The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-08

Last Days Observed as Holidays.
The temple on Linden street, under
the spiritual guidance of the Rev. DR..
Edward NJ. Chapman, was comfortably
filled with an earnest congregation Of
worshippers yesterday morning to cele-
brate the festival Of the Passover. The
choir, under the leadership Of Prof. G.
r. Derman, acquitted themselves fine
ly, rendering the beautiful traditional
music Of the Jewish church in mas
terly manner.
The sermon was preached by Rabbl
Chapman, who made an eloquent ap-
peal to his congregation, basing his
argument on the text EX., chapter
xii, verses &c and q. The sermon is
spoken of as one of the ablest ana
strongest appeals that Rabbi Chap
man has yet made in the pulpit of the
congregation Anshe Chesed. He said,
in part:
The festival which we are met to cel-
ebrate is, not only in actual point of view,
but also in reference to its great moral
and spiritual influences, one of the most
important in the Jewish calendar. 1t is
the Passover the memorial of the de-
parture from Egypt What pious senti-
ments what exalted conceptions, what
cheering associations, does the return of
this hallowed festival aNaken in every
true Jewish heart.
Nearly $500 years have passed away
since the renowned Hebrew leader and
legislator was divinely charged to call
this institution into existence, and wond-
rous to relate, II has survived the long
succession of revolutions to which man.
kind and their ideas and their ordin-
ances have been subjected: and it has
withstood, what no human ordinance
could have braved--the destructive and
almost irresistible shock of time.
HISTORY TAKES US BACK.
Today. my beloved hearers, history
takes us, as it were, by the hand, and
conducts us over a regularly ascending
chronological line; and at what point So
ever We halt in our ascent, from the
present year to the era of Moses, we are
sure to light upon proofs, strong and
conclusive of the almost uninterrupted
annual solemnization of the Passover
AS the pillar of cloud by day and the
pillar of fire by night which preceded
the Israelites on their march were OBJ
vious and unmistakable evidences of the
Providence that watched over the des-
TIMES of the Abrahamic family, so, for
bration of the Passover by the whole
house of Israel on the 18th day of the
month of Nissan may be regarded as a
visible manifestation of the power and
glory of God and as a testimony, too full
and complete for any unprejudiced mind
to resist, of the Divine inspiration OF
the Hebrew Scriptures.
But what gives to this historical fact
its crowning point of interest and invests
it with the character of a standing mir.
aCle is, that whilst the recollection oi
every other occurrence OF remote antiq.
ity is merely preserved by some monu.
ment or at most, by some local feature
in the country where ii took place-the
events of the Passover are, to this day
attested by living witnesses. whose re.
ligious rites and observances, aye, and
the very language in which most of their
prayers and thanksgivings are uttered
are similar to those which prevailed
among the Hebrews, on the miraculous
night, when the first Passover was in.
augurated and on the morrow when the
Israelites shook off the dust of the capi-
tai of the Pharoahs and began their me-
morable march for Succoth,
EACH BEARS TESTIMONY.
Every Israelite assembled this morn.
ing, in our several places of worship
y
timony of the marvellous redemption
which was wrought for his ancestors III
Egypt. When, therefore, we contemplate
the present scene, congregation of the
House of Jacob taking part in the sol
emnization of the earliest rite enjoined
by Moses, and when, as we open Oul
Bible, and discover the promises which
God has there registered, that no revo
lutions of empires and no vicissitudes OF
fortune shall be suffered to impair oul
distinctive religious identity, we cannot
refrain from echoing the utteranCe oi
the Psalmist, Thy word, o Lord, en-
dureth forever; Thy truth extendett
throughout all generations" Ps. cXix.
But my hearers, the worship of the
synagogue in which we have this morn
ing joined, how important soever il be
in a ritual point of view, cannot of itsel
denote the full and generous spirit of thu
Passover, since this institution is init
mately connected with grand and holy
purposes, which tower high above al
ceremonial observances.
The return Of our great festival should
awaken us to a sense of the position,
which we hold in the moral aud intel
lectual world, TO our important vocation
and to our great destiny. 1t should arouse
us from our tOrpor. induce MS to shak,
off our too general Indifference, enl.ghter
us with the spirit of knowledge in ACCORD
with the civilization and institutions o
our age and country, ana cmancipatc oul
minds from all sentiments and ideas of
contracted character, and thus attach u!
more and more to the pure principles o
our ancient faith.
LESSON OF THE PASSOVER.
This is the lesson OF the Passover anC
the true method of it's celebration. Anc
feel all the solemnity Of what I an
now nj TO u-han 7 Z,