The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-02
REV. DIR. A. s. BETHLEHEM.
SERVICES IN MEMORY OF THE
DISTINGUISHED RABBI.

Alexander Kohut-Messages OF Condo
Ience Sent by the MANY Friends Of tho
Deceased.
Many friends Of the late DIR. \. ;. Bettel-
helm. who were shocked at the news Of his
untimely death and burial at sea, will read
with interest the following account Of the
services held in his memory in Baltimore IN
Saturday, which were reported in the sun;
At the temporary house Of worship Of the
Baltimore Hebrew congregation, Charles
and Fayette streets. memorial services were
held Saturday morning in honor Of the Rev.
DIR. 4. :. Betteheim. who died In returning
home from Europe, and who was buried at
sea. DR.. Bethlehem for four years had been
rabbi Of the congregation, the members Of
which had the prOlOundest yeneratlon Tor
him. their prosperity ~ an organization
was due in large measure 10 his zeal and
activity. which all the members readily
recognized. At the memorial services there
was a great throng. The people commenced
coming AT half-past O'Clock. and shortly
afterward il was found necessary TO close
thedoors for the comfort and safety Of those
already within. The galleries ere filled and
hundreds stood in the aislcs for two hours
and listened attentiyely 10 the eloquence Of
the Rev. Or. Alexander kohut. who
preached the sermon. ana with the assist
ance Of the cantor of the congregation. Rev.
Jacob Marmor. conducted the impressive
service. DR.. kohut has a congregation
Of 1000, persons and is probably the most
eminent rabbi IN America.
I'm his sermon. which was delivered IN
German. he said: mo word Is on my
tongue: thou. . Lord. knOwest all. In the
frame Of mind which wrung this cry OF dis
tress from the psalmst DO find myself also.
The word dies upon my lips. With quaking
knees stand here in the place where once,
and that but short time ago. there stood "a
man vino was counted among the exquisite
lights Of Judaism. How can !, with trcm-
bling voice and sore heart. appreciate the
manifold accomplishments Of life so well
spent? | am needy Of consolation myself.
How, then. can give consolation 20 the be-
reayed wife. the congregation, and his null
;itude Of friends, and yet solve the great
question which we all are asking-'N Thy :
How can bring into harmony the dlspen-
satiOn Of God. who il all merciful and all
Just. with the portion Just read;
"'When thou contest unto the standing
corn Of the neighbOr thou mayest pluck save
with thY hand but with the sickle shalt
corn This is a law Of humanity. 10 spare
the standing corn and not destroy. What
has life in it, Why should we not be able
to make il applicable 10 our own natural
lives: Why is not the angel of death forbid
ben to NOW his sickle over life that had
mol vet run its course: Where can we find
a key to that cipher. an answer to that great
interrogation mark called human life; Birth
and death are wrapped in eternal mystery.
never to be solved by the narrow shape OF
human brain. All that is given 10 MS is 10
bead the knee in humiliation, and 20 ac-
knowledge a. the heavens rise over the
earth. 50 DO Gods thoughts soar over the
WAYS of man. His paths are not ours. His
cOunsels are beyond Us. How dare we ask,
and why bring judgment upon OurselNc.
Only too truly did great sage say; could
we understand the ways of God We our
selves would be God
Glow great "A span did his life pass over!
We do not count our lives in years. The
foremost consideration is how many good
deeds are inClOsed in those years. CEN
fury Ofttilnes seems short when no redeem
Ing feature makes il interesting ana useful
and We, in either case atty-siN years Of tni-
mans life may indeed be- called perfect. y
"A man, as "A friend. as father Of his lam
ily and congregation. an the world. i'm Tie
home. in the ministry, he fulfilled the de-
mands of the prophet who said, Mho Is the
ideal Of priesthOOd| Never was life so
| Illustrative of the answer as given IN tue
text which | have chosen. To walk 10
truthfulness before the Lord and his fellow
man ought to be the ideal of everyone. bu'
seldom do we witness the tultillment OF such
an ideal. To speak the truth in the religious
sense Of the word, especially IN these days
| is indeed "A great task, when the differences
ca 9iniOn are 80 great Never to waYer
| never 10 Cos. 10 vanity and personal ambi
| ions, Is merit tn,.. cannot Dc too much ap-
preciated. Is il a wOnde.. chen. that man,
| people, gazing al the pers0nlEratiOn oi
sucn accomplishments. were turned away
| from iniquity IN and outside Of the fold Ol
our beloved congregation.
"But vet there was third feature vf IL.
| life. most characteristic. To speak in the
words of our text. this true priests lip'
were every ready % give knowledge they
asked of him and received OF him. for he
| was messenger Of the Lord. ldlenes'
was despicable and lOathsOmc % him: hi'
entire nature rcyolted against it. When
ever free from his official duties, which
were many, YOU could have found him a'
any time AT his desk. surrounded by the nv
| ing associations Of all times. his books. anC
especially the Book Of Books. and he drink
| ing great drafts Of knowledge and rocrta
| ton. TO thorough study he devoted ali hi'
zeal. feryOr and carnestness, ana IL D. nnl
noces ary for me 10 say that he was eue
cessful in finding new paths, M shedding
new light aud brining forth new under
standing upon many passages that were
until known truly book VITA seven seals
Il hope that / shall lind opportunity L
show the world of learning that which b.
achieved. though il may bee I'm many respects
| L. in
messenger Of the Lord. being messenger o
consolation and peace from Heaven 10 thl
people who sought and needed him. ANON
| his many noble ambitions was that 10 live
ND 10 the demands of truth and the require
ments Of his teachings. II made no diner
cnce whatsoever 10 him of what creed mar
was. lie was a teacher ofthe world, ano
| the messages of grief which have poured
into the home Of the bereayed family iron
our Christian brethren tell only too well the
story of his relation 10 the community u
which he dwelt. He follow ed the old Jewisi
motto, Accept the truth no matieri WHO
! gives it, lie was always ready 10 sery'
outside Of the jewish fold whenever called
on, and during his short years in this city
| he was known by Il large community as an
! American in the truest sense Of the word.
and as brOad-minded man and GOOD
] Israelite. What happy combination. -
wonder. then, that we can see before u
here 80 many who are not adherents Of thl'
congregation. No wonder that the sac
event Of his sudden demise aroused gen
eral sympathy among both Jews and Gen
tiles. and as 10 the unusual way Of the de
parturc Of our friend and teacher, We fee
| like quoting the prOphetical w9rds-'D0 moi
mourn over the dead, but over him thai
went away arai came not back to see bis
| beloved country
We must all die, but oh. how sad TO 20
away a strong and healthy man and neNel
be able TO return and see the place he loved
so well. Where is his home! The deep
| on cruel fate, The loved ones waitinl
| bis arrival only to hear the heart-rendin-
! tale Of his being sunk beneath the waves
Moses's grave is unknown because II wa
not to be worshiped after death. lie found
resting-place in the hearts Of his people
| DR.. Aaron Sigfried Bethlehem lives in tho
| lO,ing hearts Of his family and his copgre
cation. for which he has ministered twenty
| five years.
1.-The Baltimore Hebrew Children's Asy
| lum. which was raised and elevated by MI
efforts. will be special monument 20 he
memory. The new temple will shine unit
his memory. The little children OF the He
bra,V Eraa school the first Which ever fN