Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-03-09

ago, the three great religions Of the
World are inertricably knit into the
fortunes of var. Today's story is
from Lessing's celebrated drama,
Nathan the Wise"
After Sultan Saladin occupied Jeru-
salem, he heard of rich man who was
much beloved in the city. He was a
Jew, and all men called him Nathan
the Wise.
"Send him here!' commanded the
Moslem ruler. When Nathan appeared,
he said: Nathan, since thou art so
wise, tell me: What belief, what law,
appeals to thee as the best?"
Sultan" replied Nathan cautiously,
II am Jew"
"And Moslem," responded Sala-
din. "The Christian is midway be-
tween us. OF these three religions,
only one can be the true one. Speak,
then! Let me hear the reasons for
holding to thine own faith!'
"Saladin," said Nathan, permit that
tell thee a tale. In q time so long
ago that 1t Is gray, there lived a man in
the East who owned ring of priceless
worth. The stone was opal, playing in
a hundred lovely tints; and the jewel
had the secret power of making it's
wearer beloved of God and men.
"When the owners last day arrived,
he gave the sacred ring to his best be-
loved son and decreed that thus it
should be handed down through the
generations-alw to the best be-
loved, who was to be the ruler of the
house.
$50 this ring passed at last to a man
who had three sons. He loved them SO
well that his heart could not distin-
guish between them. Each was as
dear as the other. It was impossible
for him to select one as the best be-
loved. At last he sent for gold
smith and commanded him to make
two other rings exactly like the orig
inal. The goldsmith succeeded. When
the father held the three rings in his
hand, he himself could not decide
which was genuine.
He waited until he knew that his
race was run. Then he called each
son to him privately, and privately
gave him one of the rings" Nathan
the Wise stopped and said no more.
SIS this the end?" asked Saladin al
last.
'That which follows was inevitable,
answered Nathan. Hardly had the
father passed, before each son pre-
sented his ring and demanded lordshiI
of the house. They compared, they
pondered, they disputed. 1t was in
vain. They could not demonstrate
which was the true ring. 1t was vain
-" he paused again and gazed at the
sultan serenely-"almost as vain, oil
Saladin, as to demonstrate the true be
lief"
"What!" exclaimed Saladin. "Dost
thou offer that as an answer to my
question:"
"Nay, nay!" replied Nathan. "Tht
tale shall but win pardon for me if
venture not to distinguish between the
rings which the father had made will
the intention that they should not bt
distinguishable."
"The rings" Saladin frowned. "Pla!
not thou with me! The religions ar,
rao1ilu oh IN bla ~
"Outwardly," answered Nathan, "bu
not as to their authority. Are they no
all based on history that has beer
handed down to us? And must we no
accept oil history on faith? Whose
good faith shall we trust? Surely tn,
good faith Of those who have given III
proofs Of daily love! Can 1 believ,
my fathers less than yours2 Can
demand Of thee that thou shalt dis
credit thine own fathers so that min,
shall not stand contradicted? And il
it not even so with the Christians|
"The man Is right !" muttered Sala
din.
LET us return to the three ring
again." continued Nathan. 1.-THE son
appealed to learned judge. Eacl
swore that he had received the rim;
straight from his fathers hand, ant
each swore that rather than believ
that such loving father could hav
deceived him, he must accuse hi
brothers of falsehood.
"'Holdp cried the judge. You ties
tify that the true ring has the powe
of making its wearer beloved Of Go,
and men! Therein, then, lies the roo
Of our decision Which one of you
loved the best by the other two
Speak!
"The brothers," continued Nathan
"could not reply. "Then each of 20,
loves himself the best 7 said the judge
If so, not one Of your rings is genuine
Perhaps the true ring was lost an,
your father had three rings made t
replace the onep 7"
"Goodl Goodl" said Saladln.
Nathan proceeded. 'The Judge said
IF you will take counsel from me In
stead of verdict, 1t is this: Go, an,
let each believe his ring to be genuine
It may be that your father wished t