Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-23
HOW THE DAY WAS OBSERVED AMONG THE
FAITH YESTERDAY.
Rabbi BOnnhsim Delivers Two Eloquent Sermons at
the Synagogue -Ths Jewish Stores Closed
Many Pleasant Calls Made
During the Day.

Thousand SIX nunuFeu anu ulIy-bulIu
year Of the world, according to the old
Hebrew reckoning.
1t lisa great feast for the Hebrews
and is always observed throughout the
world with special services by Jewish
com munities.
The Jewish stores in the city were
closed from 6 a. m. to p. m, and upon
the outer door OF all these establish
ments was the following announcement:
''CloSed on account of holiday.
A portion Of the day was spent in the
happy Interchange of calls, while many
employed the time reading and in other
quiet ways. There is perhaps more OF
sanctity and less of boisterous celebra-
tion OF New Years with the Jews than
among the Gentiles. 1t is usually cele-
brated in quiet, reflective manner.
Yesterday morning there was large
assemblage at the handsome new Syna-
gogue, where Rabbi Bonnheim delivered
a thoughtful aud eloquent discourse in
German. which was listened to attent-
lively. The opening sermon, however,
was on Wednesday evening, when there
was another very large gathering.
Rabbi Bonnheim spoke in substance as
follows:
RABBI BoNHEDI's DISCOURSE.
The New Year has from time i'm me-
mortal been the sacred period when
Jewish pulpi all over the world pointed
out the great duty Of repentance, but
while repentance is an excellent sub
ject to preach about, giving fine scope
for passionate defamation, / shall
merely recommend il to you, and not
dwell upon it in my discourse. What l
have chosen, however, of the many i'm
| portrait subjects which the return OF
New Years day brings wildly to the
recollection Of every true. lsraelite,
there is none which demands more eaffi-
est reflection than the theme Of
Judaism. From the earliest date in
the record of the worlds history to the
! present moment, no subject has receiv-
! ed so much of attention by mankind as
religion. Through the long range Of
centuries which have interviewed be-
tween what are termed ancient and
modern times, it has been of all ques-
tions, the one which produced the great
| est controversy and the
MOST UNCoMPRoSIsING
discussion. Were it possible to collect
all the books, pamphlets and manuscripts
which have treated about religion, the
most capaClous bull ding in existence
would be too small to contain them.
While religion has done much good in
the world it has also been the cause of
horrors, crimes and calamities, quarrels,
diSsensiOns, wars. A witty writer once
observed men will wrangle for religion,
write for it, fight for it, die for it, any
thing but live for it,"
The Bible is really the outgrowth of
religion, for long before that great Book
was written, religion existed and exer-
cised its influence. Indeed, 1t was CO.
eval with the creation of mar, and from
the very commencement Of mans life on
earth gave manifestations Of its exist
ence in the desire Of his soul TO soar up
ward to the ideal and to conquer the
| corporal and earthly. In word, then,
religion is the lie OF God, in the soul OF
man it has been, is now, and will for
ever remain an enduring and
LIVING MONUMENT
of the very existence and truth Of God
himself.
Every system of religion is good so
long as it tends to ennoble the heart in
man, to strive for the welfare Of the hu-
man family. Did not Judaism enter
upon its errand of love to elevate man
kind and to teach the knowledge Of the
true God to all His children. What a
tale of love and mercy and fatherly
compassion, and above all of justice had
not Judaism 10 tell the world. What
grand lessons, what sublime precepts,
what beautiful truths had not Judaism
to impart. Entering boldly upon its
career with the proud consciousness OF
its own divine truth, it proclaimed at
the outset its pure conception OF God
and made His unity its watchword,
''The Lord our God is the one eternal
God" Such is the
BANNER OF JUDAISM.
Such was the first announcement Of
Judaism and such was its constant pro-
clamation midst all the fluctuations IL
afterward encountered; such is the
motto to-day, and such will it ever be
until all the world shall echo the
glorious cry. The world knows that
Judaism gave birth to all the higher
sentiments of which humanity is capa-
BILE, and as the promnlgators OF that re-
ligion the world owes US debt of graf
itude. How that'debt has been paid is
known to every reader OF history. The
martyrdom to which our race was SUD-
iected for eighteen unbroken centuries,
the prosecutions our people have suf-
fered. the fortunes they have endured,
ALI because il would not surrender its
noble belief, its God-appointed mission,
are facts too well authenticated. Though
driven from village TO village, and from
country TO country, the Jew not only
kent his faith in tact, but wherever he
went soWed the seeds Of religion and in
other ways benefited his species. Phil
osophy, astronomy, mathematics, medi-
cine and Jurisprudence have been intro
duced into certain countries by Israel
ties. and last, though not least, COM
MERGE mas received
ITS GREATEST IMPULSE
through Jewish talent and Jewish en-
srgv Such was the Judaism Of the
nsst while the religious question was
dejueing the world with blood seeking
70 carry conviction to mems minds by
means Of the sword, the rack, the torch,
Iudaism was pursuing her quiet path
hearing in license the odium and shame
FRAT was cast upon her, scattering oles-
sings everywhere In return for the
curses which were so plen tifully heaped
upon her.
IN one lecture. May this day OF Memo
rial impress upon our hearts and minds
the necessity of arousing ourselves:
Nav the coming year prove year OF