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PRICE FIVE CENTS
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE JEW?*
By DR. STEPHE~ s. WISE
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NEIGHBOR L -I NESS
NOVEMBER 23, 1913
II . NUMBER 5
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HAVE been told that I deal with _worldwide views. Tonight I am gomg to
be very provincial, very narrow.
I am just going to talk about m yself,
:and the twelve million other Jews,
whom I am not altogether unlike. I am
_going to ask the question: " What is wrong
with
the
Jew?" and I
·know I am
speaking to a
meeting made
up in large
part of nonJews.
If we
are going to
answer
that
question with
any degree of
adequacy and
e a r uestness,
we have got
to face the
facts as they
are. The facts
are sometimes
unpleasant, even bitter, but we have got to
·"claim the .glory of facing unafraid." In the
·second place, after we have faced those
fa-cts, we have got to try to ascertain the
causes that have given rise to the things
that a"re wrong in the life .of the Jew today; and in the third place, we h·a ve got to
·seek to apply the remedies, if remedies
there are. I do not doubt that there are
remedies; I cannot· believe that my people's
moral and spiritual woe is irremediable.
I do not believe that we are going to find
any panaceas, but I am going to venture
to prophesy within the scope of an hour
that the wrongs which do obtain in the life
of Israel may be righted. But they are
not going to be righted by Israel alone, but
through the united will and resolution of
. all peoples, Jews and non-Jews. In fact,
· if I had to answer in a single word tonight
"What is wrong with the Jew?" I should
say ;Christianity-no, not Christianity; I
know and honor Christianity too well; I
-should say Christlessness-and not the
Christlessness of the Jew, but the Christlessn ess nf f':h,..ic:ti"=',l"'llh..
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I
with me all the time.") Apparently the
Jew can be insulted with impunity. I am
not urging_ my people to be unforgiving to
their enemies. But we sem to have a monopoly of the Christian virtue of forbearance, which oft becomes a mean and miserable pusillanimity. It is the attitude of a
man who is incapable of standing straight
and demanding that he be respected as a
man and not treated as a mean and contemptible thing. (The speaker then told
of a rich German Jew whose daughter was
respectively "converted" to the Roman
Catholic, Russian and Anglican faiths according to her father's matrimonial plans
for her.)
I think the. two greatest Jews I have
known in my life were two, neither of whom
was a great being, though highly gifted
in a certain sense, until there came to him
the spirit of self-respect and self-reverence.
(The speaker then told how Emma Lazarus, a gifted litterateur, was transformed,
by being taken to Ellis Island by Michael
Heilprin, to the "singer of a people's tragic
story, part of her people's life and destiny,
a finer singer than any Jew since the days
·o f Heine;" and how Theodor Herzl, Paris
ccrrespondent of the Neue Freie Presse of
Vienna, became, through his interest in the
Dreyfus affair, "the powerful, impassioned
pleader for his people's rights, the finest
representative of the people of Israel fo!1
many centuries, because there came into
his life something that had been lacking
before-self-reverence as a Jew." He also
told of a friend of his who was knocked
down by another man and called a "dirty,
damned Jew," and how, after knocking his
opponent down in turn, he made up his
mind "that there would be one less dirty,
damned Jew in the world, and that I would
do my best .to make my people proud that
I was a Jew.")
·
We normally of all people are most lacking in self-reverence. And yet, great souls
self-reverence makes greater, and selfbelittling souls self-reverence can make
great. (The speaker told of the justified
pride of the English race, quoting from
Captain Scott's diary for illustration.) I
'Hr -:Jnt
tho
ToTil'
ti'"\
~h'lro
th -:J t
inc:tifiol1
nrir1P .
sublimities that lie back of the miracle of
our survival for two thousand years. (The
speaker told how on one occasion in his
synagogue he referre~ to the fact that
Jesus, when asked "Wliat is the greatest
commandment of the. law?" went back to
Moses for his :(.nswer. No Chril;tian present was surpri~d; but a Jewish member
of his congregation took him to task afterwards for having claimed too much for
the Hebrew Bible! In. like manner, a Jewish friend of his went home from a meeting
in honor of August Bebel with a Jewish
family, and when they praised Bebel's social ideas, read them, practically the same
thing, in literal translation from the
prophet Amos, to their great amazement.)
There is enough moral dynamite in Amos,
Micah and Isaiah to shake the social order
to its depths-if only you knew it. (Applause.)
Now I am going to ask another question:
How much that is wrong with the Jew is
due to the world without? I, for my part,
grow utterly weary of those Jews who, no
matter what iniquity is in their lives, say=
''It .isn't our fault; it's the Christians'." I
would rather have the world without, blame
me, and be innocent, than succeed ·in ridding my shoulders of a burden .of blame
which rightly is placed upon them. And
yet I do say to you that there is much in
the life of the world without that is responsible for much that is wrong in the life
of the Jew. (The speaker then referred to
clubs in New York which do not admit
Jews to membership, and how some Jews
still accept their hospitality.) If I were a
Christian I should utterly loathe and
despise Jews who respected themselves so
little as to accept a slap in the face like
that. (Applause.) The terrible crime that
the world has perpetrated against the Jew
is that it has · battered away at the pride
of the Jew for centuries; and then you, my
good Christian friends, wonder, "Why is
the Jew without self-respect?" That we
Jews retain a vestige of self-respect is the
glory of my people.
Consider the ritual murder case in Russia.
We have got to go to you Christians and
beg, "Please say, and sav 'a1011d . anrl ~ahle ·
t·. .
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e a r nestness,
we have got
to face the
facts as they
are. The facts
are ·sometimes
unpleasant, even bitter, but we have got to
·"claim the glory of facing unafraid." In the
. -sEcond place, after we have faced those
facts, we have got to try to ascertain the
causes that have given rise to the things
-that are wrong in the life of the Jew too.ay; and in the third place, we h-ave got to
·seek to apply the remedies, if remedies
·there are. I do not doubt that there are
Temedies; I cannot -believe that my people's
moral and spiritual woe is irremediable.
I do not believe that we are going to find
any panaceas, but I am going to venture
-to prophesy .within the scope of an hour
that the wrongi which do obtain in the life
of Israel may be righted. But they are
not going to be righted by Israel alone, but
through the united will and resolution of
all peoples, Jews and non-Jews. In fact,
if I had to answer in a single word tonight
~'What is wrong with the Jew?" I should
say Christianity-no, not Christianity; I
know and honor Christianity too well; I
-should say Christlessness-and not the
Christlessness of the Jew, but the Christ1Essness of Christianity. (Applause.)
If I had to name the one most serious
-count in the indictment against the Jews
(you see I am speaking frankly; I am dealing with you who are not Jews as if you
were Christians!) ; I should say, the Jew is
lacking in a high and fine self-respect-a
high and fine self-reverence.
I can't
imagine anything that hurts the Jew worse
than that; because if I lack self-respect
my ·own lack of self-respect not only further mars and mutilates my own soul, but
it
evokes the justified disesteem of
t. others.
(The speaker told as an illus, tration of this of an anti-Semite in
the Adirondacks who called a meeting to
ask his neighbors to keep Jews from the
place ; .a nd when one of them objected that
. they· would then lose the business of the
.Jews already there, answered: "I find that
I can insult and deride the Jews an I like,
and still · I find them ready to do ·b usiness
*The speeches and the questions and answers
reported by Miriam Allen de Ford.
Ul ::;eu-re~pet!l. ana Sel!-reverence.
(The speaker then told how Emma Lazarus, a gifted litterateur, was transformed,
by being taken to Ellis Island by Michael
Heilprin, to the "singer of a people's tragic
story, part of her people's life and destiny,
a finer singer than any Jew since the days
of Heine;" and how Theodor Herzl, Paris
correspondent of the Neue Freie Presse of
Vienna, became, through his interest in the
Dreyfus affair, "the powerful, impassioned
pleader for his people's rights, the finest
representative of the people of Israel for
many centuries, because there came into
his life something that had been lacking
before-self-reverence as a Jew. " He also
told of a friend of his who ·was knocked
down by another man · and called a "dirty,
damned Jew," and how, after knocking his
opponent down in turn, he made up his
mind "that there would . be one less dirty,
· damned .Jew in the world, and that I would
do my best .to .make my people proud that
I was a Jew.")
·
We normally of all people are most lacking in self-reverence. And yet , great souls
self-reverence makes greater, and selfbelittling souls self-reverence can make
great. (The speaker told of the justified
pride of the English race, quoting from
Captain Scott's diary for illustration.) I
want the Jew to share that justified pride,
because I think the Jew has just as much
right to share in it as any group of people
in the world. Wen dell Phillips said to the
school boy s of this city: "Boston touches
you and kindles your pride with its ennobling memories." What of the " ennobling
memories" of the Jew·? The right kind of
pride is such a fine thing, has been in the
life of England, · is in the life of America,
that I want my people to be capable of
rising to the same high· level of self-reverence.
What is in large measure responsible for
this lack of self-respect is the lack of selfknowledge. We simply don 't know. I say
tu my fellow-Jews again and again: "If I
knew as little about the_ glory of Jewish
life for forty centuries as does the average
Jew, I should not be stirred to pride; I
should not be passionately eager to perpetuate my people's life at its highest!".
The average Jew does not know; and, not
knowing, he can't care. He doesn't know
all the moral_ splendors and the spiritual
cue a,pu H
plause.)
Now I am going t o ask another question:
How much that is wrong with the Jew is
due to ihe world without? I, for my part,
grow utterly weary' of those Jews who, no
matter what iniquity is in their lives, say:
' 'It .isn't our fault; it's the Christians'." I
would rather have the world without, blame
me, and be innocent, than succeed in ridding my shoulders of a burden of blame
which rightly _ is placed upon them. And
yet I do say to you that there is much in
the life of the world without that is responsible for much that is wrong in the life
of the Jew. (The speaker then referred to
ciubs in New York which do not admit
Jews to membership, and how some Jews
still accept their hospitality.) If I were a
· Christian I should utterly loathe and
despise Jews who respected themselves so
little as to accept a slap in the face like
that. (Applause.) The terrible crime that
the world has perpetrated against the Jew
is that it has battered away at the pride
of the Jew for centuries ; and then you, my
good Christian friends, wonder, "Why is
the Jew without self-respect?" That we
J ews retain a vestige of self-respect is the
glory of my people.
Consider the ritual murder case in Russia.
·we have got to go to you, Christians, and
beg, "Please say, and say aloud, and cable
to Russia, thr.t we are not cannibals !"
That is the sort of thing that eats into
a people's soul. Can't you see that I am
just as guilty as Mendel Beilis?-lf he
committed ritual murder, I commit it in my
synagogue! (Applause.) That we must defend the Jewish people? More: the Jewish ritual in 1913 is just what it was 1870
or 1880 · years ago. Just as much ritual
murder was committed in the days under
the eyes of Jesus and the Apostles as is
committed today. If there were any Christianity in the world, the western nations of
·Europe, and America, would say : "We will
. not continue friendly relations with a nation which charges the Jewish people with
cannibalism!" (Applause.)
The Jew lacks self-sufficingness, in the
third place, and solidarity~ The non-Jewish
world continually makes the Jew feel that
.if . he wants to get along in the world he
mustn't be very much of a Jew, with the
result that there are Jews who rejoice in
(Continued on Page 4.)
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FORD HALL FOLKS
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THE QUESTIONS
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"As a Man Thinks" were written by Christians? Why have not the Jews done more,
in the way of proper dramatic presentation.·
of the .Jew?
\
A: It is a hopeful sign that Christians .
should write such plays-it shows there
stand out against social ostracism, dealing are still some Christians in tile world! But .
him a th·o usand little, mean blows. Prosper- Zangwill has given us ·' Children or the·
ity has hurt the Jews of America and Eng- Ghetto" and "The Melting Pot." Jews will.
not go to a · pro-Jewish play, though they
land.
