(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
Ignoring the resolution recently adopted by the Presbytery of Philadelphia “enjoining upon his ministers and elders the duty of abstaining from any participation” in meetings where various religions are considered equal, Dr. John A. MacCallum. pastor of the Walnut Street Presbyterian Church, and other leading Christian ministers in this city joined last night under the auspices of the Fellowship of Faith to pay tribute to Judaism. Nearly one thousand persons filled St. Stephens Episcopal Church in the center of the city. An overflow meeting to provide for those unable to gain admittance was held simultaneously at the Friends Meeting House several blocks away.
In his address Dr. MacCallum did not refer in any way to the resolution of the Presbytery nor did he express any irritation at the criticism directed at him by his colleagues in the denomination. “I am glad to pay my tribute to Judaism,” he said in opening his address, “remembering that I speak only in a personal and unofficial capacity and yet, I believe, expressing the sentiments of a large number of my own household of faith.” He said that he was indebted to Judaism “for the consolation and the fortitude in many a weary hour when fear would otherwise have overwhelmed me.” He expressed himself as being in debt to Judaism for “the stimulus to my nobler nature that I have derived from the Hebrew heroes and prophets whose inspiring achievements and utterances are recorded in the Old Testament whch forms so large a part of the Bible of the Christians.”
Several of the speakers apoligized for the persecution of the Jew throughout the centuries. Virtually all praised Judaism for its contribution to social ethics and its emphasis upon man’s moral obligations to his neighbor. Others spoke of the contributions of individual Jews, the Old Testament literature, the heritage of the Sabbath, moral earnestness and “a prophetic optimistic spirit which has constantly characterized the race. The speakers were Dr. Horace J. Bridges of the Chicago Ethical Society, the Rev. Dr. F. R. Griffin of the First Unitarian Church, Dr. Jessie H Holmes of the Society of Friends, the Rev. Dr. E. A. E. Palmquist of the Philadelphia Federation of Churches and the Rev. Ivan Murray Rose of the First Baptist Church.
In responding to the tributes, Rabbi William H. Feinshriber of Temple Keneseth Israel, declared that the whole spirit of religion is summed up in the admonition “that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. “I glory that after centuries of persecution the time has finally come when you and I can sit here for a few moments and hear the words of truth and justice from the lips of men who are descendants of those who persecuted us,” he said. “I am profoundly grateful to this church and its rector for the breadth of mind to allow this meeting to be held here and to allow me to speak in this sacred place,” he added. Rabbi Julian B. Feibelman was the speaker at the overflow meeting.
Immediately upon hearing of Dr. MacCallum’s attendance at the meeting. Dr. George Bell, pastor of the Patterson Memorial Church, and with Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, author of the recent resolution forbidding such association, declared he is considering action upon Dr. MacCallum’s “breach of the law.”
“We drafted the resolution because we wanted the people of Philadelphia to know the Presbytery as a whole is unalterably opposed to movements that would put Christianity on a basis with other religions,” Dr. Barnhouse said.
A dinner, sponsored by a committee of Brooklyn Jewish citizens, will take place on April 22nd at the Brooklyn Jewish Center on Eastern Parkway for the purpose of strengthening the Scholarship Fund of the Jewish Education Association, Januk J. Goldstein, chairman of the Finance Committee, announced at a luncheon of Brooklyn Jewish Chamber of Commerce building. Jacob H. Cohen, a member of the Association Board, was chairman.
Justice Edward Lazansky, who was the guest of honor, urged greater effort to Increase the registration of the Jewish religious schools in Brooklyn.
M. J. Karpf. Director of the Training School for Jewish Social Work in New York who has been ill, is now reported as showing improvement.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
