The New York herald., 1873-12-14
TEMPLE EMANUEL.
The Threcfold Power OF Love as Great
Equalizer OF Mankind-Sermon by the
Rev. Dr. Gottheil-TLe Festival Of

The ThrecfoId Power OF Love as a Great
Equalizer or Mankind-Sermon by the
Rev. DIR. GottheiI-TLe Festival of
Chanucka.
The congregation that gathered in the temple
yesterday was owing TO the incement weather,
relatively small. new and very prominent
feature seen yesterday was a magnificent per-
petuai lamp hung before the ark. 1t is the ftieth
birthday present OF Mr.. Lewis Nav, the president
OF the congregation. II Is composed OF highly bur-
nshed silver and cut glass and is suspended from
the nigh ceiling by silvered and bronzed pipe, and
can be lowered raised at pleasure. 1t had many
admirers yesterday.
The Rev. Dr. Gotthe preached the sermon from
Exodus, XXI, 5-.If the servant shall finally say,
] love my wife and my children, | love
my master and VIII not go away, tnen
thou shalt bore his ear through with
an awl and he shall serve forever"
The Doctor said he would not go into
the character OF the law OF servitude, but
would refer to this instance. In which the love OF
the servant constrains him to make sacrifice OF
liberty for the purpose OF remaining united with
those who have won his affection. one OF the Tai
mudc doctors considers the ceremony OF piercing
the ear as intended to inhict sign OF ignominy on
the member to the covenant VINO thus barters
away his liberty and accepts state OF perpetual
bondage instead. THIS explanation Is not offered
as statement Of the reasons that induced the
legislator to adopt tnaJ mode oil marking the per-
petual bondman, but simply as valuable lesson
TO be gathered from law that has long ceased TO
be operative, and as reminding us that liberty may
not only be considered as a privilege but also as
even on the plea OF love, without tending IN some
sort to lower man rom the high position ior
which his Creator designed MN. To US the text
affords an opportunity TO speak of
THE POWER OF LOVE
under threeto,d aspect. First, as to its power,
as present In every human heart, IN servant as IN
master, IN the higEDorn as well as the lowest; !;
second, the power OF love to bear the burdens OF
lie; and, third, It's power as great equalizer OF
mankind. On these three points the Doctor en-
arged and amplihed the principles OF love- He
cited this and other illustrations OF the presence
OF this passion, in some degree, III every human
heart. Tnen, as to its power to enable us TO bear
the burdens and hardships of life, the Doctor also
gave illustrations, and also to show the value Of
| liberty and the reasons why 1T Is sometimes re-
strained. We sometimes cage lion, ne said
within very small space OF a few ieet, not TO
teach lessons OF natural history, but, as 1t seems
to US, to be teased by bows. The hon
desire for freedom is natural, but here 1t is volun
tarily given up. Where do we not find this prlnc-
| pie oil action demonstrated? WHAT labor, what
self-denial do endure for the sake OF those
| we lover The Doctor gave Illustrations, drawn
from daily lie, OF the parent undergolng hardships
chained to the bedside OF his or her SICK friend and
with whose hopes OF recovery our own hopes rise
or fall. Shall l speak, said the Doctor, OF those
who forbear and lorglves No one knows the
WOES BORNE BY HUMAN HEARTS;
| OF those injured i'll character and reputation and
| domestic lie VINO forgive not only seventy times
SeVen but thousands on thousands OF times; OF the
wayward son or daughter grlevlng and breaking
the parents hearts daily and yet daily lorgven.
! What have not men borne Tor their fellow men !
There Is religion on earth that has not had its
martyrs for the truths sake.
Love Is the great equalizer or mankind. ii q
man says, IL love my vie, my children, my mas
ter he stands on plane ~ equality with all other
men. But wnere there is only legal equality there
wealth, social position or the like. This does not
| constrain US 10 do good. The great principle Of
unity which our great Lawglver has lett US is not
! unaerStood-Thou shalt love thy nelghbor as tiny
! self Our rabhies interpret this as saying, ''rhy
neghbor who is the equal OIL thyself." Let TINS
text recall us TO our own obligations to God and
| our duties TO our neighborS and may there never
be duty as to our religion, to our God or to our
neghbor neglected by Us. and may our lives show
| that we love our neighbOr and our God.
THE TRIUMPH OF THE MACCABEES.
The Friday evening lectures of the Doctor have
become quite an institution OF this congregation.
They are delivered on alternate Fridays IN English
and in German, and are very largely attended.
Next Thursday evening the Doctor will lecture be-
! lore the Young Peoples Association OF DR..
bearing OF his discourse yesterday Will be more ap-
| parent when 1t is remembered that the least of
| Chanucka commences this evening, in which the
struggles OF the MaccabeeS Is recounted and COM
| memorated. Their achievement OF independence,
their triumphant entry INTO Jerusalem,
the Jewish army under them, and the
rededication OF the temple AMID strains or
fervd thanksgiving and praise. THIS. therefore, is
season OF national and religious patriotic enthu-
that faith, however, do not count much on the ex-
hibiton OF such patriotic devotion 1000 years ago.
They enjoy the festival but from other motives
and Tor other purposes.