The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-04-01
THE TEMPLE BETH ELOHIM.

| I1E lGlI LIZ DE1H LLUI1lM. 4.
THIRTLETH ANNIHERSARY OF ITS
CONSIDERATION.
A Solemn and Impressive Ceremony
An Eloquent Discourse by the Rev. MIR.
Chumaceiro.
The thirllelh anniversary of the consecra-
tion of the Synagogue Beth Elobim was cele.
brated with appropriate observances last Sab
bath morning, the 29th ultlno, In the Syna'
gogue On Easel street, In the presence of
large congregation, including many oil those
who habitually attend the Christian churches.
An interesting feature of the occasion was the
singing OF beautiful dedlcatory ode written
some years ago by Mrs. Noise, and set to
music by Mr.. G. A. Dacosta. The hymns that
were sung were the same as those used at the
conservation of the edlHce thirty years ago,
and they were rendered with fine effect by
the choir, assisted on this occasion by a
number of ladies and gentlemen Of the con-
gregaton and accompanied by Professor
Thomas P. O'Neale, the organlst Of the Syno-
gogue, with admirable precision and beauty of
execution.
The annual sermon was preached by the
Rabbi, the Rev. J. n. N. Ohumacelro. from
Psalms xxlll, 6, and was as follows:
surely goodness and mercy shall follow
NE all the days of my life. and I shall dwell IN
the honse of the Lord to the utmost length or
nv days."
This duplication of King David Is also our
prayer, our wish, our greeting to you, my
brethren, on this holy Sabbath, the anniver-
With confidence can We offer such prayer,
with hope aud faith can every Israellte ex-
press such wish. Gods goodness ami mercy
have followed Israel all the days Of their
wanderiogs-while they lived 10 peace, each
man under his own vine and fig tree, or during
OF the forest, to satisfy the thirst for power
and wealth Of the nobility in state and church.
This holy shrine erected 10 the name OF the
Lord Eternal-also every Hebrew here pre-.
sent-manifest that surely goodneas and
mercy shall follow wherever God establishes
His ab ode, wherever truth will be worshlpped,
even to the utmost length of all days.
Wherever the Hebrew race were scattered
they constructed for themselves Gods houses,
and although often seeking refuge under the
nushelered sky or 10 dark caves, Israel nave
never ceased 10 worship The shield Of their
fathers, the Lord of Heaven, thus dwelling al
The sacred place selected by Him for His ha0i-
talion and for our sojourninR.
We have divided our text for hls solemn
occasion In Two parta, and we will first con-
slider "what is Gods goodness ant mercy"
and afterwards "why shall We dwell IN tie
house OF The Lord"
I. No mortal can E1onopolize the blessings
of prosperity. the gift. OF nature are obtain
able by all men alike. 1t is not as much the
consequences of our birth, position or educa-
lion. that measures TO us those gifts Of nature,
but 1t ls rather the result OF our disposition,
energy or character. Gods goodness aud
mercy, as manifested 10 the manifold bless
lngs which nature unfolds, do not make dis
country has its peculiar favors bestowed by
the Great Architect otAaeA eAuDverse. When
human mind forces tHee$dortal tongue to
speak behold this land Is desUlate and poor,
Incapable of maintaining Its lnhabitants-lhen
the weak creature accuses and passes jndg-
ment upon the .Allwlse Creator. For what
human eye has ever pierced through the hid
den treasures OF the neither world, ana seen
those gifts In metals or minerals which are
still in a state OF formation, to ba discovered
la future ages ? On every spot 10 the Wide
creation. wherever living object caa exist,
there does Gods goodness and mercy follow
all the days of its existence.
And still those gifts, producing welfare and
wealth, are but the lesser lights of Gods
goodness and mercy. To behold their glory in
full splendor, We have TO know their source,
namely. We have to possess true knowledge
OF the Deity, go that we may get acquainted
with the fulness of His attributes. What
mortal can nnmerate all those sublime quail
titles OF Goi's bounty? We may know the
names of all stars at The ornament, and are
still gnor INT as 10 all their sublime Influences.
And none In creation receives a greater meas
nre from Gods attributes than man, and none
excels those which are Implanted within the
human heart. The tendencies and faculties
of the heart do only render partial deantlon
of Gods goodness. To honor oil truth, 10
respect all law, 10 perform all virtue. 10 pro-
mote all happiness, 10 love all, aud TO hate
nothing. are but few OF those qualities eXer-
one's own disposition, energy and character
to make this goodness and mercy to shine
forth from his heart, and to follow him all the
days OF his lie. 1t requires only drm desire
to pay the proper reverence 10 truth, to obey
the mandates Of truth, and to cling TO truth,
even at the temporal cost OF some worldly
benefits aud favora. II needs only ones own
efTnrt 10 respect what is handed down to us ss
ld1o promolive to our welfare, to defend what
is right 10 our eyes, and TO protect the cause
of Justice and urbanity. II only asks for our
own exerilon 10 perform the dictates OF Vir-
tue, to suppress those lnclinatlo"s of base
passions, bearing 10 ils grasp immortality and
misery, and 10 praclice Inc precepts
OF moral excellence. 1t only wants q
strong determination to seek the welfare
of our fellow.men, 10 exercise benevolence,
kindness and friendship, and 10 seek the hap.
pIness of ones SELF our families and acquain-
tances. At last, my brethren. 1t only demands
the full exercise OF mau's aoiu to love all and
hate nothing, 10 use the benign Influences Of
charity, harmony and peace, go that We will
be- respected by our Interiors, beloved by our
EQUALS and honored by our superiors. To
hate nothing, not even the misunderstanding
and mistakes of our neighbsrs, The affections
and trials imposed upon us by our kindred.
To loue all, even those vlsltatlon5 of GODS
goodness and mercy, which cause our bosom
10 sigh, onr tears to moisten our cheeks. How
would human mind ever be Impressed that
there exists goodness, were IL not for the ef-
frcts OF evil? 1t ia through darkness we
know what is light, through distress what is
rejoicing, through misfortune What ls happl-
ness. through loss the value of possessing. II
Is from suffering and anxiety we learn the
sentiments of our heart, conveying sympathy,
mutual senslbilily and consolation. 1t Ia
through pang and woe that man will break
oil worldly ties, separating himself from all
human Influences to Turn to the Dlsposer OF all
events, enlrealIng His goodness, and 10 rely
=. m, ,,orou And tcatifu tn mo all men OT