The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-05
THE SYNAGOGUE.

THE PROPHET AMos-ssRMoN DY REV. DIR. y.
DE SOFIA MENDEs.
Tho lesson 10 the Forty fourth street Synagogue
yesterday tho last chapter Of lsniah, being The
Sabbath of New Moon, but DR.. Mcndcs selected 40
hts subject the writings Of tho prophet Amos which
would otherwise have constituted the lesson Tho text
was from Amos *, 7-"Arc 70 not children Of tns
E,hiopians unto me- children OF Israeli saith the
Lord. Have not brought up Israel out Of tho land
OF Egypt and the Ph!lislinos IRON Capntor ana the
syriars from K,r?"
Amos, said Dr. Mendes, is onOof tho prophets least
known 10 tho Bblo reader and IL is difficult state
the reason Its vigor Is second only TO Isaiahs and
hts speeches abound with pictures taken from his
rustic life, for no a herdsman and gardener.
Tho kingdom OF Isracl at that timo the height
OF power Its domiaion extended on every side; mo
isracntish arms were feared ana respected Pros.
permy rolled tho land sucn not known
since the days OF Solomon. But anlucnce brought
wickodncss, luxury ana injustice. rno mobiles
troIicd tho courts Of JUSTICE and tho poor was
terribly wronged. Although thus enriched nj the
ponso Of tho poor tney wore avaricious OF iurthcs
gam, wishing tho festivals over soon that lhoy
sna sa"Ss.n "a ' pass swav When thew hos
thus stripped their poorer brethren Of laads,
houses and morcy thcy took them boudymen boz
fore they would furnish them w1sh tho most trivial
articles OF necessity Therefore the prophet cx-
claimed, In tho name OF tho Lord, 'surey will not
forgot thor works. Another aspect OF tho corrup.
israc the ny pocrisy with which they DIS
charged all the public requirements Of tho Mosaic law
and NJ tho time w0rshppcd idols and performed
idoatrous practices suca Inconsistency and du.
plicy rousod Tho ire OF tho ou,spokcn prophet, and
Tor his earlcssness he was expelled by royal dccsco
IRON Bethel After this act OF tyranny, winch could
not bear rcoukc, Amos last orations are
n moro MOUNTAIN D, brook ."' FROM tho last esap.
ter tho above text Is selected whlcn seems
context aud from its The meaning scoms
10 he aimed at that self complaconcy with winch
Israel relied upon Gods especial iayor IN tnc past y
ZEN thag 90 urt end md Fnm Nh
them out wondrousiy from Egypt, but he had also
guided the migration OF other nat,ons-tnc Philis-
tines, for iustancc--rom Caphtor or Crete, aud the
syrnns from kir supposed to he Caucas,a Tho iaci
oi the exodus was no, isracs chici mort or ground
Tor favor, but tho accopi observance OF tho
Mosaic law; ana how had tho childrcn OF so bcncso-
lent = being Ms their Heavenly Father proved .nom-
selves worthy Of tbis7 Tho prophet taunts thom
with being moro like the cnildron OF the acourssd
Ethiopiaus, who gave tho nrst example OF nal dis
respect IN Noahs tiino.
ISRAEL rmE FIRST or CIVILIZED NATIONS
Tho lesson that Amos would tcacn Is an appropriate
scy so :, cs ar c.s ~ ,ns ,,lc
families oil Europe tracing thcir descent back into
the misty ages Q, paruar'ty We smile proudly as we
rccoicct that while Abe stained BrIton ran Wild IN
| the woods and tho sk,n-ciat German huBtcd aud
| fought IN impcucTaDio forests; bciorc Romo
founded M her hill-sca aud bcioro Homer had sung
tho nic 0i Troy boslcgcd Israel settled nation,
| ruIcd by king whose Dobo poetry forms naf the
was barbarous qua distracted Israel mad laws aud
ethics WHICH, under names disguised or not, form tho
| with just pride; but now do wc show ourselves wor-
| thy 0i such d,si,nction3
1 ACE.
Not SIN that Amos catalogues and ashes bat what
10 rIc to-day Tho rich mans grcod Tor wealth that
crowds tbs poor Ia tencmeu,s bcreft Of light aud
air, wrinsing from them rent often tear stained
and blood stained, mas IT'S counterpart In tue
conduct Of those who "ssgrr Tor the dust
OF the earth on the poor mans head" 1he
sinful cxtrsvagsncc whicn bcmoans hard times
but never stunts The epcures palate, but cuts down
The charity list had LIS counterpart too Is II Just,
Is u human, asked the Doctor, that when times are
hard the nrst evidences ot IL sDoud be seen not in
the dimiuuton oil the feasting, the aressng and the
thearegoinr, out III the appeals OF the charitable
stuuons, the closing OF relief societies toe sale
oil buildings dedicated TO God aud religion
i WORD TO HEBREW LANDLORDS.
There are other sins OF age ccnsuroI by Amos.
AMI our people. said Dr. Mcndes, VINO only iiiy
rchsct the errors oi the age In their Owl persona
sbvuid set the example Of reform There Is no need
10 toll Hebrew landlords 10 be merciui and consider
ate, but VIC should reflect that every dollar spend
| represents this Value 81 workiDgman's iaJor--his
strainng fincws aud painting iramc--ior hiatt n day.
~ rs sln IN such unirs 10 spend upon nccng pleas
urcs whilo hundreds piuch ant perish THINK
this, said tho Doctor; you will nnd tho principle moro
4 fraA 10 sttroI. ic IA.