Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-10-09

and which has been handed down in- tact from generation to gener- ation. Through whom were the commandments made known?
 Why, the Jews are in q certain sense the parents, both of Chrlsiani- ty and Mohammedanism and now all alike bow in worship before the God of Israel When I say that the predomlnnting characteristics of our race arc personal purity, social mor- ality and charity, ana sure that
 voice the sentiments of the civilized
 world at large, for among the Israel ties VIC find fewer scandals, fewer crimes, and more loyalty than
 among any of the other nations of
 the world. The principal hospitals
 and Infirmaries, in both the old
 world and the new are endowed and
 presided over by Jews. Nowhere can be found race which has so
 nobly and richly provided homes of refuge for its indigent and aged members, as the Israelltes. And
 their charity does not stop at home.
 With them IL is an innate quality,
 never sleeping.
 Tho at times crushed and kept in subjectlon. forbidden the professions and not allowed liberal education,
 the Israelltes always displayed Il
 M onderful interest in literature and the nRe arts and their
 progress, as soon as free scope was permitted, was wonderful. No
 race can point with more pride to a
 greater number of brilliant men. Think of Mendelsohn, the musician, Heinc, the poet, Spino2a, the philos- opher, Gottschalk and Thalberg. the pianists, and Montefore, the philan- throphist. These names have come ringing down the ages and will go
 on so, with many new ones added,
 until eternity.
 Of the literature that came from the IsraelItes much Is known, and lnnumerabie volumes have been pre- sented. The Bible Is, of course, the first and most important volume and is to be found In nearly all homes. The next important volume and one of which very little Is known, is tue "Tnlmud" which Is q prose volume in which ali the branches of science are represented,
 besides which are number of excell- ent moral sHyiags, which were Bub-
 sequently inserted with little varia- ton, Into tue New Testament and
 the Koran. Some of the most beauti-
 Hul figures of speech, ever known, come from the Talmud.
 Faithful Tn regard to all duties of life, tue Israe!ites are doubly faithful
 to the religion of their ancestors.
 From times almost prehistoric, they
 have faithfully and unerrlngiy obey- ed Gods commands and observed the days set apart as holy days. But as time has swiftly and surely passed away. reformations have
 been worked and many of the old, time worn customs have passed into
 oblivion. Many days, celebrated
 with great ceremony by our fore fathers have come to he only quiet festivals aud some very minor ones are now nos observed at all. But from one end of the known world to the other, as long as their Is time, two holidays will stand forth pre- eminent. will never be changed, never die out. They are Rosh. ha-shOna or the day of New Year. so fittingly ob- served last week and Yom-Kippur
 the awfal, holyday. whose hours of
 penitence makes us worthier of Gods benign grace and blessing.
 His day of attonement. for the eele-
 bration of which we are here assem- bled tonight, Is the holiest of holy days, the day which we give entirely to God and to the purifying of our soul by repentance. DuriAg this day no thought Of the world or Of its
 pleasures may enter our minds. We
 are to spend the time from sun set
 until sun set In prayer and serious
 meditation and to abstain from food and drink. For the Lord said, "On
 the tenth day of the seventh month
 is the day of atonement. q holy con- vocation shall It be unto you and q fast day; on IL no manner of work
 shall ye do. for 1t is a day of atone
 ment. to make an attonement for you before the Lord, your God; a Sabbath rest It shall be unto you and ye shall fast; on the nineth day of
 the month at evening shall ye begin,
 from evening unto evening shall ye celebrate your Sabbath"
 Truly It Is great privilege that
 God has given US, this great day of
 attonement, to remove from our souls the burden of sin, duties neglect ed, bad thoughts and passions encouraged, increased vices and days
 wasted, so that every year we may,
 as 1t were, begin q new life with q clean and spoyless soul and & light,
 Joyful heart.
 The penitence of this holy day does not consist of mere prayers for