Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

LONDON, October 1O.-It has been lief,
to Americans all this year to stir reli-
gious England to its depths. and the in
ternational congress for the history O,
| religions was no exception to the rule
The gathering itself was second to none
| that has been held in the United King.
dom this year. and from the very outset
| ii has been year of great meetings.
This history Of religious congress
brought together for a weeks delibera-
ton scholars from all parts of the world
to deliberate upon subjects OF the deep
est and most widespread moment. II
! succeeded in demonstrating what ire
mendous work has been done in a few
years in the comparative study of re-
ligion. and. going still further, provided
an incentive for new endeavors I'm a good
ly and fertile field. The congress was
not an experiment. It's members assem-
bled at Oxford. an ancient seat of learn
ing. where the very atmosphere was red
client Of investigation. and at a reputed
stronghold OF theology where there has
been many a warm discussion of the re-
lig1ous development of mankind
The program included 140 papers on as
read in the four days allotted to the
work. 1t may have been a source of in
tellectual indigestion. but there was
enough spice to keep savory each days
proceedings. The climax came. however
when Prof. Paul Haupt Of Johns Hopkins
University. Baltimore. faced a large num-
Der in the Semitic room to talk on a topic
that had aroused great curiosity because
of the title OF the paper.
WAS Jesus a Jew by Racer" he had
chosen for discussion. 1t gave promise
of a sensational utterance, and 1t turned
out to be highly original in the treatment.
but throughout 1t was listened to with
attention, and the discussion which 1t
aroused has not been ended yet.
Prof. Haupt began by explaining that
his theory was not new. but that he had
fresh evidence. Briefly stated. the thought
was that Jesus was a Galilean, born at
Nazareth, and not in Bethlehem, and that
the Galileans were not Jews by race. but
had been forced to adopt that religion.
THE founders of Christianity were
Galileans,'' said Prof. Haupt. 1.-The ira
dition that Jesus was a descendent OF
David and was born at Bethlehem is not
original. A census referred to in the Sec
ond chapter of the third GOSPEL took
years after the nativity. There was nc
imperial assessment until Judea had beer
made an imperial province. nor would
the people have been assessed at thei
ancestral homes. as is suggested by tn.
words. And all went to be taxed ever,
one into his own city Moreover, Mar,
would not have been required to accom-
pany Joseph. Jesus himself referred t.
the belief that the Messiah was to be q
son Of David as an opinion of the Phari
sees. The latter tradition, which en-
deavored to harmonize the life of Jesus
with the alleged Messianic prophecies In
the Old Testament. was concession to
Jewish expectations or prejudices"
The discussion then turned on ethnoiog-
ical points, and Prof. Haupt argued that
the population of Galilee was Aryan. no,
Jewish. and the throng Of listeners was
reminded that Galilee is referred to in
Isaiah as the place OF the nations-other-
wise the Gentiles. By historical evidence