The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-09-08
a HEBREW SERMON.
Rev. II. ]. Elkins, Of Cincinnati,
the Speaker.
f-HB JEWS SPIRITUAL LEADER.
se ADOPTS A Text From Scripture and Speaks
Argumentatlvely and Impress
siVely FH0m 1t.

4 d. ).
graduate CT the Cincinnati Hebrew colleg,
10 take charge of their denominational al
Sairs. Ryv. Ellkins comes here highly rec
@snmended as an energetic worker, and W
ssust that he may succeed in his work, SUI
lSsing even his most sanguine expecta
1bns.
AT the request of several members Of tn
Hebrew congregation, we take pleasure il
giving his inaugural sermon in full:
Text: And he, the spirit, said unto ms: Sol
81 man, eat what thou fndest, eat this scroll
and go speak unto the house OF Israeli
Ezekiel III, 1.
In all ages and at all times mankind ha.
nattled with a question which still rivet!
she mind of man and clamors for solution
The pages of history are writ DER with the
attempts of man, but the world still
grestles with the old problem And il
would seem as if the bridge between the
theoretical and the practical never could be
1uilt. In primitive times it was ignorance
shat prevented its accomplishment; in later
times man himself thWarts the erection of
she structure. The primitive ages have
been lauded fer their simplicity, and Justly
so; mans knowledge of natures blessings
was very limited, and his wants. in conse-
quence, very few. Reason in its infancy
was OuuSdFOAlAE W pl6EC6 through the
darkness which on each side surrounded it.
Slow was its first attempts to learn
the nature OF those things in which
the human reason was to play
such an important part Bitter must nave
been many experiences which a want of
knowledge neceSSitated to early man in his
5rst dealings with this earth But as he
grew, as his knowledge increased, behold
9Ae puny infant master OF his surroundings
tho mind aXyrNopHinur L., I, I
everything which preserved and kept alive
him who made use of it. Standing as we
90 in this century of civilization, being on
: the threshold of still greater wonders and
inventions, we can hardly estimate the
struggle and throes with which the print.
ave man wrestled. Death lurked under
avery plant; disease in every drop of water.
Experience, bitter experience, taught the
primitive man the use and abuse of natures
existence. We, VINO enjoy the lessons
which by tradition were handed down to
children and grand children, cannot
sufficiently pay the debt Of gratitude which
We owe TO those pioneers in the fields of
knowledge. Yet, as On this earth,
parents feel fully recompensed for
their labors If their children walk in
the paths of morality and honesty.
which loving hands have marked out
for them; so does this century, the child of
buried parents, show its love for the past
az keeping alive the torch of learning and
knowledge which has been kindled and
handed down to US for safe keeping. And
Lruly, above all other ages, this century is !
endeayoring to pay this debt Of gratitude |
POOR indeed is that one who can not drink |
and that deeply-Of the fountains of |
From one end to the other the |
saI teens with schOolhouses. This is |
theSEest way of showing appreciation for |
the past and It's work. In this recognition |
Of the present era for the labors of the |
past, in the thanks which future genera
lions will feel toward the nineteenth cen
tury,is seen popularity in man which has |
been great factor for good. This quality |
in man, thankfulneSs for the labors of |
others, is a redeeming feature in what |
otherwise seems to be world of selfish |
ness: and 1t beckons man on to future |
success and glory. This feeling of |
Zratitude for the labors of by
gone ages is due to mans desire
20 acquire knowledge and education. If
history contains any lessons, it is that of
sducauons efficacy. If the history of the
sciences, If the records of religious thought
possess any truths, it is that education has
0een at the bottom of all advancein culture
,dd refinement. This factor must indeed
~ mighty one for good if our present civ
lIZation Is due to its presence And. more
,ver, it will be readily granted that it is
VOrthy Of the greatest attention. And vet
{ IS term oft misused. Persons deficient
q the least noble trait which makes man
ruly God-like are called educated be-
apse their youth happened to be spent in
college. The abuse of the term has given
Use to chaotic order OF affairs, the rem
dy of which is much needed desidera-
um N an age when iSms sprout up over
light
NOM with early man, learning was a
qry vital affair. A single item of knowl-
dSa was oft baptized in the tears of
1other, in the anxiety of father. The
hid who unknoWingly tasted Of the ,
oisOnous plant; who, brought to the rude
yelling of his parents, lay unconscious. ,
is suferings became stimulus TO mans
lind to learn his surroundings. And :
yhen, after many bitter trials, a certain !
hing was found to be injurious, how that 8
was carefully treasured up, how ;
was handed down from generation to =
eneratiOn. An item of knowledge once !
cquired became a life principle TO its +
wnerS. Their daily life was moulded by !
heir knowledge coming from experience.
4 this truth, the real meaning of the word | h
is plainly evident. Mans ;,
capabilities must be drawn out and this o
an be done by experience only. For in
lance: Self-preseryation is feeling com
ION to all mankind :
Now, if a certain fruit sbe known as in
irleus and in spite OF war ling (whi, is n
~ experience in another formJ one would \
AZ Of the same, he could not be called h
lucated, no matter how great his stores -
learning might be. Education with early :,
an meant experience formulated into =
rincipIes of life which in time became a !;
art and parcel of their owners. The same ~
bids good today. Unless the truths we =,
arm become part of our being. unless -
ir mode of life be directed by the same, n
can not be said that we are truly edu- I
tied. Moreover, it would seem as if the p,
'esent era fully understood this h,
int. For the experience of past y,
.nerations is lost; but that the @,
Gaming of those experiences may live on
US, great schools are built wherein are -
ught the lessons of the past, moments 10
Orthy of parents; love. Advancement he
ould be very slow indeed if the learning sT
~ past were unknown 10 Us. This pro- M
ess Is especially true OF one department ~
knowledge-namely, that which more rs
rectly adds to mans physical comfort @
l the sciences which are but remotely A,
INJECTED with mans material existence n
We beer. vastly improved. A century's al
provements have made man master of w
surroundings. This is not to be won mr.
red at. If we select any science and note re-
W it has been built up the reason for NJ
2 progress OF the natural sciences is m,
linly evident Take. for example, the ed
ence of medicine, the science which an,
re than any other denies the efficacy of | RI
igionf There is no need on my part of la,
atingf on the good which a doctor may
,omplssh Almost angelic is his voca- al
n. To bring comfort and sunshine
ERE before despair, the bitter despair of Z
ming health was, is indeed a work
rthy of the best man that ever lived
! let not this truth carry medical men full
ay with pride. If it be remembered in
" from the times of the first physician, got
Vn TO the present day-from a Hippo- an
~ 4 A.,