The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-09
TEMPLE emanuel.


Slnuder a Great Social Evil--Its E6ec,. Upon
Individuals aud on Socicty-Serm0p by
Rev. Or. CsutE Elm.
The portion OF Scripture read In this synagogue
yesterday was Levitcus XIX, from the fourteenth
verse OF which Or. Guthelm dIscOursed OF the
greatest and most prevalent social evils OF the day
SANDER ana tale. bearing. The words Of the text
are:-"ThOu SHALT not curse the deaf nor put a
stumbling block before the blind but shalt fear thy
God: am the Lord.'' Next to the decalogue, he
SAID, this chapter IL OF the most Important in
the Bible Its introduction is solemn and irn-
piesslve In the extreme:--"Yc shan be holy, for L
the Lord your God am holyn Ana In pursuance of
this perfection various and important laws are
enumerated which are applicable to society at large
and also for the social relations OF individuals. In
this also is the foundation Of all true morality IL
Is but repetition or the command Love thy neigh
boz as Chyselr." There other minor commands
which many persons think to be or little or no ac-
count, but Cod VINO seeth not as seeth but
who readeth the heart, knoweth their Importance
and worth. This command may DC broken in
thousand ways but there IL one certain species Of
calumny prohibited In this text-"Thou snalt not
puta
STUMBLING BLOCK BEFORE THE BLIND
AZ an Illustration, one class-and that the most
important implied in the term Dnd-are children,
who must be lei by persons OF mature years and
experience, and those who would put stumbling
blocks before them have not the fear OF God before
their eyes,
Consider the influence which this sin exerts
upon the Individual and upon society. This
species OF calumny Is not always INDUCED Tor
the sake Of doing injury 10 others. II is often
sorted To by persons 10 make themselves witty and
agi eeabie: but no one can indulge Ia II without
doing positive injury TO him herself. In social In
ercOurse the opinions OF our neighoors and their Ut
terances are repeated with pointing OF ridicue aud
sarcasm. Persons often whet the.r wit by dlspara2-
ing their neighDors. They will pass by ali tnat ~
good i'll them ana dwell only their weaknesses
and nperlections. Aud these hearuess critics, by
repeated Indulgence IN this KIND Of slander, soon
become blind 10 any good quality or virtue existing
faults and folies OF others Ihey are the worst enc
mes to morality and religion that can be round in
society. They do contrary OF what the Scripture
commands and God is not feared by them. They
talk about their neighbors for the sake OF maalng
rlilcue. Sin, they say,
But are they Themselves free iG would, indeed, he
low aud pitiable state OF society where such scan
dial -mOnRers should find ready access in families,
where children are To be and ought 10 be taught
Kindness, virtue benevOlence, generosity, NC. The
with what may naturally come TO his hand, but he
will ferret out the iangs OF his neighbors by prying
into their incOlnifgs aud ougoIfgs and all the &C
tons OF their lives, not spar1ny even tile sadness OF
the SOUL II we examine the purpose and motive
from whence this prying springs we shall be IN
duced to look into our own hearts. and thereby
come more charitable In our Judgment " others.
neigt Dor with n hypercrcal eye to find something
for which to asperse his character yrinng though
this social vice at first appear t has been fruit
fu Of sorrow and misery, embterDg many "a me- to
whom death was the only relief aud the most well
come vlsitant. The Doctor then considered the
various circles or society In which these talebcares
and sCandal-mongers circulate aid asked who Will
accept tner CODversationp What circle WIll take
them IN Tine influence OF this wee In DeQetting
unjust and unChalitaDle comparisons, ia leading TO
false estimates OF ourselves and others IN degrad-
ing society and damaging religion was forcbly
depicted.
In the second place the pcrnicious effects OF de-
traction upon others was pointed out. Children
Al
persons, Will
LAUGH IN THE FACES
OF those who have been ridlculed before them. And
IL Will eventually lead to discrimination and false
hood In them. Children VINO do not ask questions
are often fully cognlzaut OF what II passing In tu
household, ana II We speak wrOnRfuily OF those who
visit Us as Jney leave the house our chill
dren VIII not be slow TO undera and our hypocrisy.
Virtue and truth must be llsted IN their minds by
WOrdS and acts and woe TO that child who lives in
an atmosphere or Miniature and alseirood. What
ever may prove stumbling block before children
should be rellg!ously removed and kept away rom
them. The inspired psaniist describes In few
mastery touches the virtues winch shoad cnarac-
terize the social life:-
He that wslketh uprghy and worketh Righteousness and
speiketh tbs truth IN his heart.
He that back5eth tongue doetb evil 10
hts neghbor aketh up against his nsghbor
In whose eyes vile person Is conaemnci honor
eth them that fear the Lords he that sweareh to bis
He putteh money to usury nor tskch re.
ward against the Innocent We that doeh these things shall
never be moved.
Oh that these words written In letters light
on every human soul Every home would then be-
u paradise, aud the spirit OF wisdom aud under
standing and might would rest upon ia. And may
this spirit rest upon and command happiness and
peace from Heaven a. our portion. Amen.