Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-12
MORAL OF THE PLAY.
Rabbi Ca.isth on tho Sogy 4 M
JskyIl and n. Hyda
Jekyn with the Drag Likenea -
Adam. when lie became Psssesssa
Of KnowIedge-sin VIII Seek Ysu
Out and Grow On Yeu.

theme for Rabbi Caiisch's sermon 1t the
Synagogue Beth Ahaba yestsrday morn
ing. The discourse vs~ - so1nosy
strong and thosadhtra one, ans va
heard by an audience that crowded The
synagogue There were probably thrsa
hundlvd Christians present.
The speaker began by saying that the
title and topic Of the sermon had no~
been chosen merely as an attraction fos
idle curiosity. but because powerful
moral lay beneath the surface OF its seem-
ing romance. After giving ths argument
Of the story he said: Physically the story
Is impossible: psycholosically II Is q daily
occurrence. Its moral. tersely told. 10
that OF the conflict between the good and
evil tendencies of the human being wtth
the Inevitable consequences which result
from the indulgence OF the evil
He then touched upon the problem Of
evil. giving the solutions OF Buddhism.
Zoroastrianism. Of Christian and Jewish
theology. Jewish theology does not hold
the existence OF evil TO be absolute aud
elemental. 1t Is contingent and acct>
dental. When God had sent His omnis>
cient glance over creation lie said 1T ID
good" All that Is works for benencent
purpose. Man for himself holds in his
own hands the solution OF the problem.
He is given the choice and the power ia
conquer evil and become good. Genesis
w.. -
JEKYLL LIKENED TO ADAM.
DIR. Calisch likened Jekyll with the drua
to Adam in the Garden of Eden after he
has tasted the fruit of the knowledge Of
good and evil. Both became possessed OF
knowledge which gave them a new
power, which altered all their lives and
made them conscious OF another exist.
ence. The expulsion from Eden. result-
ant from the tasting OF the fruit OF thu
tree OF knowledge, has generally be.ss
considered the downfall ami disgrace OF
man. It's true Interpretation yields the
fact that 1t was not mans fall. but hts
rise; not his disgrace. but his crowning
glory.
1T is story" said DR.. Calisch, that Is
retold I'm every age OF man. There is an
everlasting Garden of Eden for the human
race. II Is the Eden OF childhood The
child, ignorant Of the severer tasks and
burdens OF life, passes the halcyon days
Of childhood in unsull.ed happiness. 1t is
irresponsible and innocent because II Is
morally ignorant. The child Is not guilty
of theft. because the child does not know.
But the years go by the child learns
in the school OF life. on the bench OF
bitter experience. With ever-increasing
age there Is ever increasing learning TIL,
tasting the fruit OF the knowledge OF
good and evil the innocence ana irre-
sponsibility OF childhood are lost and the
youth must assume the burdens anu re-
sponsibility Of approaching adoiescsncs
and maturity. IL was the acquisition Of
the knowledge OF good and evil that drove
Adam from Paradise; 1t is the acquisition
of that self-same knowledge to-day that
destroys the childhood's paradise OF each
succeeding generation. Adam in the Car
den of Eden was q child-AQam without
It's gates was the man.
THE DRUG IS KNOWLEDGE.
"The drug which Jeykll discovered Is the
knowledge OF good and evil. The tragedy
OF the story tells the tale OF the growth OF
evil and the development Of vice. when
indulgence to them is given. In every
human being are there Jekyll and a
Hyde-a good and a bad impulse. Man
Is naturally good The moral is greater
than the immoral. The latter grows onl'
as we feed IL. To US are given the know~
ledge of them, and the power TO control
and conquer the evil. But we are prone
TO yield to our evil impulses. thinking
we can refrain when we will. and cease
at our pleasure. How many a scientist
and professional man has succumbed to
the lethel influence OF some drug whose
first draught was taken in the interest
OF science; but whose fatal continuance.
with ever accumulating strength. led TO
spiritual self-destruction, TO the wreck
of life and the ruin OF hope. How many
a life. gifted with glorious gifts. has
yielded to an insdIous weakness, whose
indulgence gave IL growth till II sapped
the very fountain of life and left tho
dregs OF barren being. the sad spectacle
of unfulflled hope. What one OF us IL
scathless from wrong? What one with
out some secret sin. some Hidden evil.
some soul-destroying habit. known only
to himself and his God? You think you
can stop when you will. But; o. friends.
now. now IL the hour to stop. Tomorrow
il may be too late. Listen. the call OF
your sin and you are its slave. Heed the
seduction OF your vice. and II masters
you. See how grew the form OF Hyde
How he waxed larger and stronger with
each recurring appearance. How he came
finally without the aid Of the drug-came
lnvoluntarily. and even against the Will.
till finally there was no power OF restora.
tion left
YOUR SINS WILL GROW.
80 shall your sin grow upon you. It's
msshap figure will wrestle with your
nobler frame and conquer. II will seek
you out, and come to you involuntariiy.
even against your will. IL will creep
into your being while you are asleep. Ie
will come to you when you are walking
in the sunshine; when you dress. when
you dine, when you entertain your
friends. See how its restless fingers Will
clutch the throat of honor and throttle
IT, The ruthless feet will trampIe on
the figure of due and leave II shriekirg
on the highway. The eyes. windows OF
the soul, will become beared and Opaque.
and lear and cover and love not tho
light OF day. The senses. avenues OF
the soul. will become clogged with tbs
debris Of unrestricted evil and choked
with the filth OF unrestralned passion.
Then irretrievably and ineiuctably beyond
hope OF restoration will the poison os
spiritual self-destruction have wrought 10
havoc. and your immortal being lie dead
unto it's holiest destiny"
The Rabbi closed with a fervent appeal
to his hearers to cultivate their good :n7-
pulses: to encourage the intent OF In
tegrity. and let the motives Of purity