New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-16
PULPIT SKETCHES.
DOCTOR GUSTAV GOTTHEIL, RABBI OF
TEMPLE EMANUEL.

and
ures religious uses in the city, and, among the many
Costly md .beauul synagogues stands without rival
IL Is built OF brown hammered stone, with an areeaby
diversified tinngwhile admirable contrasts are secured
by the udicOus lighter bued sandsones for columns
asters and architectural details required by the pro
f,ise and elaborate characterization The chief architect
was Mr. Eidlrtz whose welknown requirements in this
stately creation find their best embodiment IL IA not
only the purest but anost the only thoroughly studied
example of saracenic or MOresque architecture In the
country Elsewhere bits and "reminiscences may be
found in domestic civic relations But there alone the
student can trace the exuberant, intellectual, yet
mystic inspirations of this Oriental art through
ont An entire edlAce, not only In its exterior
nroportions and outlines and Its interior perspecyes
ahoundng I'm the characteristic horseshoe arch, with
caponIed recesses and half hidden galereseverywhere
an almost food OF color indescrfbaDy harmoni
Gus I'm its tropical same saracenc feeling
IA perpeuay reflected from countless details OF ornanen
tation which literally covers every inch OF visible surface
The western end over the spacious ycsbue IL converted
into a yast music chamber. where the organ with
its series and ystas Of aEishy illuminated
pipes illustrates the community OF language
guage In the worlds of tone and color Deep galleries
stretch along the sides just within the lines OF huge
square columns which support the cleres,ory AT the
eastern end are celebrated the rites Of this ancient re
gon No windows break the great wall spaces. Near
the roof SLENDER graceful gallery delicate az me-
diayal carving, reaches partly across the END The
lower space Is filed with hidden chamber gorgeousy
upholstered wherein lie the three Sacred Rolls Oh Hebrew
Scriptures When they are used in the pubic Worshp
sliding panels are pushed back either side, disclosing
this brilliantly Illuminated repository Thewau surfaces
are literally irdesent with costiost traceres In golden
arabesaues ofthe old Ahambra desgnsn endless elabora
tion executed with finest precision and undertake Win
rich mellow tones, that a color-feehng pervades
the air like perfumes Of incense and flowers Great
branching lights stand before the tabernacle and above
rrtfh ftZ
lustre broad, wlraised platform reached by sixor
steps, perhaps thirty feet deep and reaching to the
ase columns sets of the suited to religious uses
broad pulpit with It's side desks occupies the middle 'front.'
and here the ritual ia read and chanted in Hebrew while
the great organ and choir give back choral responses To
reach q new conception Of tonal beauty in spoken IAN
guage one should the prayers, psalms and scrip
lures delivered they are by the ac-
complished reader. For the ministry n two
fold. a reader perfectly trained and edneateG
who is the iturgst and rabbi preacher whose min
strations in the veFnaculaT and consist oil single
extempore prayer followed by the sermon.
THE TRAINING OF THE PREACHER.
Dr. Gotthe the rabbi, is a German, born near Berlin
where he received his education university and prof
siona The rabbnica education, however, Is most ia
tricate and exacng curriculum, which penerates and
dominates all the merely academic work Of the aspirant
For the rabbi has sacerOta character or preenson
He exclusive ministerial sanctions he Is aoso-
Iuely layman without the slightest presty prerogs
tive, only he is accepted as pre-emlnenty Intelligent
teacher deeply versed in rabbinca and Talmudc lore,
well the history traditions and sociology OF Juda
ISM The Hebrew Is, Of course yernacular, but the
rabbi must almost thoroughly versed In the cognae
Semitic languages, Chaldaie, Aramaic and Arabic,
while the study OF the Tamud presents the profoundest
problems OF linguistic scholarship in that in its historic
growth 1t has absorbed roots idoms and shadngs from
all languages in which the great doctors spoke and
wrote 80 that 1t constitutes almost congomerate Ian
10 alata hast ala
rabbi therefore, necessarily always learner If he ranks
among the ing scholars OF his profession Dr. G0ttheb
az scholar master OF Hebrew, Chaldaie Aramale, Al
abic Latin Greek, German, French and English. He
conyerses with readiness and elegance in Hebrew, Ger
man. French and English. This is no unusual accom-
plshment among the Hebrew doctors, and Dr. Gottheh
modesty dsclans sill htes distinction on the ground
Of his linguistic requirements.
THE SCHOOL WHICH HE REPRESENTS.
He Is fine representative OF the modernHed school OF
Hebraic culture, which received its CHIEF impulse IRON
the great and erudite Moses Mendcsohn than one
hundred years ago. the geatgrandfather OF Felix Men
delssohn Bartholdy. This sociaresious movement Is
thoroughly ami iDelfgeny critical, and Therefore ri
tiOnalStic. pares and trims away ritual OBSERVANCE
domestic and public ceremonial and pecedens 30 iar ah
fast as they have lost rsprtua significance and
vitality and as the exuvG dctrtus OF exhausted
stages and conditions only hinder the development
OF the present but interrupt better understanding with
the rest of mankind. 1t is practically protest against
race excusiveness and attempt at genuine federation
with the great ethical currents Of civilization which How
from the inspiration of the DecalOgue.
Nothing hateful or nsuherablc TO Dr. Gotthel
as agnosticsm, or as he puts it, ethical and spiritual
bankruptcy. His ratlOnasm IL unsparng OF the letter
aud tradition but ii veneraes and reyeres the spirit
and life of practical religion II is cultus OF duty,
obedience and love for the Divine Law and Lawgver
working its social regeneration through the parity ana
integrity of personal life the sancties aud devotons OF
There Is no church priesthood or mysticism IN TINS
creed Dr.. GOtheI repudatcs the evangele or ethical
preensions of mere culture. The beautiful arts may TO
operate in the OF social edhcaton but the bddins'
up energy must dow from spiritual and Divine sources
The Reformed Hebrews are not a sect There IL no so
cal or race schsm. 1t Is movement advanced Scloo
OF thought aud feeling there Il church idea IN
Judaism The societies purely congregational ire
sponsble and impatient % the slightest intrusion or en-
croachment that organized expression of Hebrac
belief which should become authoritative practically an
impossibilty.
CHARACTERISTICS Oh THE SERMON.
The Doctors sermon is delivered without notes, ale
though he makes complete written copy OF nearly
every discourse, hut IL is used In the pulpit The
text is treated with easy mastery, ana It's elOcuuJn
and calculation satisfy the requirements Of the most
exacting hOmiletcs. He speaks deliberately, Tor man
who reaches his hearers through threeod yemacuari
reduced deberateness by the eryrchnessof hs
poly got vocabulary Through such a mind Thoughts
fit many winged. many hued and when they enter INTO
words the words have deep roots reaching down into INC
mother soil OF human speech To with any phloJg-
zeal insight the words and iOms OF DR.. GOtthel are
perpetual study and suggestion For II every Language
one masters is liberal education what treasury tho
Doctor must have In his tremendous range, from hfSt 10
last through the great languages OF the ree Added o
the Doctors deep aud learning there IL the energy OF
sincere hearty conviction Hebeleyes with head and heart
SO his utterauces come with commanding emphasis.
There is no waste bypay in his speech No dros no
clnker debase ygOr and value With all this there's
the fascination OF fine aud sensitive culture quick and
rare intelligence deep OF the beautiful IN an AMI
nature with a generous and symplthetic temperament
When he speaks features lighted With hittns emo