Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-27
ISRAEL'S NEW YEAR.
SERVICES AT THE TEMPLE YESTER'
DAY MORNING.
Valuable Lessons OF the Dav Outlined In a
Sermon by Rev. DIR.
Harris.

The services at the Temple on the New
Year were attended by a large congregation
yesterday morning and began with the fol-
lowing prayer by the pastor, Rev. DR.. Har-
ris:
Make US wise, Heavenly Father. ever to place
our reliance on Thee. May wo more especially
do IL on this the first day Of the new vear. May
wo begin well and. by Thy help. end well. May
We III all humility adore Thee az the one eter-
nal. unchangable God. May the thought OF Thee
and Thy loving forgiveness aud mercy prevent
us even under the deepest conviction OF our
frallty and unworthiness frem being spiriiless
and detected.
Yes. a.-loyiug Father wo feel that we are
frsil and t,-ansitory and tha. all that surrounds
us Is fran and transitory Ike ourselves. By
every day that we pass we approach nearer TO
the term Of our course. Another year OF our
lives has Just drawn TO close ana 10 that year
we have oft neglected duty. We feel II, We con
fess Il in this solemn hour, and we humbly aud
penitently ask forgiveness.
We would not go on heedlessly and thought
lessly from year 20 year ike the animal, forget
full OF The moment when everything visible win
vanish from our view and sink iuto night.
Though here. Thou. God, conforrest on us
many blessings, many satlsfacions ana plea
sures. y,t their possession 10 exueneiy ~ ~uncer'
tam and their enjoyment but OF short Duration
Nothing could console US amid the manifold
vlcissitudes OF lifo were We unacquaihted with
Thy gracious disposition towards US.
Did wo not believe in a God OF goodness ana
love sad indeed would DO our condition. In the
sentiment OF Thine existence. goodness. and
love. We have an immoyable ground OF peace
andtOntentmont
BY Thee we are BY Thee we subsist. by Thee
we enjoy many benefits. aud by Thee we are for
given our shortcomings when we are trdly penl-
tent
BY Thee We may hope to continue to live
eiernaily. May this blessed hope be constantly
present to US; may 1t be our guide end comforter
on the path Of life. How Justly should we then
Judge OF all things; how wisely should we use all
things how safely and confidently should we
pass through the sorrows and trials OF life.
Teach us. Heavenly Father. TO regard the things
OF this world IN their true light; teach us TO
moderate our wishes and desires In regard to
them; teach US 70 look more to the Invisible ana
less 10 the visible. May our weakness, sinful
ness. and shortcomings be wildly present to our
minds: may We make atonement for them in
this Thy holy house; may our inner life hear
the consoling words, g have forgiven"
Amen
The Doctor then read portions Of Scrip
ture appropriate for the New Year, and
after the singing of hymn bv the choir
delivered a sermon, in which occurred the
| following:
Our present festival seeks to make God a
reality, and the most powerful reality TO
the human soul.
If it does not do this it is of no value.
If the minister does not strive to make
il do this ne is unworthy of the position
which he fills, and his heart IS not and can
not be free from sadness. fully conscious,
as he is. of the difficulty of his task.
The task is perhaps more difficult at the
present day than it has ever been. How
are we 10 fight successfully against that
| lukewarmness and apathy by which we are
| everywhere surrounded? We may preach
| from wear TO year. and how little do we nc
complish? And the reason Is not far to be
sought. IL is not easy to awaken deep
and lasting religious feeling in material
world amidst crowds of impressions rush
! ing in on us from that world ; amidst the
anxieties. tolls, pleasures. dissipations, and
competitions of that world and IN an age
when luxury wars with spirituality. II IS
| far from easy, il il almost impossible,
amidst these gross interests and distracting
| Influences, to raise mems minds 10 the un-
seen God.
THE QUESTION.
tt is not easy. said he, to fix impressions
of God deeper and more enduring than
| those received from all other combined
sources which are inimical to II. But the
question for us to-day is not the great diff
| Guilty. but the great necessity. II you say
! there is no necessity, then | am struck
! dumb; then have not another word to
/ SAY. Lntn l ItNf NkSltAA NY lAF ehilA tAi
continuing TO waste 1t on an idle dream.
/ But YOU cannot say il. You will not say 1t.
At the present moment less than any othor
o.. an any one of you say il. Your higher
nature now evoked would rise mp in open
rebellion. | know full well that 1t Is
not easy 20 make an uns cen God the SUI
| preme object. the spring and motive OF the
| soul, but we are here to try and do 1t, ana
! the New Year with its sacred traditions is
Il -. aall f.rf ,
powers II seeks to give force 20 reason
! warmth 70 the heart. 1t seeks TO bind us
| to God and man by love. II seeks TO
/ strengthen our family ties. II seeks to
/ teach another life with n higher happiness.
! ID seeks 10 rouse men TO warfare with the
/ evil in their own hearts. IL desires US To
reflect frequently on ourselves. 1t desires
us frequently to ask ourselves: What
am /? What are my duties as a
/ free moral being endowed with reason
! What do owe 10 myself and others! II
! desires us TO use the capacities and ablll-
ties with which we are endowed TO Their
| full extent. 1t says TO each and every one
! of Us let not day pass without strlyingt Il
! do some good. II says cultivate youl
mind with diligence and care: guard
against heedlessness and levity. Ever act
as thinking. rational creatures. Pursue
every ray Of light that touches you-eyery
track If truth that presents itself to You
1t says strengthen yourselves every day IL
some good disposition.
EXPLORATION.
Every day combat and control some bad
! propensity.
] ton.
Every day exercise yourselves IN some
manly virtue.
Every day bring some sacrifice to con-
science.
Every day give proof of your truth and
! integrity.
Every day advance in moral perfection
Every day do all this in the name OF thu
one purely spiritual God, who being holl
desires you to lead life of holiness.
Let US listen TO these teachings OF thl
New Year, that it may be well with us anC
our children after us.
THE CLOSE.
The sermon was followed by prayer
the singing of another hymn. and the con
gregation was dismissed with the usua
blessing.
MAYo-sTRERr SYNAGOGUE.
To-day being the second day of the jew
ish New Year appropriate services Will b'
held at the Mayo-Street synagogue, com
mencing at 7 o'clock A. NJ.
At 10 o'clock A. NJ. Rev. DR.. G. Eugene
Harfeld. of New York. brother OF the min
lister of this congregation, Rev. Louis Har
field, will deliver a sermon appropriate u
the day. to which the general public ar'
invited.
DIR. Harfeld arrived here on wednesday
and is the guest Of his brother, Rev. Loui
Herfeld.
TRANSFERS OF REALTY.