The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1913-10-26

which Christendom never could have
existed. u you look for the high
est moral precepts, you find them in
the Jewish repositories; IL you look
for the highest concept OF universal
dictatorship, you ind it in the Jew
ish contribution to the human mind,
if you look for the greatest body of
ethical law summed up in the most
wonderful yet minutest detail, you
will find it in the great constitution
of humanity, the Ten Command
ments: and if you will look for the
sources Of the finest ideals of this,
our country, you will find them in
the historical writings in the Bible,
describing the ancient Jewish com
monwealth.
Should you desire to find a religion
which will satisfy the heart as well
as the mind you can find it in the
inspired sermons of the Jewish
prophets, and should feel that there
is much in religion which is super
stitious, you could discard all of that
and still be the best kind of Jew
by putting into practice the rules
of life laid down by our sages and
teachers. Should you wish to find
the highest type OF life you need
but to look into the teachings Of
our faith: and would you wish to
understand the penalty of reckless
life, You can still find it there. DO
YOU wish to reckon this life as the
highest type of existence you can
find warrant for it in the Great
Book; and should your sentiments
prompt YOU to hope for life here
after, the thoughts Of our teachers
in this will give you inspiration and
new hope.
DO YOU wish to square life with re-
ligion, you can find that our proph-
cts and teachers taught that life
is religion and should you want TO
square religion with science, you
will find that our sages believed that
religion is reason, and what is un-
reasonable cannot be religious, for
the beginning of wisdom or science
is the proper understanding of God
and His laws. If you want to be
truthful to reason and at the same
time trust your sense, Judaism, in
its modern form, gives you that
privilege, and if you seek to find
your deepest comfort in the realm OF
mysticism, Judaism can permit that
! If your faith be so strong that you
feel that there is a Father who vii
direct the laws to preserve yot
without the intervention of man
YOU can find it in Judaism; ana i
your trust be such that you believe
that man can aid nature, then too
you will find place in Judaism.
Do you believe in the dignity o
man, then you are on Jewish ground
DO you believe in the universe
brotherhood of all men, you certainly
are on Jewish ground. Do you be
iieye that God as the All-Fathc1
works no miracles in the realm o.
flesh related to Him physically, ther
YOU need not leave the ranks OF
your fathers; do you think that you
can mterccde for yourself with as
much power, as much grace and as
much authority as any one who ever
lived or will live, then you are in
solid Jewish teaching. DO you be-
lieyc that the blood of all human
being is alike preciouss, and no one
can or ever could redeem by that
blood, then you are jewish; and if
YOU can think of every man having
It in his own power to approach
eodlinoss, without a half divine inter
cessor, then YOU are Jewish.
DO you think that forty centurie.
of history bring you nearer TO eacl
other. then YOU can be a jew so
cially. DO you believe that like
ideals. near kinship, similar ordeals
a consciousness of historical great
ness. make mcl brotherly more thar
otherwise. then you will find your
self a warm-hearted member of tho
household of Israel and do you fee
that the word is still in its ethica
infancy, and Judaism still has much
to achieve, then you are in the rank.
of Jewish workers. If you feel al
of these things your Jewish birtl
,will help YOU to realize them; if yo'
do not. Jewish birth will avail gooO
deal less
| am a jew first, then, becaNs
| was born one. was cast from
birth into a Jewish mold and enyi
ronment. and rs ! grew up and cam
in contact with other forces, som