·
will pay to see themselves caricatured and
Q: Why should we Jews as a whole be
responsible for a few Jews who · do. not un- insulted on the stage.
Q: Hasn't the so•
cial line drawn between.
derstand the responsibilities of Judaism?
A: The number is not few, unfortunate- Jews and Gentiles helped the Jew to keep
ly. But is it not true that when John Smith his Judaism? Won't its removal mean.
does wrong it is John Smith alone who wholesale intermarriage?
A : Social persecution is not any the
does wrong; but when Jacob Isaacs does
wrong it is the Jewish people which is at more justifiable because some of its effects.
fault? And I am glad this is so; it places are not wholly evil. And from long obsera splendid burden upon us, finely uplifting vation, I don't think the Christian maidens-need fear competition from their Jewish
if finely met.
Q:
What do you think of a firm that sisters!
Q : Do you think the Zionist movement.
threatens its employees with loss of employment for staying away on the Day of will be ultimately successful?
A: The Jew is in Palestine, and the Jew
Atonement?
A : If any Christian firm does that ali will increasingly be .in Palestine. Palestine,
Boston ought to know about it.
But I is naturally a place to which the eyes and
know of Jewish firms in New York which hearts of the Jews of the world turn. The
do the same thing, and that is infinitely question is: Shall the Jew survive in Palestine at his worst, or live there at his best?"
worse.
Q:
Will not the Jewish people always The Jews should unite in making Palestine
suffer in the future as long as they live the joy and pride of all the Jews in the
among people who do not believe as they world./
do?
A FORD HALL IN THE MAKING.
A: No; we simply suffer because we do
By . Jacob London.
n-Ot live among Christians!
Q : Why did an enlightened statesman
The Young Men's Sunday Forum plans
like Bismarck encourage anti-Semitism ?
to present every Sunday afternoon, at 3.45
A : Because he was neither enlightened o'clock, in the Boston Young Men's Chrisnor a statesman. He was the most brutal tian Building, a speaker on a live, gripping
embodiment of the belief that "might subject. The Forum is expected to appear
makes right" that has lived in modern days. especially to young business men and stuQ (Mr. Sackmary): What do you believe
dents.
is the mission of the Jew ?
The open forum will follow the address.
A: It is now 25 minutes ·to ten. How in which all questions arising as a result
many here are prepared to remain until 25 of the address will be put to the speaker.
minutes to twelve? (Laughter.) I want to Music and the opportunity to get acquaintcome back and talk on just that subject. ed will be offered. There won't be one dull
come back and talk on just that subject next moment from 4 to 8 o'clock.
year. Meanwhile, it is to be himself, to live
The meetings are to be informal, of practhe Jewish life, spread the Jewish ideals.
tical nature, and democratic-to the extent
O : Ts it du e to our Ja ck of self-respect
of democracy enjoyed at Ford Hall. Young
Q: Is .preaching alone sufficient?
A : It certainly is not enough merely to
listen to preaching. I haven't been preaching tonight ; I have talked to your souls
from my soul, and I hope you are going out
to practise what I have said.
Q: Is not a good deal of the separation
of the Jews from their religion due to the
massacreing of them by the Christians for
economic gain?·
A : I do .not understand you. I am not
prepared to subscribe to the sentiment that
my Christian brothers massacre Jews for
economic gain, even in Russia. I may say
this: Christians never massacre anybody.
Q (Same): Is riot another reason for
this separation the fact that prayer does
not bring material gain?
A : All I can say to that is that "your
premises are fallacious and your conclusions erroneous."
Q: Can you give one or two concrete illustrations of the wrongs for which the Jews
themselves and the Christians are resi)onsible?
·
A: I can only ask, Did you come in after
the address?
Q: Haven't you underrated the Jews in
regard to morality and religion?
'
A : I would rather underrate and lift up
the standards of my people than overrate
them.
Q : Is not one of the things wrong with
the Jews that they have not secured for
themselves a state, like other nations?
A : Whatever may be our attitude toward the nationalization movement-and I
believe the Jew is not a nationality, and
cannot form a na~ion, but is a people, and
can form a settlement-I do not believe
this failure is a wrong on the part of the
Jew. It is a question of policy.
Q : _Is ?rthodoxy, partial reform, reform
or _
r~d1cahsm the real form of the Jewish
rehg1on?
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economic gain, even in Russia. I may say
this: Christians never massacre anybody.
Q (Same): Is not another reason for
this separation the fact that prayer does
not bring material gain?
A: All I can say to that is that "your
premises are fallacious and your conclusions erroneous."
Q: Can you give one or two concrete illustrations of the wrongs for which the Jews
themselves and the Christians are resi;>onsible?
A: I can only ask, Did you come in after
the address?
Q : Haven't you underrated. the Jews in
regard to morality and religion?
A: I would rather underrate and lift up
the standards of my people than overrate
them.
Q: Is not one of the things wrong with
the Jews that they have not secured for
themselves a state, like other nations?
A: Whatever may be our attitude toward the nationalization movement-and I
believe the Jew is not a nationality, and
cannot form a nation, but is a ·people, and
can form a settlement-I do not believe
this failure is a wrong on the part of the
Jew. It is a question of policy.
Q: Is orthodoxy, partial reform, reform
01· radicalism the real form of the Jewish
religion?
A:
The real Jewish religion is that
which is central to all of these-monotheism, monomoralism and monohumanism.
Q:
How can our children be taught
Judaism?
·
A : I can only tell you that our own free
synagogue has organized classes :which
teach hundreds of children the Jewish faith
and life.
. Q:
Does the speaker believe in intermarriage? If so, what should the religious
attitude of the couple be? ·
A:· Why {s it always the Jew who is
asked if he believes in intermarriage? As
long as the Christian world does not socially receive the Jew, the question need hardly be considered. I believe that my people
have a great part .of their mission sti!I to
perform. Intermarriage almost invariably
results in the loss by the Jew of his relations with his own people, both in faith
and life. As a rule, moreover, the Jew who
is lost to Judaism does not g;tin anything
to take its place. But even api:.rt from that
the result of intermarriage is that the Jew
is absorbed, and I think the world needs
the Jew. Therefore I am opposed, not to
the individual case, which must be decided
by the persons themselves, but to the. principle of intermarriage. • ," .
J
Q : Why is it that the Jew in the .United
States and England that has lost his selfrespect, if it is due to the treatment Of\ the
Christians?
·
A: Because such is the psychology of
man, that it is much easier ·for a whole
people to face Russian persecution than to
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if finel y met.
Q : What do you think of a firm that
threatens its employees with loss of employment for staying away on the Day of
Atonement ?
A: If any Christian firm does that ali
Boston ought to know about it.
But I
know of Jewish firms in New York which
do the same thing, and that is infinitely
worse.
Q:
Will not the Jewish people always
suffer in the future as long as they live
among people who do not believe as they
do?
A: No; we simply suffer because we do
not live among Christians!
Q:
Why did an enlightened statesman
like Bismarck encourage anti-Semitism?
A : Because he was neither enlightened
nor a statesman. He was the most brutal
embodiment of the belief that "might
makes right" that has lived in modern days.
Q (Mr. Sackmary): What do you belie'Ve
is the mission of the Jew?
·
A: It is now 25 minutes ·to ten. How
many here are prepared to remain until 25
minutes to twelve ? (Laughter.) I want to
come bac)c and talk on just that subject.
come back and talk on just that subject next'
year. Meanwhile, it is to be himself, to live
the Jewish life, spread the Jewish ideals.
Q: Is it due to our lack of self-respect
or to the American passion for moneymaking that people consider putting Beilis
on the stage?
A: If such a thing be done, it is a combination of the worst side of Jewish life
and the worst thing in American life. It
i5 a piece of barbarious vulgarism. I hope
that no Jew will bring him over, and that
Jews will not go to see him, as I .fear they
will.
Q : Do you know that Filene's and Shuman's stores, owned by Jews, are the
pioneers in industrial improvement?
A : I wonder whether you expect me to
advertise the Filene and Shuman stores?
But of course I realize that this is so, and
have s1;oken for years of the FDene institution as a real contribution to the industrial
life of America.
Q:
Is not subservienc·y on the part of
the Jew artificial-what about the proverb,
"Proud as a Jew?"
A : There is a proverb, "Rich as a Jew,"
and there is no poverty like Jewish poverty. · " Proud. as a Jew" is equally unjust.
Q: If th e Jew is poor, hasn't he as much
chance to make money, carrying hods, as
the Irishman?
A: Just about as much as the Irishman
had in Ireland until a few years ago. What
has brought the Irishman to the eve of a
new national life? The unremitting selfreverence and self-knowledge of the Irish
people !
Q (Miss Crawford): Is it not rather significant that "The Five Frankforters" and
neea
rear
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•
•
sisters!
gets out an audience of o,
Next Sunday he will have
and blind woman, Helen
speaker.
Q:
Do you think the Zionist movement
will be ultimatel y successful?
A : The Jew is in Palestine, and the Jew.
will increasingly be in Palestine. Palestine·
is naturally a place to which the eyes and
hearts of the Jews of the world turn. The
question is : Shall the Jew survive in Palestine at his worst, or live there at his best?"
The Jews should unite in making Palestine
the joy and pride of all the Jews in the
world.
*
*
Behind the news-count(
station at Springfield las
a young Ford Hall attend
away from Boston only t
was already hungry to
meetings.
*
*
A FORD HALL IN THE MAKING.
By _Jacob London'.
The Young ·Men's Sunday Forum plans
to present every Sunday afternoon, at 3.45
o'clock, in the Boston Young Men's Christian Building, a speaker on a live, gripping
subject. The Forum is expected to appear
especially to young business men and students.
The open forum will follow the address.
in which all questions arising as a result
of the address will be put to the speaker.
Music and the opportunity to get acquainted will be offered. There won't be one dull
moment from 4 to 8 o'clock.
The meetings are to be informal, of practical nature, and democratic-to the extent
of democracy enjoyed at Ford Hall. Young
men are cordially invited to attend the
meetings and join in the social times.
THE GREATEST REVOLUTIONIST.
That the inventor is the greatest revolutionist in the world is the belief of
Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of the
wireless, who predicts that during the next
two generations we shall not only have
wireless telegraphy and telephony, but also
wirel€ss transmission of all power for individual and corporate use, wireless heating and light, and wireless fertilizing of
fields.
"When all that has been accomplished,"
he says, "as it surely will be, mankind will
be free from many of the burdens imposed
by present economic conditions.
"In the wireless era the Government wilI
necessarily be the owner of all the great
sources of power. This will naturally bring
railways, telegraph and telephone lines,
great ocean-going vessels, and great mills
and factories into public ownership .
It
• will sweep away the present enormous corporations and will bring ·about a semisocialistic state.
"I am not personally a Socialist; I have
small faith in any political propaganda;
but I do believe that the progress of invention will create a state which will realize
most of the present dreams of the Socialists.
"The coming of the wireless era will
make war impossible, because it will make
war ridiculous.
"The inventor is the greatest revolutionist in th e world."
'-
I recently met on the
hood friend, Leopold Lye
since I had had a chat w·
day before someone in 11
had been telling me wha1
Mr. Lyons had recently
Young Men's Hebrew A
place. Mr. Lyons was a
Ford Hall meetings away
days when we very mucb
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
There is a fine prosp,
chester (N. H . ) Open Fo
next Sunday, will be rm
same basis that has ma
ings so successful. An
are that they will be v
from the very start.
Springfield, Mass., has
Municipal Auditorium tl
people. With the City H
nille it cost close to t,
I wonder if Boston will ,
the other cities that ar
and provide for the peop·
series of halls of differ
be used freely for the
common good.
Dear
stands as a prototype c
But because we were per
the cities to provide a f:
for the people, we shoul
from keeping up to da1
line. Many of · the citie
Southwest are away ahe
spect. Faneuil Hall wi:
in the same way that it
never serve the purpose
cipal auditorium.
