The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-22


confirmation services Of the Feast OF
sbewuoth, or pontecosE were held,
Row. DR.. 3, A. Bonnheim officiating,
Alter the sermon confirmation was ad.
mipisterod to class, including Miss
Bertha HIrsch. Masters Bonnie Stein
bauser, Milton Klein, Bonnie Hork'
bsimer, Ollie Klein and David speyer.
The services were very elaborate, and q
large congregation attended,
Rev, DR.. Bonnheim said:
On this great and joyful feast we'may
mstIy exclaim, "lhis day tho Lord has
made; lot US rejoice and be glad there
on" +,
These words re.echo in the hearts OF
nil lsraelites for thousands OF years
mat. flame was kindled on Sinai
that sheds light and warmth even unto
This day aiountain was made to spring
forth, out OF which our fathers first
drew, we still draw and continue TO
draw the waters OF life until the end OF
DAYS. There gushed forth q source, a
source as inexhaustible and unfathom.
able as lie who caused 1t to flow.
What an altered appearance has the
world, has human society assumed dur
ing this long period2 What revolution
has been effected BY cultivation and
science? What remarkable changes
have taken place among lsraelites,
among ourselves; and yet We still con-
tinue subject to the same law. Those
commandments which these children
have read from the "rhorah" in the
original language as they were spoken
TO our fathers on Horeb, are still the
cornerstone to civilization. Every re.
ligious instructor still implants these
words into the hearts and minds Of his
pupils. Every minister admoniahes the
parents in his congregation to guide
their children by these precepts and
millions Of people have become civilized
and humanized by u faithful adherence
to these divine instructions.
The words which the prophet pro-
claimed with glowing inspiration
thousands OF years ago, have become
verified even to this day, "My words
which Ihave put into thy mouth shall
not depart out OF thy mouth, nor out
Of the mouth OF thy children saith the
Lord from henceforth and forever"
Isaiah 50.2l.) Now, my friends, let
mo place timely question before you.
Let me ask you, does our religion-as
We have II at the present day-contain
and do We receive from 1t all that Is re-
Quisito for a happy life2 Ia this not,
indeed, great aud important question
more important than ever2 Do We
not hear, nowadays more than ever
before, that science, with its keen and
sharp sword, will eventually cut re.
iigion to piecesP Is not progressive
spirit manifesting itself among all do.
nominations2 u not the Jewish re.
lgion considered by many as form
and system OF too great an antiquity,
which is out Of place in this century
Of science and progress2 And do not
even Jewish people act as II they dis
like their own religion. But, my
friends, Notwithstanding all this, l am
ready to assert. that our religion gives
us all that Ia requisite for happy
human life and it will continue to do
so as long as the human heart can love,
as long Us human reason can think, as
long as the welfare OF humanity is
more than u dream, as long as human
virtue is more than delusion.
Let the earnest philosopher dive into
tho ocean Of mystery Of this vast cos
mos, let him penetrate the secret work
shop OF nature, his searching mind will
never rest satisfied except in the belief
Of really existant God, one who lives
and works and guides and directs the
destinies OF men and nations. II
am the Lord thy God" tells that q Dr.
vine Providence rules all things. What
law what revolving errors would not
men hove been spared by the knowl-
edge Of this one truth From what
denominations would 1t not have freed
the history OF nations that we are ac-
accustomed to call civilized.
The religion which we confess teaches
love Of the most comprehensive nature.
When We are enjoying tho highest
pleasure Of the soul, whom We are rails.
ing our thought above the world and
feel TINT we are better than the beasts
Of the field, there are others who are to
partake with US these supreme enjoy
ments, the pleasures OF the mind and
heart, your man servant, your maid
servant and the stranger within thy
gates" The refreshment for the soul
ia for all and we are to procure for
those whom God has commanded to
our charge. II Is the aim OF our relig-
lon to unite all men into one great
brotherhood, but we do not spend any
money on Missionary societies for that
purpose. We do not interfere with any
religious denominations. Our religion
commands, Love thy neighbor as thy.
self And who ls our neighbour sit
the lsraellte alone2 Is II the one that
belongs to our congregational Our
neighbor Is every human being created
IN tho image Of our God, and it Is our
duty to communicate freely what con-
tributes to his worldly well being. The
greatest stress is laid by Moses aud oil
tho prophets on tho exercise Of domos.
tic, civil and social virtues; the tom
doncy OF our religious statutes is to the
formation Of good citizens and we do
not caro- whothor such arc Baptists,
MeIhodists, Catholics or Jews; but VIC
care great deal that they arc upright
men, faithful husbands and wives, Low.
ing fathers, conscientious mothers, obe.
dent sons, grateful daughters, In ono
word our religion tends TO tho welfare
oil human society.
n ow, my follow Israelltes, why should
such q religion no longer DO suitable to
mahf Ia human nature different from
thas whit 1t wasP Our religion 10 suited
to all mon Of all conditions, In all
places, ut all times. suitablel Some
may cry out with surprise, docs II not
shackle us by liz multiplied ceremonies
and prevent our active participation in
thc duties Of social llie2 Whoever is
imbued with the spirit OF our religion
Knows that no law which is inconsistent