PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2485, 24 March 1882, Page 3

PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS.

The Rev. Dr. Messing, of Sin Francisco, preached in the Jewish Synagogue, Dunedin, on Saturday last. Referring to the present persecution of the Jews, he said : —“ The present is the fifth cloud. It is a public calamity. It is not merely Russia—it is not merely Raumania— it is not merelr Germany where the clouds are gathering. Why, there would be here the same thing if you did not live in a blessed free country—if you were not protected by the blessed laws of England—if you did not live under a Government like the English. If it were not for the E glish fl.jg and the English law protecting you a great many living in this country would wish to see the clouds gathering here. Need I prove it. Why, I could hardly believe my own eyes when I saw the day before yesterday an article in one of your morning papers—a leading article—and let me tell yon that when I read it I felt grieved and ashamed that it should be one of the signs of the times that in a free country like the colonies an educated man (who ho may be I do not k ow( should take his pen and write such an article, not knowing the Jews at all, and not knowing the line to draw between the Jews and Chinese, and classing them together. The writer of the article ventures to say f iat there is a time coming—these are the last words when the Jews in the United States will be treated as the Chinese are treated at present. I really thought that gentle man—the writer of that article—should go to Russia ; there he would be granted a medal ; surely the St. Nicholas medal would soon be bestowed on him. There is a field for him there, tub here is the English flag, hero is the English law, here is a free country, though believe me hero he has followers. Thank God that the next day, when I thought to answer it, I saw an answer, and I was proud of your country, and 1 was proud because the answer was roi written by a Jew, but by a Christian. God bless him, whoever he may be. Who he may bo I do not know, but he took up the glnvt laid down before the Jews, aud be fought the battle, and in doing so only slated the truth. I had no need to answer the artL-le, but I may say a few words. As a citizen of the U-ited States, I here publicly from this pulpit deny and denounce as false that the Americans have ever persecuted the Chinese. The Chines; in America have just as much, nay, more liberty than white men. There are fix latge companies which protect the Chinete. Th< Chinese own at least more ibi.n half oi Sm Francisco ; a Ohinarnsn may H e wherever he wants, and do whatevir he likes ; the laws Ira precisely the same for Lita ts for me. If

■ho writer the article likes, ns he says, the Chinese religion, or moral philosophy, why I do not envy him for his taste. It is merely a matter of taste, but I do not envy him for it I should like to lead him to a Joes house in San Francisco, and he would see the Chinese in —kTi, 0r tO yni on - e . of tbo opium dens n , . many Christian young men and Wh. »rk ; ° U " ? w ?, men lose their lives. , 1 a Chinaman will never become a citizen of any country. If he dies his bone, must bo carried back to China. At San Francisco you may see ships fully loaded with the bones of Chinese who died years ago. A Jew ia knewn as a citizen wherever ho has settled down. Must I prove this ? Why, in Dunedin between thirty and forty men. I think, have built this house of worship. Now show me any race which would make such a sacrinee. Acd, to whom did they erect thi* house ? To whom I ask ?• To their own God ? I deny it; to the God who is the Creator and Father of all mankind. There everyone can come and acknowledge the same God to the honor and glory of Jehovah, tothe honor and glory of Gad, who gave this to l arae l| but to all nations to become civilised. And the Jew is known for hi« patriotism. Even when being persecuted to death, let but danger come, let but clouds arise on the horizon of that country, and tho Jew will shed his blood to save his country. That history has proved, not once, but a thousand times, and yet the writer (of that article wants to compare—has dared to class Jews with tho Oldness.”