The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-05
LEXINGTON AVENUE SYNAGOGUE.
The Passover NIenOr1aI-Lfberty for
the Oppresscd-Scrmon by Rev. Dr..

The Passover rIennor1aI-Liberty for
the Oppresscd-Scrmon by Rev, Dr..
Hucbsch.
The beautiful synagogue in Lexington avenue
and Fiisy-aith street was filed with worshippers
yesterday, to whom DR.. Huebsch preached an elo-
quent sermon on the Passover memorial. His text
was Exodus, xiii, &c, 27-"And it shall come TO pass
when your children shall say unto you In time to
come, What mean We by this serviceY Then We
shall say, 1t Is the Lords Passoverr' This one
question, "What mean We by this service?n like o
red thread, runs through all OF Israels history. Ig
was put to The nation In various idioms and modu-
lations. now In grudging and hateful tone, ana
again in biandishing and entclng tone. The
wars and the promises OF the Cnaideans Greeks
and Romans, the horrors in the torture chambers
and on the smoking pyres Of the Inqusition, were
80 many versions and Illustrations oil that one un.
changeable question. The ancestors OF those that
celebrate now their DesGch In undisturbed peace
bore herlocally the enmity and persecution OF a
world that was against them. They willingly gave
up wealth and home and everything to which the
to maintain their creed in p,>ty as an Inheritance
Tor poster:y. Did they suffer their martyrdom for
chlmera DID they die Tor an iliuslona
TIE PASSOVER, THE GREAT EyPoUSDER
OF our religion, said tue Doctor, shows us how
great spiritual treasure our forelathers were
made the stewards OF, and how judlclous ther.
noble resolution was TO endure the most extreme
sufierings rather than betray the trust commltted
to them by God. Passover Includes the suDlimess
ideas and proclaims the most important truths.
Standing on the boundary between the two halves
OF the jewish year, IT Is the noatnplece aud the
true expOunder OF nature. Israel was not the
only nation that celebrated the great festivals IN
the spring. Since men have lived on the earth
they have had an open eye ana an Impressive
heart TOR the changes going on IN nature. The
history Of the ancient heatnen religions rejects
fadng away, the trees casting Oh their leaves
and vegetation sinking TO tue ground as
stricken down , ey mga enemy then rn
God OF Death had conquered the God OF,
Life. They buried the dying summer under
the icy sceptre which Tor the ensuing months was
to sway the earth. But wnen the oasmy breath OF
spring dissolved the letters OF Ice ana snow, when
the life the veins OF the Garth began nightly to
throb and TO burst TO the surface IN hosts OF gems
and blossoms then they shouted IN jubilee. The
mer was resurrecteu as
LOVELY REDEEMNa YOUTH,
to spread his bhssu common over the terrestrial
globe. Thts worship OF nature mas some thing lovely
aud hearSwinning about II, but 1t has pernicious
Thns two contrastinr bowers ruIed the uni-
verse, and the human mind was divided in itself.
" served half the principle OF light hall the princi
pie OF darkness; partly the God OF death, hatred
and enmity; partly the God OF lie, love and be-
nevolence. In winter mans soul iroze to the cold
ness Of the winter god, lar below the zero of moral
temperature; then again IL thawea up to o short
blossom Of earthly beauty, the image oil spring
in all its frailty. How different, the Doctor re-
marked, does our spring festival teach usl With
one hand 1t points TO heaven with the other -
earth. 1t says:--All changes here below have
their one and unalterable reason In a Most High
Power. one Creator. one Ruler, one supreme
Love In the most vehement winter storm as In the
most lovely smile OF rejuyenatlng spring; unity ia
the creative power, harmony in nature ana III tne
human SOUL. This Is the teaching OF the Passover
to us The Doctor then showed the significance
OF this festival the true herald and sweet mes
senger OF political freedom.
THE TYRANT NEVER PLEAsEs COB. ~,
and even II his throne Is firmly established anu us
policy apparently succeeding Tor tilne We must
not suppose Divine Justice to DC nus accomphce.
Providence Is always on the side oi those that are
oppressed The LORD knows best wneh Tue tine
is az hand to crush the oppressor and 70 rescue ms
victim. Israel took with them out OF tue house Oh
bondage this consciousness OF supreme pro-
lection. and this was ior them support
and comfort in many q critical ana desperate
hour The OLD pesach story contains the highest
concession. The Lord Is q God OF mercy; lie mas
made manKin Tor freedom; Wherever God reigns
supreme In the spirit OF an there Drotheriy ioyo
must GlI the soul towards a ellow brother. An In
ulry committed on one wno bears Gods image Is u
wrong In me eyes OF the Lord.
The Doctor concluded by showing what influence
the celebration OF such great and significant
festival ought TO have upon the religious, civil and
Domestic lie OF the true conlcssor.