Our speaker next S1
Strayer, is the only min:
as far as I know, who ;,
an aristocratic churcl
forum.
A week from Sunday
Macfarlane comes to sr
am very much mistake
to those who are
forums, a new speaker
tude. He rose sudden!·
in the firmament of
is only two years since
m
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written by ChrisJews done more, 1atic presentation
ne drawn between.
l the Jew to keep
ts removal mean.
1 is not any the
some of its effects..
1 from long obserChristian maidens·
'rom their Jewish
Zionist movement.
;sful?
~stine, and the Jew
alestine. Palestine,
ll'hich the eyes and
te world turn. The
w survive in Pales, there at his best?"
n making Palestine
11 the Jews in the
THE MAKING.
,ondon.
mday Forum plans
y afternoon, at 3.45
Young Men's Chris. on a live, gripping
expected to appear
;iness men and stufollow the address.
arising as a result
put to the speaker.
1ity to get acquaint,re won' t be one dull
'clock.
be informal, of praccra tic-to the extent
:1.t Ford Hall. Young
vited to attend the
he social times.
!EVOLUTIONIST.
,·
••••• - ,.
•O
•
•
•L••
AS IT LOOKS TO ME
By GEORGE W. COLEMAN, Director of the Ford Hall · Meetings
HILE you were enjoying Rabbi
Wis·e last Sunday, I was telling
the story of Ford Hall to a
crowd of men in the Court Street
Theatre at Springfield. The meeting was
under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A., and
Stewart Anderson, whom you have heard
at Ford Hall, was appointed to introduce
me. lt is most interesting to observe how
the Y. M. C. A.'s around New England are
holding Sunday afternoon meetings modeled more or less after the type of ours.
Secretary Robbie at Springfield sometimes
gets out an audience of over four thQusand.
Next Sunday he will have the famous deaf
and blind woman, Helen Keller, as his
speaker.
W
along that line. Although I ha ve never
heard him speak I feel almost certain that
he will develop remarkable power on the
platform. At all events, his is a most lovable personality and you will not want to
miss hearing him.
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FORD HALL FOLKS
n that Christians -it shows there
.n the world! But .
" Children or the' Pot." Jews will.
[)lay, though they
,s caricatured and
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3
not to mention what their friends spent .for
them. 1 he open primary seems to ha ve a
tendency to greatly increase political ex:
penditures.
Shall the State assume the
burden of publicity and do it impartially
for all candidates, as they do, I think, in
Oregon? Or can we limit more· strictly
the amount any candidate shall spend?
Can such prohibition be made really
effective ? Do we want more democracy or
less? Have you thought it out for yourself?
A MAN WHO DARED.
_5,
'
It has been said of Peter Clark MacfarMORE DEMOCRACY OR LESS?
lane, who speaks to us ne:-ct Sunday, _
that,
To what extent do you beli"eve in democ- all his life long, he has entered every open
door that · offered, and that when the door
racy? This very interesting subject is to
wasn't open; he pushed it open. That is the
be discussed by various speakers at an
kind of man t o talk at Ford Hall on "The
early meeting of one of Boston's famous
clubs . . Did you ever face that question se- Courage To Attack," a man who dared leave
riously yourself? In the last analysis the a certainty in a railroad office because he
desired to try himself out as an actor, who
real difference between a stand-patter and
a sociali_i;t ts found in their trust and dis- · dared to relinquish success on the stage because he · felt the migratory life to be bad for
trust of democracy. This is the principle
*
* *
in volved in the direct election by the his family, who clared to attempt the diffiBehind the news-counter in the railway people. of United States senators. llfany cult calling of a book-agent in order to supstaticn at Springfield last Sunday I found voters are quite willing to trust the people port that famil y, and who then dared to bea young Ford Hall attendant. He had been to choose representatives, who in turn will come successively ~- preacher, a free-lance
away from Boston only two weeks, but he choose United States senators, but they writer, and a speaker on topics fraught
was already hungry to get back to the think it entirely unsafe to let the people\ with big human interest. Fiction is Macmeetings.
choose the senators themselves. That is farlane 's goal. What a story he will have to
*
the sincere state of mind of the real stand- tell when he gets ready to settle down and
*
*
write it out! ' We have bad big men at Ford ·
I recently met on the street my old boy- 1
:atter.
Hall in
hood friend, Leopold Lyons. It was years
We have always been willing to trust the Sunday. our time. Another will be here next
since I had had a chat with him. Only the people to choose representatives to make
day before someone in Manchester, N. H., laws. Those who believe in the initiative
OTHER MEETINGS.
had been telling me,what a rousing speech and referendum think the people should
School of Social Science, at Lorimer
Mr. Lyons had · recently made before the be allowed, under certain conditions, to Hall, Monday, November 24th, at 8 o'clock.
Young Men's Hebrew Association of that make or unmake their own laws by direct Efficient Education, by C. Hanford Henderplace. Mr. Lyons was a wise friend of the action. Here again is the vital question, to son. 10c.
·
Ford Hall meetings away back in the early what extent do you believe in democracy?
Lowell Institute, at Huntington Hall,
days when we very much needed friends.
Every political storm centre has its Tammany, and every Tammany is in league 'Wednesday, November 26th at 5 o'clock.
Some Types of English Poetry, by Prof.
*
* *
There is a fine prospect that the Man, with big business as well as with low vice. G. H. Palmer. Monday, November 24th,
chester (N. H .) Open Forum, which begins The · Tammany idea · is made possible be- and Thursday, November 27th, at 8 o'clock.
next Sunday, will - be run on precisely the cause of our trust in democracy. What is The Sea in English Poetry, by Alfred
same basis ·that has made our own meet- the remedy, more democracy or less?
Noyes. Tuesday, November 25th, and FriWhen you realize the part money plays day, November 28th, at 8 o'clock. The Inings so successful. And the indications
in an election, · even though it be used fluence of the Bible on Civilization, by Dr.
are that they will be very well attended
legitimately, you begin to understand that Ernst von Dobschtitz.
from the very start.
the man who cannot command money in
Public Library, Sunday, November 30th,
*
*
*
Springfield, Mass., has a wonderfully fine large amounts labors under a severe handi- at 3 o'clock. The Stage of Today, by
Municipal Auditorium that will seat 4,200\ cap. Think what it costs in a city like Frank W. C. Hersey.
people. With the City Hall and the Campa- Boston, with over a hundred thousand
School Voters' League, at Ford Hall,
nille it cost close to t wo million dolla rs. voters, to reach each one of them with Saturday, November 29th, at 10.45 o' clock.
w>nr mPssai?:e. whether you do it through
W hat the W omen Teachers Have Done for
•
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-
nAKING ..
r
-
'orum plans
L
oon, at 3.45
i.1:en's Chrisive, gripping
?d to appear
,en and sl u-
1
-
i·
the address.
r as a result
the speaker.
~et acquaint! be one dull
f
t· of pracmal,
6 the extent
iHall. Young
attend the
times.
r
flONIST.
reatest revo1e belief of
ntor of the
:ing the next
t only have
:my, but also
ower for in~re]ess heatfertilizing of
f
I
I
\complished,"
mankind will
lens imposed
s.
~ rnment will
all the great
L
turally bring
; hone · lines,
p
I- great mills
p.ership.
It
mormous cor;out a semiI
ogress of inwill realize
the Socialists.
:h
ess er¾ will
· it will make
l t revolution-
!
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" Co=operative CI ub Discount Card "
,
!aust; I have
, propaganda;
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,aner.
Hall in our time. Another will be here next
\Ve have always been willing to trust the
Sunday.
people to choose representatives to make
laws. Those who believe in the initiative
OTHER MEETINGS.
and referendum thin~ the people should
· School of Social Science, at Lorimer
be allowed, under cel.::ain conditions, to
make or unmake · their own laws by direct Hall, Monday, November 24th, at 8 o'clock.
Efficient
action. Here again is the vital question, to son. 10c.Education, by C._. Hanford Henderwhat extent do you believe in democracy?
Lowell Institute, at Huntington Hall,
Every political storm centre has its Tammany, and every Tammany is in league Wednesday, November 26th at 5 o'clock.
Some Types of English Poetry, by Prof.
* * *
There is a fine prospect that the Man, . with big business as well as with low vice. G. H . Palmer. Monday, November 24th,
The Tammany idea is made possible bechester (N. H.) Open Forum, which begins
and Thursday, November 27.th, at 8 o'clock.
next Sunday, will be run on precisely the cause of our trust in democracy. What is The Sea in English Poetry, by Alfred
the remedy, more democracy or less?
same basis that has made our own, meetWhen you realize the part money plays Noyes. Tuesday, November 25th, and Friings so successful. .And the indications
day, November 28th, at 8 o'clock. The Inare that they will be very well attended in an election, even though it be used fluence of the Bible on Civilization, by Dr.
legitimately, you begin to understand that
from the very start.
·
the man who cannot command money in Ernst von Dobschiitz.
* *
*
Public Library, Sunday, November 30th,
Springfield, Mass., has a wonderfully fine large amounts labors under a severe handi- at 3 o'clock. The Stage uf Today, by
Municipal .Auditorium that will seat 4,200 cap. Think what it costs in a city like Frank W. C. Hersey.
people. With the City Hall and the Campa- Bos.ton, with over a h_undred thousand
School Voters' League, at Ford Hall,
nille it cost close to two million dollars. voters, to reach each one of them with Saturday, November 29th, at 10.45 o'clock.
your message, whether you do it through
I wonder if Boston will ever catch up with
What the Women Teachers Have Done for
the other cities that are doing this thing the mails or with a series of rallies. In Chicago, by Margaret Haley.
and provide for the peop~e under one r_ of a our recent State election the gubernatorial
o
Sunday Commons, at I!,untington Hall,
series of halls of different sizes that can candidates were forced to spend immense Sunday, November 30th, at 3 o'clock. Dr. .
be used freely for the promotion of the sums in the conduct of their campaigns, Charles Fleischer, leader.
common good.
Dear old Faneuil Hall
stands as a prototype of what is needed.
•• The Book of Knowledge"
Ford Hall Folks
But because we were perhaps the first among
President John H . Finley, College of the City
the cities to provide a free gathering place
Edited by Thomas Dreier.
of Kew York snys :- "Suppose a boy of t en were
for the people, we should not be prevented
to spend fifteen minutes a day in reading- these
UBLISHED weekly by the Ford
pages . . . he wou ld at thirteen know more
from keeping up to date along _ this same
about the earth a nd the life on it than the
Hall .Associates, whose work
line. Many of ·the cities in the West and
wisest men knew a few generations ago."
is to create; assemble, and
Southwest are away ahead of us in this reRecommended by R abbi 'Wise. Bo.oklets free.
'listribute ideas that will help
spect. Faneuil Hall will always be useful
Boston Book Buyer's Bureau, 53 State St., Bostor..
men and institutions grow more
in the same way that it is now, but it can
helpful in serving society, · and which
never serve the purpose of a modern muniwill promote "peace on earth, good
10 to 20 Per Cent SAVED
cipal auditorium.
will toward men." It is the official
On Your Buying by Using a
*
*
*
publication of the Ford Hall MeetOur speaker next Sunday, Paul Moore
ings, which are held, under the direcStrayer, is the only minister in the country,
At ASSOCIATED STORES
tion of George W. Coleman, every
as far as I know, who serves every Sunday
Sunday GYening during the months of
Cards Can Be Procured of .
an aristocratic church and a people's
October to May, in Ford Hall, .AshJ . LONDON. 316 Hunting-ton Ave .• Boston
forum.
burton Place, Boston, Massachusetts.
CONSUMERS CO-OPERATIVE CO .• 119 Tremont St.
