray In the silence of my
chamber to the God of my fathers
Perhaps the best solution of tho
problem Indicated by this controversy
would be for each member OF legis-
latures to adopt the course suggested
by Senator Wolfe, and substitute
private prayer for public.
Two paragraphs in the address OF
the California Senator arc particular
Is noteworthy. 1t had been insinu-
atcd that Senntor Wolfe would put
California whore France is today, az
the opponent of chrlstianity.' To
this he makes the following reply:
my answer 10 that Is that Tho ac-
ton Of Franco In lts relation towards
the church Is the crowning shame OF
the century. that. besides the con-
Jemnation of an right thinking peo-
nile France deserves the pity of the
world for its blindness and its b'go-
try
This is the view OF a representative
Jew and champion OF religious liberty,
given IN an address before tho mem
bers OF u state legislature. Some local
bigots have defended the action OF
the government against the Catholics.
They, too, deserve pity for their blind
ness.
Senator Wolfe also says, by way OF
explaining his adherence to his faith;
1--WE ARE none OF us responsible for
our religion. We drink IL at our
mothers breast and learn II at our
fathers knee, and the man who
would not stand up FOR tho religion
of his father and mother Is, in my
mind, unworthy OF the respect OF any
one"
This is true 10 a large extent. But
sometimes men and women are led to
change their views on religious sub
iects, as on other topics. They adj
vance. They receive more light, as
when n Saul. the prosecutor. becomes
Paul, the disciple OF the Nnzarenc.
But even In that ease. It Is not ncoes-
Hary TO become the enemy OF the re-
iigion of father and mother, or the
prosecutor of their friends. Paul
never ceased to love the Jews, mis-
people"