The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-21
Sacrifices and symbols.


Sacrifices and symbols.
TO THE EDITOR THE IE.ALD:-
Your journal OF last Sunday, May IA. contains
under the above heading what purports to be criti-
cism signed &c. ii. h." on a sermon delivered by
me in the Temple Emanuel. which was reported in
the HERALD OF the 3oth ult. and published full In
No. IL OF the JetrtSh Times. II seems that sc. ii.
H. has either misunderstood wilfully misrepre-
scented both the argument and the language or the
sermon IN question. started with the proposition
hat the institution Of sacrifices IL characteristic OF
phase OF intellectual culture which belongs to his
tory, which Is no longer, and, TAR as we able
10 Judge will never again be or any practical app-
cation for divine worship" careful perusal OF the
sermon must convince every unbiased mind that
this proposition has been logically elaborated
and fully sustained by Scriptural proofs. Not
the institution ITSELF bat "the prayer for
q restoration Of the sacrifices" was called
"a hollow lalsehood." And this conclusion.
far from being ''inconsistent," Is In perfect
harmony with the letter and spirit OF my PROPOSE
ton. FULLY recognized the importance Of sacri-
fees as long as they constituted the centre and nu-
cleus OF religious worship, but added "that ceIcmo
mails practised after that stage when the symbol has
lost It's significant meaning, unable to move the
soul to engage the intellect, are not only unjusti
liable but become dangerous obstacle 10 IgiOus
worship IN spirit and In truth.n MY quotations.
from the prophets both "lalr' and pertinent, rs
they are all conceived in the spirit OF my PROPOSE
tlon might nave multiplied them ten ana TIVE nty-
fold, but that refrained from overwhelming the
mistaken in referring them to idoatrous oblatons.
ANS is begging the question: The prophets IN the
instances cltea directly applied their stro-
lures TO the temple sacrlnces when these
had an, lost their efficiency Sse rs sS ia"n
lure OF the human mind, aDundantly prove that
sacrifices were nothing more tnan an elementary
typical, tneir character. lience was fully Justi
he'd III pronouneing the doctrine OF 'vicarlous
rational foundation" And since &c. il. H. an
nounces himself a firm believer in that doctrine
and IN the typical character OF the sacrifices, pre-
sumo ne Is fully able TO reconcile with his belief tho
declaration OF the author oil the Episte 10 the
Hebrews, y, 1T IL not possible that the blood
or bulls and goats should take away SINS" although
the conclusion, a Jortt0,t. would seem TO present
some dlnlcuty
sc. II. H. seems TO be deeply concerted show
can preach for the edhcation OF the chosen race
VINO have, with all their material wealth, no city to
Ga ,neir o"ne M te wanderers OF
the coming Of the Messlah.' the future glory OF
our nation cold and dismal necessity" II the
lncucation oil the principles OF Justice, love- and
humility as the GROWING virtues OF humanity with
which my sermon closes, appears to &c. II. H. las
Tess that cannot appreciate his standard OF preach
Ing. 10 me 1t appears full of warmth and cheerful
ness, aud indicating mans moral freedom or action
1t rec0nciles us to the present. nts us for the duties
OF life ana helps to establish and disseminate those
sentiments and feelings by which conlraternza-
ton OF the whole human race may be effected In
THIS consists tine hope of israel" 1.-THE coming OF
the Messiah" 1.-THE future glory OF our nation" !
am not prepared To say how lar ''Our material
wealth." exceeds that OF our Gentle neighbOrs l
know that there are some deeproOted popular pre-
seem that go Ii. ~ is not Iree from these prelu-
aces. II his presumed estimate Is correct, can
only say that the material wealth Is not hidden
under bushel, but Is nberally applied towards the
anieoraton OF our species, without distinction Of
creed, IN the same way as our spiritual wealth has
n
how worship with us the same God, without DUNN
ishing our spiritual treasure. We do not wish for
strnctlon OF Jeremiah xxx, y 1--WE seek the peace
and welfare OF the city which We call our home and
pray TO God III It's BEHALF Tor III her peace own Is
bound up.n thus reconcled TO our present and
hopeful OF the future we hunGly try to accomplish
the mission assigned to Us by Providence that re
fully loOA forward to the time, when the Eternal one
will he universally acknowledged and worshpped as
the Father oil all mankind, ana peace and orothery
JAMES X. GUrHEIM.
| TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Though did neither read hear any more oil
the sermon OF which the writer Of the article Sac
ritces and Symbols treats than contained in that
article In your issue OF last Sunday fr may possibly
interest numerous readers to have lay man's
opinion on the same topic.
The writer OF the article alluded to boasts of his
belief in the redemption not OF mankind, but OF
OF the "Redeemer." Now. we Jews boast
OF needing no Redeemer. Every one is his own
Redeemer If he should need redemption from his
own sins and for those OF others he will never be
committed. The practical life Is the pivot OF Juda-
ism. Belief Is OF import only In so far as 1t tends to
| the furtherance OF moral elevation. The Talmud
| says:-"rhe righteous OF all nations will share tue
enjoyment OF eternal happlness.n Thus IL is very
| IN Judaism. The sacrifice could never atone. In.
| demnifcation was necessary. and the only medium
OF atonement. aud any sacrifice must have been
| preceded thereby uevticus H., POI The daily
sacrifices were nothing but form OF public worship
Introduced into Mosalcisin as o temporary conces-
to the spirit OF the age and preventive against
| demoralizing idoatry Nevticus xviii, ~ Jere-
mah sternly repels ty ~, 2) the idea or ascribng
sacrifice in itself. We admit that the prophets re-
| preached the people on account of their id0atry
because it ss was r the source OF lmmorality
all the more horrible and degenerating. as
committed in honor OF the Idols and in
| Obedience to their pretended commands. Besides
ldolatgy frustrated the early consolidation or the
nation. ldoatry was not overcome until alter the
former rite restored the sacrifice lost It's
significance since thence.orth prayers became .
gogues were established everywhere.
Regarding the prophecies oil the coming Messiah,
my beliei is that mankind Will daily slowly but
but surely advance toward the state OF things the
prophets pictured. But do not believe that it Will
be accomplished by one individual We all have
our snare in The task Z. Ii.
Twenty Years Experience ina Housekeeping
in New York.
To THE EDfTCR or THE HERALD
My attention being called to an article in your
paper OF the 9th inst, under the heading OF "The
Social EVIL, and the Improper Method OF Eradlcat-
Ing It,, u, as resident or New YORK and reader
OF tue HERALD for the past twenty years, beg to
MORN the writer OF that article that he cannot
SHOW nine cases cut OF every hundred where females
are driven To life OF shame through necessity.
No good, sensible, Dure-minded woman will ever
degrade herself Better death than dishonor. Hut
there IS no need OF rushing hcadong into the former
when there Is plenty OF employment to be procured
In this clty To Keep every female wno wishes work
from the latter.
4 should like to ask Belphegor (supposing the
writer Of article referred 10 be oil tue mascu-
line gcndcr) il he can find one OF every hundred