Page 242 - Jesus is coming - Class version

SIGNS OF HIS COMING. 239

fcrian people. He conceived the idea that if the Jews
could regain Palestine and establish a government, even
under the suzerainty of the Sultan, it would give them a
national standing which would expunge anti-semitism from
the other nations of the world, and make it possible for all
Jews to live comfortably in any nation they may desire/
Not all the orthodox Jews have 'joined this movement.
Indeed, the leaders of the Chovevi Zion Societies hold
aloof.
The call, issued by Dr. Herzl, for the Zionist Congress,
held in Basle, Switzerland in 1897 met with severe oppo-
sition from the German Rabbis and also a large portion of
the Jewish press, as well as the mass of rich reformed
Jews. Nevertheless, over 200 delegates, from all over
Europe and the Orient and some from the United States,
met and carried through the program of the congress with
tremendous enthusiasm.
Memorials, approving the object of the congress, came
in from all sections, signed by tens of thousands of Jews.
The congress elected a central committee and authorized
the raising of $50,000,000 capital.
It has certainly marked a wonderful innovation in the
attitude of the Jews and a closer gathering of the dry
bones of Ezekiel.
And now, after ten years of wonderful growth and
progress it remains to be seen what the providential open-
ings in the Ottoman Empire may be that shall give op-
portunity to realize its object.
Zionism is now the subject of the most acrimonious de-
bate among the Jews. Many of the orthodox criticise it as
an attempt to seize the prerogatives of their God.
While others say that God will not work miracles to
accomplish that which they can do themselves.
Most of the reformed Jews, now that they can no longer
ridicule the movement, decry it, as an egregious blunder
that will increase instead of diminishing anti-semitism.
They have no desire to return to Palestine. They are
like the man in Kansas, who, in a revival meeting said he
did not want to go to heaven, nor did he wish to
go to