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

rules which also guided your plons fathers In
the construction of this House OF God, are
exhibited To you In those three distinct OBJ
jects, which also constitute the difference be-
tween the synagogue and other places OF
worship. They are the readers desk In the
centre, the tdnlid or the burning light, and
the holy ark In The east. AS the most sacred,
let us first examine Into the meaning of the
ark. II contains Gods word, lhe essence OF
all truth, the basis OF every religion: IL Is
placed in the ark to teach us that the lessons
of religion cannot be revealed unless We make
use of our bodily and mental powers, to un-
lock the doors of our mind and heart. Before
We examine the treasures of Sinai, IL ls told !:
t'Know before whom thou standest." Do you
approach the Hebrews sanctuary to investl-
gale what is pure and perfect, probably to
crl.Icise our language laws and ordinances,
or to let your mind sentence, before your heart
could plead the innocence, The divinity Of all
truth The ark is still closed; retire from here
before you multiply your Sins In profaning
what is tue dearest, the hollest to Israel and
all mankind. But have you entered these
blessed gales with the praiseworthy desire To
receive nourlshmens for your soul-welcome
do we offer to every fellow.man, OF whatever
cline, belief or race. When the doors OF the
ark are opened, you will behold what has no
equal on earth, what cannot be said Of
any other work In creation, namely: Here is
q testimony of Gods mighty works, not al
tered nor changed In any of lis FERNS or types
for over thlrty-tWo centuries We read them
TO you In the same manner, from the same
writing, those unparalleled words Of true tol-
erauce-"0ne law, one code for all, as we'll
for the inhaoItant OF the land as for the stran-
gern Search freely the columns OF these
scrolls, and, like our bards and sages, scrutt-
nize every word and letter; be Inspired by the
Divine aspirations OF those religious prlncl-
Piles which are embodied in the belief Of all
denominations, without the least exception;
aud excaim with the Hebrew The law Of
Moses ls truth--the divine proclaimer OF uni
versal religion
In the second place, we behold the t1nsid or
the ever-burning light, COMMUNICATING the
holy candlestick placed in the tabernacle.
This ever-bnrning light was to impart to the
people That Gods light-God'5 presence-al-
though not confned to space nor place, was
more particularly visible In Gods sanctuary.
That ever burning light. also kindled 10 our
sanctuary, should te visible when we strive
TO perfect our immortal spirit. Let all those
holy, godly, heavenly beams spread their
brightest light on our path. Let the pracuce
of uirt,s impress Others that We offer plenty
of nourishment to that godly spirit within us.
Let uirtue impart to all men how the Hebrew,
wherever he dwella, Is mindful OF his mission
to show forth the divine origin OF bis soul;
that the light of his SOU Ia manifested through
the practice of uirtue.
Aud 10 the third place, the readers desk In
the centre OF the synagogue. 1t represents
10 the Hebrew that there exists no mediator
between the most sublime tendency 10 man
and It's Maker, between the soul and God.
The reader has 10 Offer prayers and praises,
while he sands amidst The people. II teaches
US that for the perfection OF our godly apirit
there cannot exist disLinctlon, nor selection.
nor preference. For We are all brethrsn-if
not all sons of one palriarch-surely children
OF ONE FATHER. Hs who occupies The poei-
lion of spiritual leader In Israel holds In his
hand the most precious link In the chain that
unites all men TO one family. HIS prleaily
robe only expresses the great responsibility
of his Qtflce, his preseace among you IS TO IN
struct all nations that prayers and praises are
only acceptable to God, when there 10 mar
mony In devotion, aclion and feeling. The
readers desk is consecrated to the most
sacred for mankind At large. For It is thereon
that we unroll the holy scroll of Gods word
that admits OF no distinction, but ordalns
universal brotherhood, everlasting union.
Tue reader himself Ia the appointed priest OF
ored, yea, beloved, by his people. When he
spreads his hands over you, Invoking Coos
sanction for his benedctlon, he blesses all
alike. When concluding his religious exer-
cises, while praying for all: "And may the
Lord grant you peace y he promises before
God and men that peace will direct him IN eli
his ways; that for the proper training and
perfection of mans soul 1t needs peace, the
forerunner OF union
Thus religion, virtue and union are the great
lessons with which the synagogue impresses
man that enters iis gates. seeking the train
Ing aud perfection OF their immortal spirit.
II ia religion, virtue and union which should
be- The moral qualifications for oil meU, to
dwell In the house Of the Lord, thus to be In
constant communion, not alone with The
Divine attributes Of the heart, but also With
the Cody aspirations of the immortal soul.
It remains an undenlable fact, my brethren,
that however truthful our Views as expressed
this day may seem to each and all oil you, IL
will be with every one of us like yesterday, we
comprised In every religion, and the proper
definition OF virtue. But as to the exact mean.
Ing of union there does not exist difference OF
opinIon among Intelligent men. Therefore,
nv brethren, OF whatever creed and faith. let
our religion and our virtue obtain their vital
power aud strength from union. Religion
and virtue separate man from each other, liv-
confined to any condition or circumstance OF
life. Union is the tullDess OF Gods mercy and
goodness; for It Ia only capable through its
superIor Influences 10 establish universal rellg-
ion and virtue, With union for our leader we
shall surely dwell In The house Of the LORD,
even to the utmost length OF our days; namely,
not alone In this house Of God made by mortal
hands, but our immortal spirit, free from all
earthly ties, no longer In want Of goodness
and mercy, but inhabting that holy tabernacle
ln heaven, constructed by the Almighty's
hands, to be there In everlasting communion;
not with the spirit, but With its source, With
the Lord Eternal himself, to the utmost length
of ell days, even until time be no more
Amen.
Great God of the Universal To Thee we
dedicate our labors In behalf OF religion and
virtue. To the claims OF union, o Eternal,
We consecrate our devotion and our worship
within Thy sacred temple. May the humble
petitions, therefore, offered within this holy
shrine be favorably accepted by Thee. May
the prayers originating from the different
opinions as to the dictates Of religion and Vir-
tue ascend to Thee, o Lord, as ono harmonlous
praise. as the essence from the sacred altar OF
alteration to the Cause of all existence.
Pour out Thy goodness and mercy, most
adorable and loving God, upon Thy sacred
dwelling place, upon the president ana of1cere
and members of this holy congregation; upon
each and all who contribute 10 adorn our wor-
ship by music and song. And may each OF us
consecrate ior himself O sanctuary within MS
own heart, where the Lord Eternal will be
praised, extoled and glorif1ed to the utmost
length of his day, from now I'LL eVermore.