The Jewish outlook., 1908-01-24

prised. OF course, too much silence
is always in danger of giving consent,
but nevertheless knowing, conscious
silence hath thousand tongues.
Now, while the Jews have nothing
in common with the sect of Christians
who keep the Sabbath holy, except the
fact that both recognize the Biblical
day of rest as the day of rest, yet both
emphasize the fact in most eloquent
silence that it is not oppressive meas
ures nor selfish obnoxious intrusion
and obtrusion that have moral, bind
ing value, but always and forever it
is spirit, moral power and soul con-
rictiOn that are the ultimate tests
of true riligiosity. Like every new
convert, these Christians who keep the
Sabbath are more jealous than the
Jews themselves in this observance,
and whenever and wherever they are
fined for breaking the Sunday laws.
they refuse to pay any fines, for that
would be acknowledging that the state
has a right to curtail man s religious
belief and observation, and invariably
they accept imprisonment and work
on the chain gang with a silent con-
tempt for men who dare make and
enforce such laws. religious persecu-
tion laws in reality, but free govern
ment laws in name. The Seventh
Day Adventist, who accepts the jew
ish day of rest; the Unitarian, who ac-
cepts the Jewish religious concep-
tions of Monotheism, and the Jew him
self who refuses to bend the knee to
the Baal of Trinitarianism, are each
and all the silent preachers of reli-
gious liberty and freedom of con-
science. None of these ever forget
that there are other people living
whose rights ought to be respected.
nor do they ever appeal to martial or
police law to enforce their own reli-
gious ideas. They want to be let
alone. and want their religious
individuality respected. Let an idea
propagate itself as best it may.
but let us not Use force. nor let us
forget that there are other people liv-
ing with the same rights and the same
privileges that we have.
1t is IA sad fact that the predomi-
nant Christian sect in any locality as
a rule forgets that there are other
people living when they frame their
laws. There is always at bottom the
idea that obedience means force. con-
formity-never dreaming that obedi-
ence may mean moral. spiritual. vol
lntary obedience to beneficent and
wholesome laws. 1t seems that wher-
ever people really have in mind all
elements of community for which
laws are made. there is no fear that
these laws will not he obeyed, only
when people think they have mon
opoly on the air and water of life
does trouble begin and continue un-
til it shall be understood that re1i-
gious liberty means religious liberty
for everybody.
A very peculiar case Of this selfish
forgetfulness on the part of a people
in power came to my notice the other
day when | read marriage certifi-
cate of the state of Alabama. Dallas
county, which gives permission to any
minister of the Gospel and to any reg
ularly ordained leader of any Chris
tim sect to perform the ceremony.
saying absolutely nothing about the
thousand and one other religious sects
that might live in the state and might
wish to get married as sometimes they
do. The law Of Alabama actually per-
mits in sort of foot note others be-
sides Christians to get married, but
~ fl