The Blood the many popular accusations which have been fostered upon the Jew, none is more revolting than the charge of using Christian blood for ritual pur poses, notably in connection with the Passover. The origin of such a myth is still unknown, but the frequency of its occurrence the past seven centuries is not to be denied. When a decade ago Christian missionaries in China can be ac cused by the populace of slaying Chinese chil dren for Church purposes, one may faintly un derstand how such accusations originate in ig norance and fanaticism in any age or clime. But the blander seems doubly incredible when one realizes that there is no Jewish ritual which prescribes the use of human blood. It is needless in this connection to trace the history of the blood-accusation which appears first to have been alleged against the Jews in 1144, in the case of Saint William of Norwich, although the first literary mention dates from the middle of the 13th century, in a work of Thomas Can timpre. The Norwich case was thus developed. A convert.— and it. must be confessed that converts were not averse to making mischief — said that the Jews annually sacrified a Chris tian child at Passover, and when the boy was missing, the Jews were accused. It seems, however, that during an attack of catalepsy he had been buried alive by his relatives. No Jew was tried or punished in Norwich, but the rumor led to charges against the Jews in other English towns. A list of similar incidents from the 13th to the 16th centuries could be given. Chaucer has mentioned the story of Little Hugh of Lincoln —a lad of eight years, whose sudden disappearance was laid at the door of the Jews with tragic consequences. Most remarkable, however, is the survival of such a myth in the 19th century, cases having occurred in 1882 (Hungary), 1891 (Corfu and Prussia), 1899-1900 (Bohemia and Prussia), and of course without a shadow of proof as to the alleged crime. It is of interest to note that in recent years August Rohling of Prague, who was most conspicuous in his efforts to prove the truth of the blood-accusation, was com pletely refuted by a Christian theologian of distinction --Professor Strack in his scholarly book 'Das Blut.' Christian divines have pro tested against the charge, which has received the condemnation of many popes and the sanc tion of none. Yet, such is the persistence of the anti-Semitic spirit, the accusation may re appear at any time in eastern Europe. As late as the summer of 1916 the blood-accusation was seriously discussed in northern Ireland. Its latest appearance in Russia was the Beilis case near Kieff in 1914.
Recent Movements.—In long-continued at tempts to prevent the complete emancipation of the Jews in Germany about the middle of the 19th century there was ample opportunity for anti-Semitism to sluiw its hand. Prominent leaders in politics, literature and the Church alike advocated the denial to the Jews of civil and political rights so long as they remained Jews. The ideals of the French Revolution had been forgotten. When the unwholesome era of reaction had passed and liberalism be came the nation's rallying cry, the Clerical party scenting danger to absolutism began anew a crusade against the Jews as the cause of every evil, the prominence of Jewish members of the Reichstag, like Ludwig Bamberger and Edward Lasker, arousing fresh hatred. Hence arose anti-Semitism both in Germany and Aus tria as a distinct political program. In 1878 a Christian Socialist party, under Court Chap lain Adolf Stoecker, was formed, whose avowed purpose was anti-Jewish. "The Jews are our misfortune." said Prof. Heinrich von Trcitschke (1834-96) in 1880 and for two dec ades the anti-Jewish agitation continued, it be ing made an issue in all elections and scattered riots took place, while books and pamphlets antagonistic to the Jews were published in the chief cities. It was even proposed to exclude Jews from public office, but that attempt was not successful. Bismarck acted as a check while in office and his influence led to Stoec ker's retirement as court chaplain, while pow erless or unwilling to prevent the growth of anti-Semitism. Renewed agitation appeared
when Bismarck ceased to hold office (20 March 1890), and Ahlwardt began his attacks on the Lowe firm with their uJudenflinten)) which were to be furnished the German army to en sure its defeat by the French; but his animosity was without ultimate effect, and he passed into obscurity like so many of his class, Henrici, Forster, Stoecker and the rest. In 1891 the eVerein zur Abwehr des Antisemitismus," a society to combat the attacks of the anti-Se mites, was formed by prominent German au thors and scientists, showing the growing sym pathy of the better classes, and little by little the agitation appears to have lost much of its virus, with the disappearance, often through imprisonment for various crimes, of notorious leaders. In Austria George von Schonerer was the first to begin a distinct anti-Semitic movement (1882), whose adherents were elected in steadily greater numbers to the Reichsrath and the provincial Diets. To Lue gar, mayor of Vienna, the party is indebted for its turbulent character, although of late years its excesses have been less marked. In France, Fdouard Drumont's book, 'La France Juive) (1886) was the beginning of an open anti-Semitic campaign which grew into the Dreyfus affair nine years later, as books and pamphlets were published, and Drumont's paper (La Libre Parole' became widely read. The story of Captain Dreyfus shows to what length the anti-Semites will go; if Clericalism in spired their efforts the present dissolution of religious orders in France tells its own moral. In Russia anti-Semitism has produced since 1881 a succession of disorders in many cities which culminated in the excesses of Kisheneff and elsewhere (1903) that have aroused the world to indignation. It remains to be seen if mediaeval restrictions against the Jews will be abolished. In Rumania, despite the provision of the Berlin Congress (1878) guaranteeing civil and religious liberty to all citizens, the Jews continued to receive harsh treatment; became victims ofpopular outbreaks; were restricted in trade and profession and debarred from nub lie schools. As the natural result of such treatment recent decades have witnessed an increasing emigration from Russia and Ru mania to all portions of the globe, the great majority settling in the United States.
Future of In the diffusion of education and the gradual recognition of the truth that nations and creeds are partners in the great work of human betterment, one may expect a general disappearance of antipathies and animosities as the borderland of the re ligions is broadening and the era of co-opera tion and confederation is less distant than at any epoch in the world's history. This recon ciliation is not to be hurried —one must be satisfied to think that the agreements among people and creeds are more numerous than the diversities which drive them apart. And the Jew will do his share to promote good will among men, as his race and religion are uni versalized and memories of persecution and prejudice no longer promote disharmony or exclusiveness. There will be no Jewish prob lem when civil and religious liberty is every where acknowledged and class privileges have ceased to exist in the growing consciousness of human brotherhood.
In the extensive literature on the subject the best general works are Le Roy Beaulieu, 'Israel chez les (Eng lish translation by Mrs. Hellman); B. Lazare, l'Antisemitisme) (English translation, New York 1903).; Joseph Jacobs, The Jewish. (London 1885). On the blood accusation, besides Strack's work. consult Chwolson, (Frankfort 1901); Franz Delitzsch, (Schuchmatt, den Bluthignern, Rohling and Justus) (Erlangen 1883); M. Joel,. Angriffe des Heidenthums an Juden.und Christen in den Ersten Jahrhunderten. Romischen C.zsaren) (Breslau 1879). A use-. ful little work is John Gill, (Notices of the Jews and Their Country by the classic •riteric of antiquity' (2d ed., London 1872).