The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-04
ENDED At SHUTDOWN.
Tho jewish New Year Observed BY
the People Of That
Faith.
A Large Congregation at tho Scr
vices at tho Temple
Emanu- Ell.
Rev. DR.. Samuel Eohulman Prsaches an
Exhaustive and Interesting Sermon
ON tho Occasion.

Tho jewish New Year closed ut shutdown
yesterday. The placea OF business OF those
belonging to the Jewish faith were general
slosed until six O'Clock, and the day was
spent in observing the feast Of Rosh- Hash
lima. Tho service OF the Temple Emanu-M
vas attended by one Of the largest con-
.prepations that has ever been within it's
walls. Among those present were many
Of tho different Christian churches
.throughout the city. The service was III
usually interesting. Rev. DIR. Samuel
Sohulman preached. the text being from the
Thirty-third psalm. eleventh to fifteenth
verses, inclusive.
eff the worth of q human being" said the
rabbi, lis measured Justly by the high va
ter mark which his mental activity and
moral viRor attain to, and the moments in
which the human soul reveals itself a. with
a fash by inspired insight or heroic sacri-
fee. are glimpsss OF eternity compared with
she long monotonous years OF dull routine
and torpid sslHshness, then q religion, the
expression of mans feeling in the presence
of the universe encompassing him, may
have its character justly estimated by 9
reference to the nature Of the thoughts
which its solemn days are supposed to en-
body. II the peaks which stand out on the
spiritual horizon offered by religion TO the
human mind, by thkir very prominence
lead not to the sublimest thoughts the hui
man soul can aspire to, but rather narrow
the view by centering Gods majesty in
somo particular fact or man or tribal char
acteristic. then that religion fails to inter
pref the highest truths. Bat it seems to us,
friends, standing in this house of devotion
to-day, on the threshhold Of another
portion of eternity, the shophar
call proclaiming to us the
insignificanoe of man, making our con-
sciences pale and our hearts tremble at the
thought that few in all honesty are able to
say that they have not been treaoherous to
the demands of the noblsr self; and on the
other hand the grand vista opened before
our mental eye, of the majesty of God in
creation, his everlasting thoughts working
in the universe, his spirit informing the
world with wisdom and beauty; when we
realize in all its depth the contrast between
man and God which this day 10 to an
nounce, We cannot help exclaiming in the
words of our liturgy, which sounds like .
hope inspiring battle cry to the soldiers
starting sut for a field of doubtful issue:
Happy the people which understands the
trumpet call; God, in the light Of thy coun-
tenance shall they walk Happy. Oh Is
rael, that thou approached God in this
day, elevated to the seriousness of the mo-
mont by thy faith, Judaism. Not with rev
cling or undue mirth, or even with the
mere self c~ongratulation at standing
= L--1Al- - 1Sfz k~8Eut h.s1 L4. H.
approach Of a new portion Of time, is the
year ushered in TO Israel; but the inward
light of JOY is overwhelmed by the magnifi-
csnce Of Gods light in the world, and the
gpan of existence successfully passed
shrinks into n~othingness beside his eternal
duration.
s'The religion of Judaism has been cried
down az narrow, exclusive, tribal, and its
mission in the world has been considered
superseded, because its conceptions are
not sufficiently broad for humanity, and its
moral precepts of too narrow sympathy and
tts thouaht Of God TOO national; and YET
show me, ye people, who are ready not only
to criticize and condemn, but occasionally
to make Israel suffer for the pretended
shortcomings of its faith, show me the
religion in the world which, like Judaism,
does not identity the most Important and
or death or som0 Important event in the
life of its founders and preachers, and does
mot rivet the human soulin contemplation
of some particular spot in the world. narrow
ing the drama of Gods work in nature and
history to = fow scenes in a favored land.
Judaism, on its solemn days, kneols not at
the cradle of its founder nor worships at
the grave of its martyrs, but breaking forth
from the narrow confines of country and
even race, it speaks as man to man; and
appealing to the common infirmitiss A. we'll
rs noble aspirations of human nature, it
lifts the mind to the view OF deity a. it is
revealed in the grandeur of creation, and
proolaims the eternal as the loving father
and righteous judge of all mankind. This
IL the secret why in spite Of the del ision
cast by heather civilization upon it's so
called fanatical exclusiveness. and although
condemned by mcdsrn thought as stiff
necked in its refusal to admit that the
acsptre has passed from Israel with the
destruction Of its temple and national
glory, this ia tho explanation why, being 30
often adjudged dead, Judaism still lives
nnd eight millions in every part OF the
world to-day employ il as tho key with
thought about God and the destiny
itself the spirit Of Judaism be-,
lied its traducers and announced
itself as q faith if universal sympathy en-
brscing all who could appreciate it, truths.
since on the solemn day of the entrance OF
the new year it spoke to the human heart
wherever il may be found in immortal
accents which thu very order aud spirit of
our praynrs reproducs; accents which shall
teach the human soul the moaning OF the
ideas. God ia our creator and ruler, God il
our friend and father, God is our judge.
The day We celebrate is also q splendid *
ample Of the inherent progressiveness Of
our faith, showing that it did not como
down from the skies complete, but it rather
grew; but in the course OF centuries the
kernel of the faith of Moses developed and
blossomed and produced the healthiest
spiritual food, enriched by the best thought
of prophet and scribe and rabbi. How
simple il the mere Mosaic command with
reference to the day, and how full tho mani
told suggestions of the day has become as
conceived by the age Of the founders of the
Talmud. In she first IL ia almost colorless,
barely suggesting tho import Of tbs day in
the ancient usage OF the shophar, the
means Of solemnly aronsing a congregation.
While the ethical and religious Significance
OF the day RI come down to w can be we'll
expressed in the pithy saying Of the Tai
mud In Nissan were they delivsied, and in
Iishri are they destined to be redeemed
If the month of Nissan, with its festival of
passover, commentaries the liberation
from physical and spiritual bondage of a
iacs destined. in spite of contempt and re-.
lection. destined by its new morality and
God idea to become the corner stone of the
civilization Of the world. the month of