The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-23

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subject from the fact that at a recent
debate of the Culture society, the ques-
ton Of making the change WAS decided
in the affirmative. Referring to this
decision Rabbi Feurlicht introduced his
remarks by saying:
This induced me to select for the subject
for my lecture this same question. We
cannot stand idly by when such questions
are a~gitating the minds Of our youth. |,
rs your rabbi, cannot remain Indifferent
or silent when questions are raised which
concern the honor, the MISSION, nay, the
very life and existence Of all Israel.
The Sabbath is the main pillar Of Juda-
ISM. Like the unity Of God, the Sabbath
forms Il part Of the covenant on Sinai. AS
morality derives its ~sanctity from God, so
does purity of life find its strength in the
Sabbath. Without the Sabbath Judaism
is a religion without God, a life without Il
spirit, The state could never endanger
the vitality, the hope and vigor OF the
jew as does the general neglect Of tho
Sabbath today. The violation Of the Sab
bath in ~onseuuence II the pressure OF
commercial competition robbed the jew
Of his idealism, loosened his family tie; it
materialized the jew.
FAILURE WITH NOTED RABBlS.
More thar fifty years ago the question
how to rescue the Sabbath and with the
Sabbath the cause OF Judaism, was the
grave object under discussion in the con-
ference Of reform rabbis in Germany.
Then already the transfer OF the Sabbath
to Sunday was advocated by some of the
rabbis. The Sabbath which is allowed to
die on Friday will never SEQ it's resur-
rectiou On sunday! DR.. Stein Numbered
forth: and his words found q deep echo 10
the assembly, and It was decided to retain
the historical Sabbath at any price. no
/ matter how great the inroad was which
business aud social lie had made upon
IC. By way Of compromise the in
| PRODUCTION OK additional Sunday services
was proposed, but this was also
defeated. The Berlin Reform cougrega-
ton. under Dr.. HCldheim, was the only
one that persisted in the Inauguration Of
the sunday services. But 1t Is a well
known fact that iu the evening Of his life
DR.. HJidheim deeply regretted this step
which caused the desolatlon ot ms temple
DR.. Grlger, who may we'll be called tie
founder Of reform Judaism, advocated
IN his younger years the Sunday services,
changed his mind after due consideration
aud experience. I'll quote the words
he wrote with reference to DIT.
Eiunoru's proposal OF holding sun
day services made AZ the Phila-
| delphia conference Of Rabbis in 1863
"Eyery attempt 10 elevate the Sunday to
/ the dignity Of a solemn day Of worship
viii hasten the defeat Of the historical
Sabbath. The radical cure OF a transfer OF
/ the sabbath 10 Sunday, however, t-aside
! of the impossibility Of transportation %
! the Jewish sentiments connected with the
sabbath t~oSuuday, tantamouut 20 q recOg-
! milton Of Christianity rs the ruling power
OF all our conditions Of life. 10 IL the sub
| ordination 70 the Christian principle. II
- q surrender IN the conflict Of ideas rul-
! ing the worlds history. To give In here
Is TO give up our historical mission. ~
Mr.. Kohler, rabbi Of Temple Beth.El
Of New York, one OF the most learned
and prominent Rabbis and one Of tho
greatest refo-mcrs In this country, was for
eighteen years one u the chief advocates
and promoters Of the sunday service,
openly declared three years ago that
ha found that he was all TINS time
mistaken and therefore changed hi,
views and abandoned the Sunday service
a. q great religious failure, and the FRIDAY
! evening services since introduced IN his
temple proved Co be a great success; also
other congregations gave up sunday ser.
vices.
RESULT OF SUNDAY SERVICE.
And what are the results in thos0
congregations who still hold Sunday ser
yicesg Did those services render judaism
stronger aud frmer IN the hearts OF Tho
members Did they deepen religious son.
ument and conviction aud create a rea
zeal and enthusiasm for u ancestra
faiths 10 speaks very badly fol
tue religious needs Of the Sunday audi
euces that all but Jewish aud religious
topics are wanted. IL is not heavenly
mauua but artificial stlmulauts that they
care for. Either personal magnetism OF
morbid s~eusatiOualism must draw tn,
crowds. or the sunday services arr
doomed. What prospect docs such stat
Of affairs offer for ths future, for th'
healthy growth OF J%udahismf Is this th'
foundation upon which thesynagogue vii
stand forth as a bulwark against the ma
terialism Of the age VIII the Sunday,
with its forms Of devotion void Of tn
positive Jewish character, awaken tn.
dormant spark Of religious feryorl vii
10 arouse the much needed self
respect In the Jew, TO Undue hin
with the true spirit II his faith
Indeed, the facts themselves speak In On
mistakable terms. The principles Of jew
ish faith have nowhere taken a deeper
hold on those who attend Sunday services
On the contrary, In those cities wher
Sunday services are held laXity appears I
be the result. Scepticism and agnosticisr
arc on the increase. Nowhere Is the eth
ical culture movement so fOurishin
among the jews as in those communists
where the Sunday services are introduced
But some raise the argument, Should W.
not rather see the Sabbath observed OF
Sunday than not Mt alp Besides, whR
wrong can there be IN holding divine ser
vice on Sunday, since jewish tradition
commands us TO 20 every mornin
and evening to the house OF Go,
TO pray and study in the law
But there are occasions where an Rpparen'
virtue is n crime, and crime u virtue.
presume you heard the interesting littl
tale of two men one of whom had a ba
son. though he fed his old father on delici
Gus young pigeons, aud the other q trul
affectionate son, though he caused hi
y father TO work for him at the tread mil
If you wan to test the worth Of an actio
try to recognize the underlying principl
aud aim that produces 1t, or observe th
consequences thereof. 1t cannot be denie
that sunday service has the tendency {
weaken the hold of the ancient Sabbat
and sooner or later also of the other holi
days and commandments Of the jew unit
: nothing will be left except n naked theisu
which in time will make an alliance wit
free religionism and will become a religio
without a God.
1T FAILED IN CHICAGO.
To verify my assertion III give you q
instance which is n well known fact. I'll
4 Sinai congregation Of Chicago was Il
!, first in this country which introduced Su.
day services. At the same time tho mai
: %tenance of the regular Sabbath service W,
: made the condition Of the Innovation. I'll
movement seemed TO be very reasonab
and meritori0us. They said quite a nun
Der of people are unable to attend divir
services on Sabbath why should they n,
be offered an opportunity to satisfy the
desire for a spiritual elevation b
alasl behold the consequences A fe
years later the ancient Sabbath W
been ruled out. The Sabbath is dea
Died of consumption. This was the OF
cial burial permit for the old Jewish Sa
L bath issued by the spiritual leader Of th
congregation. One year later the pre-
dent of that CONGREGATION proposed al