The Hawaiian gazette., 1879-04-16
WEDNESDAY. APRIL l6. 1879.
sPIRITUALIsM.
A Rabbi's Protest Against the Tens
deucy of Modern Times.

From the San Francisco Bulletin.
The Rev. Dr. Bethlehem delivered at the Syna.
gogue Ohaba Shalome the following sermon.
The text was taken from Ezekiel, Chapter Sc.
verses xxi and xiii. The Doctor said
Israel and her creed are the results OF histori-
cal Developments. Born beyond the river" 10
the cradle OF humanity grown in Egypt. reared
in the wilderness. domesticated in the land of
promise, then dispersed and scattered upon the
whole globe. for the sole purpose OF becoming
acquainted with the philosophy and lofty thoughts
of other people, and when those grand ideas are
recti6ed in the furnace of her revealed religion,
again to spread forth the rays Of truth TO the
world, Israel stands to day in the foremost rank
TO teach the nations of the earth how to avoid
and how to submit to temporary difficulties.
History is 10 Israel the holy tablets upon
which God is inscribing his indomitable will. 1t
is TO her not mere acc ident, bat the revelation
OF Gods just DEGREES. tie who 10 willing or able
TO read and TO study Gods a-wise intentions,
will find therein many infallitle precepts TO guide
him to good conclusions. With the words OF
the prophet Jeremiah, | may say the world at
this moment is like "seethlng pot" 1t is boil.
ing and bubblIng everywhere. The minds oil
natoDe are agitated. Discomfort has taken the
place of former satisfaction and peace, doubts
the place of faith. and revolutionary spirit the
place of quiet submission. The necessity OF con.
stanily changing and amending our laws shows
concluslvely, thai they are inadequate to the re-
qurements of public good.
There is scarcely one country on earth in
which perfect tranquility is prevailing. There is
everywhere some trouble. "a
POLITICAL. SOCIAL, OR RELIGIOUS DIssENsIoNs
Are disturbing the surface, and the constant
travail seems to indicate the binh Of o new era
And new cru will surely be born her mission
will be the Messlanic task TO perform-to re-
deem The world, and TO make ma:kind more en-.
lghtened, more liberal. more submissive, and
more faithful; but if the birth OF that glorious
period will be accompanied with temporary woe
or joy, with smiles or tears for US and our chill
dren, we cannot yet tell.
This Messianc time will surely dawn upon
the children Of man. to establish and to support
through justice, righteousness. and truth, noblel
and purer sentiments. Bot my friends, we must
also do our duty, and perform our tasks in paving
the paths for such happy events and in preparing
our children for the glorious future.
My friends. am not prophet, but could
Claim any divine inspiration. should call this
unborn child Liberty" The future OF any re.
liglon will be on the side of human liberty. The
religion of the coming generations will promote
the liberty OF man, will break all the iron etiers
which over piety has forged upon the Decks OIL
mankind will Danish all the dread with which
superstition has filed our hearts. and demolist
the barriers which religious fanaticism has sci
up between man and man. | Claim TO be as lib
eral as any man. and whilst / always demand OIL
you obedience to the Word of God, and to re
main Israelites strictly adhering and cleaving tc
your creed and glorious history, | nevertheless
shall ask Of you. in the name OF this very Juda
ism, TO unfold the flag of religious liberty and tc
consider freedom OF human conscience as the
cornerstone of pure religion.