The New York herald., 1874-05-31
FORTY-FOURTH STREET SYNAGOGUE.
The Pricstly Blessing OF Israel and
What II Means-Discourse by Rev. DIR.


The Pricstly Blessing Of Israel and
What II Means-Discourse by Rev. DIR.
Mcndes.
Yesterday DR.. Mendes made some touching ref
erences to the absence OF his senior in the Congre
CATION Shaarai Tephila, Rev. S. NJ. Isaacs who
hearing OF the sudden death or an old friend OF his
few days ago, became SO deeply affected as to
bring on sickness on himself. He was, therefore,
absent yesterday from his accustomed place In the
synagogue and many regrets were expressed at
his absence. DR.. Mendes in opening his discourse
remarked that many details OF the Jewish religion
had gone out Of date; they were temporary and
local. out now and again they come upon few
which form as were, an oasis in the desert
and which revive their interest directly. The
laws OF the Nazartes have passed away, but
the blessings OF Israel's priests are rected daily.
The tnreeiold benediction given by Divine com.
mand Is heard from priestly lips in every syna-
gogue, and our hearts and eyes are refreshed at
seeing and hearing those words. Although we
deem 1t very hard TO decide which portions shah
have prominence, the prlesty benedictior viii live
as long as Jewish parents have children on whose
heads the priestly hands are to be laid and the
priestly oenedictOn gwen 1t contains all that the
living mother would call down on her children.
"May tine Eternal bless thee and preserve thee;
may the Eternal cause HIS countenance to shine
upon thee and give thee peace;
MAY THE ETERNAL BLESS THEE
and preserve thee from lOss.r Some persons, the
Doctor remarked, place wealth in the foremost
rank, but he asked, can IL give happiness
peace? The mind seeks something which wealth
cannot give: it seeks God. 1t was known to the
sages OF old that wealth could not give happiness.
Increase OF worldly posse Is increase OF care
And because our sages knew this theylhaye had IL
''presefve thee from loss.n The original word
conveys the idea OF preservation from robbers as
well as from loss oil every sort. Wealth without
pride, fortune without persecution the Doctor
intimated, might prove great blessing; but he
contended that it cannot give that for which the
ha aakp
that those VINO have 1t recede from happiness as
their wealth increases Tne Doctor gave some
illustrations from nature and observation OF this
point, where there is abundance in getting it,
temptation in continuing 1t and guilt In abusing
1t and sorrow in losing It. And then there
are called to part with all our goods especially II
the heart mas been scared by them. The Doctor
then indicated how much good may be
done by wealth and fortune. Here the few grow
wealthy, while the many are degraded by poverty
and are sunken in sorrow. The Word declares
that the poor shall never perish ont OF the land
and IS ne not SHINING and sinful who wthnolds the
helping hand IRON the poorp Show the greatness
OF your fortune, the Doctor remarked, by the
meekness OF your hearts and the lberality OF your
gifts. snow that thy heart Is indeed reservoir
OF blessings; that thy life is one OF bonntifulness
works; ana may the Eternal bless thee and pre-
serve thee from weaiths worst foes.
THE BLESSING or EDUCATION.
May the Eterna! cause HIS countenance TO snlne
upon thee and give thee peace' Wnat greater
blessing can we have than education Az home
II Is friend; abroad 1t Is ON introduction. IL
chastens vice and guides virtue. WITHOUT euuca-
ton what IL man but splendid slave, vacillating
between aspiration for God and shudderlngs ior
l the teTror VI the hereafter. without ednnafinn