The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-15
THE NEED OF THE DAY.
REV. DIR. CALlSCH SAYS 1T rs POSI-
TIVE BELIEF.
This Has Been An Essentially lcono-
elastic Age-It Is Closing with a
Great Revolution.

Rabbi E. n. Calish spoke at the syna-
gogue yesterday morning on Positive
Belief. the Need Of the Day" taking his
text from Eccles. TX, 10.
lie said that the verso which reads
Whatsoever thy hand findeth TO do, do
with all thy might" he believes could be
read with equal profit as whatsoever
thy mind fndeth TO believe, believe with
all thy might"
ICONOCLASTIC AGE.
This age has been essentially icono-
elastic. IL is Characteristic Of almost
every century that 1t closes with great
revolution, mental moral. or physical.
1T seems as though the waning years OK
each cycle were the occasion for an up
heayal among some OF the earths inhab-
itants, a sort Of centurial house cleaning.
Our upheaYal Is a theological one though
several months ago II looked as though
! there might be a martial cataciysm as
we'll 1t is a time with US when the Old
faiths are being pulverized and century,
anchored beliefs are straining at the
I cables. midst the stress OF DOUBT, denial.
| and questioning that pour from all SIDES
/ Every church IN the civilized world ieels
! the unrest OF the age. The multiplication
Of new creeds and sects and 'isms' and
| "osOphies" are indlces OF the religious
| tumol. The church seeks 10 mtrencn
It's position with the faithful and hunts
heresies with old-time inquisitorih Nigor
! But the power OF priest has fallen with
the disthronement OF priesuy dogmatism
| ON the threshold Of the twentieth CEN
/ turv men can neither be frightened, noI
| whipped nor legislated into belief. CIhls
last thought might well be pondered by
those who wish 70 obtain the recognition
OF the Federal Government Tor their par
ticular shade Of belief)
BORN BELIEVING.
But with all the questioning Of the mind
! tho heart has call which must be heafa
Man is born believing. lie bears belief
! As a. tree bears fruit. All the ages or srea'
achievement have been ages OF deVou
! belief. Al no time and at 10 place has
man eyer been wholly unbelicying. VIII
us to-day, men dissatisfied with e1isteh
creeds rush off to spir;tuailsm. iAith
cure and hypnotism. TO answer Inc lnhel
hunger that is constantly let- ihee'
spiritual alterations generally ACCOMPANY
:, transitloual period just as boys Noie'
| in changing TO maturitys pass" 'i'O'
slides up 10 shrin faisetto-
What is needed now Is positive DC
Hef founded on reason and Duttresses
with truths own logic. me ages pao
have been content simply to believe, W.
rant Ia believe. but We want TO kno"
ubat Ia believe. That Is Just. IL Is ne
ceesarv for the permanency or the oeiiei
ToadstooIs may look and taste the sam
as mushrooms, but their effect Is si'ah'
dinerent The inquiry OF the age IL no
90 much as to the value OF beiief as u
the value Of that which Is believed
me n4rsistent duty of each individual
IL 70 find something In which ne can oe
uave and believe that with all his might
,rhere has been enough destruction. IN
bour for construction has arrived. dheE'
is no more pitiful sight than a man noun
aering in high seas OF life with no ahcno
az hone for the days or storm, no VIM
sails OF faith 10 carry him on under w
favoring breezes or heaven. 10,
as We have pulled down. let Us ''o"
up. ,o,,r
10Th &c love. love OF God ana cnnn
dence horn of that love. Love has pee
caIsd blind. But II Is not bind. II
an extra eve that sees in the object love
soroe beautiful quality hidden from Ia
rec, of the world Faith, too. mas pee
| called blind. But, Ike love, iHtn - a.
extra sense that sees God IN al u
priversc: that hears Him IN the rus"il
of tho wind. feels Him In every purse
life drinks Him In In the fragrance oil III
| rose. - <,,
The speaker then closed with a ierv'
appeal to his hearers to TAKE tneir sl.n
] on q pozttiYa belief. and boldly W mau