*
*
*
All burines:;: communications should
.A week from Sunday, when Peter Clark
be sent to Miss Mary C. Crawford,
ADVERTISING
Macfarlane comes to speak to us, unless I
Treasurer Ford Building, Boston,
am very much mistaken, we will discover
.A space of this size-one inch high ,and
and all comm uni ~ations intended for
to those who are conducting popular
two and one-half inches wide-can be had
the editor to The Thomas Dreier Serforums, a new speaker of the first magnifor advertising purposes for one dollar per
vice, University . Press, Cambrid-ge,
tude. He rose suddenly as a brilliant star
issue. For information regarding advertisMass. Subscription Price: $1.50 for
in the :firmament of maga1ine writers. It
. ing_apply to Jacob London, Room 707, Ford
26 numbers.
is only two years since· he began his work
Building, Boston, Mass.
l recently met on tne street my om uoyhood friend, Leopold Lyons. It was years
since I had had a chat with him. Only the
day before someone in Manchester, N. H.,
had been telling me what a rousing speech
Mr. Lyons had recently made before the
Young Men's Hebrew .Association of that
place. Mr. Lyons was a wise friend of the
Ford Hall meetings away back in the early
days when we very much needed friends.
"\
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FORD HALL FOLKS
4
.
··"·:;...
THE STORY OF SAMUEL SACKMARY.
By Mary C. Crawford.
TRAIL
HOSE who attended the Birthday
Party of the Ford Hall Meetings
last February will recall a very remarkable letter printed on the
souvenir program. To this letter was appended the name "Samuel Sackmary." The
writer of that letter and the vigorous,
quick-spoken youth who, at Mary Antin's
Meeting, asked a question about the speaker's cook, to which Mr. Coleman replied
amid a roar of laughter, · "You're too late,
Sam, she's married,"- are one and the same.
~
Everybody calls him Sam-or wants to.
He himself calls his interesting antique
shop down on· Temple street " Sam's Outlet," which it app~rs to be in more than
the commercial sense. For ail the wellknown figures in .West End life drop in
there in the course of the week-and they
de, not all buy antiques. Arty one who has
once heard Sackmary talk for a half hour
is likely to want to hear him again. He
speaks with as much fervor as does
Stephen Wise; and. also like Wise, he says
interesting things.
His has been an interesting career, too,
Born in the East Side of New York, he
haunted, as a lad. the newsboy galleries
at the old New York theatres and drank
in eagerly the vivid pictures of humble
East Side life there being presented by
Harrigan and Hart-the Ward and Vokes
of their day, though much more serious in
purpose than Ward and Vokes have ever
been. To hear Sam Sackmary relate, with
dramatic gesture, what ·Ned Harrigan and
his portrayal of city. types meant to -him as
a youth is to feel afresh the glow and lure
of hero-worship.
Removal to Boston was followed by attendance at the Phillips School in the West
End. Then, at fifteen, the lad with the
ardent eyes became a "drummer on the
road selling stationery." Always. however.
his desire wls to get in some sort of work
which should satisfv his art-instinct. Soon
he found himself c~llecting rare old things
being told, "Oh, you aren't a Jew, are you?"
In other words, the world puts a premium
on the Jewish lack of self-respect.
The
Jew thinks it is a great thing to be detached from his people. The people who
say, "My ancestors were Jews, but I have
advanced beyond Judaism," haven't begun
to catch up with the tail-end of Judaism.
The world without invites "that lowest of
all tendencies in a people, the tendency to
self-obliteration." What we Jews need is
a little more stimulation from within and
a little less simulation of that which is
without. Whenever I meet a Jew who is
ashamed of his Judaism I know that Judaism has one more Jew of whom to
be ashamed. I know that my Christian
friends and brothers respect the Jew who is
true to his own, who is loyal to his own, who
is true to the best in the life of his people;
and despises the Jew who runs a way from
and has no part with his people.
One of the grave faults in the life of the
Jew is his lack of faith in the unseen. I
have heard Christians say again and again,
"Why have your people ceased to believe
in the unseen?" It is one of the ironies of
history that the Jew begins as a people
which places all its faith in an unseen God;
and the world not only robs him of that
faith, but makes him place his faith in that
alone which can save him, things seen
and tangible.
The Christian world for
centuries reduced the Jew to the status of
a money-making machine in order that it
cculd extract his money most easily. If
a .Jew wants to live in Russia safely today
he can do it only through the power of
money. And then you wonder _why the Jew
has lost his faith in the unseen! You· have
robbed him of his fa-ith. That is my indictment of Christendom. Christendom repaid the Jew for giving it Jesus, his life
and teachings, by reducing him to the
status of placing his faith in the seen and
the tangible.
I don 't want to ·say that the Jew has no
-~-. :...
By Thomas Dreier
I\MERICA
THE
GREAT
LABORATORY.
One. of the greatest tasks confronting this
nation is that of melting into one great
whole the many nationalities. "We have in
this country more citizens of foreign birth
than all the other countries and all the
world combined," says Josiah Strong.
They are here and this is the great laboratory where must be solved this mighty
problem, the relation of races to each other.
Where can it better be done than in the Social Center, where men meet, not as belonging to a class or to a race, but simply as belonging to humanity, where we meet as
men?
It is because Ford Hall is a true social
center, where classes are unrecognized, that
it is becoming known as a great manufacturing plant~a plant where men -of different
religious and political beliefs ,are made into
neighbors who understand arid respect one
another.
·
FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
---,.·•.
-,;,,. .....
j
. (Continued from Page 1.)
·.- ·
:~{:i
.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE JEW?
GATHERED ALONG THE
'
Speaking about the foreigners who have
been imported to work in the mills or New
England, and who, because of their ignorance of American laws, have offended
against the Commonwealth, Arturo Giovannitti asks:
. "What have you done to educate them in
your laws and .your institutions? Who of
you has ever gone to tell them that they
are human beings and not machines?
With 25,000 men of different nationalities
to \vhom no one. spoke of unity of purpose,
and good fellowship, whose first taste of
your institutions was when the Governor
sent them bayonets. can you wonder if
there were some slight au tbreaks ?"
It is to promote the neighborhood feeling, to acquaint all present with the dominant American ideals. to teach understand-
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h a unted, as a lad. the newsboy galleries
FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
of the old New York theatres and drank
Speaking about the foreigners who have i:r:t eagerly the Yivid pictures of humble
been imported to work in the mills or New East Side life there being presented by
England, and who, because of their ignor- Harrigan and Hart-the Ward and Vokes
ance of Ame:-ican laws, have offended of their day, though much more serious in
against the . Commonwealth, Arturo Giovan- purpose than vVard and Vokes have ever
nitti asks:
been. To hear Sam Sackmary relate, with
"What have you done to educate them in dramatic gesture, what ·Ned Harrigan and
your laws and your institutions? Who of his portrayal of city types meant to him as
you has ever gone to tell them that they a youth is to feel afresh the glow and lure
·
are human beings and not machines? or hero-worship.
With 25,000 men of different nationalities
Removal to Boston was followed by atto whom no one spoke of unity of purpose, tendance at ·the Phillips School in the West
and good fellowship , whose first taste of . End. Then, at fifteen, the lad with the
your institutions was when the Governor ardent eyes became a " drummer on the
sent' them bayonets, can you wonder if road selling stationery." Always, however,
there were some slight outbreaks?"
his desire was to get in some sort of work
It is to promote the neighborhood feel- which "should satisfy his art-instinct. Soon
ing, to acquaint • all present with the dom- he found himself collecting rare old things
inant American ideals, to teach u'nderstand- and selling them again for a profit. But
ing and toleration, to bring about better the Chelsea fire wiped out his little stock
relations between Capital and Labor, that and left him with Jess than five doilars in
the Ford Hall meetings are being held the world! Yet, as he tells the story, what
every Sunday night. E ventually, for the he seems to lament most, in connection
same purpose, similar meetings . will be with the fire, is that through it he Jost a
·held in all the important labor centers of symphonic compositi9)1, upon which he had
the country.
long been at work in his spare minutes,
and which had been scored for eighty-five
Nature has armed you with some faculty, instruments.·
, •
some quality, some force, which enables you
Music is Sam's passion. The great pleasto do one thing better than anyone else. ure of his life is playing old-fashioned tunes
Your business is to discover what that thing and airs which have a resonant minor
is and then • iscover its worth to society. s train in them upon the organ of the little
d
Develop your latent possibilities and be West End home in which he and his aged
salesman enough to sell to society at a profit. mother Jive together. This .mother is a deThe better y ou can do your work, the higher vout and Orthodox Jewess-from Hungary
its quality, the greater the need it supplies, -and largely because of her, probably,
the greater will be your reward in fame, love Sam has kept close to the faith of his
:and fortune.
fathers. But he is a convinced Socialist
none the less, ever since the day he read
Backward." It
THE BOSTON SOCIALIST PARTY Bellamy' s "Looking interest, therefore,seems
to me not without
that
Announces :i.
the synagogue which he and his mother
attend is the Yery building-on Smith
PUBLIC LECTURE COURSE
court, off Joy street-in which the New
.·:ff~eginningEngland Anti-Slavery Society, the first
SUNDAY, NOV. 30, at_ 3 P. M. asscciation established in this country for
th-e· purpose of f:::ee ing the blacks, was orin FRANKLIN UNION HALL
ganized on a stormy night of January, 1832.
The building was then a church for colored
Berkeley and Appleton Sts.
people, and hence a na tural rallying place
-Victor Graysori; '.' fol'.Ille r member of Pal'liafor Garrison and ·_ is associates.
h
ment, will .speak · on t he openin,: date. · :-Ia yor
Lunn, Abraball! Cnban, and '.l.' ber~sa :-Ialkie l will
appear later in the conrse.
, .. ,:I'-_,,
Single Tickets, 25 Cts. Tickets for Coui-s e of SL"""C
Lectures_. $1.
_.
,
Rea df no,'" 1 :1t 14 r,1rk Sq .. Room G., __;.
Unless one is strong enough to swim
across the creek, one really should make
no attempt to swim the river.
history that the J ew begins as a peovite
which places all its faith in an unseen God ;
and the world not only robs him of that
faith, but makes him place his faith in that
a lone which can save him, things seen
and tangible.
The Christian world for
centuries reduced the Jew to the status of
a money-making machine in order that it
cculd extract his money most easily. If
a .Jew wants to live in Russia safely today
he can do it only through the power of
mone~ And then you wonder wh y the Jew
has Jost his faith in the unseen! You have
robbed him of his faith. That is m y indictment of Christendom. Christendom repaid the Jew for giving it Jesus, his life
and teachings, by reducing him to the
status of placing his faith in the seen and
the tangible.
I don't want to ·say that the Jew has no
morals and no religion; God forbid; but
something is wrong in the moral and religious life of the Jew. The Jew is in
danger of losing the two supreme qualities
of the Jew,his religious · consciousness, his
religious genius, and his moral passion.
The Jew was once a "God-intoxicated"
people, and was possessed by moral fervor.
That is .going; and, if it goes, the Jew
goes. I want the Jew to live only if he
. can regain the religious genius and the
moral passion which gave to the world
Moses, Isaiah, Jesus, Peter, Paul ana John . .
I don't want the Jew to be merely normally, conventionally religious and moral; I
want him to be supernormally religious;
aggressively, militantly, imperiously, resistlessly moral.
It isn't easy for the
Jew to ·champion the cause of peace, for
instance, as he must. He will be accused
of cowardice. If we were cowards we
wouldn't be here today; we have dared
the world for centuries ; now we .are going
to dare the world again in beh:.,,lf of those
moral victories and triumphs that must
come in God·s world. I want m y people,
not simply not to be involved in the white
slave traffic, but to be the leaders in the
war against the vilenesses of life, to uplift
the standard of a single moral law for
men and women. You are not Jews because you wear the phylacteries or go to
the synagogue; you are Jews if you are
ready to dare sacrifice for Israel's moral
and religious ideals. When ·once you are,
NOTHING will be wrong with the Jew!
(Great applause.)
