The Maccabaean

The MACCABAEAN would be pleased to receive the opinions of its readers as to the plan of Mr. Livingstone, set forth herein.

] N the peculiar position of the Jewish People in the world, without a national territory or centre, it would seem to require a high state of organization in order to be able to exist at all as a distinct entity. Jews, however, have been so much occupied with the difficulty of wringing the immed- late rights of ordinary citizenship from the rest of the world that they have given but little time to the matter of organizing their own forces. Organization, however, would have helped them in this as in other difficulties. Whatever the cause, the fact is that the one nation most in need of that intangible yet indispensable implement called organization is most lacking in it; for the very idea of Jewish organization is but of recent growth.

In order that the Jewish People should be able to exist in the face of all the disintegrating forces which the world is able to marshal against it, however, it must be organized and thoroughly organized in every department of its life. As has been pointed out, a representative national literature is one essential, for a literature in our days is the medium thro which the calling together of the clans is effected; it serves as the trumpet or flaming-brand used in ancient days to

assemble men from a more limited area than we have to cover to-day.

But another feature lacking in Jewish life and not difficult of establishment is a Jewish Order of Merit; a kind of Legion of Honor capable of earning the respect of the world and of rewarding the efforts of the most illustrious sons of the Jewish Nation.

The prime service of such an order would be, of course, its force as an agent of national solidarity. Jews can accomplish much, very much, if they are only united. All means and ways, therefore, which tend to unite our people should be sought out and put into operation.

Such an institution, efficiently administered, would have the effect of centralizing Jewish life and of helping to develop the best qualities of the Jewish Race. There is no reason why, in the process of time, Jews should not learn to look with pride and affection upon such an institution in the same way as the French do upon theirs. As matters stand now, what visible form of greeting, what encouragement, endorsement or sympathy has the Jewish People as such for its men of ability, invention or renown? None. But a national Order of Merit would tend to foster the union between the People as whole and its individuals.

This institution would have to be administered, of course, by picked men, the flower of Jewry, acting with-