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〃I thought you were one of those who looked upon old age cheerfully；
and welcomed it as a season of peace and contented enjoyment。〃
I am one of those who so regard it。 Those are not bitter or scalding
tears that fall from my eyes upon 〃the mossy marbles。〃 The young who
left my side early in my life's journey are still with me in the
unchanged freshness and beauty of youth。 Those who have long kept
company with me live on after their seeming departure； were it only
by the mere force of habit； their images are all around me； as if
every surface had been a sensitive film that photographed them； their
voices echo about me； as if they had been recorded on those
unforgetting cylinders which bring back to us the tones and accents
that have imprinted them； as the hardened sands show us the tracks of
extinct animals。 The melancholy of old age has a divine tenderness
in it； which only the sad experiences of life can lend a human soul。
But there is a lower level；that of tranquil contentment and easy
acquiescence in the conditions in which we find ourselves； a lower
level； in which old age trudges patiently when it is not using its
wings。 I say its wings； for no period of life is so imaginative as
that which looks to younger people the most prosaic。 The atmosphere
of memory is one in which imagination flies more easily and feels
itself more at home than in the thinner ether of youthful
anticipation。 I have told you some of the drawbacks of age； I would
not have you forget its privileges。 When it comes down from its
aerial excursions； it has much left to enjoy on the humble plane of
being。 And so you think you would like to become an octogenarian？
〃I should；〃 said the Counsellor； now a man in the high noon of bodily
and mental vigor。 〃Four moreyes； five moredecades would not be
too much； I think。 And how much I should live to see in that time！
I am glad you have laid down some rules by which a man may reasonably
expect to leap the eight barred gate。 I won't promise to obey them
all； though。〃
Among the questions addressed to me； as to a large number of other
persons； are the following。 I take them from 〃The American Hebrew〃
of April 4； 1890。 I cannot pretend to answer them all； but I can say
something about one or two of them。
〃I。 Can you； of your own personal experience； find any justification
whatever for the entertainment of prejudice towards individuals
solely because they are Jews？
〃II。 Is this prejudice not due largely to the religious instruction
that is given by the church acid Sunday…school？ For instance； the
teachings that the Jews crucified Jesus； that they rejected him； and
can only secure salvation by belief in him； and similar matters that
are calculated to excite in the impressionable mind of the child an
aversion； if not a loathing； for members of 'the despised race。'
〃III。 Have you observed in the social or business life of the Jew；
so far as your personal experience has gone； any different standard
of conduct than prevails among Christians of the same social status？
〃IV。 Can you suggest what should be done to dispel the existing
prejudice？〃
As to the first question； I have had very slight acquaintance with
the children of Israel。 I shared more or less the prevailing
prejudices against the persecuted race。 I used to read in my hymn…
book；I hope I quote correctly；
〃See what a living stone
The builders did refuse！
Yet God has built his church thereon；
In spite of envious Jews。〃
I grew up inheriting the traditional idea that they were a race lying
under a curse for their obstinacy in refusing the gospel。 Like other
children of New England birth； I walked in the narrow path of Puritan
exclusiveness。 The great historical church of Christendom was
presented to me as Bunyan depicted it： one of the two giants sitting
at the door of their caves； with the bones； of pilgrims scattered
about them； and grinning at the travellers whom they could no longer
devour。 In the nurseries of old…fashioned Orthodoxy there was one
religion in the world；one religion； and a multitude of detestable；
literally damnable impositions； believed in by uncounted millions；
who were doomed to perdition for so believing。 The Jews were the
believers in one of these false religions。 It had been true once；
but was now a pernicious and abominable lie。 The principal use of
the Jews seemed to be to lend money； and to fulfil the predictions of
the old prophets of their race。
No doubt the individual sons of Abraham whom we found in our ill…
favored and ill…flavored streets were apt to be unpleasing specimens
of the race。 It was against the most adverse influences of
legislation； of religious feeling； of social repugnance； that the
great names of Jewish origin made themselves illustrious； that the
philosophers； the musicians； the financiers； the statesmen； of the
last centuries forced the world to recognize and accept them。
Benjamin； the son of Isaac； a son of Israel； as his family name makes
obvious； has shown how largely Jewish blood has been represented in
the great men and women of modern days。
There are two virtues which Christians have found it very hard to
exemplify in practice。 These are modesty and civility。 The Founder
of the Christian religion appeared among a people accustomed to look
for a Messiah； a special ambassador from heaven； with an
authoritative message。 They were intimately acquainted with every
expression having reference to this divine messenger。 They had a
religion of their own； about which Christianity agrees with Judaism
in asserting that it was of divine origin。 It is a serious fact； to
which we do not give all the attention it deserves； that this
divinely instructed people were not satisfied with the evidence that
the young Rabbi who came to overthrow their ancient church and found
a new one was a supernatural being。 〃We think he was a great
Doctor；〃 said a Jewish companion with whom I was conversing。 He
meant a great Teacher； I presume； though healing the sick was one of
his special offices。 Instead of remembering that they were entitled
to form their own judgment of the new Teacher； as they had judged of
Hillel and other great instructors； Christians； as they called
themselves； have insulted； calumniated； oppressed； abased； outraged；
〃the chosen race〃 during the long succession of centuries since the
Jewish contemporaries of the Founder of Christianity made up their
minds that he did not meet the conditions required by the subject of
the predictions of their Scriptures。 The course of the argument
against them is very briefly and effectively stated by Mr。 Emerson：
〃This was Jehovah come down out of heaven。 I will kill you if you
say he was a man。〃
It seems as if there should be certain laws of etiquette regulating
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 pre