The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-11

Rev. DR.. RaPhall's Lecture.
THE LIBERATION OF THE HEBREWS, BIBLICAL AND
POST BIBLICAL.
lecture on this theme delivered last evening" by
Dr. Rsphsll, before the Hebrew Young Mems Literary
Association, at stuyvesant Institute, Broadway The
lecture WELL and very respectfully attended the pro-
ceeds OF 1t being applied to fund for purchasing
library for the association The lecturer proceeded to
address his audiences rs foows-Lades and gentlemen
have been invited the directors Of the Hebrew Young
Mems Literary Association to deliver alecture before YOU
for the benefit OF the association wish the choice Of
the directors had fallen individual more highly
gifted than ! am. Nearly seven years ago, was
called upon to open institution In London, in
yitation Of performing similar object this even
ing Thus lend my humble means to educate the Jew
in the two greatest cities in the and old world Lon
don and New York There some duiss and req ure-
ments Of mankind strong, self evident that argu
ment the most profound judgment the most correct,
eioqueDce the most impressive only do them justice
lily pocrsy cannot ipjure them fer they find response
in every good mans heart Among these dules strong
self evident, there is of portance than
the necessity Of increasing mental culture among young
men ABBOTT entering upon life WHAT can be OF moce I'M
portance than to give them the means of opposing the
temptations which beset their path! What better
than to place within their reach the meaus of
ducaton and mental improvement! What blissful
than enabling them to employ their leisure hours of
the present make amends for the past and lay in
store thsms pleasures in their old age What
wonders has science performed in the present age
Man cross es the and vain the rages in
vain the bow; his sh holds its yard
propelled by power within itself it bids defiance TO the
elements around-time and space are annhilated. BY
the aid of science begins TO entertain proper idea
Of the power his Creator By the aid science
dives into the bowels Of the earth and brings forth
hidden treasures-he rises into he air higher than the
parent Of science and gave him dominion over all mat
ter What grandathers would have secuted as the
idle dream of excited Imagination We possess as
umphs but seeks still further to extend it's power;
and who on earth can say-"Thus far shalt thou
go and no farthern But If science thus achieves
its triumph nature has to hang its diminished
head. Every day behods some new work history,
literature statistice metaphysics every subject
that iatereit the human mind, emanstng from the
prses and auementiDg the pleasures and happiness Of
hose times in which the march of progress You
American jews living in this country where the pre-
dominance OF mind matter is fully carried out rns
mighty republic has reached Its limits and in the
fact OF tie unexsmp.d progress find that education
is the brthright of the poorest Here mental cultivation
is not couned to ew the people elves have taken
up the good cause and in every village, and in every
town, you will mechanics institutions, and young
mems associations However they may der in opinions
and principles motive actuates all and that train
the mind and TO diffuse knowledge have thus shown
you that mental progress Is the principle OF the country
And In this pursuit the young of the Hebrew Asso
citation entitled to take phase IL for you to cu
tyate the heirloom Of your ancestors and search and
study the varied stores of Hebrew literature Hebrew
literature divides itself into two periods each marked
by its characteristics and each Of the highest value
TO mankind We will first consider Biblical literature
1t is entitled to love and veneration, because it
has achieved the conquest OF the world 1t is the fret
through ages with which the youthful mind is made
acquainted. The little choolboy lorg before he Is
yrsant with the history Of his native land knows
history long before he has read the history Of Wash
fore he has read the history Churubusco he can tell
you the history Of little David have devoted great
part Of my life to Hebrew herature six lectures week
would not enable 10 do justice to that nexhaustab!e
subject; yet would still request attention while
speak to you Of those characteristics which entits
Biblical literature to the highest vensra.on and which
places IL above s competition and gives it that position
wbi,h has maintained three thousand years But
will speak of the literature of the Bible to
it, being inspired not but merely of those characters
tics which have placed II in the foremost rank literature
Ia cIg general literature shall find that the
derns borrowed from the ancients Among them, the
onsns borrowed from the Greeks the Greeks borrowed
from the Egyptisns the Egyptians borrowed from tina
Hpdoes The Hinaoo teraure 70 be traced TO the wis
dom OF the Chadeaus and these derive their literature
tom the Bible Thus when We trace the entire progress
Ct human knowledge, sc lind IL Is centered In the Bible
0her lit ,ratures indebted to art and deep study for
the perfection which they pos bus the literature
Of The Bible is like the face ef The mighty
Amazon carries its waters ocean, the Himalay lifts
its maest head TO the HEAVIER aud the glorious land
scape is gid by the light OF nspiration One great,
holy sentiment peryades the whos-oYc nd
tion for the Great Being of ths universe There
balm for the human mind but in the Bible There IL viii
find relief for al its sorrow; there the mind will Gud
tIeDgth in the hour of trial consolation in the boar Of
adversely and hope in the moment OF its greatest de
fponoency We shall tbat The literature OF the BIZ
bic divides itself into four distinct points, marked
with great peculiarly master mind which gives
tone 10 the whole The FIST begins with the Oldest
aad comes down 10 Moses 1t Dpgins with tae book OF
O. nss end end With the book Of job The second from
Moses to Hayjd THIS considered the political history
Of the people. Moses sadied uebrer literature AMI
its fou nder whose Ia pred genius exercised aud
,slished those great lights vhich still SHINE Moses
writings OF the hi heI order; he breatbed into
them spirit OF the greatest purity, and thus be made
his people literary people. Moses educated in
Egypt, where all knowledge was appropriated by The
priests tho took to Keep all others in ignorance
confue kr oweoge to Themselves But Moses Big re-
cordipg his laws by excluding all secret institutions snd
privileges Of class and teaching rsajeg and writing
the Hebrews gave to his people advantages which at
that esrly period were possessed by Others
lie enabled them to become literary people
not be kept in leading strings by ignorance or
super ttion The learned lecturer went ably through
the Other thee periods of Biblical history, ending with
the time o. David which he Termed the lyrical history of
the Hebrews lie also alluded TO the great impulse given
10 Hebrew literature by the German people sod
in feeling and eloquent terms OF that great Hebrew
scholar ieudeissohn who did much for its literature
lie eoquently descr bed what the Jews made 20
suffer Spsin, France and England for the sake Of
literature and religlon-ltavng the graves of lheir
athers the bones they had loved their wealth and
SESSIONS for the love OF that religion and literature be-
queathed Them by their ami made TO
The by the very persecution they suffered for its
concluded BY exhostng his audience tae
Of the literature which vet remained 60 them-he
heirloom left TO them bv their ancestors They should
aud prosper, and take that position in literature
which Is their due.