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PRICE FIVE CENTS
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE JEW?*
By DR. STEPHE~ s. WISE
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NEIGHBOR L -I NESS
NOVEMBER 23, 1913
II . NUMBER 5
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HAVE been told that I deal with _worldwide views. Tonight I am gomg to
be very provincial, very narrow.
I am just going to talk about m yself,
:and the twelve million other Jews,
whom I am not altogether unlike. I am
_going to ask the question: " What is wrong
with
the
Jew?" and I
·know I am
speaking to a
meeting made
up in large
part of nonJews.
If we
are going to
answer
that
question with
any degree of
adequacy and
e a r uestness,
we have got
to face the
facts as they
are. The facts
are sometimes
unpleasant, even bitter, but we have got to
·"claim the .glory of facing unafraid." In the
·second place, after we have faced those
fa-cts, we have got to try to ascertain the
causes that have given rise to the things
that a"re wrong in the life .of the Jew today; and in the third place, we h·a ve got to
·seek to apply the remedies, if remedies
there are. I do not doubt that there are
remedies; I cannot· believe that my people's
moral and spiritual woe is irremediable.
I do not believe that we are going to find
any panaceas, but I am going to venture
to prophesy within the scope of an hour
that the wrongs which do obtain in the life
of Israel may be righted. But they are
not going to be righted by Israel alone, but
through the united will and resolution of
. all peoples, Jews and non-Jews. In fact,
· if I had to answer in a single word tonight
"What is wrong with the Jew?" I should
say ;Christianity-no, not Christianity; I
know and honor Christianity too well; I
-should say Christlessness-and not the
Christlessness of the Jew, but the Christlessn ess nf f':h,..ic:ti"=',l"'llh..
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I
with me all the time.") Apparently the
Jew can be insulted with impunity. I am
not urging_ my people to be unforgiving to
their enemies. But we sem to have a monopoly of the Christian virtue of forbearance, which oft becomes a mean and miserable pusillanimity. It is the attitude of a
man who is incapable of standing straight
and demanding that he be respected as a
man and not treated as a mean and contemptible thing. (The speaker then told
of a rich German Jew whose daughter was
respectively "converted" to the Roman
Catholic, Russian and Anglican faiths according to her father's matrimonial plans
for her.)
I think the. two greatest Jews I have
known in my life were two, neither of whom
was a great being, though highly gifted
in a certain sense, until there came to him
the spirit of self-respect and self-reverence.
(The speaker then told how Emma Lazarus, a gifted litterateur, was transformed,
by being taken to Ellis Island by Michael
Heilprin, to the "singer of a people's tragic
story, part of her people's life and destiny,
a finer singer than any Jew since the days
·o f Heine;" and how Theodor Herzl, Paris
ccrrespondent of the Neue Freie Presse of
Vienna, became, through his interest in the
Dreyfus affair, "the powerful, impassioned
pleader for his people's rights, the finest
representative of the people of Israel fo!1
many centuries, because there came into
his life something that had been lacking
before-self-reverence as a Jew." He also
told of a friend of his who was knocked
down by another man and called a "dirty,
damned Jew," and how, after knocking his
opponent down in turn, he made up his
mind "that there would be one less dirty,
damned Jew in the world, and that I would
do my best .to make my people proud that
I was a Jew.")
·
We normally of all people are most lacking in self-reverence. And yet, great souls
self-reverence makes greater, and selfbelittling souls self-reverence can make
great. (The speaker told of the justified
pride of the English race, quoting from
Captain Scott's diary for illustration.) I
'Hr -:Jnt
tho
ToTil'
ti'"\
~h'lro
th -:J t
inc:tifiol1
nrir1P .
sublimities that lie back of the miracle of
our survival for two thousand years. (The
speaker told how on one occasion in his
synagogue he referre~ to the fact that
Jesus, when asked "Wliat is the greatest
commandment of the. law?" went back to
Moses for his :(.nswer. No Chril;tian present was surpri~d; but a Jewish member
of his congregation took him to task afterwards for having claimed too much for
the Hebrew Bible! In. like manner, a Jewish friend of his went home from a meeting
in honor of August Bebel with a Jewish
family, and when they praised Bebel's social ideas, read them, practically the same
thing, in literal translation from the
prophet Amos, to their great amazement.)
There is enough moral dynamite in Amos,
Micah and Isaiah to shake the social order
to its depths-if only you knew it. (Applause.)
Now I am going to ask another question:
How much that is wrong with the Jew is
due to the world without? I, for my part,
grow utterly weary of those Jews who, no
matter what iniquity is in their lives, say=
''It .isn't our fault; it's the Christians'." I
would rather have the world without, blame
me, and be innocent, than succeed ·in ridding my shoulders of a burden .of blame
which rightly is placed upon them. And
yet I do say to you that there is much in
the life of the world without that is responsible for much that is wrong in the life
of the Jew. (The speaker then referred to
clubs in New York which do not admit
Jews to membership, and how some Jews
still accept their hospitality.) If I were a
Christian I should utterly loathe and
despise Jews who respected themselves so
little as to accept a slap in the face like
that. (Applause.) The terrible crime that
the world has perpetrated against the Jew
is that it has · battered away at the pride
of the Jew for centuries; and then you, my
good Christian friends, wonder, "Why is
the Jew without self-respect?" That we
Jews retain a vestige of self-respect is the
glory of my people.
Consider the ritual murder case in Russia.
We have got to go to you Christians and
beg, "Please say, and sav 'a1011d . anrl ~ahle ·
t·. .
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e a r nestness,
we have got
to face the
facts as they
are. The facts
are ·sometimes
unpleasant, even bitter, but we have got to
·"claim the glory of facing unafraid." In the
. -sEcond place, after we have faced those
facts, we have got to try to ascertain the
causes that have given rise to the things
-that are wrong in the life of the Jew too.ay; and in the third place, we h-ave got to
·seek to apply the remedies, if remedies
·there are. I do not doubt that there are
Temedies; I cannot -believe that my people's
moral and spiritual woe is irremediable.
I do not believe that we are going to find
any panaceas, but I am going to venture
-to prophesy .within the scope of an hour
that the wrongi which do obtain in the life
of Israel may be righted. But they are
not going to be righted by Israel alone, but
through the united will and resolution of
all peoples, Jews and non-Jews. In fact,
if I had to answer in a single word tonight
~'What is wrong with the Jew?" I should
say Christianity-no, not Christianity; I
know and honor Christianity too well; I
-should say Christlessness-and not the
Christlessness of the Jew, but the Christ1Essness of Christianity. (Applause.)
If I had to name the one most serious
-count in the indictment against the Jews
(you see I am speaking frankly; I am dealing with you who are not Jews as if you
were Christians!) ; I should say, the Jew is
lacking in a high and fine self-respect-a
high and fine self-reverence.
I can't
imagine anything that hurts the Jew worse
than that; because if I lack self-respect
my ·own lack of self-respect not only further mars and mutilates my own soul, but
it
evokes the justified disesteem of
t. others.
(The speaker told as an illus, tration of this of an anti-Semite in
the Adirondacks who called a meeting to
ask his neighbors to keep Jews from the
place ; .a nd when one of them objected that
. they· would then lose the business of the
.Jews already there, answered: "I find that
I can insult and deride the Jews an I like,
and still · I find them ready to do ·b usiness
*The speeches and the questions and answers
reported by Miriam Allen de Ford.
Ul ::;eu-re~pet!l. ana Sel!-reverence.
(The speaker then told how Emma Lazarus, a gifted litterateur, was transformed,
by being taken to Ellis Island by Michael
Heilprin, to the "singer of a people's tragic
story, part of her people's life and destiny,
a finer singer than any Jew since the days
of Heine;" and how Theodor Herzl, Paris
correspondent of the Neue Freie Presse of
Vienna, became, through his interest in the
Dreyfus affair, "the powerful, impassioned
pleader for his people's rights, the finest
representative of the people of Israel for
many centuries, because there came into
his life something that had been lacking
before-self-reverence as a Jew. " He also
told of a friend of his who ·was knocked
down by another man · and called a "dirty,
damned Jew," and how, after knocking his
opponent down in turn, he made up his
mind "that there would . be one less dirty,
· damned .Jew in the world, and that I would
do my best .to .make my people proud that
I was a Jew.")
·
We normally of all people are most lacking in self-reverence. And yet , great souls
self-reverence makes greater, and selfbelittling souls self-reverence can make
great. (The speaker told of the justified
pride of the English race, quoting from
Captain Scott's diary for illustration.) I
want the Jew to share that justified pride,
because I think the Jew has just as much
right to share in it as any group of people
in the world. Wen dell Phillips said to the
school boy s of this city: "Boston touches
you and kindles your pride with its ennobling memories." What of the " ennobling
memories" of the Jew·? The right kind of
pride is such a fine thing, has been in the
life of England, · is in the life of America,
that I want my people to be capable of
rising to the same high· level of self-reverence.
What is in large measure responsible for
this lack of self-respect is the lack of selfknowledge. We simply don 't know. I say
tu my fellow-Jews again and again: "If I
knew as little about the_ glory of Jewish
life for forty centuries as does the average
Jew, I should not be stirred to pride; I
should not be passionately eager to perpetuate my people's life at its highest!".
The average Jew does not know; and, not
knowing, he can't care. He doesn't know
all the moral_ splendors and the spiritual
cue a,pu H
plause.)
Now I am going t o ask another question:
How much that is wrong with the Jew is
due to ihe world without? I, for my part,
grow utterly weary' of those Jews who, no
matter what iniquity is in their lives, say:
' 'It .isn't our fault; it's the Christians'." I
would rather have the world without, blame
me, and be innocent, than succeed in ridding my shoulders of a burden of blame
which rightly _ is placed upon them. And
yet I do say to you that there is much in
the life of the world without that is responsible for much that is wrong in the life
of the Jew. (The speaker then referred to
ciubs in New York which do not admit
Jews to membership, and how some Jews
still accept their hospitality.) If I were a
· Christian I should utterly loathe and
despise Jews who respected themselves so
little as to accept a slap in the face like
that. (Applause.) The terrible crime that
the world has perpetrated against the Jew
is that it has battered away at the pride
of the Jew for centuries ; and then you, my
good Christian friends, wonder, "Why is
the Jew without self-respect?" That we
J ews retain a vestige of self-respect is the
glory of my people.
Consider the ritual murder case in Russia.
·we have got to go to you, Christians, and
beg, "Please say, and say aloud, and cable
to Russia, thr.t we are not cannibals !"
That is the sort of thing that eats into
a people's soul. Can't you see that I am
just as guilty as Mendel Beilis?-lf he
committed ritual murder, I commit it in my
synagogue! (Applause.) That we must defend the Jewish people? More: the Jewish ritual in 1913 is just what it was 1870
or 1880 · years ago. Just as much ritual
murder was committed in the days under
the eyes of Jesus and the Apostles as is
committed today. If there were any Christianity in the world, the western nations of
·Europe, and America, would say : "We will
. not continue friendly relations with a nation which charges the Jewish people with
cannibalism!" (Applause.)
The Jew lacks self-sufficingness, in the
third place, and solidarity~ The non-Jewish
world continually makes the Jew feel that
.if . he wants to get along in the world he
mustn't be very much of a Jew, with the
result that there are Jews who rejoice in
(Continued on Page 4.)
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FORD HALL FOLKS
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THE QUESTIONS
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"As a Man Thinks" were written by Christians? Why have not the Jews done more,
in the way of proper dramatic presentation.·
of the .Jew?
\
A: It is a hopeful sign that Christians .
should write such plays-it shows there
stand out against social ostracism, dealing are still some Christians in tile world! But .
him a th·o usand little, mean blows. Prosper- Zangwill has given us ·' Children or the·
ity has hurt the Jews of America and Eng- Ghetto" and "The Melting Pot." Jews will.
not go to a · pro-Jewish play, though they
land.
