The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-07
FORTY-FOURTH STREET SYNAGOGUE.
THE LEPRosx OF ro-DAx--sERMoN By REV.

DIR. y. DE SOFA MENDEs.
The lesson 10 the orthodox synagogues yesterday
Was from II. Kings, ", and from Is The Row. Dr. Do
Sofa Mcndcs. pastor Of tho Congregation "Gatcs OF
Prayer" wcst Forty street, took rs his text
the following vcrse:-"Now NasmaD, captain oil tho
host OF The King OF Syria, great man with his
master, and honorable, because by him the Lord had
given victory unto Syria; no was also mighty man
in vaor, but he was leper."
Like all mundane happiness and greatness, said the
Doctor, Naaman's not absolute perfect Though
wealthy iavorits ana valiant soldier he was viewed
by men with disgust and aversion. What awaited him
all his victories whom foul disease enthralled him?
What helped him honor his riches and his kings
favor when they could not cure him OF his oatnsome
ailment? IL has been we'll said, "Naaman was great.
as great tho world could make him. and yet the bas
slave all Syria would not have changed skins with
him." But God who sends such dire adliction often
sends tho remedy Itttc jewish iidcn, ascrvant IN
Na.man's household, told her mistress OF the power
popularity ascribed 10 Elisha. tho prophet, among
her people, saying that II her master would
70 before him she was sure no would heal him.
Naaman was willing 10 test the truth oil the girls as
sevcration, went In princely state to Elisha IN
Samaria Tho prophet did not him. but merely
sent him message 10 20 and wash In Jordan seven
times Naaman vas wroth Al mis- reception and " tho
more lie despised the small river Of Palestine.
Are no. ALBANIA and Pharpar rivers OF Damasc1s bet
ter than all the crooks PalesIine He said this In
haato. wnen, rs David says. all men dcccve them
worth the trial. ano indecd after bathing tmes
he cured by the medicinal properties Of the Jor.
dan, which gave tho baths OF Tioeras, ON us oanks
widespread reputation Tor emcacy IN scor0ut'c ansc-
tons
what complete picture have We here Of our own
tmcs Civilzal,on Is our M nmxn, mighty and non.
I'd O
knowledge nc longer the peculiar possession OF me
powerful or Of the Church; printing press like tho
yernal sun. has sent The vvly,ng sap pas.
war aud sturdy trunks into the smallest shoots
and twigs OF the forest OF humanity we pom! with
prdc 70 the millions expended IN bringing truth,
aduterated truth though II be. TO thousands Of be-
nightcd bcathenA With honor We cover ourselves
fairy overload ourselves with glory and beam with
satisfaction ms contemplate our engines and our
inventions ourpoIca institutions and our increased
the prevention OF cruelty. Surely wc, ikc Nasman.
nust be sgrcat men before tho LORD ana honorable"
TSoss who refuse 10 be Slndsd by socety's glitter
ana ustre foul disease spots on the surface
LEPROsY Is Aroor.
Lcprosy's ravAgcs are everywhere evident. There
is commercial loprosy, shown ny mercantile avs.
honesty and crashing "savings" banks deliberately
undermined by those sworn to uphold them. There
IL political lcprosy on continent unblusning,
lcgaIizsd robbery another million oil men under
5 10 pa III nss
is social sprosy around US, In our houses, 10 our
streets; from tue m,der symptoms Of cxtravagancc,
pcranco, tho foulest phases oil
Tho revolving crimes ever and anon thrust before
our abhorrent gaze BY the DAYS events. And re-
lig,ous eprosy, the farce Of gross isnor-
misunderstood phrases Of Scripture derived IRON .
poor translation; ths tragedy OF young man admin
tsseripg dregs oil dark ness and doubt to those who
pride themselves thor iucdity OF thought and GER
iainty OF their knowledge This Is all leprosy, mental
and moral Ieprosy, ana Israel's duty 10 DO not
alone psest inspect but TO cure Ike Esha-bd
the world battle In Jordan and DO cicah. Tho world
will prefer the more grandly rolling foods OF ALBANIA
aud Pharpar, but these have sgnxy failed IL Was
tho Hebrew maiden WHO primarily sent the ispcr TO
the Jordan This suggests TO mo the source oil the
cure We need moro chiidliko purity, sin
Certify and pioty IN our lives Cvilixatton
II too masculine, TOO sturdy aud defiant We
must ourselves learn what We teach our children.
the wstcnfu existence of Goo who Furnishes evil; wo
must ourselves be convinced that SIN always 10 fol-
lowed by suffering the dark thunder cloud BY the
soaring bolt We must practise what We enjo,n on
ghcm-sne duty OF prayer, Of regular communion
with God weaving OF golden thread into the coarse
web OF daily existence We must battle IN ths Jor-
dan OF religion long mado matter OF weekly dis
play In Synagogue and Church IL matters not under
what banner tho revival Of religious sentiment In
tho homo takes place: The world may speak OF tho
ssrcams OF Absna and Pharpar; NO Hebrews
know that the slender stream of Jordan L. In this
case the fountain head and hrst spring OF them ALL
Let us guard these waters faithfully aud carefully
nj t,l the grand day when they shall spread
earth and srne world full OF know ledge Ut the
true God, as tho waters cover the sea"