The herald., 1893-09-18
DO|NGs IN THE CHURCHES,
The Day of Atonement to Be
Observed by the Hebrews.
A Well Attended Meeting Held by
the Y. w. c. A.
Professor Bowman ana tho Church Of
the New Era Discuss the Chinese
Question-Rev. j. Otis Linz
x coin Mt Christ church.

OF Atonement, will be fittingly observed
tomorrow by the Jews Of this city. The
following lesson for the occasion has
been furnished by the Rev. Rabbi A.
". Edelman:
Tomorrow evening at sundown will
usher in the solemn period OF Israels
atonement. and until Wednesday even
ing all true descendants OF Israel will
be engaged in endeavoring to make their
peace with God and man. and will strive
to accomplish - desirable an event by
cessation from eood or drink for period
OF "a hours, and pray TO their merciiul'
Creator to forgive the sins they may
have committed throughout the past
year, and promise an amendment in the
present.
The time appointed and the conditions
imposed cannot be misunderstood nor
frittered away by anyone. TO be SOL
EMMY impressed we need but refer to
Leviticus (XvI. 80 and 81.) "For on
that day ehall the Lord make an atone
ment for you, to cleanse you from all
your sins, before the Lord shall We pur-
ify yourselves. 1t shall be a Sabbath OF
rest with you. and ye shall afilct your
This command testifies to the i'm
'poftance OF the DAY OF Atonement."
and the strict manner with which the
duties appertaining to the time should
be regarded. 1t has at all times been
considered as o direct commAAd from
heaven, and appeals strongly to tho
hosrt OF man, for its effect is 30 con-
soling that II we purify ourselves, il we
dislodge all impurity from the hearts
altar and resolve to sin no more, then
all our former sins will be forgiven.
And yet, there are some Israelites who
misinterpret the object of the day OF
atouement, imagining that, If they fast
and pray during these "a hours, they
have complied with all religious re-
quirements, and all their sins will be
forgiven, and. at the cloee OF the day,
they return to their dwellings oblivious
of the fact that, in the ritual. they have
made promises to God that are regis
tered on high, before whom "there is
no forgetfulnees." Persons who act in
this manner should reflect how irrecon-
cilable to common sense is such course
of proceeding; to promise and not to
perform 10 direct violation OF Gods
command. deuteronomy, xiv. 23.)
Their actions call to mind an ancient
son were crossing a frozen river, and
when they had come to the middle, the
ice began to crack. 1t was impossible
to retrace their steps. The father, in
great alarm, vowed that II he were pre.
served from danger and permitted to
reach the shore in safety, he would give
large sum Of money in charity; as
they advanced the cracking OF the ice
became louder, and the danger greater.
Then the pious father repeated the vow.
doubling the sum. This he did several
times, till the cum promised amounted
TO all he had. "Father, father, ~ cried
the son, what shall wevhave to live
upon, If you give away all you haves?n
Hush, silly child" answered the wise
eire, ''do you not understand me ?'
mo-" replied the boy. "ThenI will
tell you secret" said the father, whiB-
pering in his sons ear, II make this
VOW only to get over the danger. When
We are over in safety we can think about
the expediency Of fulfilling it,"
Many and many Israelites are like
the traveller in the above parable. Are
their prayers sincere? They again and
again, in the course Of the days
ritual declare that they are
ashamed Of their sins; they make
promises that they will return from
their waywardnese. Do they really in
tend doing so? II not pray whom are
they deceiving? Their hearts are filed
with an uncertain feeling OF fear. They
know that they have not done their
duty; that they have sinned. They
know also that there is judgment; they
have dim notion that il they repent
on this day their sins will be forgiven,
They therefore with their mouths read
forms of prayer, and In their hearts
they hope that in return for the COMICS
sion which they make the punishment
they have incurred by their sins will
not be visited upon them. But on the
morrow they commit the very same
sins OF which they expressed themselves
90 greatly ashamed, and Tor which they
asked forgiveness in such humble tones.
Do they really think that in this way
they oan obtain forgiveness? Surely
they must know that that they cam OF
deceive Him who searches the inner
most chamber OF the heart, before
whom our most hidden thoughts are re-
vealed. True. He is long suffering and
slow to anger He holds out to the sin-
ner many opportunities to return from
his evil ways; but will he hold
guiltless the man who does not repent.
hAscPoA touCOs PtuyOk huu ChaIlby, 8I6 LQ6
only angels to aid us in securing for
givenees from the good Being whose
mercy Is mex xhsustible.
Open the pages of the Bible and you
will find the truth announced and en-
forced many times. While our ances-
tors were SHINING they were reproved
Many prophets were sent. The warn
ings were often repeated. But when
they would not hearken, were they not
punished? The day OF atonement
though instituted and observed in their
time, availed them nothing when they
persisted in their evil course.
1t cannot be too strongly stated that,
In the Jewish creed, there is no human
being empowered to absolve us from
sin-we have no mediator. In the
words Of the creed, 1t is distinctly stated
that ITO Him alone should we address
our prayer"
And finally. May the ensuing Day OF !
Atonement be the means of bringing
every person to the gates Of salvation.
Then. indeed, will Gods law have pro-
duced q sublime effect; the Angel OF
Mercy will plead in your behalf, and
the Lord Eternal will announce to you
Thou are cleansed from all thy sins
before Me, the Eternal, thy God"
Rev. A. W. Edelman will conduct the
Atonement services before the Moses
Montetiore congregation 1T Masonic hall,
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