The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-26
Rabbi Schulman Tells the Congre-
cation Emanuel Why They Are
Not Christians.
Discourse on the Difference Be-
tween the Spiritual Idea ana
the Dogma.
beans Over the Heather Eorcss Of
Antloohus, 165 IA @.

H. bu0 1chtlNhl UI bU0 Q6EUI1uIOu VA uQD TWILL
pls,' was celebrated BY the congregation
Emanu-El last night at their place of wor-
ship. The festival il In commsmoration of
the victories Of Judah Maccabse over this
Greek forces Of Antiochus, md signalizps
tho triumph OF Jewish valor at a tins when
the heather undertook to plaza before the
children of Israel y choice of two things
total determination or total betrayal of
thsir faith. On tho 25th Of the month OF
Kislsv, 1876 B. c., the victory Of the Macoa-
beans was signalized By tbs clearing Of the
temple, which had bean dsfled by the
heathsn idols and statues. and by the rein
stitution of the ornaments that had been
plundered. The new dedication was hailed
with delight and tho houses wero illumi-
nated, from which fact tbs festival gets the
name of '.The Feast of Light"
Temple Emanu- Ell was filled with an I'M
usually large congregation last night whsn
the rabbi. Rev. DR.. Samuel Schuiman, de-
livered his sermon on the occasion. His
text was from Zachariah. iv, 6: Not BY
my might, nor by power, bat BY my spirit,
saith tho Lord Of hosts.'' 1.-THE whole OF
what Va understand by the civilized world"
he said. turned its thought te-aay to one
BAktlCulNE bp0t uVUA VAc ObAUAt AAA AOAkSt#
ting for a moment its own tslumphs in
science, in invention, in commercs, In
political organization, and in the diffusion
OF material comforts for man, conferred its
reflections upon Palestine, and in tie con-
%sciousness of it's indebtedness to tho light
which was there radiated AZ a center, re-
newed its loyalty and at least theoretic de-
votion to the principles there born. 1t In y
sublime spectacle, this hold, subtle but
none the less firm, upon tbs human race.
1t il tbs iedeeming guarantees that however
the human heart may 80 estray and DO
detected from it's heavenly COURSE by the
disturbing Gu rents OF passion and selfish
Less, it will always tend to return
penitently to the divine pale Of
its higher aspiration, to the goal OF
harmony between man and God, to which
in all it's groupings and alterations it is in
estimsbly attracted by the force OF faith.
While W. stand slone and do not join In the
swelling anthem, of praise and hdorxtlon
which mankind voices as a profession OF its
religious beliefs, Wa do this in the quiet
dignity of conscientious difference Of DIN
ion. in the feeling that there arc 4ths
which need the testimony OF a silent though
earnest protest; and while sympathizing
with and approaching r%everently the beauty
of spi. ritual life in whatever form, We ought
to become all the moro aware OF the ren-
sons which separate US from the world in
religious thought, of the distinct ideas for
which we, as lsraelites, stand in history.
Not tho thoughtless joining with the senti-
ments and customs OF tbs majority and
languidly breathing the surrounding atmes-
phc, e, nor the fanatical, exclusive spirit of
not seeing light and beauty in any osher
but his own tabernacle OF creed,
is tho attitude Of mind appropriate
enlightened by reason and instructed by
history he recognizes the value of every
creed and faith that has an elsvatin9 ihhu-
encs morally upon man, ne yet stands hFm
and selfirespscting in the conviction that his
conceptions of God and life are truths
neither recognized nor fully understood,
and with self respecting loyalty and con-
sistency hs will avoid every expression or
act which might give color to the belief
that he is beginning to falter or doubt as
to the reality of the task which he has to
fill IN the worlds progress"
TIL rabbi briefly reviewed the Incidents
leading up to the victory of the Msccabe.
ans, an event which, he declared, rendered
possible the festival humanity celebrates
an the beginning Of its religious hope" 1t
signaled the triumph Of the religion of
the sp1fit' over the Worship of the heather
materialism. The Maccabean victories had
thus a world historic Importance, and their
Importance altogether Oyerbalanc0d
thsir patriotic charactsr. 9Th il
tSs natt, ct asrasra b, cou eosgsinus On
lis but n striking example of that moral
heroism which il had to poasess in all ages
and conditions Of lifs. Solitude in thought
is purchased generally at the very high
price OF loss of sympathy; OF that sad feol-
ipg of loneliness, which at moments master
EfSbs bravest champions OF thought with the
disadvantages OF criticism that its aloof-
ness from thu world naturally provokes.
1t IL not Il comfortable position for a man
or people to assume, that OF determined
opposition to the opinion Of tho majo .ity.
Those who wish to walk the lonely vale of
thought cannot be surprised that humanity.
growing impatient ut the agsumcd conceit
OF superiority. makes il ofton. a vale OF
tears. Hosides, human nature loves associa-
ton. Thought and principle ditferantinte
men, but the natural law OF attraction or
sympathy end to make the unit Rravitate
toward the mass. 7
"Ws have seen religions, arising in the
world with all tina professions Of humanity,
with even n contempt for earthly blessings,
and yet such is the st engtA and superiority
of the love of power in man, and the desile
Of rule N case, that these religions, win
ming aseendeney and control n the affairs
OF the world, gradually forgot their humble
beginning, and Intoxicated, with owe aud
authority, produced n tyranny, spiritual,
mental and political, from which NJ needed
a revolution to finally emancipata the hu-
man mind, and casting aside the letters Of
pEiesVlS tSIduHy, W klve lieu AiEut W VIE
divine spirit in man. When we look about
us in tho world and soc, though the times
have changed, and the thoughts of hundreds
of thousands of noble minds. are tending
to the good which Israel is by its very in
stiict aiming; when we sce,' in spite OF this,
that after 900 years have elapsed sinca
this almost s%uperhumnn struggle, one feels
still compelled to wage the soli-
tary fight for truth, for ono
GOD and his moral law; when we
see that not in tho sent Of authority, not in
tho seat of learning. not in tho recognized
organs of public opinion, but now, as then,
tho jewish race scattered over the world.
and these truths doabtlessly upheld; when
we even see that tho methods OF Antiechus
fluid a counterpart after twenty centuries of
instruction in puror faith than the heather
possessed, our only encouragement, our
only hope and dream, our only iieal can be
that our new spirit will make us new. Our
loyalty to our country, our devotion to thu
truth, our atienb waiting will in the end
bring ua 10 the great body of humanity,
when the spirit OF Truth hRs made way TOR
friendly reception. Juuiasm is i'll its in
most nature Il purely spiritual religion, and
US such 1t was the direct opposite of an
Client heathenism; NJ such. true 10 it's ma
ture, 1T must even in our day array
itself against tho overawing voice of the
majority"
After pointing out the wide difference bo-