The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-08-25

Dramatically intense and emphatic,
Rabbi A. j. Messig of Bloomington, IL
linois, delivered an eloquent lecture
at Chautauqua Sunday afternoon on
the relative comparison of the Jew
to the other peoples of the world. He
pointed out the characteristics and the
desires of the Hebrews; lauded their
apparent Indifference to the hatred
felt for them in most parts of the civ
ilized world and paid a glowing tribute
to the Bible and the United States
flag.
Rabbi Messig spoke to the largest
crowd of people which has yet at
tended any Chautauqua event. The
seating capacity of the tent is $500.
Every seat and bench was occupied,
many had standing room in the isles,
and hundreds gathered around the out
side Of the tent. AT the secretarys Of
fee it was estimated that 4,S00 peo-
pie heard the lecture.
Pleased The Big Throng.
Rabbi Messig was given much ap-
plause during his address when he
struck responsive chord. His re-
marks were given close attention and
upon the conclusion of his lecture
spontaneous applause lasted for sew
eral moments. He said in part:
ITO mankind in general, the Jew
has been riddle, sphinx. For centu-
ries he has been deprived of every
thing which makes life happy. All ad
vantages, political and social have
been denied him. The Irish hold all the
offices.
Erin and Israel have much in COM
mon. Each with inextinguishable fire
has created a literature that is the
wonder and glory of the world. l am
doing what little l can to weave the
shamrock of Erin with the lilies of
Sharon and make the wilderness of
American blossoms like the rose.
A Race of Travellers
THE Jew has seen everything and
has been everywhere and been every
thing but Pope. The people believe the
Jews are dishonest in their methods of
transacting business If that be true
the Jews are to blame for the misun-
derstandingsand prejudice. The people
of other civilized countries think the
Jew always gets the biggest part in
each dealing.
THE Jew does not ask to be loved
but he wants to be understood. There
is no mystery in him.
Mankind has adopted Book. Some
revered it and some scoffed and jeered
it, but it has lived through all the
vii Il
tains the noblest and finest literature
of all books Writers have written
books of their own age but the Bible
was written for all ages.
Jews Wrote The Bible
And who treasures the Bible re-
members that it is the Jews work,
written by the Jews. Not only it's doc
trines and teachings but its influences
make our characters and mould our
lives. You have heard of the proph-
cts of 1sreal. They were Jews and
where can you find nobler, braver,
more self-sacrifcing men.
'1f love be unknown to Israel. then
all her poets who sang her praises
were demented and her prophets were
fools. The most glorious and striking
doctrine in the Bible is Love thy
neighbor as thyself' and all the rest is
commentary, The crowning contribu-
tion is The Brotherhood of Mankind
Can men be brothers if they don't
belong to the same church? Why not :?
The word brother means the same in
all languages. 1t means a helper.
''Why can't men be brothers in ev-
erything pertaining TO the good of So
ciety and humanity? A word travels
far from its derivation and We COM
monty think of the relation of blood in
the mention of brother
Admirer of Patriotism.
81 admire sectional patriotism. But
] hate sectional prejudice. I stand
here upon the rocks of principle l
hate the deeeiver, the pretender. the
cheat, the fawner and the hypocrite.
] loathe and despise a man, even of
my own language, who could be bribed
to leave his church. am proud of my
lineage and my escutcheon and my
race.
There are only a few customs
which divide religion. And if We study
ahem and understand them the seeds