The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-19


while they labored with the other. So now,
when house is erected in the name OF our holy
and ancient faith, dual feeling must ami
mate the thinker whose soul can reach
the exalted level of Judaism and whose
heart beats in faithful unison with its
mission. Shall he re,oce in the hope that the
faith will be streugthened-Iss truth, its beauty.
ITS hopes and promises promui gated, the young
gathered to it al in sheltering. protecting arms
learning 20 cling to it as a safe guide through
lie and an inexsinguishable light beyond? Or
shall he trembie in fear that Ii become SIS a
skeleton, devoid OF heart aud soul and principle
and purpose-a CHASTITY travcsty to shame the
virile lion of Judah? The Jewish religion is the
worlds great monument of enduring faith.
Upon It's face the passing ages have traced their
history. 1t bears the marks OF the changes in
men and modes of life; the impress of the pro-
gress OF science, literature and the arts; but,
above all, In itself and itself. il ryssailzes
the words spoken through Malachi: FOR |, the
Lord, have not changed, and ye, soas of Jacob
ye have not ceased TO be- Therefore, say it is
solemn undertaking to dedicate q house to the
Lord, who changes not. the witnesses OF whose
truth and purpose in the universe we have not
ceased to be. Through fire and sword we have
passed; through blood aud famine; through
torture, contumsly and injustice: bounded, per-
secuted, despOiled, and yet-marvel OF all the
ages-we have not ceased to be! Intelligent
minds must admit that something beyond the
ordinary course of affairs and changes has
preserved intact as . recognized force
throughout the world, spiritual na-
tionality despite the continual drain
OF popular alnrement and the barriers OF d ffer-
Ing allegiances and sectional loyalties which
divide Us. For the Israelite (confounded as
his religion so often 10 with his nationality is
and always will be in full accord with the
spirit and progress of his native land; q loyal
Oliehp ols
where, Frenchmsn or German in the lands of
the Gaul and Teuton. What Is this power? ANY
number of theorists will present any number of
analyses of it, but the fact remains, ami with it
the equally significant fact that the past proves
the future. 1t is the inherent consciousness of
Q mission unconpleted which has preserved
Israel, and in that consciousness, with the
wrecks of the passing centuries about him, he
stands like rock in the ocean of time with the
light OF Sinai shining from its topmost peak.
Believing that in this consciousness you have
erected this house, l have chosen for the text OF
my address the words of Habbakuk: "Woe unto
him that saith to the wood awake rouse up
to the dumb stone, for eau these teach? Though
oyeriaid with gold and silver no breath 10 in
them, no bosom pulsating with the spirit of
life. But the Lord is in his holy temple; be
silent before him all feshi'' Religion is but
too frequently made an idol Outward form is
made to do service for that invisible. ali. per-
meating spirit, SO sublime in the pure
temple of the soul in which it dwells
that flesh is silent before il, and
alteration 10 the daily walks, thoughts
and actions of the being who feels and knows
its power This power 10 the Lord in His holy
temple. for what holier residence can there be
than the truly devOut and upright heart? Many
are the majestic structures erected in religions
name Their towers rise as though they would
pierce the very heavens to which they direct
NJ Thoip ahov oixy
high above the city roofs, proclaim conscious
ness OF wealth and power. Their proud
memorial windows entrap tho service of the
universal luminary, and bathed in tho brilliancy
OF reflected color, their gilded ornaments blaze
like lesser suns. Within their portals man
stands in amaze at his own littleness, as
Through the long drawn aisles and fretted
vaults the pealing anthem swells the notes of
praise" Precious woods, indeed, adorn these
structures. but teach not; stohes of costly polish
tell OF their strength and the seeming weakness
OF the generations which pass away while they
stand firm gold and silver in lavish splendor
overlap the interior decorations, but in them
there il no breath, no bosom pusating with the
spirit of life! Unless the Lord is in his holy
temple-the heart of the worshiper-all these
buildings OF majesty and grandeur, these
products OF mans genius and handicraft, are as
the idols which the hand of man has made, and
to which the tickle mind of man has bowed,
from the day the sun first shed its light upon
the dark and formless earth. The first ray of the
Divine light which made evident the deform-
1ty OF all idolatry, was lodged Ill the
heart OF the father of our race as he gazed upon
the myriads of stars which shOne above Arabla's
plains. In that inspiration Moses delivered the
message OF the ages, upon which all the worlds
morality, progress. liberty and civilization rest
today Yet hundreds of years passed ere man
embodied his aspirations, as it were, in stone
md h,,ii of IT, l.
conduct OF worship amid accessories of spleudor
was not q benefit to the people collectively
directly in itself. Nor could it be, excepting as
affecting and elevating individual ideas OF pub
lie worship and obligations to q higher power
it might gradually affect the whole body. The
solemn grandeur of a lofty arch, the melIowed
light of stained windows, the resonant organ
peal and the harmony of trained voices may
produce q feeling Of reverence in any mind.
But the one temporarily impressed by these
surroundings may leave them subject to the
basest OF human passions. The ideal-the spirit
of which public worship Is but the material ex.
pression-is unknown to him. The wood and
the stone teach not, the gold and silver possess
no bosom pulsating with the spirit of life
eternal. More than an impressionable nature 10
required to give life to true religion. The ma
terial is at our hands, the ideal is above onr
eyes: we must look and strive upwards If we de-
sire it to enter into and sweeten practical exist
ence
You come today before your God with the ma
terial Offering OF this house which you have
dedicated to His name. God cannot be de-
ceived. Do you offer it in that spirit which
alone can make it acceptable; which can alone
make it blessing to yourselves, your children
and this happy, peaceful land in which God per-
mits you to dwellf In short, Is this house to
become a factor in Israels holy mission? If so,
today you throw 1t open To the world, inviting
all to enter, for through His prophet God has
said: "My house shall be called a house OF
prayer for all the nations" and until the na-
tions acknowledge the brotherhood which this
broad. loving fatherhood prociaims, the mission
OF Israel will be unfufiIled. Until that time if
our hearts beat truly with love of God and love
of men, We stand rs ministers in His
temple. conservators OF His house, well
coming all who come 20 listen to the pure wa
ters of the eternal fountain which whisper
sWeetly to the awakening soul. 81 have not
changed love of me is love of ali mankind, for
il is upon this basis that Judaism rests. 1t
seeks no converts; it recognizes the funda-
mental good of religion in the abstract, seeing
salvation without dogma 1t teaches not thar
its followers alone can reach that happiness for
which believers strive. 1t erects no gates or
barriers along the path of righteousness, but
points TO it 81 a broad highway, open to the feet
of all who walk on earth. Though rejected, de
spised, prosecuted and misrepresented our
faith forbids the Jewish heart 10 turn from any
form of human life or to assume with rash pre-
sumption the sin of proelaiming any creed out.
side the pale OF hope. Yet how stand we with
the world, religiously, today? In q few months
our country will celebrate the discovery of this
continent 400 years ago. The year which saw
this most important epoch in the worlds history
saw our fathers subjected to the tortures of the
InQuisition. given over to the barbarity