The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-08-15

NJ. Feuerlicht, of the Indianapolis He
brew congregation. Rabbi Feuerlicht
urged the people here to proceed with
their good work, saying that never be-
fore had any Christians in this coun-
try undertaken more worthy move
ment, calculated to relieve the perse-
cution of the Jewish race. DR.. S. r.
Lyons, pastor of the Reid Memorial
church, then stated that although he
subject as he wished, he was certain
it was worthy cause, and needed
attention. He said that for several
reasons the United States was the
ideal place to start a movement of this
sort
Discusses the Causes.
Prof. Ebert Russell followed up DIR.
Lyons talk with discussion of the
causes Of the existing methods of
the Jews in Russia. The
first cause, according to the Earlham
instructor. is the official attitude In
that country. The government is DOM
mated by the Greek Catholic church,
and is intolerable of all other religious
beliefs. The members of this church,
like the Mohammedans, want to make
their church the dominating one in
the world, and to this end they try
to do away with those holding other
beliefs.
Secondly, the persecution of the
Jews has been allowed and even fav-
ored by the Russian government as
piece Of political strategy. When there
were so many riots and revolutionary
throughout the country a
short time ago, the officials had to
devise some way to distract attention
from the political uprisings. The first
plan they hit upon was persecution of
the Jews, and the plan worked adj
for the people took to the
idea at once. The only drawback was
that they did ont stop the persecu-
ton when the political situation was
saved.
The third cause for the condition
that Prof. Russell gave was that the
ignorant people are taught from their
earliest years to hate the Jews. They
al JCdlOuo VI tuC JC"o lCH6Aous 0Au
jealous of their wealth. These selfish
feelings have so taken possession of
the Ignorant classes that it takes only
a slight excuse for them to find way
to persecute the Jews. The whole
trouble, therefore, says Prof. Russell,
goes back to the fact that the Rus
slams lack the true Christian spirit
Easy to Influence.
He then went on to say that the
government was an easy one
action of this sort, as its dependence
on the other nations of the world
makes it unusually sensitive to the
wishes of the other Powers. Right
now it is trying to gain favor especial
~ with the United States, and this
fact makes a request from this coun-
try very apt to receive consideration.
He said that the dishonoring of pas
torates held by American Jews should
not be included in the movement now
on foot, as that was merely a diplo-
matte situation which this government
would have to handle. AS the profess
sor prepared to take his seat, some
one asked him through what channels
the protest should be sent in order to
stand the best chance of reaching the
officials. Mr.. Russell answered that
of this nature coming direct
from the people of the United States
was sure to be brought to the atten-
ton of the government no matter how
it was sent.
Mr.. Weed. the chairman of the meet
ing, then asserted that even a small
IL backed by the press, was
sure to do a great deal OF good, and
that this fact should be spur for the
local people to continue their work.
Next the opinion was expressed that,
although the question was clearly not
one for Americans to remedy from
some standpoints. we must recognize
the Jews as our neighbors. and there
fore must show the Christian spirit by
defending them. Several others,
among them Drs. Wilbur and Huber,
expressed similar sentiments follow
ing this statement, and all offered to
help the cause as much az possible
Miss Edith Winder asked that the
ministers present bring the matter be-
fore the next meeting of the city min
isterial association. as that body was
obviously the one best fitted to spread
the subject through the rest of the
It was agreed by everybody
that at best the aggregation would be
a continuous performance" but that