Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-02
THE POWER OF LOVE.
NEW-YEAR's SERMON OF RABBI
CALIsCH AT THE SYNAGOGUE.
THE "SONG OF SOLOMON" REPEATED.
Affection of wife or Mother-A
Special Appeal To Young Mcn-The
Services Largely Attended and
Most Impressive.
Most Impressive.

Services Largely Attended and
Most Impressive.
Rabbi f. n. Calisch spoke to a large
congregation last night at Beth Ahaba
Synagogue on 1.-THE Sanctifylng Power Of
Love" 1t was a discourse on the Song
Of Solomon" Or. Calisch began by say
ing: "The book, Song Of Solomon or,
Canticles.' has been a sore puzzle to
many pious commentators Of the Bible,
because OF its irrclevancy to all things
intended for reproof. instruction, and
righteousness II shares with the Book
OF Esther the distinction OF having the
name Of God unmentioned within its
pages. not even an implied reference 10
Deity being in IT. Various reasons, both
learned and ingenious have been given as
to why it should have been retained
within the canon Of the Scriptures. for
after all is said and done, 1t still remains
a love story, an cratic poem, pure and
simple, refreshing in its naivete, delight
full i'm it's unveiled ardOr, touching in its
unconscious freedom from all prudish con
venton. But the world IS grateful
that 1t has been preserved, and the wise
men Of old builded better than perhaps
they knew when they bound this string
OF the hearts richest music across the
harp of mans hottest heritage. and added
this rare note to the melody of the
epithalamium that celebrated the nuptials
of human aspiration and divine mercy
"The poem. though called the Song Of
Solomon cannot be considered as having
been written by him. unless it might per
haps have been at the end of his life
when. having tasted the Ices and drcgs
of lustful pleasures. from whose cup he
had 50 deeply drunk, he realized the
folly aud fruitlessness Of all that Is I'M
pure and unhoy. IT might rather have
been wrung from some righteous soul,
that stood aghast at the excuses Of the
against his mode of nfe possibly by
woman, as the exquisite passages OF
tenderness might Indicate"
TRIED TO FIND DEEPER MEANINGS.
The speaker here gave an epitome Of
the book, and continued:
"Theologans, ancient and modern,
have tried to dig hidden truths and
deeper meanings out of IT, but all to no
purpose. 1t might possibly have been
intended as a moral support 10 the peo-
pie at large. encouraging them 10 re-
sist the blanishments of sensual pagan
ism, and remain faithful to the simple
virtues Of ethical monotheism. as en-
bodied i'm the worship Of the God Of
Israel. This, i'm its entirety. No single
passage or verse can be taken 10 refer
to any particular doctrine or tenet nor
does it foreshadow any new relation be-
tween Israel and God. Inc ideal Of con-
iugal union, as existing between God
and Israel, was always before the writer's
Of the old Testament Among the pro-
phets Hosea gives voice 10 IL jpn his beau
tiful passage chapter t.. verses q and 22),
and i'm this sense God is spoken of I'm the
second commandment as being a jealous
God
However. let the doctrinal value OF
the Song be what it may, one thing we
10 know, that 10 touches the main
spring Of human life I'm the theme uI-sA
which il dwels. Love is the essense Oh /
existence. the one thing superior 10 all
things external. the one thing that can
find he bright sun in q iarECuel sky. and |
behold in the blacklist night the silvered |
radiance Of the nightly orb, attended by |
her train Of shining stars. BE the love /
hat of husband and wife. or of parents |
lection IL is as constant as the northern |
star, lnyulnerable to decay. and inelucta- |
bic by time 1t can gift a clown with |
grace, plant beauty in the homeliest line |
lments. make "A hero Of a coward, and |
urn a vicious heart TO purity. 1t has |
b consecTating power that lifts 10 noblest /
Kings. We say that love Is blind. II is /
lot so. Love is the keener eye. the sixth ,
sense that perceives i'm the object loved /
ome noble quality. some trait. or char
lctristic, hidden to the duller vision Of
he world"
HEART OF THE MOTHER
The speaker here touched upon the
greater emotional capacity Of woman,
epeating:
Mans love is of mans life a thing
apart;
Tis womans whole existence"
THE heart Of wife or a mother is
never sounded by the plummet of reason
There is simply the fathomless depth Of
affection. and be the object thereof over
so unworthy in the eyes of the world
that affection never finches or waivers"
The speaker then said that love caused
man TO flee from evil and TO shun
wrong. or, if not thus powerful, hide his
Evil deeds from those who loved him.
"Oh, my brothers. he said "to whom has
)een given a noble and self-denying love
1t whose knock the doors of "a woman's
leart have opened. and there came forth
/ flood of absorbing affection. will YOU
lot be worthy Of that love? VIII YOU so
lct that you must deceive and d.ssimu-
ate that no knowledge of your real self
arnish and disfgure the ideal which love
ias built about YOU? Oh, young men. 10
whom mayhap this holy happiness has not
'et been given. you have IS fond and
aithful a friend i'm the heart of your
mother as ever a man can have. You
10 not know, and never can know, with
What pain and agony she bore you. with ,
What tenderness she held you as help ,
ass infant in the refuge of her bosom,
With what anxiety and seepless care she / /
overed over your crib. with what JOY .
he repeated your childish words and ,
poke again and again your clumsy and
lchoate wit: how she marvellcd i'm your
rowth of mind and body and how the
depth Of her love surrounds ,
ven now your head with q halo that
linds her eye 10 every defect and dulls ,
er ear to every evil word And will you
rown the lOvelight in those eyes with the r
God OF evil -eds and beat the portals ,
f ner ears with tales OF wrong-doing?"
The speaker closed with a beautiful
eroration and appeal 7
schyvnne Expected To-Day. ,
Anthony Schwane the abscOnding bar ,
aeper. who has been kept I'm jail in New Z
,rsey pending action by the United q
ates authorities. will be brought back !
this CITY on the 7-O'clOck train this ,