The New York herald., 1878-11-17
NINETEENTH STREET SYNAGOGUE
ArrRACTIvENEss OF THE sYNAGoGUE-sERMoN


BY REV. HENRY P. MENDEs
Rev. Henry P. Mendes is preaching a course of
mons in the Nineteenth Street Synagogue the
books Of the Bible and yesterday took his text from
the last verse Of Judges-"In those days every
did which right in his eyes,"
Remarking how this applied to the present day. he
obscrved:--1n my rise thousand voices, each
with different cry declaring this that to be right
in social life, in religion, in everything every ones
pet idea is the only true and because the dis
sentients will not be senced-each does that which
is right in his eyes. And yet 1t is declared. and
we are ready to conccde the sincerity Of the speakers
that whatever changes are introduced are from the
best of motives and with the honest hope of really
improving the religious condition of the community
IF cut away what is DID,. say they. 'or intrench
upon old customs 1t is because We think the times
quire it; II we introduce that which is new It is for
the same reason
AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN JUDAISM.
But our cause of complaint IL against the manner
OF eecting these changes that make American Juda-
ism different from the Judaism of Europe. against
tfc because effected by those who are masters in
knowledge Of business but not in knowledge of our
faith. who have made religion their speciality.
and who are not entirely free from the influence OF
pet ideas and nclinatons. What. then. is the
edy? The times advance and the development Of
upon religion and all connected with IT, but it is the
ministers who should assume the caro- of those de-
veopmcnts far as they affect our religion-not the
ministers Of any city or of any country but
the chief minister's OF the chief communities OF
the world. l have no hesitation in declaring
them that has brought Judaism to its pres
ent condition. or rather thrown it back to its
his own ewes. The changes desired or Effected by
any congregation. Portuguese German. orthodox
reform, either Legitimate or not Why should
not Jewish synod decide them But for congrega-
tons to act upon their responsibility, without
perhapsa single member being versed in Hebrew lore,
must surely be ~ dangerous as to intrust ship in
troubled waters without single navigator among the
crew. To show you how incompetent ordinary He
brcws are TO act on questions Of this nature win
hrnt fqpYu nm m ~ npr
sary II In TO obtain the decision Of those who make
the Bible and our religion their especial study.
JEWISH RITES.
For example. some permit an organ Sabbath;
those who object say It entails work. which is
swcrcd that there wns instrumental music
in the temple on that day. So there was but there
the animals cleaning them cleaning the altar raking
the ashes, tending the nre-a this is work. and most
servile work. but the fourth commandment forbids
all work There was fire. ~ said. and trimming the
lamps morning and evening by the priests but IL
is forbidden in Exodus. xxxv.. g. TO kinde fire.
How do you reconcile these things? might quote
from Talmud how IL needed tine special action Of
the chief Of the Sanhedrin permit the Shoar
to be blown on sabbath At one place Jabns where the
might know that though the temple was just de-
stroyed still there centre for faith. but
fore, IL we may have music on the Sabbath because
they had IL in the temple. why may not do work
and light Are for the reason. and II this be the
case what is the purpose OF the command quoted?
THE MoDEs oY WORSHIP.
Again. others would have the gentlemen worship
without hats. though have never heard the same
suggestion for the ladies. To say they wish it be-
cause II is the custom of their ncghbors would be
fatal 10 their argument. The only plausible
they give s that they consider II more respectful.
''lsespectful to whomy ask. ITO tiod," they
worship more respectful II He did prefer covered
to uncovered heads. why order the priests 10 be
cred, read Exodus, xviii. 40)p Why insist
upon IL, read in ~? why order the
priests of the future temple to wear them, we
read in Ezekiel Xiv. lsf' Again; some would have
1t stops talking or staring, or that parents can
better watch their children Those who come to
talk stare will never from noblcr motives.
Let fathers well rs mothers and aunts. there
will be no need for Watching but would ask II God
did not object to the being together in public
worship why ordain their separation In the tenn
pie: yet read in l. Chronicles. xviii. 49, that
all the arrangements OF the temple were written
down by His direction. What was the reason In
ferorty of proved ast week the falsity OF
queen aud prophecies would the high priest have en-
tered the woman's court holy atonement day
These questions of the day-nusic. bare heads and
pcwsas have put them. are suggested by the Bible
only, which is In your hands. Do you not under
stand now the necessity for men who make the Bible
their special study to explain these things II they
to be explained
But for each one to act independently means death
sooner or later for Judaism. Do not the
sult OF this every likes religion to-
apathy, the general disregard of religious rcstric-
tons Every day synod IL deferred N a sin upon
the shoulders of those who should hold t. No mat
ter tho impotence OF ecclesiastical authority all true
qualified and honorable body, expressed upon any
subject whatever why not upon the modern develop
men Of our faith, whether tnese things right
wrong.