The herald., 1894-04-20
FEAST OF THE PASSOVER.
FREEDOMS FESTIVAL TO BE IN
AUGURATED THIS EVENING.
A Brief Review OF the Events Upon
which the Feast IL Founded.
Overthrow OF the One
Man Power.
[BY REV. A. W. EDHLMAN.l

Passover, 1854. will be inaugurated with
solemn prayers and ceremonies by all
those Israelites who still keep up the
domestic ceremonials so dear to every
Jewish heart.
1t is unnecessary to give q history OF
the events upon which this feast is
founded, since the full particulars are
smiliar to all and are amply recorded in
the holy writings.
But it may be we'll to turn for Q mo-
ment from the busy cares of our every
day life and give to the occasion few
thoughts suggested upon the recurrence
of this great Israelitish feast, which has
such important bearings upon the his
tory of the world.
On the banks of the Nile Israel had
borne the yoke Of servitude for nearly
400 years. But justice is as unerring as
eternal, and at Heavens command
SOC, 900 men, besides women and chill
dren, went forth IRON bondage to free
dom, from sorrow to JOY, from mourning
to festivity, from darkness TO light and
from servitude to redemption" and the
hallelujah of liberty-IsraePs first song
was re-echoed from the banks of the
Red sea in every land and cline, ald to
its harmonious strains every human
heart beat responsive.
Israel has ever faithfully cherished
his birthright; be hss been true to the
watchword OF his race. For him free
dom has had no empty sound; liberty,
no vain or delusive meaning, and he has
ever lsbored, not only to make himself
worthy of it's choicest blessings, but to
disseminate and perpetuste its Heaven
born principle in every land.
To the understanding lsraelite the OBJ
servanee Of the Passover is no idle cere-
mony. He gathers his family around
his festive board and reminds them OF
ssrvitude OF the past.
Nay, every symbol that can possibly
remind him Of his former thraldom is
before him, and every emblem of Gods
loving kindness and protection is pres
ent in his view.
The "bread of affliction," the "bitter
herb" the Representative mortar" the
lambs bone" and the roasted egg,"
teach their instructive lessons, and the
four cups of wine commemorate that
physical redemption, that purity of
thought, that intellectual elevation,
that spiritual enlightment so essential
to proper appreciation of true liberty.
The understanding Israelits observes
the Passover not alone for the past and
the present. but also for the future.
He gives the ''seder" for ali man kind.
He invites the world to mis- feast OF in
lellectual freedom. LET all who hun
ger come and partske thereof" is the
invitation freely extended on this mem
orable night, for as the waters of spirit
ual life are without price to every one
that ihirsteth, SO the bread of liberty is
given to all who hunger for that precious
gift.
The understanding Israelite also OBJ.
serves the Passover and prays for the
redemption of every one from a land OF
S;. +; $50 Oh S,ce raantel ~ i;i.,,-,
He prays for the dellverance OF all lam
kind from tyranny and oppression.
Since the day thst Israel lnlew off the
yoke OF Egyptian slavery he passed
through many vicisstud des and altera-
tions. But he will always have the
prou boast that freedom, for the ret
time in history, had itB unQuenchable
torch lighted bv one Of its own people
1t has become fashionable OF late to
mock at religion and scoff at ceremoni-
ais. Certain divines are discussing the
question whether the exodus was
through the Red sea or on the land
round its borders, but whatever NAV be
said, no one can doubt thas Passover
was the commencement Of freedom to
the world; it was the first protest
against slavery or servitude, and as
such challenges the admiration of all
nations.
As an important fact in the history of
the world, as q festival drawing the line
OF separation between freedom and
slavery. Passover should be regarded by
all as q period deserving more than
passing attention. 1t should be claesed
with the many successful efforte which
have illuminated in the overthrow of the
one-msn power and resulted In the rule
of the people. Whether the Passover
be, as some radicals declare, the work Of
man, or, as the orthodox believe, a
miracle Of God, its Importance should
never be forgotten by all to whom liberty
is dear and precious.
Begin, therefore, this freedom festi-
val" with hymns and praises to Him
who is our God and our Redeemer in
time and in eternity, and when aseem-
bled around the Passover table to thank
Him for His many mercies toward our
ancestors and ourselves. let us fervently
pray to the Everlasting Guardian of
Israel to protect us further and extend
to all his His boundess favOrs. "For He
is good, His mercy endureth forever"