New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-03
GERMAN RELIGION FALSE
Renan Points Out Attempt to
"Particularize God"
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: am deeply impressed with the practical
importance of Mr.. Harold w. Perciva's let
ter, printed on your editorial page yester-
day, and with it's most valuable suggestions.
lie calls attention to the false religion which
is manifest in the Prussian spirit, and looks
for its defeat through the true religion ex-
pressed through the spirit of humanity VS.
count Bryce is reported through the press
to have given utterance to similar views in
a recent article in an English publication.
In this connection it may be interesting
and helpful to clear thinking to recall re-
markable forecast of this false tendency in
German religious opinion, uttered BY the
great French scholar and critic, Ernest
Renan, some thirty or more years since. l
quote from his History of the People OF
Israel" English transation), as follows:
Germany, by the philosophy to which it
has given birth, by the voice Of its men OF
genius, had more successfully proclaimed
than any other race the absolute, impersonal
and supreme nature of the divinity. But,
when she became a nation, she was led, &C
cording to the way Of all flesh, to particu-
larize God. The Emperor William grand
father of the present Emperor has on sew
eral occasions spoken of unser Colt, and
the god of the Germans. The fact is that
nation and philosophy have little to do with
each other. Patriotism, among other mean
nesses, has the pretension OF having god
Of its own. Jahveh elohenn, "Jahyeh, our
god" said the Israelte. Unser Gott says
the German A nation is always egotistical
Il desires that the God of heaven and earth
should think of no other interests than its
own. Under one name or another 1t creates
for itself tutelary dvinities Christianity
offered some difficulties in this matter owing
to the severity of its dogma, but the in
stincts of nation always carry the day.
Catholicism has escaped from the orthodox
chains by means of the saints. st. George
of England, st. Denis (France), ST. James
of COmpostello SPAIN, are really on par
with Chemosh and Jahveh. In one day we
have seen the Sacred Heart employed in
similar manner. Professionalism, like Judaism,
has no such resource, under similar circum-
stances, than the possessive pronoun, unser
Colt Strange contradiction, fearful bias
phemyl God is the property Of no nation,
Of no individual As we'll say, Ny absolute,
my infinite, my Supreme Being
Those terrible abolitionists, the prophets, the
real depositaries of the instinct Of the race,
were destined to destroy in detail this cruel,
partial and rancorous (idea of Jahveh, and
to return, by series of more and more
vigorous efforts, to the primitive eohism. to
the patriarchal god, to the Ell Of the large
tent, 10 the true god"
While we may dissent from some Of the
expressions of this great French radical,
we cannot fail OF assent 10 the justice Of
his main contention, and rejoice in the keen
ness of spiritual insight that enabled him
so early to foresee the vicious tendency in
the religious ideals of the great German ma
ton, now working out to such disastrous
results.
To discern clearly danger is to be armed
against it. Thus may our Republic be awak-
ened TO the universal peril of this war, and
aroused with the other neutral nations TO
peaceful. yet united and effective action to
avert and forever end it. The League Of
Peace which has been suggested between
the neutral nations is movement in this
direction to be hailed with delight, and we
wish for the conference, over which ex-Presi-
dent Taft is TO preside, in Philadelphia. next
week large success and wide and perma-
nent influence. LEIGHTON WILLIAMS.
Marlborough n Y June 70 1918