The New York herald., 1876-10-29
SYNAGOGUE WORSHIP.

WHAT IS THE REASONABLE AND REASONING
FAITH WHICH JUDAISM DEMANDS OF IT'S
FOLLOWERS DISCOURSE by REV. MIR.
JACOBS.
Despite the weather largo congregation gathered in
tho synagogue West Thrtyfou street yesterday,
TO whom the Rev. Henry 8. Jacobs preached on the
rcasonabeness OF religion and the faith of Judaism.
In the days sutra there appears phases OF Abraham
character which demanded attention. Called IN the
prime OF lie and manhood from the home OF his child
hood from tho circles OF his youthful joys; called
abandon the OF his early habits and yet ho was
ready to obey the voice of God. And thus he left Cha
dea and entered Mcsopotam,a He went there assail
idolatry Its stronghold He wont TO be a shining
light of the faith in the true God. Abraham lacked
the support that springs from domestic training His
father Ternh, according to tradition, maker OF
idols And yet, with nothing moro than she
ness tha, he was doing the will OF his Maker, the pa
trarch forth regardless OF tho pcrs with which
he surrounded. Tncrc was no doubt in mis- mind.
There be doubt In tho minds OF such when
| the voice OF conscience which Is the Voice OF God,
speaks to them Again, he doubted not when ho was
promised by Sarah, his wife. He believed God,
staggered not In his faith and It counted
him for righteousness And on this verse Mr. Jacobs
based the query which ho adopted for consideration
..What Is the reasonable aud
REASONING FAITH WHICH JUDAISM DEMANDS
Of Its ioowersY' II cannot be TOO often reiterated
that Judaism is not Sind belief IN the pse dirt say
ings OF any II allows the fullest latitude
10 human opinion when that opinion does not
initiate against the PLAIN Word Of God.
Judaism IS consonant with reason In its
fullest exercise, and it knows no law 10 any
msns opinion or belief II recognizes The Divine pur
pose to give validity to the deeds Of men For What
is motive without actiong They arc both necessary,
that we may fort, those things that lead from scns.
Bile and intelligent iaith to sensible and intelligent
action Judaism does not ask nny TO believe that
which cannot stand tho crucial test OF logic. Il Is
charged with being mere scntiment bnt II is more,
albeit sentiment is as much part OF mans moral
reason Is OF his physical But persons
demand acquicsccncc in things that be under
stood. Such opinions are fallacous They opposed
TO truth and justice. They bcirny the Same logical
error. Judaism IS a positive creed 1t religion,
and not cold philosophy II cannot and does not
exclude sentiment. !. has doctrines which arc
be defined. Kant, ono OF the greatest philoso-
piers Of his day, declared that belief in God is
something that cannot be proved by reason. But this
is error Rational grounds can be given for such
belief and tho fundamental proposition OF Judaism 10,
that there God. All nature cries out that there is
n God. Clad In its sprngt,mc garments OF green
IN ts roseatc hues OF summer howcrs laden with the
rcn fruits autumn, with the rosts and
SHOWS Of winter u teachcs Enthusiastically that there
GOD GOVERNING AND sUrgRISrENDTxG
all things. II teaches what Ahrahams lite teaches
faith In God You Law and order pcrvadng all
creation and IN the most minute organisms We may
60 further, and sec the Almighty hand spreading out
the heavens like curtain and teaching us rs in nspt
ration, that tho Law VI the Lord s righteousness or
all systems OF faith is not this an Intelligent faihs
ognzc as righteousness? This IS practical belief
And this shall be your righteousness when
his 'ias"' law. This is p Tho lcsson Of ASrsSam's
life which Israel has tried TO teach and
maintain And this lesson has bccn our Righteousness
amid tho troublous existence OF centuries past And
this promise has been funllcd and here arc to-day
witnesses OF tho truth before all the word. tho
children OF Abraham and tho followers OF his faith.
And should we to-day wavcr faith or bc tempted
to 50 aside and be deceived by The ignis f1fuas Of
rationsism!' II VIC have so ofen boon delivered by
God when calamitcs have been upon us and - many
things have been spared for our Joy and happiness
then DO guilty OF the ialschood OF bcey pg that
another. We have been preserved and sustained tor
some great purpose, which 10 TO be accomplished in
Gods good limo and In His own good way. Let tho
sccpiic snccr, but let us grow in righteousness
that We may teach II 10 the world. And let us so vo
that II be laid 10 our charge that have
forgotten orr Fathers mission. or that by
righteousness We have forgotten tho name OF Abra-
Let us continue In the path Of that undertaking
patriarch In personal and private and public lilo, and
soa WI, 20 Us ,0r ny ana ms
thereof quictncss and assurance forever.
Mr: Jacobs addressed q lev. words OF advice TO
youth who. had just attained his ecclesiastical ma
Jority and assumed the VOWS Of the Synagogue.
THE REVIVAL SEASON BEGUN.
Tho indications already given point TO revival Of
moro wonderful power this winter than that which
swept the land last winter. Alrcady At McCon-
ncIsvic, N. r., 40 have sought the Lord; at Giibcr
ton, Pa, "a hnvc been received probation during
tho past weeks, and tho Methodist church altar
continues to bo crowded with pcnl,cuss every night
Az Cross Roads Methodist Episcopal church, Bal
umoro SO have rrofcssed conversion; At Annapolis
Neck Md, 81 have bccn converted and others are
seeking a. franklin W. Va, 49, nj several charges In
tho Virginia Conference OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church South, $50 conversions arc reported. In
churches of the North Carolina conference
Methodist Episcopal Church south 732 convcr-
slons; in holston Conference churches 22a; in
Tennessee Conference Church. south 1870; in
North Georgia Conference 100; In Louisville
Conference, III; in Columbia, 80 conversions
About dozen have been vcrtcd IN ~ Paus Meth
odisi Episcopal church tSouthj, Baltimore and the
work increases in interest In Los Angeles six havc
been added TO tho Methodist Episcopal church rcccnsly
In tho Mississippi Conference churches lSonth) 375
con and scccssions the Mctlodists rc-
rfcd. IN nbnfuo chu hcef lon