The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-09-29
Sunday School
Lesson
Scripture: Genesis, Chapters 1850
BY WILLIAM E. GILROY, D. D.

BY WILLIAM E. GILROY, D. D.
Lessons dealing with the migra-
tons of peoples, exiles and enslave-
ments, in the ancient world have
had particular timeliness and in
terest in these modern days when
the worst tragedies of racial SUI
ferings and prosecutions have been
repeated.
It is easy to understand what
happened to Jews Of old in Egypt
and Babylon when we consider
what has been happening to Jews
in Germany and other parts Of Eu-
rope. Problems associated with
racial minorities, and the ways in
which they must be solved, are
strongly emphasized in Bible stor-
les and their lessons have a very
real bearing upon life in our pres
ent-day democratic environment.
What happened to Jews in Ger
many during the past decade con-
forms almost exactly to what hap
pened to Jews in Egypt in the
years following the time Of Joseph.
When Jacob and his company went
down to Egypt, they were received
with honor, and all went well for
time. Then there arose "a Phar-
aoh who knew not Joseph" and
trouble began.
I suppose that much of it was as
in modern times. The prosperous
Jews evoked the envy of less pros
porous, less efficient Egyptians,
who, for their own self-interest and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, made trouble for
the Foreigners" It is the thing
that has happened in Germany,
and that would happen anywhere,
If bigots, troubleanakers and rab.
ble-rousers, sometimes taking to
themselves the sacred Christian
name, had their way.
In Germany, from prosperity and
prestige, Jews regardless Of their
character and achievement w er e
suddenly plunged into persecution
and ruin. Artists, writer's, musici-
ans, along with unoffending humble
people, were suddenly assailed with
hate and brutal violence, for no
reason except their being Jews.
Even the oppression in ancient
Egypt did not compare with this
organized hatred and turbulence
Of twentieth century anti-Semitism.
The Jews in Egypt had to make
bricks without straw, but Jews in
Germany were not allowed even
to make bricks. Their businesses,
their very lives, were at stake.
Against all such hate, and base
treatment of minorities, is the true
spirit of Christianity, and of demo-
cracy itself. Joseph had saved and
blessed the very Egyptianes who
prosecuted and oppressed his peo-
pie. The foreigners" whom some
in our modern democracies would
treat with Hitlerist savagery, have
made their contribution to the up
building and prosperity of our couln-
try. In every democratic land,
Great Britain, Canada, and tn e
United States, the contribution Of
notwithstanding peoples, or OF
peoples Of notwithstanding
origin, has been great. The roll
of honor is long and large.
Two things are necessary if we
would avoid the pitfalls that have
plunged the world into war, and
the hates and prejudices that have
produced strife and defeated social
welfare. To all alike. who liv e
peaceably and in law-abiding ways,
we must ID assure the full protec-
ton OF the law and the rights and
privileges which the State accords;
and ~ upon all alike lay the duty
of loyalty to the country. Demo
cracies cannot continue and oe'
strong where there is divided al
legiance.