THE RELATION OF JEWS TO OTHER RACES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 25

THE RELATION OF JEWS TO OTHER RACES.

The Rev. S. Singer lectured on a recent Sunday at the South Place Institute, London, on "The Relation of T ews to other Races." The series of lectures on " National Life and Thought " that is being given at the institution would certainly have been incomplete without some reference to one of the oldest, toughest, and most distinctively marked of races. Thanks were due to thpse who were endeavouring to seek information from Jews themselves on the subject. There was no reason why they should continue to be what Heine had called them — " a wandering mystery." The misconceptions regarding them had too long been of the same character as those for which the malignity of Haman was answerable. After dealing with the treatment of the stranger in ancient Israel, Mr Singer passed to the period when Jews themselves became strangers in the lands of their dispersion. He pointed to the Talmudic maxim, " The law of the State is binding law for the Jew," as the principle that regulated the relation of Jews towards other races. Instances were given of the tolerant spirit of Jews towards Gentiles. If that spirit was not always manifested, it was because the character of the Jews was inevitably influenced by the relations of other races to them. Christianity has been most unChristlike in its treatment of the people from whom the founder of the new religion sprang. It was to the French Revolution to which they owed the dawn of a better day for the wronged and persecuted members of their race and faith. All previous attempts to do them justice were partial and abortive. What was most remarkable in the Jewish race was the combination of strong national individuality with the power of adapting itself to its surroundings. Just as monasticism had impoverished Europe by withdrawing many of the best hearts and intellects from the active business of life, so to a great extent had the policy of keeping the Jews at arm's length.

— It is said that there are only two railways in the United States over 500 miles long that are paying 8 per cent, annual dividends. These are the Chicago and Alton and the New York, New Haven, and Hartford.