The New York herald., 1876-11-19
SYNAGOGUE WORSHIP.

SYNAGOGUE WOhSHlP.
SPECULATIVE THEOLOGY DEPRECATED By DIR.
MKSDEs-HUMAN FAITH NOT TO BE uN-
SETTLED.
During the three years that DR. Mendes has now
minstered to the spiritual wants OF tho Fortyfourth
street congregation quito a reaction fervor has
taken place, evidenced IN tho much larger at
tendance on Sahbaths. His eloquent and scholarly
sermons have taken firm hold on his people,
for thoy grappe successfully and intogibIy with the
great problems OF the day, besides expoundng in
enlightened way tho truths of Judaism. His work has
not been confined to the pulpit, for In the school,
the platform and through the press he has dill
igcnt in spreading liberal truth and furherng tho
tercsts OF Ais congregation Dr. Mcndes has made tho
Fortyfourth street synagogue among tho foremost in
tho land. Yesterday the Doctor, in commenting upon
the lesson OF the day. dcporeo the tendency occupy
mems minds with matters too speculative and I'm
practical. OF such subjects the existence aud at
tributes OF Doity, future life, rewards and punish
menis, could out form theories; all absolute and
definite knowledge OF them hes beyond the palo OF
mortal certainty. No ono would DENY that temperate
and moderate discussion OF what the wispst men
thought upon such themes was Of value, and even
obligatory upon the religious instructor but exclusive
occupation win them, rcessant passing and rcpassng
over the
SLENDER WIRES OF SPECULATIVE THOUGHT
not only valucless but HARMFUL unsettng mon
and making them unit for the steady work OF life All
that the wisest Of preachers tell you, the
DOCTOR oil these things you Know yourselves, and ul
you know yourselves may be summed up ir tho
sentence, I'VE know nothing OF them" Tho prophet
has not yet arisen who, favored than Moses has
asked to Gods face and received his petition One
OF this weekly dragging plain, matter oi-fact
citizens tho irail ropes of speculation Is the d.
mnshcd reverence for the Bible Preachers prefer red
not to illustrate Bible characters not necessarily be-
they ncd them In lower cstccm but thcy feared
their iocks do Tho next result Is that people have
become quite ignorant OF Bible narrative have sup
piled their knowledge OF Scripture characters
from common report, light literature or the
~unllu IL .cfsr
tion OF Hebrew character the personality of Shyock
drawn by Shakespeare. Referring TO tho lesson OF
the day-thc sac OF Esau's brthrIght 10 Jacob--Dr
Mcndcs instanccd this as an example OF popular ms
Judgment jacob IS denounced as a cheat or sharper;
Esau heId up as careless, wcli-natured man. Whilc
conccding that the men and women OF the Bible were
msre men and women, with high virtue Il is true.
and some with scarcely any Il somewhat staggering
to nd such crimes as fraud deception and grecdiness
therein portrayed Are not preachers right IN refus-
ing attempt to draw instruction from such odcsY
Certainly not replied the Doctor; they should exam.
Inc Scripture more closely and then they would nnd
that such popular ideas faulty Thus, mad been
prophcsied that Esau should serve Jacob This was.
doubt, oftcn told tho latter by Rcbecca VINO loved
him. hence jacob grew up despising his brotncr and
percc!ving hts utter un0tncss 10 be tho founder OF
birtnright for moss OF pottage excaining that no
starving, when he was in his fathers house, ia
cob thought tho moment had arrived for the transfer
OF tho birthright
WHAT WAS THE BlRrnRrGnr?
Very few reflect on this question they would not
think Jacob had secured so gutcrnr a sinecurc. The
first borns Office that Of the priest OF the family
You judge. said tho Doctor. how fitted wild E-au
was for such holy office. compared with the med
tatve and religious Jacob. But jacob was wrong in
f0rcstaling God In trying TO help Providcrce. So
Isaac has been blamed for making Esau &c. somo vent
wild. had married idolntrous wives who vexcd his
parents; hts nature was such as 10 wound and hurt
his parents sensitive dispositions No doubt he caused
them abundant sorrow Therefore Isaac. who believed
he receive the blessing set him tho easy task
OF bringing head OF game, that he might perform ut
least Que nal act Of obcdencc and receive blessing
for u. so Rcbecca snncd too, but with the sin OF
much love for her son he only who has known
mothers devoiion will brand her Tor Il The lesson
one Of patience not TO try and help Providence
by master strokes In the present political crisis both
parties must be patient and convinced that tho right
will prosper. but any voIcut attempt 10 aid IL will
causc mischief and wrong.
CONSIDERATION OF A SYNAGOGUE
Tho jewish congregation shaary Berochoh, formerly
worshpping In Sixth street, Second avcnuc, hav-
ing leased the hall over the Third Avenue Railroad
depot had II fitted mp and dedicated Yesterday as
house Of worship. II viii be used until their now
building is finished. Tho Rev. II. wassormann de-
ilvorc she consecraon sermon. from Genesis, xxvii.
B-"And God Almighty bless :tce and mike thee FRUIT
full and multiply hcc TINT thou maycst bo Of
people," THIS tex. the reverend speaker raid was
bless the congregation Israel they must 90 all in
their power TO merit tho blessing. But alas icw
congregations cared now Tor sincere prayer such as
their iorcfnthcrs offered up. They arc too intent
upon the display OF magnificent eiccs and splendid
rhoirs. Tho Lord had said "whcrevcr l record my
name will come unto thee and bless theen Costly
edinccs and nnc choral music, to tho exclusion or
prayer, not what the Almighty desired from HIS
children contrite heart and a dcvout spirit nro
moro acceptable TO Him. Abraham set n good exam
po when he told his servant TO go into Mcsopoiamia
md find n wife for Isaac, but not to takc one from
among tho daughters OF tho land In which he dwcli.
Though blessed with riches. Abraham had an abiding
fnitn in God and manifested II by saying sThc Lord
God Of heaven, which took from my father's
house, will send his angel before thcc" And tho
sequel showed that TINS faith was not unioundcd.
Tho prophet Amos said In chapter ", 23 2l
'sTakc them away from mo- The noisc oi thy
songs for l will not hear tho melody Of
voIs. But let judgment run down waters
righteousness as mighty stream" This language
could not DO mistaken Not music nor outward gilt
tor Is agreeable TO the God OF Israel Charity tho
Alpha and Omega Of cvorything toet great and good
THIS congregation has repeatedly proved this and tho
Lord God who had blessed thcm before continue
TO bless them both individually and as congregation
and multiply them that thcy may bc multitude OF
people. In closing his remarks DR.. Wassermann
offered up dcvout prayer that the troubles which
now pending over the land may be avertcd ami the
United States may, under good government. bc
blessed with the blessing Isaac gave Jacob whoa
ne said "May God gvc thee OF the dow OF and
the aincss o. tho earth, and plenty oil and wnc
DO lord over Thy brethren and lot tiny mothcrs
thoc and blessed bo he that bcsscth thcc Tho regular
sabbath service was thus recltcd 10 ts close by Rev.
Max Cohn