British Warship Intervenes in Bedouin Feud

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The protection of a British warship at Ababa, the Transjordanian port on the Red Sea, was invoked because of a feud between two Bedouin tribes.

The warfare is being waged by a Bedouin tribe, subjects of Egypt, and the Bedouins of the Akaba region. Emir Shakher was intrusted with the mission of making peace between the tribes.

WARNS AMERICA AGAINST PERIL OF STATE-RELIGION

That America is imperilled by the menace of a state religion, that such a state religion has already virtually been established in one state and is dangerously near being established in other states, in consequence of the unabated movement of the Fundamentalists, is the warning sounded by Dr. Albert C. Dieffenbach, well known lecturer and writer and editor of the “Christian Register,” a Unitarian weekly of Boston.

Writing in the “World” of Aug. 29, Dr. Dieffenbach, declares:

“A state religion is one which is recognized and preferred to all others. Such a religion has been established by law in Tennessee. The majority Fundamentalists in the various denominations have prevailed not only in their churches but also in the Legislature. A dogma has become a statute. A virtual state church has thus arisen, composed of many sects, with like doctrines and political purposes, and the effect of their dominance and solidarity is the setting up of a monarchy in the heart of a democracy.

“The soul of the American idea is that our country was conceived in freedom and dedicated to liberty. Bu### the rising tide of fundamentalism we have seen a Legislature assume ### authority, become, in fact, exactly what the Emperor or King once was Ext Legislature, that is to say, is both spiritual authority and political legislator. And thus democracy as we understand and cherish it has disappeared in the State of Tennessee.

Tennessee and Mississippi, with other States preparing, have utterly identified Jefferson, whom we have cherished as the exponent of an in###able American right.

The simple truth is the prevailing religious powers in Protestantism do not believe in freedom. I say this deliberately. Every week it is my duty to read sixty representative religious journals. They speak for all the churches in an authoritative way. I say, with an accurate knowledge of the facts, that with the exception of three or four of this number liberty is never mentioned, it is a word tabooed.

The issue is, Shall the soul be under authority, or shall the soul be free? In the name of Jew and Roman Catholic, of Protestant in all his varieties, and of non-churchman for whom one could provide his own kind of church, we plead for freedom, for freedom is the spirit of humanity which leads to both and good-will, to progress and peace. Only let us not be deceived. Truth crushed to earth will rise again when and only when we take it up stoutly, put it on its fet and push it forward.”