The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-16
FORTY-FOURTH STREET SYNAGOGUE.
pIMINurIoN OF pEBT-woMANs FRIENDSHIP

DIMINUTIoN OF pEBT-woMAN'S FRIENDSHIP-
SERMON BIZ REV. DIR. y. DE SOFA MENDEs.
At the Forty fourth Street Synagogue yesterday
Row. Or. Msndes preiaced his sermon With the an
noupcemsnt that the Ladlss Weekly Fund Of the
Congrsgatoa HAD 10 I'VE months paid of $500 Of tho
debt. This has been accomplished BY seventy Or
eighty ladies, who each subscribe . small sum
weekly, collected by half dozen lady ueasurers.
This afforded gratifying testimony 70 the officials.
SAID Dr. Mendss that their labors will be
successful II has Increased public confidence
IN the future OF the congregation, which Is now
gaining members, three having Joined In the last
week. But Tor the remainder oil this year the cxer-
tions must DO continued those who have not yet
helped must come forward; those who have
aided hitherto must not fall OIL. and by January next
three and four times the amount Will be raised,
diminishing the debt and saving considerable In
tcrest on Like their mothers IN tho desert, who
gave OF Their jewelry TO adorn tho sanctuary, tho
ladies Of shaaray renla by small weekly offerings.
not noticed In their current expenses, would give
proof OF p,sty, reverence and practical orthodoxy
'.Continue, Increase" SAID the Doctor land how
ever embarrassed may be Tue circumstances oi the
congregation with which IL has been my fortune 10
become associated | am content Tor you will prove
that, IN religious feeling aud practical pieiy you have
equals but NO superors."
Ine sermon was on tho Book OF Ruth, which orsho-
dox custom selects Tor recital upon the Pentecost
least but which has fallen disregard Name aud
outlines are iamiliar all but more than these
worthy to be remembered m TINS book vi Tour chap
tiers aud less than ninety verses Or. Mcndes gave
DrIei history oil lhc events naIraied concluding with
reudIng the beautiful passage ia chapter verse IN
watch the griestregen Naomi begs her daagnters-n-
Jaw remain IN Moab while sue returns TO Judea aud
is met by Ruth's steady refusal :-'Urge me not 10
leave thee, TO return rom following thee, for wnhcr
tbou soest VIII 49,"
wonAS's FRIENDSHIP.
The love Of woman Tor woman mas frequently been
sneercd at by shallow minds Tho idea Of lasting
affection botS them mas not seldom been The
subISct oil cheap satire aGd poiniicss WILL Plant
suncnt las veen used 10 give support, or tue APP
pearance OF II, TO the theory. The lmpossibiity oil
sincere friendship between women explained upon
the TACT that beng schooied IN the ways OF the
world, IN tue art Of disgusting the sentiments, nero
passing d,skes ami groundess suspicons are uttered
forth the destruction oil lasting Intercourse In
word womans honesty OF speech 10 declared 10 DO
bar to tue honesty OF her friendship A proposlerous
paradox SAID the Doctor and that reflects severely
upon the friendship oil men toward men, II sucb DO
tue pillar which mans friendship rests, sung
by poets, extolled by phiosophersveulogzeib y our
own David, woman may scorn irie6dshp based upon
deceit. But Ia reality such critics IKE the igno
rant people VINO trnmpic on the sand or the grass
without a thought OF tho thousand marveis winch
cluster around each grain, each blade, hut which are
enough 10 stagger wise men. Woman's nsart, som-
thing. contains marvels that we may wonder al,
hut not explain. Woman's unguarded speech As II
ali the hasly uttsrancc IN the world ~ II the most
bitter speecaos that tongue ever fabricated, ever
killed mothers love Tor her daughter say that
men cherish basty words, brood over tncm, nurse
them ike orpa vipers IN tue BOSOM vii tho warmth
Oh tneir own vepeeiuincss and uoiorgvcness rous.s
them 10 lie, 10 laccrate unto tue DEATH Out say nos
that women treasure nasty speech.
DArGuTER's LOVE.
That daughters Jvvc can DC undyin ing, too, Ruth
shows us. All womans hoer Instincts are toward
inatrmoDy. Not Tor her own goou was she made, but
10 perfect man. Ruth had lost her husbands tue cup
OF welded mai pincss had been uasncd from her lips,
yet she reuounced all hope Of future welded bliss 10
follow an Old aud broken woman. Naomi bade her
stay and marry iu MoaU she refused Her sister did
remain she refused. Auimated WITH true friendship,
womans friendship, the worlds literature, which
has had centuries 10 improve on II, can furnish no
more touching response; the refined feeiog o. en-
ghtened age has never brought out holer devotion
than IN the reply, "Urgc me not to leave
thee; whittier thou gOcst l viii 20 Away
with all thoughts OF my weiiare whither thou goest
viii go broken aud heart stricson, sad and desoiate
where God's hand aud mans are sorcst upon thee.
Urge not 10 leave thee; whittier thou goest Will
poih Long may tncse words be preserved TO Brc the
souls OF sucn women Rum. Yod may not have Tho
same opportunity, but eacu In your own degree can
you emulate hcatnen Ruth. Aye heathen she WAS
unep ligntc ned ldolatrous beatnen--but sue mar
ried laith adopted u, and hsr great grandson,
David, interted sucestvrs nobility. tho material
"a IN our women; II needs but the spark TO nrs H. and
! lear not, said DR. Mendes that when sad misior-
tune Iow wo havo yet 10 hear OF many noble
Ruth. Long may this book, the gorincation OF
woman's devotion, be preserved, TO be read and re-
read our rontoeosi, 10 make US mediate upon the
life aud deeds OF Naom's granddaughter, Moapie
Ruth