Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-06
At THE SYNAGOGUE.
A SERMON FOR ANY DAY-THE GOLDEN
RULE.
Insincere Religious Forms Are Hollow
acknowledgements and
Resolution.

| Inc L]a'iS iof the Gay was rendered by
very fine choir of mixed voices. At moo
there were concluded the prayers for til
dead, which r., Dbl Levy intoned in cleal
rich middle tenor, his modulations of tn
tones being exceedingly delicate and hi
enunciation being perfect and without tn
nasal drawl that aff1icts too many clergy
men. The choir then sang the beautiful
anthem, Hear Our Prayer, o Fathe
Almighty; Teach Us Thy Statutes"
Rabbi Levy then took his text from tn,
1 Kings, Chapter xix, 4:11:12 In the lat
ter verse occur the words, "a still, small
| voice." We are enabled to present brie
synopsis of the impressive and eloquent
sermon. Rabbi Levy said that no sincere
preacher ever entered the sacred desk with.
out some trepidation or asking himself il
the words he should utter would reach the
hearts Of his hearers; if his efforts should
be crowned with more than mere criticism
of subject and style. 1t is not surprising
| that the preacher trembles when he thinks
OF his own interiority, but is cheered on a
day like this, when there is but little need
of display of eloquencs; but little need OF
oratorical effects.
To-day our hearts are attuned to the
preachers theme; our souls are in harmony
with sweet memories as we recall the
happy days of our childhood, or as recol-
lection appeals to US in plaintiye tones.
This day demands the subsection of our
passions, that we shall put aside our bus
mess occupations and listen to appeals of
the still, small voice: Seek the Lord
while He may be found; seek Him while
He yet is near"
Dear friends, does not this STILL small
voice appeal to US all asked the Rabbi.
Surely it does, he replied, and surely ii
says there is God. 1t tells US that We are
happier when we are duty doing; that sor-
row and misery follow neglected duties
and personal degradation. Evidently there
is something within US nobler than our
bodies; nobler than that without The
still, small voice tells US it is of God
Let the intidel use every argument to dis
prove, and the disbeliever continue to
scott. l need but to look around, abroad
| within, to see that there is God.
So long as there exists one man who de-
sires justice and does charity; who pre-.
fers honor to dishonor; SO long as there is
| kindness in the human heart and love and
voice is heard in the souls of men and tells
| them that God is in nature and in the
| heart.
Oh, the marvellous contriyances of nature
| When we look upon them we say, here
| writes the wondrous finger OF God. The
sun sheds his gladstone light, giving life
| and vigor; the pale moon illumines the
dark mantle of night; the mountain SHOWS
renew the rivers; the birds of the air fiee
| with the seasons by their instructive wis
dom the wind performs its Office in drying
the face of the earth, in replenishing the
| parched streams or in refreshing US with
its zephyrs. The autumn following sum.
mer, passes with its changing breath
strewipg fading flowers; winter succeeds
with its severer blasts; the peeping buds
and opening flowers a6orning the face Of
nature tell us spring is come.
Year by year these progressive changes
go on; the life is given to the tree by them
developing wood and leaf and shade-tht
| grateful returns for the light and the heat
| Will such progressive change be NANTES
in us? Shall we make grateful return fol-
| the blessings God has shed on us? Shal
we, men and women, responsible beings
endowed with everything souls, be less re-
sponsive and appreciaiive than a mere
| tree?
| How can we manifest our thanks? By
| offering prayer to our Creator, by doinl
deeds of kindness to those who need by
comforting the widow and succoriug tn,
orphan; by fulfilling to the letter the law
| DO unto others as ye would they should
do unto you
| Display your thankfulness to God for thu
blessings of being by refusing to do mean
| tricks; by attributing good motives t.
others; by doing duty to home and neigh
Dor; by striving to be pure in heart, anC
| q good, upright citizen of this great benefi
cent republic.
The fable tells US man took vipel
| to his fireside from winters cold when il
was warmed it turned and stung him for his
kindness. THERE'S Roman story of slave
who had the full confidence of his master
but betrayed him, and was the firstto rise il
rebellion and smite him. Are we not al
most as base2 Do we not recompenst
| good actions by ingratitude, by indiffer
eDce, by mal-interpretation of motives?
| The still, small voice asks you to re
nounce no worthy thing, but it does ash
you to devote some hours to the WORSHIP
of God, and to the contemplation of Di
| vine attributes. Would that the still
small voice had prevailed with those who
to-day have not refrained from business
and with the Jew who daily and weekly
profanes Gods holy name.
| Were many of our hearts laid bare, l feal
that the motives which induced some o
US to come here to- day would hardly pas
as worthy. There was traveller and hi
son upon river of ice, and when in tn,
center it began to crack and bend, anC
death yawned before them. He began t
pray, and promised to God many things i
their lives could be spared. He would Civ,
in charity and to the church. With every
promise he doubled his offering, for thu
| loo GROW thinner onH hapr faarfnllv Thor
the son said: 30, father, if you give 81
much, we shall have nothing left to liv,
upon" Never do you mind, my child,
am only making these promises until tn
danger is over. Once we are safe across, W
will think about paying the debt" Let u
ask If any of US are like that traveller
We say we are sorry for our sins; that W
regret our evil ways, and we come to TIL
Synagogue and promise to do better. AM
we pray and ask for forgiveness. How
many of US are sincere2 Is it sincerity t
beat the breast in contrition, while in tn
heart remain unforgiveness and unchari
tableness Is it sincerity to come her
and shake our heads and cry aloud from
our mouths, while in our hearts we cheris
malice and an uLforgiying spirit? l tel
you no; such religious forms are mock
cries.
| Pardon me, who am a sinner like your
selves, weak and unfaithful. But am i'm
PEELED to believe that indeed we have com
here to-day to sincerely repent of ev
ways.
Young men, young women, does that still
small voice appeal to you? Elijah, whe
he spoke the words of our text was wear
of life and had lain down to die. Youn
man, young woman, would bring no sad
ness to your hearts, yet would have 20
contemplate death. The day must com
when you, too, must be aweary of life an
lay you down to die. Or in the height {
youth you may be stricken by disaster C
wasted by disease; what shall the still
small voice say to you then?
The Rabbi drew a graphic picture
the death-bed of an aged sinner, strue
Cling to retain the grasp upon lif
and begging to be allowed to repai
the evil he had done. Alb, young ma
and young woman, put not off the da
of right doing and repentance; remembe
now thy Creator in the days of thy you'll
remember that for every unatoned and ur
forgiven sin God will bring you to JUDI
ment.
Will you say we yet have time? All,
we not know how the flower IN bud and i
full bloom fall alike; how the fairest an
the strongest are stricken alike with th
wesk and the old? Let us pray to God {
be saved from an unrepentant death. Ii
: Us WOO the still small voice and heed it