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the relation of different religions to each other。 It is not civil
for a follower of Mahomet to call his neighbor of another creed a
〃Christian dog。〃 Still more； there should be something like
politeness in the bearing of Christian sects toward each other； and
of believers in the new dispensation toward those who still adhere to
the old。 We are in the habit of allowing a certain arrogant
assumption to our Roman Catholic brethren。 We have got used to their
pretensions。 They may call us 〃heretics；〃 if they like。 They may
speak of us as 〃infidels；〃 if they choose； especially if they say it
in Latin。 So long as there is no inquisition； so long as there is no
auto da fe； we do not mind the hard words much； and we have as good
phrases to give them back： the Man of Sin and the Scarlet Woman will
serve for examples。 But it is better to be civil to each other all
round。 I doubt if a convert to the religion of Mahomet was ever made
by calling a man a Christian dog。 I doubt if a Hebrew ever became a
good Christian if the baptismal rite was performed by spitting on his
Jewish gabardine。 I have often thought of the advance in comity and
true charity shown in the title of my late honored friend James
Freeman Clarke's book； 〃The Ten Great Religions。〃 If the creeds of
mankind try to understand each other before attempting mutual
extermination； they will be sure to find a meaning in beliefs which
are different from their own。 The old Calvinistic spirit was almost
savagely exclusive。 While the author of the 〃Ten Great Religions〃
was growing up in Boston under the benignant； large…minded teachings
of the Rev。 James Freeman； the famous Dr。 John M。 Mason； at New
York； was fiercely attacking the noble humanity of 〃The Universal
Prayer。〃 〃In preaching；〃 says his biographer； 〃he once quoted Pope's
lines as to God's being adored alike 'by saint； by savage； and by
sage；' and pronounced it （in his deepest guttural） 'the most damnable
lie。'〃
What could the Hebrew expect when a Christian preacher could use such
language about a petition breathing the very soul of humanity？
Happily； the true human spirit is encroaching on that arrogant and
narrow…minded form of selfishness which called itself Christianity。
The golden rule should govern us in dealing with those whom we call
unbelievers； with heathen； and with all who do not accept our
religious views。 The Jews are with us as a perpetual lesson to teach
us modesty and civility。 The religion we profess is not self…
evident。 It did not convince the people to whom it was sent。 We
have no claim to take it for granted that we are all right； and they
are all wrong。 And； therefore； in the midst of all the triumphs of
Christianity； it is well that the stately synagogue should lift its
walls by the side of the aspiring cathedral； a perpetual reminder
that there are many mansions in the Father's earthly house as well as
in the heavenly one； that civilized humanity； longer in time and
broader in space than any historical form of belief； is mightier than
any one institution or organization it includes。
Many years ago I argued with myself the proposition which my Hebrew
correspondent has suggested。 Recognizing the fact that I was born to
a birthright of national and social prejudices against 〃the chosen
people；〃chosen as the object of contumely and abuse by the rest of
the world；I pictured my own inherited feelings of aversion in all
their intensity； and the strain of thought under the influence of
which those prejudices gave way to a more human； a more truly
Christian feeling of brotherhood。 I must ask your indulgence while I
quote a few verses from a poem of my own； printed long ago under the
title 〃At the Pantomime。〃
I was crowded between two children of Israel； and gave free inward
expression to my feelings。 All at once I happened to look more
closely at one of my neighbors； and saw that the youth was the very
ideal of the Son of Mary。
A fresh young cheek whose olive hue
The mantling blood shows faintly through；
Locks dark as midnight； that divide
And shade the neck on either side；
Soft； gentle； loving eyes that gleam
Clear as a starlit mountain stream；
So looked that other child of Shem；
The Maiden's Boy of Bethlehem！
And thou couldst scorn the peerless blood
That flows unmingled from the Flood；
Thy scutcheon spotted with the stains
Of Norman thieves and pirate Danes！
The New World's foundling； in thy pride
Scowl on the Hebrew at thy side；
And lo！ the very semblance there
The Lord of Glory deigned to wear！
I see that radiant image rise；
The flowing hair； the pitying eyes；
The faintly crimsoned cheek that shows
The blush of Sharon's opening rose；
Thy hands would clasp his hallowed feet
Whose brethren soil thy Christian seat；
Thy lips would press his garment's hem
That curl in wrathful scorn for them！
A sudden mist； a watery screen；
Dropped like a veil before the scene；
The shadow floated from my soul；
And to my lips a whisper stole：
Thy prophets caught the Spirit's flame；
From thee the Son of Mary came；
With thee the Father deigned to dwell；
Peace be upon thee； Israel！〃
It is not to be expected that intimate relations will be established
between Jewish and Christian communities until both become so far
rationalized and humanized that their differences are comparatively
unimportant。 But already there is an evident approximation in the
extreme left of what is called liberal Christianity and the
representatives of modern Judaism。 The life of a man like the late
Sir Moses Montefiore reads a lesson from the Old Testament which
might well have been inspired by the noblest teachings of the
Christian Gospels。
Delilah； and how she got her name。
Est…elle bien gentille； cette petite？ I said one day to Number Five；
as our pretty Delilah put her arm between us with a bunch of those
tender early radishes that so recall the rosy…fingered morning of
Homer。 The little hand which held the radishes would not have shamed
Aurora。 That hand has never known drudgery； I feel sure。
When I spoke those French words our little Delilah gave a slight；
seemingly involuntary start； and her cheeks grew of as bright a red
as her radishes。 Ah； said I to myself； does that young girl
understand French？ It may be worth while to be careful what one says
before her。
There is a mystery about this girl。 She seems to know her place
perfectly；except； perhaps； when she burst out crying； the other
day； which was against all the rules of table…maiden's etiquette；
and yet she looks as if she had been born to be waited on； and not to
perform that humble service for others。 We know that once in a while
girls with education and well connected take it into their