·
will pay to see themselves caricatured and
Q: Why should we Jews as a whole be
responsible for a few Jews who · do. not un- insulted on the stage.
Q: Hasn't the so•
cial line drawn between.
derstand the responsibilities of Judaism?
A: The number is not few, unfortunate- Jews and Gentiles helped the Jew to keep
ly. But is it not true that when John Smith his Judaism? Won't its removal mean.
does wrong it is John Smith alone who wholesale intermarriage?
A : Social persecution is not any the
does wrong; but when Jacob Isaacs does
wrong it is the Jewish people which is at more justifiable because some of its effects.
fault? And I am glad this is so; it places are not wholly evil. And from long obsera splendid burden upon us, finely uplifting vation, I don't think the Christian maidens-need fear competition from their Jewish
if finely met.
Q:
What do you think of a firm that sisters!
Q : Do you think the Zionist movement.
threatens its employees with loss of employment for staying away on the Day of will be ultimately successful?
A: The Jew is in Palestine, and the Jew
Atonement?
A : If any Christian firm does that ali will increasingly be .in Palestine. Palestine,
Boston ought to know about it.
But I is naturally a place to which the eyes and
know of Jewish firms in New York which hearts of the Jews of the world turn. The
do the same thing, and that is infinitely question is: Shall the Jew survive in Palestine at his worst, or live there at his best?"
worse.
Q:
Will not the Jewish people always The Jews should unite in making Palestine
suffer in the future as long as they live the joy and pride of all the Jews in the
among people who do not believe as they world./
do?
A FORD HALL IN THE MAKING.
A: No; we simply suffer because we do
By . Jacob London.
n-Ot live among Christians!
Q : Why did an enlightened statesman
The Young Men's Sunday Forum plans
like Bismarck encourage anti-Semitism ?
to present every Sunday afternoon, at 3.45
A : Because he was neither enlightened o'clock, in the Boston Young Men's Chrisnor a statesman. He was the most brutal tian Building, a speaker on a live, gripping
embodiment of the belief that "might subject. The Forum is expected to appear
makes right" that has lived in modern days. especially to young business men and stuQ (Mr. Sackmary): What do you believe
dents.
is the mission of the Jew ?
The open forum will follow the address.
A: It is now 25 minutes ·to ten. How in which all questions arising as a result
many here are prepared to remain until 25 of the address will be put to the speaker.
minutes to twelve? (Laughter.) I want to Music and the opportunity to get acquaintcome back and talk on just that subject. ed will be offered. There won't be one dull
come back and talk on just that subject next moment from 4 to 8 o'clock.
year. Meanwhile, it is to be himself, to live
The meetings are to be informal, of practhe Jewish life, spread the Jewish ideals.
tical nature, and democratic-to the extent
O : Ts it du e to our Ja ck of self-respect
of democracy enjoyed at Ford Hall. Young
Q: Is .preaching alone sufficient?
A : It certainly is not enough merely to
listen to preaching. I haven't been preaching tonight ; I have talked to your souls
from my soul, and I hope you are going out
to practise what I have said.
Q: Is not a good deal of the separation
of the Jews from their religion due to the
massacreing of them by the Christians for
economic gain?·
A : I do .not understand you. I am not
prepared to subscribe to the sentiment that
my Christian brothers massacre Jews for
economic gain, even in Russia. I may say
this: Christians never massacre anybody.
Q (Same): Is riot another reason for
this separation the fact that prayer does
not bring material gain?
A : All I can say to that is that "your
premises are fallacious and your conclusions erroneous."
Q: Can you give one or two concrete illustrations of the wrongs for which the Jews
themselves and the Christians are resi)onsible?
·
A: I can only ask, Did you come in after
the address?
Q: Haven't you underrated the Jews in
regard to morality and religion?
'
A : I would rather underrate and lift up
the standards of my people than overrate
them.
Q : Is not one of the things wrong with
the Jews that they have not secured for
themselves a state, like other nations?
A : Whatever may be our attitude toward the nationalization movement-and I
believe the Jew is not a nationality, and
cannot form a na~ion, but is a people, and
can form a settlement-I do not believe
this failure is a wrong on the part of the
Jew. It is a question of policy.
Q : _Is ?rthodoxy, partial reform, reform
or _
r~d1cahsm the real form of the Jewish
rehg1on?
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economic gain, even in Russia. I may say
this: Christians never massacre anybody.
Q (Same): Is not another reason for
this separation the fact that prayer does
not bring material gain?
A: All I can say to that is that "your
premises are fallacious and your conclusions erroneous."
Q: Can you give one or two concrete illustrations of the wrongs for which the Jews
themselves and the Christians are resi;>onsible?
A: I can only ask, Did you come in after
the address?
Q : Haven't you underrated. the Jews in
regard to morality and religion?
A: I would rather underrate and lift up
the standards of my people than overrate
them.
Q: Is not one of the things wrong with
the Jews that they have not secured for
themselves a state, like other nations?
A: Whatever may be our attitude toward the nationalization movement-and I
believe the Jew is not a nationality, and
cannot form a nation, but is a ·people, and
can form a settlement-I do not believe
this failure is a wrong on the part of the
Jew. It is a question of policy.
Q: Is orthodoxy, partial reform, reform
01· radicalism the real form of the Jewish
religion?
A:
The real Jewish religion is that
which is central to all of these-monotheism, monomoralism and monohumanism.
Q:
How can our children be taught
Judaism?
·
A : I can only tell you that our own free
synagogue has organized classes :which
teach hundreds of children the Jewish faith
and life.
. Q:
Does the speaker believe in intermarriage? If so, what should the religious
attitude of the couple be? ·
A:· Why {s it always the Jew who is
asked if he believes in intermarriage? As
long as the Christian world does not socially receive the Jew, the question need hardly be considered. I believe that my people
have a great part .of their mission sti!I to
perform. Intermarriage almost invariably
results in the loss by the Jew of his relations with his own people, both in faith
and life. As a rule, moreover, the Jew who
is lost to Judaism does not g;tin anything
to take its place. But even api:.rt from that
the result of intermarriage is that the Jew
is absorbed, and I think the world needs
the Jew. Therefore I am opposed, not to
the individual case, which must be decided
by the persons themselves, but to the. principle of intermarriage. • ," .
J
Q : Why is it that the Jew in the .United
States and England that has lost his selfrespect, if it is due to the treatment Of\ the
Christians?
·
A: Because such is the psychology of
man, that it is much easier ·for a whole
people to face Russian persecution than to
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if finel y met.
Q : What do you think of a firm that
threatens its employees with loss of employment for staying away on the Day of
Atonement ?
A: If any Christian firm does that ali
Boston ought to know about it.
But I
know of Jewish firms in New York which
do the same thing, and that is infinitely
worse.
Q:
Will not the Jewish people always
suffer in the future as long as they live
among people who do not believe as they
do?
A: No; we simply suffer because we do
not live among Christians!
Q:
Why did an enlightened statesman
like Bismarck encourage anti-Semitism?
A : Because he was neither enlightened
nor a statesman. He was the most brutal
embodiment of the belief that "might
makes right" that has lived in modern days.
Q (Mr. Sackmary): What do you belie'Ve
is the mission of the Jew?
·
A: It is now 25 minutes ·to ten. How
many here are prepared to remain until 25
minutes to twelve ? (Laughter.) I want to
come bac)c and talk on just that subject.
come back and talk on just that subject next'
year. Meanwhile, it is to be himself, to live
the Jewish life, spread the Jewish ideals.
Q: Is it due to our lack of self-respect
or to the American passion for moneymaking that people consider putting Beilis
on the stage?
A: If such a thing be done, it is a combination of the worst side of Jewish life
and the worst thing in American life. It
i5 a piece of barbarious vulgarism. I hope
that no Jew will bring him over, and that
Jews will not go to see him, as I .fear they
will.
Q : Do you know that Filene's and Shuman's stores, owned by Jews, are the
pioneers in industrial improvement?
A : I wonder whether you expect me to
advertise the Filene and Shuman stores?
But of course I realize that this is so, and
have s1;oken for years of the FDene institution as a real contribution to the industrial
life of America.
Q:
Is not subservienc·y on the part of
the Jew artificial-what about the proverb,
"Proud as a Jew?"
A : There is a proverb, "Rich as a Jew,"
and there is no poverty like Jewish poverty. · " Proud. as a Jew" is equally unjust.
Q: If th e Jew is poor, hasn't he as much
chance to make money, carrying hods, as
the Irishman?
A: Just about as much as the Irishman
had in Ireland until a few years ago. What
has brought the Irishman to the eve of a
new national life? The unremitting selfreverence and self-knowledge of the Irish
people !
Q (Miss Crawford): Is it not rather significant that "The Five Frankforters" and
neea
rear
cvwp,:::i...1t..1v.u.
...... .............
•
•
sisters!
gets out an audience of o,
Next Sunday he will have
and blind woman, Helen
speaker.
Q:
Do you think the Zionist movement
will be ultimatel y successful?
A : The Jew is in Palestine, and the Jew.
will increasingly be in Palestine. Palestine·
is naturally a place to which the eyes and
hearts of the Jews of the world turn. The
question is : Shall the Jew survive in Palestine at his worst, or live there at his best?"
The Jews should unite in making Palestine
the joy and pride of all the Jews in the
world.
*
*
Behind the news-count(
station at Springfield las
a young Ford Hall attend
away from Boston only t
was already hungry to
meetings.
*
*
A FORD HALL IN THE MAKING.
By _Jacob London'.
The Young ·Men's Sunday Forum plans
to present every Sunday afternoon, at 3.45
o'clock, in the Boston Young Men's Christian Building, a speaker on a live, gripping
subject. The Forum is expected to appear
especially to young business men and students.
The open forum will follow the address.
in which all questions arising as a result
of the address will be put to the speaker.
Music and the opportunity to get acquainted will be offered. There won't be one dull
moment from 4 to 8 o'clock.
The meetings are to be informal, of practical nature, and democratic-to the extent
of democracy enjoyed at Ford Hall. Young
men are cordially invited to attend the
meetings and join in the social times.
THE GREATEST REVOLUTIONIST.
That the inventor is the greatest revolutionist in the world is the belief of
Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of the
wireless, who predicts that during the next
two generations we shall not only have
wireless telegraphy and telephony, but also
wirel€ss transmission of all power for individual and corporate use, wireless heating and light, and wireless fertilizing of
fields.
"When all that has been accomplished,"
he says, "as it surely will be, mankind will
be free from many of the burdens imposed
by present economic conditions.
"In the wireless era the Government wilI
necessarily be the owner of all the great
sources of power. This will naturally bring
railways, telegraph and telephone lines,
great ocean-going vessels, and great mills
and factories into public ownership .
It
• will sweep away the present enormous corporations and will bring ·about a semisocialistic state.
"I am not personally a Socialist; I have
small faith in any political propaganda;
but I do believe that the progress of invention will create a state which will realize
most of the present dreams of the Socialists.
"The coming of the wireless era will
make war impossible, because it will make
war ridiculous.
"The inventor is the greatest revolutionist in th e world."
'-
I recently met on the
hood friend, Leopold Lye
since I had had a chat w·
day before someone in 11
had been telling me wha1
Mr. Lyons had recently
Young Men's Hebrew A
place. Mr. Lyons was a
Ford Hall meetings away
days when we very mucb
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
There is a fine prosp,
chester (N. H . ) Open Fo
next Sunday, will be rm
same basis that has ma
ings so successful. An
are that they will be v
from the very start.
Springfield, Mass., has
Municipal Auditorium tl
people. With the City H
nille it cost close to t,
I wonder if Boston will ,
the other cities that ar
and provide for the peop·
series of halls of differ
be used freely for the
common good.
Dear
stands as a prototype c
But because we were per
the cities to provide a f:
for the people, we shoul
from keeping up to da1
line. Many of · the citie
Southwest are away ahe
spect. Faneuil Hall wi:
in the same way that it
never serve the purpose
cipal auditorium.
