The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL ca1LDsEN.

night were attended by large crowd.
The Sunday school scholars occupied the
front seats Of the three aisIes. The little
ones were happy and gleeful, and entered
into the spirit Of the occasion. On the plat
form were Rabbi Mendes, Mr.. Joseph
Rosenheim. president of the congregation,
Lee Roy Myers Of the board OF trustees. and
DR.. Charles Silverman.
The exercises opened with a selection by
the choir. Rabbi Mendes presented an in
| teresting report as superintendent The
session Just closed has been a satisfactory
one. Forty-two children obtained a
maximum average Of no. At the conciu-
sion of Rabbi Mendes' report the choir
rendered another selec ion, after which DR..
Silserman delivered the following eloquent
address:
| LADIES AND GEHTLEMES-Truiy can exclaim
| with our teacher Moses; II have been a stranger
in a strange land" lam so no longer, thanks
| TO the generosity, hospitality and sniablity Of
chivalrous southern people. / gladly seize
this opportunity that is presented to me TO ex-
press TO those who have extended to me cor
| dial welcome and a friendly hand my most
heartfelt appreciation Coming from Cincin-
| natl, that has been called the Mount Zion of
! America, am proud 60 declare from this plat
| form that have been able to find in the south
growing and progressive Judaism. Among
| the many leaders OF southern Judaism who have
brought about this happy state Of affairs
Gi Re1 Dr. Mesdea say has G been fs one
| OF the foremost to champion the Jewish cause
| to plant the seed OF true religion and to nur-
ture and care for the tender and developing
plant Of Judaism. trust our good doctor viii
not think me unworthy of thus sounding his
just praise, . sentiment IL which feel assured
you win all heartily join me. am thankful to
him and TO the officers OF this congregation for
granting me the high privilege to make the
award OF medals TO the honor pupils of the re-
ligious school of this congregation.
The scene before us OF young Israel that Is
growing and Of old Israel that Is begin.
ming TO pass away is highly realistic, and brings
70. my mind an ancient tradition. When Moses
ali cried out, "Weiwill hear and will obey !" But
voice called out from heaven saying: ''You
may take the law, provided you give surety
for the faithful fulfilment OF your promise to
keep II forever. You must give @ pledge that
you will never desert this child Of God, that
you will not cast 1t upon the world as found
ling, that will not renonnce it when the enemies
pledgef
Let heaven and earth, that are witnesses to-
day. be our pledge, said Israel. Heaven and
earth may pass away, answered the voice Of
God Let then the plety and virtue of our an
cestors be surety for us. No, answered the
Lord; your fathers who are gathered home
already cannot be guarantee that their piety
aud virtue VIII be retained by their posterity.
Let then the prophets who will guide u.s. be our
pledge No, called out the voice from heaven.
VIII you always hearken to the prophetsf Re-
member that there are also False prophets
among you. Whet Is your pledgei o, Ruler of
the Universe. accept then our children as our
security. We will instil into their youthful
gard for truth. Take our children, whom we
love 80 dearly and affectionately, said the peo-
pie, with one voice. Your children are q sure
pledge and | accept, answered the messenger
from on high.
History repeats itself. Israel Is again stand
ing at Mount Sinai-the Mount Sinai of the
world-and Is accosted with similar question,
What will save Judah to posterity! And similar
answers SciADcA n
ton or heaven and earth, study Of nature, the
merits OF our fathers cannot help us. No re-
ligion can maintain itself on its past record.
Religion, like the individual, must stand or fall
by It's own merit. The ceremonies of the past
are dying out. The theologies of former days
have crumbled into dust. Mount Olympus, that
deserted banquet hall. The old-time fervor and
piety have been swept down the current Of
skepticism into the vortex of oblivion. We can
gain very little hope for Judaism in future by
looking at the paas.
| What is our hope. Just as the older heads at
Mount Sinai pointed to their children as their
| hope for the preservation of their religion, so
we point to day with pride to our children.
Ihey are young, strong, earnest, thoughtful.
| They will receive the belief in the existence of
Creator, in the existence of a moral law.
They will apply their reasoning powers to the
demands of their religious feelings, and so
| mold and transform beliefs and practices to har-
monte them with the demands of the new
age. Let us be- hopeful for the future. The
present Is a good augury. The scene before us
IS sure evidence that our religion will live and
| flourish.
And now, my dear young friends, Twill ad
dress myself more particularly to you You
have studied diligently during the year, you
have passed creditabe examination, and to-
day the honored ones shall receive their rewards.
but those who have not captured prize must
not think that ON that account they are of only
passing consideration in these closing exercises.
Every one who studied his share during the
year has a right to rejoice to-day Every boy
n in Y.
| ing up the rank and file of lsrael's hosts. In
every army q few only can be the
leaders The majority must be priyates. But
| or the soldiers? Ali see you all know that
| the soldiers 40 the hardest fighting. and that
they really win the battle. You are all soldiers
| in the army of Israel. Do not care who carries
the banner or who wears the laures of victory
| Do your fighting and join the rejoicing of VIC
| tory, confident that you have contributed your
share toward the glorious result
To you, my young friends, who will receive
the medals, will say that you deserve the
| prizes you have won. But do not think that
wear the me fal of excellence. That medal in
| dicates that you have reached a certain stand
| ard If you wear the medal and deteriorate in
your studies and ambition, year hence the
| emblem will be a false Indication. If you wish
| to wear this badge of honor and maintain it's
| worth you must continue your studies You
| must grow in mind and in heart, in knowledge
and in character, Let not your insignia of
merit be in the future mere mockery. II you
fail to keep up your standard then this medal
will be worth only its value in silver. The
credit of nation does not depend upon
the face value of its coins. 1t depends upon its
| natural resources. upon the strength and
| honesty of the government, upon the peace and
| intelligence of its citizens. So your character
hereafter will not be determined by the medal
you wear, but rather the value of the medal
win bea determined by the character you
| represent.
congratulate you, my young friends, and
trust that with Gods help you will become such
men and women and such patriotic American
citizens that you will be an honor to your
country, an honor to your fellow men and an
honor to your God.
The premiums for general diligence were
then presented by DR.. Silverman and Pres
dent Rosenheim. The following were the
recipients:
For General Diligence-Jeanette Mem
hard, Selma Sternheimer, Rosa Roos, Alma
Mendes, Leonora Amram, Eta Cohen
Nettie Utitz, Lille Traub. Mamie Smith
Bessie Lilienthal, Irene Frank, Eta Stern.
berg, Regina Krauss, Helen Epstein
Francis Stern, Jessie Brown, Dora Mendes
Helen MiIius, Norma Einstein, Freds
Traub, Jeanette Herman. Mabel Cohen
Hortense Stern. Jeanette We'll, Amy Myer.
son, Valerie Stern, Hazel Cohen, Gertrude
Cohen, Julia Michels, Edna Meinhard
Florence Stern, Addie Amram, Moses
Smith, Joe Myers, Henry Meinhard. Charles
| M =