| Show ZIONISM MONISM rev dr H pereira pere ira mendes in the august number of the north american review discusses zionism a subject which is gradually laying a firm hold on the attention of the world the idea is as ancient as the glowing word pictures of hebrew prophets at times time a tt it has been but dimly perceived by bible readers now it commences to assume more distinct outlines and its importance is correspondingly alpar ent As defined by dr mendes zionism alms at strengthening the jewish sentiment for good that it may become an influence for justlee justice loving kind ness and humility it aims at the establishment of a model government a model state bof society a model system of education its present alm aim is to bi a preparatory education of the hebrews with these ideals in view recognizing that the regeneration of palestine can am not take place until the jewish people command the respect of the gentiles and it confidently looks tor for divine interposition ter position for the accomplishment of its alms aims and purposes the author believes that all present f forms of government show serious defects imperialism as represented by russia and germany are failures it if the prosperity intellectuality or liberty of the masses are taken as indications monarchy seems unable to stave off bankruptcy and consequent bread riots french republicanism has he thinks given itself a deathblow death blow by placing the honor of its army officers above the honor of the country itsell great britain and holland present a more encouraging view but the crushing poverty among the masses Is in a sure sign of defects somewhere the purpose of zionism therefore is to establish a form of government tn in which abich none of the defects noted shall appear and it finds the ideal in a confederation or republic with a ruler who will regard himself as the representative senta tive of god who zionism declares Is the real ru lerand ruler and who reigns forever and ever when the ideal state shall have taken form and substance it will have no political alms or colonial ambitions probably its borders may not extend beyond the boundaries mentioned in the bible from the river of egypt to the euphrates and from lebanon to the arabian desert by its disinterestedness it will be eminently qualified to act as an arbi arbitrator trabor between the nations of the earth and wars will therefore become unnecessary people may safely make ploughshares plough shares out of their sw swords ds and pruning hooks books out of their speare the c curse u arse 0 of f co conscription n act I 1 VU on will be removed and one third of the expenses of the governments will be saved tor for industrial and commercial enter enterprises prism this then is what may be termed the political alms of zionism its social alms aims are equally idealistic dr mendes points out that in every country of at the world immorality permeates soe society lety people build fortunes on an the ruin of fellow beings and yet are rec reacted ted in society zionism turns to the mosaic code for the correction of these evils that code makes holiness the cornerstone of society it provides especially against the oppression of a hired servant the poor and needy of thy brethren or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates and the me thing to remember Is that the law that inculcates these principles of holiness and righteousness appeals not principally to muns fear of punishment as do laws of human origin but to his big love of god making that the motive of obedience with these alms aims and purposes in view the program of zionism Is moral mental and spiritual elevation of the people whose destiny to Is believed to be the presentation to the nations of a model state as once it gave the world an everlasting law and at another period of its existence an everlasting gospel the fact to note is that zionism la is no longer only an abstract idea it hu has taken form the alliance israelite Uni verselle the anglo jewish association cia tion board of et jewish delegates of america the almanz of germany and d numerous numer numerous other societies are working for the purpose of redeeming palestine for the jews jew in new tork alone we are told there are forty zionist societies cie ties and others exist throughout the country palestine for the hebrews is the burden of the cry of the zionists and the hebrew heart to 18 pulsating in response to it to many of the readers or of au news the alms and purposes of zionism as here briefly set forth will I 1 be recognized recognised as strikingly in accord coyd with the inspired teachings ot of the founders of the church and their BUC censors ces sors at a time when zionism had almost no place in Chri ettan thought they announced with true prophetic foresight the coming of the day of redemption demp tion the divine interposition for which some of the jews now are looking came through the house of israel let their brethren turn to the lord and acknowledge him and their hopes will be realized let them remember that in the day they are longing for the house of judah shall walk with the house of israel the order being the reverse of that which took place at the return from babylon when the house of judah had the lead for so it is written by the prophet at that time they shall call jerusalem the throne of the lord and all aj the nations shall be gathered unto it to the name of the lord to jerusalem neither shau shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart in those days the house of judah shall walk with the house of israel and they shall come together out of the lead of the north to the land that I 1 have given for an inheritance unto your fat fathers bers jer 3 17 18 the gathering of the house of israel Is ie as here stated the beginning of the redemption of the house of judah |
