The record-union., 1892-10-22
AT THE SYNAGOGUE.
Interesting Services at the Jewisi
Church Last Evening.

Shurch Last Evening.
The Synagogue was filled last evening
with those participating in the Thanks
giving service conducted by Rabbi j.
Leonard Levy, in commemOration of the
4O0th anniversary of the discovery of
Observation-Disclosures Day. The service
throughout was both interesting and in
structive. as well as impressive, and the
music and singing were especially good.
The services hogan withthe usual organ
voluntary and opened with the intro
ductory prayer by the Rabbi. This was
followed by the regular Hebrew prayers,
and the Scripture lesson from Deuteron-
omy vi, Hear, Israel! God is our Lord,
God is One !" Following the reading
was supplication comprehending in its
general invocation commemoration ofthe
celebrated navigator and discoverer to
whose honor the day was dedicated.
Following the supplication the congre-
CATION stood in silent devotion for some
moments. during which the organst
played in subdued tones fitting SYM
phony.
Selections from the Scriptures deemed
especially applicable to Columbus Day
were then read by the Rabbi, and the
song, columbia, Hail." was rendered
by the choir, supported by the school
The Rabbi then delivered his sermon
entitled 'Our Country-What We owe
It." The discourse was one of great in
terest and siDgularly appropriate to the
day, and was a happy fusion OF patriot
ism and religious teaching.
The sermon was not preceded by any
announced text, but opened with quota
ton from European writer, that "our
lives nowadays are too prosaic and lack
ing in enthusiasm" and the saying OF an
American that imam ought to keep his
eyes heayenward, while the struggle for
wealth and station constantly turns them
earthward."
Modern life, said the Rabbi, lacks en-
thusiaSm and inspiration. 1t is true we
require earnest, matter-of-fact men, but
we require also those who look through
rose-colored glasses and are all enthUsl-
aSm and hope. We need that something
which brings about great results; that
something which has inspired heroes in
all ages and which has resulted in great
achievements. We need sincerity, deter
mination and enthusiasm. Indifference
never did great thing -frOm'it never
came great poem, picture or work of
art.
1t was the something else which made
Columbus, against every obstacle and
Encouragement, a poor Italian sailor of
Genoa, set out on his famous voyage of
him back. True he was reduced TO beg
gary and obliged afterward to sell his
rock for SuStenance in return for all the
riches he gave the world, but with his
failing breath he said, Il discovered in
the distant west the continent and the
isles of America
His defeats were all victories, and
though the men OF his generation refused
him honor we accord him praise. Four
hundred years is a short period in the
worlds history III which to record such
great results, and the history of the world
has no such record as that Of the fabulous
prosperity Of our own country.
The Pilgram fathers who landed on our
shores represented all that was demo-
cratic and all that was puritan in Eng
land, and they came in their Jealous de-
sire for civil and religious liberty. From
the time of Pharaoh to l776 there was no
such important event as that of the dis
covery AMI founding of this great Re-
public.
Little did Columbus think. continued
the speaker, OF the mighty impetus he
was giving TO civil and religious liberty
In all the world there is not to-day ma
tlOn of men of so many individual beliefs
united i'll one purpose as were to-day
united in singing, God Save America"
The sermon abounded in patriotic
sentiments and was delivered with inn
pressive eloquence and sincerity. The
Rabbi touched upon the condition of the
Jews in all lands, and compared their
conditions and treatment in America as
being beyond all accorded them else
where. America, he held, was the one
exception in all history where the de-
scendants of Israel have been treated as
men and brothers, and the American flag
has never been debased by either civil or
religious persecution.
Following the sermon, Columbia, the
Gem of the Ocean," was sung by the
choir and the school children, and the
concluding prayer and earnest invocation
was read.
The congregation then joined with the
children in singing America" and was
dismissed with the benediction.