The sun., 1910-01-09

ABOUT us every Gay ADu CAkAnOs aAso-
Il feel that the jew and Christian are
nearer together to-day than ever BEFORE
The racial prejudices are less evident,
particularly here in New York. But All
this is due to what call AmericaniSatlou
that citizenship to which a man v at
! tracted Just because this nation was
conceived in liberty and dedicated TO
the proposition that all men are created
free and equal.
who docs not love this land, its history.
its heroes, its literature, its institutions
and its ideals OF freedom and equality. :.
For some. however, the process OF
Americanization goes still further. They
would demand of a prospective American
that in order to be completely American
he abandon his traditional religion; Lhls
view is perhaps more widespread than
we imagine. In the United States we
find this view implied in legislation ana
the assumption that this is Christian
but fortunately America grants to
every American complete religious liberty
and affirms the proposition that IN the
and equal. Every American is free to
view life, the world. his God, as his train
| ing and his beliefs dictate. No man
need give up jot or little OF his inherited
We jews in particular have good reason
to take this lesson TO heart. With US
nationality and religion are 80 tnextri-
cably interviewer that 1t would be dAn-
gerous. particularly from the point OF
view Of our religion, TO allow the cu,tI; t,
into neglect or dispute.
| Our religion has its national elements
| OF race, OF language. OF history, OF Aw
and custom and tradition. FOR the jew
there cannot. I think. be a permanent
4 s-s- IaAA M
atty, nor can there be, think. a per-
manmt Jewish nationality without Jew
ish religion"
THE MELTING Por.-
| A few weeks ago DR.. Magnes preached
| a sermon from his pulpit upon Zangw1ils
play The Melting Pot and to this he
refers.
scribe to US the melting process through
which the children Of every nationality
are becoming Americans.
There is no denying that under the
influence Of this enthusiasm for America
the disintegrating process OF the melting
That it is not fortunately taking place
altogether is the point which vitiates the
authors argument. Yet how familiar
the cry Of Americanization rs 70 US Jews
Just what Mr.. Zangwill has the courage
to say it means, dejudaizationi
This dejudaizing is conducted also
under the shield and inspiration OF other
lofty ideas. The jew Is asked to give up
his ideality in the name OF 6rothsrnoG,c q
this country, as throughout the world,
men are ready to understand one another
and to give up many OF the hatreds and
! jealousies OF the past. Men are willing
to recognize the things that unite them az
well as those that separate them.
~In this country it is not strange 70 hear
tho call to unity among the differing
Christian denominations. The historical
dogmas that divided them are losing
their meaning. Now in this distntegrattnG
movement OF the times many Jews toe
, have found their place,
"Give up the past they say to theil
people, in the name OF the future. GIVE
? up your distinctions, your pecuiiarttaes
your race, your individual outlook upor
A life. and become like your neighbors
! Americans in the complete sense OF th'
! word Many jews have been among thu
4 first. for example. to set the seal OF theil
! approval upon the new religion OF th'
twentieth century American as eTgoundes
) lately by President Eliot OF Harvard
Reformed Judaism, many say, maj
a accept this new religion without mucl
protest, for its basic principle 10 servic'
3 to man. and it rejects as worthless tn
? distinctions that have historically ant
authoritively held men apart 90
OPPOSED TO hIAEO MAhhIAOES
? And how about the mixed m4rriage
DR. Magnes?" he was asked. !,
, while I know that such marriages d.
: take place l could not perform q ceremon.
> where there was a difference OF religion
: Personally | know OF cases whore sucl
I marriages have turned out to be mos
/ happy. for where there is an instanc'
4 where two people cannot live apart from
! each other it is a matter left largely q
: their own judgment IL they marry. AM
> they do generally in those cases.
you are called a reformist. are you not
Dr. Magnes!' ,.t,-.-.,.. ..
Then il is fair to suppose you Nigh
r have broad and liberal views on th,
5 question Of intermarriageg'
n Il don't know whether you would con
slider me broad or narrow he answers
: with a smile. but have very fixed AM
X decided views. Some rabbis have. l be
t heve performed such ceremonies.
3 Very recently DR.. Magnes made tn,
= following utterance from his pulpit;
: The suggestion has been made. and i
8 this fully concur. that a central meetin
s place for the accredited leaders Of ou
various races. nationalities and religion
be established. so that there the pro b
$ lens affecting each in particular and tn
Il community in general may be discussed
!. Rabbi Magnes breaches at the Tempt
d Emanuel on Saturdays and Rabbi Sill
0 verman on Sundays.
A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
t The Rev. DR.. Wallace MacMuller
n pastor Of Madison Avenue Methods
g Episcopal Church at Madison avenue an
}. Sixtieth street, thinks this Is a subjec
IS that a minister should use considera
y bIe gray matter in discussing. Both a
n pastor OF a large congregation and a
earnest worker in mission and settlemen
s work on the East Side, where there ID ampl
y opportunity to mingle with all creed
e and races, Dr. MacMullen knows fron
e experience that New York is struggiin
i with many religious problems as well a
d social questions with regard to the Je,
r and Christian. But, attuned to tn
y thought of the majority OF the Christia
J. clergy, he thinks the full possibilities o
the association have not bean reached.
" On both sides there has been a lack o
n religious interest, possibly due to th
= great and nerve racking rush OF the cit
r and the responsibility OF business an
Q social relation. II is up 70 the minister
II now, he thinks, to draw the unchurche
y back into the fold. the shifters and In
i different ones into a regular place Q
10 worship, aud IL has been an uphill jot
'e Both church and synagogue. have bee