Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-03-19

gests, means a prejudging of an In
dividual or class or a people with
out full knowledge OF facts or con
ditions, Judgment unwarranted by
truth, a conceiving OF likes or dis
likes, usually dislikes. from insult
Gent cause or reason. Prejudice, in
the form OF race antagonism, is as
old as humanity. IL is simply a high
or form OF animal instinct that makes
things Of like genus flock together,
and things of different genus to be
at war with one another.
The Jews have been distinctive
from the beginning OF their history.
Not only nationally and tribaliy did
they differ from the surrounding ma
tions, but religiously as well When
the pagan world was stepped in poly
theism and idolatry the Jew was wor-
Shipping an incOrporeal Essence, who
was, what was known 70 that ancient
world, a Moral Ideal Thus early they
came 20 suffer the fate Of those who
are different, who are disliked be
cause they are different But the full
measure Of antagOnism toward them
Was not reached until Christianity
became the state religion OF the Ro-
man Empire. The Council OF Nicea
in the first quarter OF the fourth
century. not only established Chris
tianity as the religion Of the Roman
Empire. but Il also defined the creed
OF the church. disposed OF the heresy
OF Arius and his followers and placed
the church upon its Unitarian basis.
DEFENDERS OF MONOTHEIsM.
The triumph OF trinitarianism was
full OF tragic meaning 10 the Jew.
AS the defender of pure monotheism
he was a living and constant protest
against the trinitarian doctrine. The
whole fury of the church was turned
against him. He was given the al
tentative of baptism or death. He re-
fused baptism. and the church tried
its best TO do him 20 death. 7 will
not dwell upon the familiar. vet ever
sad, story OF the prosecutions and
the suiferings OF the Jews. Church
and state being one for many cen
turtles. he found no refuge in one
from the other. He was Numbered
against in the pulpit and bounded
In the street. The basest charges.
the vilest accusations. the bitterest
tOrtures, the most inhuman treat
ment have all been endured by him.
In the theological doctrine OF the
medieval church the Jews had re-
fused and had put 20 death the Mes
slab. Gods own and only begotten
Son, and had incurred the wrath and
Fengeance OF God. That this vengeance
SHOULD not fall. the church made
itself the most willing instrument Cor
its carrying out. And as one. non
Jewish, writer has said: No Injustice
and no prosecutions could be too bad
for those whom God so evidently
hated But the Jewish race and
the Jewish religion survived 20 all.
'TOrmented, tortured. robbed. put
20 death. hunted from cline 20 CLINE.
outcasts tn every land. strangers in
EVERY refuge the tenacity OF their
character was proof against every
trial and superior 20 every tempta-
uon- In this unequal combat OF the
strong against the weak. the syna-
gogue has fairly beaten the church.
and has indicated for Itself that lib
erty which during centuries Of suf-
foring it's enemy refused 20 grant
Eighteen hundred years have passed
since the soldiers OF Titus burned
down the temple. laid Jerusalem IA
ashes and scattered 20 the winds the
remaining inhabitants OF Judca. but
the religion OF the Jews is mistaken
still. IL stands unconquered and un-
Querable. whether by the blood thirsty
fury Of the legions of Rome, or by
the still more bloodthirsty intole-
rance OF the ministers OF Christ.