Our speaker next S1
Strayer, is the only min:
as far as I know, who ;,
an aristocratic churcl
forum.
A week from Sunday
Macfarlane comes to sr
am very much mistake
to those who are
forums, a new speaker
tude. He rose sudden!·
in the firmament of
is only two years since
m
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written by ChrisJews done more, 1atic presentation
ne drawn between.
l the Jew to keep
ts removal mean.
1 is not any the
some of its effects..
1 from long obserChristian maidens·
'rom their Jewish
Zionist movement.
;sful?
~stine, and the Jew
alestine. Palestine,
ll'hich the eyes and
te world turn. The
w survive in Pales, there at his best?"
n making Palestine
11 the Jews in the
THE MAKING.
,ondon.
mday Forum plans
y afternoon, at 3.45
Young Men's Chris. on a live, gripping
expected to appear
;iness men and stufollow the address.
arising as a result
put to the speaker.
1ity to get acquaint,re won' t be one dull
'clock.
be informal, of praccra tic-to the extent
:1.t Ford Hall. Young
vited to attend the
he social times.
!EVOLUTIONIST.
,·
••••• - ,.
•O
•
•
•L••
AS IT LOOKS TO ME
By GEORGE W. COLEMAN, Director of the Ford Hall · Meetings
HILE you were enjoying Rabbi
Wis·e last Sunday, I was telling
the story of Ford Hall to a
crowd of men in the Court Street
Theatre at Springfield. The meeting was
under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A., and
Stewart Anderson, whom you have heard
at Ford Hall, was appointed to introduce
me. lt is most interesting to observe how
the Y. M. C. A.'s around New England are
holding Sunday afternoon meetings modeled more or less after the type of ours.
Secretary Robbie at Springfield sometimes
gets out an audience of over four thQusand.
Next Sunday he will have the famous deaf
and blind woman, Helen Keller, as his
speaker.
W
along that line. Although I ha ve never
heard him speak I feel almost certain that
he will develop remarkable power on the
platform. At all events, his is a most lovable personality and you will not want to
miss hearing him.
. :.-;.:·.....
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FORD HALL FOLKS
n that Christians -it shows there
.n the world! But .
" Children or the' Pot." Jews will.
[)lay, though they
,s caricatured and
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.. !,1
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3
not to mention what their friends spent .for
them. 1 he open primary seems to ha ve a
tendency to greatly increase political ex:
penditures.
Shall the State assume the
burden of publicity and do it impartially
for all candidates, as they do, I think, in
Oregon? Or can we limit more· strictly
the amount any candidate shall spend?
Can such prohibition be made really
effective ? Do we want more democracy or
less? Have you thought it out for yourself?
A MAN WHO DARED.
_5,
'
It has been said of Peter Clark MacfarMORE DEMOCRACY OR LESS?
lane, who speaks to us ne:-ct Sunday, _
that,
To what extent do you beli"eve in democ- all his life long, he has entered every open
door that · offered, and that when the door
racy? This very interesting subject is to
wasn't open; he pushed it open. That is the
be discussed by various speakers at an
kind of man t o talk at Ford Hall on "The
early meeting of one of Boston's famous
clubs . . Did you ever face that question se- Courage To Attack," a man who dared leave
riously yourself? In the last analysis the a certainty in a railroad office because he
desired to try himself out as an actor, who
real difference between a stand-patter and
a sociali_i;t ts found in their trust and dis- · dared to relinquish success on the stage because he · felt the migratory life to be bad for
trust of democracy. This is the principle
*
* *
in volved in the direct election by the his family, who clared to attempt the diffiBehind the news-counter in the railway people. of United States senators. llfany cult calling of a book-agent in order to supstaticn at Springfield last Sunday I found voters are quite willing to trust the people port that famil y, and who then dared to bea young Ford Hall attendant. He had been to choose representatives, who in turn will come successively ~- preacher, a free-lance
away from Boston only two weeks, but he choose United States senators, but they writer, and a speaker on topics fraught
was already hungry to get back to the think it entirely unsafe to let the people\ with big human interest. Fiction is Macmeetings.
choose the senators themselves. That is farlane 's goal. What a story he will have to
*
the sincere state of mind of the real stand- tell when he gets ready to settle down and
*
*
write it out! ' We have bad big men at Ford ·
I recently met on the street my old boy- 1
:atter.
Hall in
hood friend, Leopold Lyons. It was years
We have always been willing to trust the Sunday. our time. Another will be here next
since I had had a chat with him. Only the people to choose representatives to make
day before someone in Manchester, N. H., laws. Those who believe in the initiative
OTHER MEETINGS.
had been telling me,what a rousing speech and referendum think the people should
School of Social Science, at Lorimer
Mr. Lyons had · recently made before the be allowed, under certain conditions, to Hall, Monday, November 24th, at 8 o'clock.
Young Men's Hebrew Association of that make or unmake their own laws by direct Efficient Education, by C. Hanford Henderplace. Mr. Lyons was a wise friend of the action. Here again is the vital question, to son. 10c.
·
Ford Hall meetings away back in the early what extent do you believe in democracy?
Lowell Institute, at Huntington Hall,
days when we very much needed friends.
Every political storm centre has its Tammany, and every Tammany is in league 'Wednesday, November 26th at 5 o'clock.
Some Types of English Poetry, by Prof.
*
* *
There is a fine prospect that the Man, with big business as well as with low vice. G. H. Palmer. Monday, November 24th,
chester (N. H .) Open Forum, which begins The · Tammany idea · is made possible be- and Thursday, November 27th, at 8 o'clock.
next Sunday, will - be run on precisely the cause of our trust in democracy. What is The Sea in English Poetry, by Alfred
same basis ·that has made our own meet- the remedy, more democracy or less?
Noyes. Tuesday, November 25th, and FriWhen you realize the part money plays day, November 28th, at 8 o'clock. The Inings so successful. And the indications
in an election, · even though it be used fluence of the Bible on Civilization, by Dr.
are that they will be very well attended
legitimately, you begin to understand that Ernst von Dobschtitz.
from the very start.
the man who cannot command money in
Public Library, Sunday, November 30th,
*
*
*
Springfield, Mass., has a wonderfully fine large amounts labors under a severe handi- at 3 o'clock. The Stage of Today, by
Municipal Auditorium that will seat 4,200\ cap. Think what it costs in a city like Frank W. C. Hersey.
people. With the City Hall and the Campa- Boston, with over a hundred thousand
School Voters' League, at Ford Hall,
nille it cost close to t wo million dolla rs. voters, to reach each one of them with Saturday, November 29th, at 10.45 o' clock.
w>nr mPssai?:e. whether you do it through
W hat the W omen Teachers Have Done for
•
I
-
nAKING ..
r
-
'orum plans
L
oon, at 3.45
i.1:en's Chrisive, gripping
?d to appear
,en and sl u-
1
-
i·
the address.
r as a result
the speaker.
~et acquaint! be one dull
f
t· of pracmal,
6 the extent
iHall. Young
attend the
times.
r
flONIST.
reatest revo1e belief of
ntor of the
:ing the next
t only have
:my, but also
ower for in~re]ess heatfertilizing of
f
I
I
\complished,"
mankind will
lens imposed
s.
~ rnment will
all the great
L
turally bring
; hone · lines,
p
I- great mills
p.ership.
It
mormous cor;out a semiI
ogress of inwill realize
the Socialists.
:h
ess er¾ will
· it will make
l t revolution-
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" Co=operative CI ub Discount Card "
,
!aust; I have
, propaganda;
.._,Ai
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,aner.
Hall in our time. Another will be here next
\Ve have always been willing to trust the
Sunday.
people to choose representatives to make
laws. Those who believe in the initiative
OTHER MEETINGS.
and referendum thin~ the people should
· School of Social Science, at Lorimer
be allowed, under cel.::ain conditions, to
make or unmake · their own laws by direct Hall, Monday, November 24th, at 8 o'clock.
Efficient
action. Here again is the vital question, to son. 10c.Education, by C._. Hanford Henderwhat extent do you believe in democracy?
Lowell Institute, at Huntington Hall,
Every political storm centre has its Tammany, and every Tammany is in league Wednesday, November 26th at 5 o'clock.
Some Types of English Poetry, by Prof.
* * *
There is a fine prospect that the Man, . with big business as well as with low vice. G. H . Palmer. Monday, November 24th,
The Tammany idea is made possible bechester (N. H.) Open Forum, which begins
and Thursday, November 27.th, at 8 o'clock.
next Sunday, will be run on precisely the cause of our trust in democracy. What is The Sea in English Poetry, by Alfred
the remedy, more democracy or less?
same basis that has made our own, meetWhen you realize the part money plays Noyes. Tuesday, November 25th, and Friings so successful. .And the indications
day, November 28th, at 8 o'clock. The Inare that they will be very well attended in an election, even though it be used fluence of the Bible on Civilization, by Dr.
legitimately, you begin to understand that
from the very start.
·
the man who cannot command money in Ernst von Dobschiitz.
* *
*
Public Library, Sunday, November 30th,
Springfield, Mass., has a wonderfully fine large amounts labors under a severe handi- at 3 o'clock. The Stage uf Today, by
Municipal .Auditorium that will seat 4,200 cap. Think what it costs in a city like Frank W. C. Hersey.
people. With the City Hall and the Campa- Bos.ton, with over a h_undred thousand
School Voters' League, at Ford Hall,
nille it cost close to two million dollars. voters, to reach each one of them with Saturday, November 29th, at 10.45 o'clock.
your message, whether you do it through
I wonder if Boston will ever catch up with
What the Women Teachers Have Done for
the other cities that are doing this thing the mails or with a series of rallies. In Chicago, by Margaret Haley.
and provide for the peop~e under one r_ of a our recent State election the gubernatorial
o
Sunday Commons, at I!,untington Hall,
series of halls of different sizes that can candidates were forced to spend immense Sunday, November 30th, at 3 o'clock. Dr. .
be used freely for the promotion of the sums in the conduct of their campaigns, Charles Fleischer, leader.
common good.
Dear old Faneuil Hall
stands as a prototype of what is needed.
•• The Book of Knowledge"
Ford Hall Folks
But because we were perhaps the first among
President John H . Finley, College of the City
the cities to provide a free gathering place
Edited by Thomas Dreier.
of Kew York snys :- "Suppose a boy of t en were
for the people, we should not be prevented
to spend fifteen minutes a day in reading- these
UBLISHED weekly by the Ford
pages . . . he wou ld at thirteen know more
from keeping up to date along _ this same
about the earth a nd the life on it than the
Hall .Associates, whose work
line. Many of ·the cities in the West and
wisest men knew a few generations ago."
is to create; assemble, and
Southwest are away ahead of us in this reRecommended by R abbi 'Wise. Bo.oklets free.
'listribute ideas that will help
spect. Faneuil Hall will always be useful
Boston Book Buyer's Bureau, 53 State St., Bostor..
men and institutions grow more
in the same way that it is now, but it can
helpful in serving society, · and which
never serve the purpose of a modern muniwill promote "peace on earth, good
10 to 20 Per Cent SAVED
cipal auditorium.
will toward men." It is the official
On Your Buying by Using a
*
*
*
publication of the Ford Hall MeetOur speaker next Sunday, Paul Moore
ings, which are held, under the direcStrayer, is the only minister in the country,
At ASSOCIATED STORES
tion of George W. Coleman, every
as far as I know, who serves every Sunday
Sunday GYening during the months of
Cards Can Be Procured of .
an aristocratic church and a people's
October to May, in Ford Hall, .AshJ . LONDON. 316 Hunting-ton Ave .• Boston
forum.
burton Place, Boston, Massachusetts.
CONSUMERS CO-OPERATIVE CO .• 119 Tremont St.
*
*
*
All burines:;: communications should
.A week from Sunday, when Peter Clark
be sent to Miss Mary C. Crawford,
ADVERTISING
Macfarlane comes to speak to us, unless I
Treasurer Ford Building, Boston,
am very much mistaken, we will discover
.A space of this size-one inch high ,and
and all comm uni ~ations intended for
to those who are conducting popular
two and one-half inches wide-can be had
the editor to The Thomas Dreier Serforums, a new speaker of the first magnifor advertising purposes for one dollar per
vice, University . Press, Cambrid-ge,
tude. He rose suddenly as a brilliant star
issue. For information regarding advertisMass. Subscription Price: $1.50 for
in the :firmament of maga1ine writers. It
. ing_apply to Jacob London, Room 707, Ford
26 numbers.
is only two years since· he began his work
Building, Boston, Mass.
l recently met on tne street my om uoyhood friend, Leopold Lyons. It was years
since I had had a chat with him. Only the
day before someone in Manchester, N. H.,
had been telling me what a rousing speech
Mr. Lyons had recently made before the
Young Men's Hebrew .Association of that
place. Mr. Lyons was a wise friend of the
Ford Hall meetings away back in the early
days when we very much needed friends.
"\
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FORD HALL FOLKS
4
.
··"·:;...
THE STORY OF SAMUEL SACKMARY.
By Mary C. Crawford.
TRAIL
HOSE who attended the Birthday
Party of the Ford Hall Meetings
last February will recall a very remarkable letter printed on the
souvenir program. To this letter was appended the name "Samuel Sackmary." The
writer of that letter and the vigorous,
quick-spoken youth who, at Mary Antin's
Meeting, asked a question about the speaker's cook, to which Mr. Coleman replied
amid a roar of laughter, · "You're too late,
Sam, she's married,"- are one and the same.
~
Everybody calls him Sam-or wants to.
He himself calls his interesting antique
shop down on· Temple street " Sam's Outlet," which it app~rs to be in more than
the commercial sense. For ail the wellknown figures in .West End life drop in
there in the course of the week-and they
de, not all buy antiques. Arty one who has
once heard Sackmary talk for a half hour
is likely to want to hear him again. He
speaks with as much fervor as does
Stephen Wise; and. also like Wise, he says
interesting things.
His has been an interesting career, too,
Born in the East Side of New York, he
haunted, as a lad. the newsboy galleries
at the old New York theatres and drank
in eagerly the vivid pictures of humble
East Side life there being presented by
Harrigan and Hart-the Ward and Vokes
of their day, though much more serious in
purpose than Ward and Vokes have ever
been. To hear Sam Sackmary relate, with
dramatic gesture, what ·Ned Harrigan and
his portrayal of city. types meant to -him as
a youth is to feel afresh the glow and lure
of hero-worship.
Removal to Boston was followed by attendance at the Phillips School in the West
End. Then, at fifteen, the lad with the
ardent eyes became a "drummer on the
road selling stationery." Always. however.
his desire wls to get in some sort of work
which should satisfv his art-instinct. Soon
he found himself c~llecting rare old things
being told, "Oh, you aren't a Jew, are you?"
In other words, the world puts a premium
on the Jewish lack of self-respect.
The
Jew thinks it is a great thing to be detached from his people. The people who
say, "My ancestors were Jews, but I have
advanced beyond Judaism," haven't begun
to catch up with the tail-end of Judaism.
The world without invites "that lowest of
all tendencies in a people, the tendency to
self-obliteration." What we Jews need is
a little more stimulation from within and
a little less simulation of that which is
without. Whenever I meet a Jew who is
ashamed of his Judaism I know that Judaism has one more Jew of whom to
be ashamed. I know that my Christian
friends and brothers respect the Jew who is
true to his own, who is loyal to his own, who
is true to the best in the life of his people;
and despises the Jew who runs a way from
and has no part with his people.
One of the grave faults in the life of the
Jew is his lack of faith in the unseen. I
have heard Christians say again and again,
"Why have your people ceased to believe
in the unseen?" It is one of the ironies of
history that the Jew begins as a people
which places all its faith in an unseen God;
and the world not only robs him of that
faith, but makes him place his faith in that
alone which can save him, things seen
and tangible.
The Christian world for
centuries reduced the Jew to the status of
a money-making machine in order that it
cculd extract his money most easily. If
a .Jew wants to live in Russia safely today
he can do it only through the power of
money. And then you wonder _why the Jew
has lost his faith in the unseen! You· have
robbed him of his fa-ith. That is my indictment of Christendom. Christendom repaid the Jew for giving it Jesus, his life
and teachings, by reducing him to the
status of placing his faith in the seen and
the tangible.
I don 't want to ·say that the Jew has no
-~-. :...
By Thomas Dreier
I\MERICA
THE
GREAT
LABORATORY.
One. of the greatest tasks confronting this
nation is that of melting into one great
whole the many nationalities. "We have in
this country more citizens of foreign birth
than all the other countries and all the
world combined," says Josiah Strong.
They are here and this is the great laboratory where must be solved this mighty
problem, the relation of races to each other.
Where can it better be done than in the Social Center, where men meet, not as belonging to a class or to a race, but simply as belonging to humanity, where we meet as
men?
It is because Ford Hall is a true social
center, where classes are unrecognized, that
it is becoming known as a great manufacturing plant~a plant where men -of different
religious and political beliefs ,are made into
neighbors who understand arid respect one
another.
·
FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
---,.·•.
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j
. (Continued from Page 1.)
·.- ·
:~{:i
.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE JEW?
GATHERED ALONG THE
'
Speaking about the foreigners who have
been imported to work in the mills or New
England, and who, because of their ignorance of American laws, have offended
against the Commonwealth, Arturo Giovannitti asks:
. "What have you done to educate them in
your laws and .your institutions? Who of
you has ever gone to tell them that they
are human beings and not machines?
With 25,000 men of different nationalities
to \vhom no one. spoke of unity of purpose,
and good fellowship, whose first taste of
your institutions was when the Governor
sent them bayonets. can you wonder if
there were some slight au tbreaks ?"
It is to promote the neighborhood feeling, to acquaint all present with the dominant American ideals. to teach understand-
T
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h a unted, as a lad. the newsboy galleries
FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
of the old New York theatres and drank
Speaking about the foreigners who have i:r:t eagerly the Yivid pictures of humble
been imported to work in the mills or New East Side life there being presented by
England, and who, because of their ignor- Harrigan and Hart-the Ward and Vokes
ance of Ame:-ican laws, have offended of their day, though much more serious in
against the . Commonwealth, Arturo Giovan- purpose than vVard and Vokes have ever
nitti asks:
been. To hear Sam Sackmary relate, with
"What have you done to educate them in dramatic gesture, what ·Ned Harrigan and
your laws and your institutions? Who of his portrayal of city types meant to him as
you has ever gone to tell them that they a youth is to feel afresh the glow and lure
·
are human beings and not machines? or hero-worship.
With 25,000 men of different nationalities
Removal to Boston was followed by atto whom no one spoke of unity of purpose, tendance at ·the Phillips School in the West
and good fellowship , whose first taste of . End. Then, at fifteen, the lad with the
your institutions was when the Governor ardent eyes became a " drummer on the
sent' them bayonets, can you wonder if road selling stationery." Always, however,
there were some slight outbreaks?"
his desire was to get in some sort of work
It is to promote the neighborhood feel- which "should satisfy his art-instinct. Soon
ing, to acquaint • all present with the dom- he found himself collecting rare old things
inant American ideals, to teach u'nderstand- and selling them again for a profit. But
ing and toleration, to bring about better the Chelsea fire wiped out his little stock
relations between Capital and Labor, that and left him with Jess than five doilars in
the Ford Hall meetings are being held the world! Yet, as he tells the story, what
every Sunday night. E ventually, for the he seems to lament most, in connection
same purpose, similar meetings . will be with the fire, is that through it he Jost a
·held in all the important labor centers of symphonic compositi9)1, upon which he had
the country.
long been at work in his spare minutes,
and which had been scored for eighty-five
Nature has armed you with some faculty, instruments.·
, •
some quality, some force, which enables you
Music is Sam's passion. The great pleasto do one thing better than anyone else. ure of his life is playing old-fashioned tunes
Your business is to discover what that thing and airs which have a resonant minor
is and then • iscover its worth to society. s train in them upon the organ of the little
d
Develop your latent possibilities and be West End home in which he and his aged
salesman enough to sell to society at a profit. mother Jive together. This .mother is a deThe better y ou can do your work, the higher vout and Orthodox Jewess-from Hungary
its quality, the greater the need it supplies, -and largely because of her, probably,
the greater will be your reward in fame, love Sam has kept close to the faith of his
:and fortune.
fathers. But he is a convinced Socialist
none the less, ever since the day he read
Backward." It
THE BOSTON SOCIALIST PARTY Bellamy' s "Looking interest, therefore,seems
to me not without
that
Announces :i.
the synagogue which he and his mother
attend is the Yery building-on Smith
PUBLIC LECTURE COURSE
court, off Joy street-in which the New
.·:ff~eginningEngland Anti-Slavery Society, the first
SUNDAY, NOV. 30, at_ 3 P. M. asscciation established in this country for
th-e· purpose of f:::ee ing the blacks, was orin FRANKLIN UNION HALL
ganized on a stormy night of January, 1832.
The building was then a church for colored
Berkeley and Appleton Sts.
people, and hence a na tural rallying place
-Victor Graysori; '.' fol'.Ille r member of Pal'liafor Garrison and ·_ is associates.
h
ment, will .speak · on t he openin,: date. · :-Ia yor
Lunn, Abraball! Cnban, and '.l.' ber~sa :-Ialkie l will
appear later in the conrse.
, .. ,:I'-_,,
Single Tickets, 25 Cts. Tickets for Coui-s e of SL"""C
Lectures_. $1.
_.
,
Rea df no,'" 1 :1t 14 r,1rk Sq .. Room G., __;.
Unless one is strong enough to swim
across the creek, one really should make
no attempt to swim the river.
history that the J ew begins as a peovite
which places all its faith in an unseen God ;
and the world not only robs him of that
faith, but makes him place his faith in that
a lone which can save him, things seen
and tangible.
The Christian world for
centuries reduced the Jew to the status of
a money-making machine in order that it
cculd extract his money most easily. If
a .Jew wants to live in Russia safely today
he can do it only through the power of
mone~ And then you wonder wh y the Jew
has Jost his faith in the unseen! You have
robbed him of his faith. That is m y indictment of Christendom. Christendom repaid the Jew for giving it Jesus, his life
and teachings, by reducing him to the
status of placing his faith in the seen and
the tangible.
I don't want to ·say that the Jew has no
morals and no religion; God forbid; but
something is wrong in the moral and religious life of the Jew. The Jew is in
danger of losing the two supreme qualities
of the Jew,his religious · consciousness, his
religious genius, and his moral passion.
The Jew was once a "God-intoxicated"
people, and was possessed by moral fervor.
That is .going; and, if it goes, the Jew
goes. I want the Jew to live only if he
. can regain the religious genius and the
moral passion which gave to the world
Moses, Isaiah, Jesus, Peter, Paul ana John . .
I don't want the Jew to be merely normally, conventionally religious and moral; I
want him to be supernormally religious;
aggressively, militantly, imperiously, resistlessly moral.
It isn't easy for the
Jew to ·champion the cause of peace, for
instance, as he must. He will be accused
of cowardice. If we were cowards we
wouldn't be here today; we have dared
the world for centuries ; now we .are going
to dare the world again in beh:.,,lf of those
moral victories and triumphs that must
come in God·s world. I want m y people,
not simply not to be involved in the white
slave traffic, but to be the leaders in the
war against the vilenesses of life, to uplift
the standard of a single moral law for
men and women. You are not Jews because you wear the phylacteries or go to
the synagogue; you are Jews if you are
ready to dare sacrifice for Israel's moral
and religious ideals. When ·once you are,
NOTHING will be wrong with the Jew!
(Great applause.)
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