The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-09
SINS OF IGNORANCE.
An Able Discourse on This Subject by
Rev. DIR. Caiisch.

I 4
Rev. DIR. Caiiscb.
An interesting and instructive sermon
was preached at Beth Ahaba yesterday
morning by Rev. Dr. r. n. Calisch, his
subject being The Sins of Ignorance"
lie took as mis- text LeViticus w. l-5
THE Lord spoke unto MOses-speak
unto the children Of Israel, saying: II
any person do sin through ignorance Of
any OF the prohibitions OF the Lord
then shall he bring a bullock cas- a
sln-o0ering) 70 the door of the taber-
nacle etc
In explaining and ampiifying his theme
Dr. Cdlsch said.
There is a legal maxim, which is at
the basis Of an judicial procedure, and
which declares. "ignoranua legis ne
mnem eXcusar Ignorance Of the law
excuses 10 one. We are ready to adj
NIT the value of this maxim Ii is the
business of every citizen 10 know the
laws of the land and consequently 20
obey. If lack of knowledge were admit
ted as a valid excuse. then every male
factor brought before the tribunal of
justice would set up the plea of igno-
rance.
10 is interesting 10 note how this at
ttude is exactly along the lines laid
down by Moses, as given in our text. that
when man violates any of the ordi-
nanccs of the Lord, even though IL had
been done IN ignorance. he was COM
PEELED TO bring an Offering In eXpiation.
10 is perhaps no less interesting to note
that this principle has obtained through
out tho world, and that all through his
history man has b0n bringing the Of
ferng OF pain and Suffering because Of
the sins OF ignorance
IuoWlaIrp Is the uvoroufieifo Of poWpr
and of true life. Adams first human act
was the tasting OF the fruit OF the tree Of
knowledge. and this act though one Of
disObedience. was yet the conquest Of a
new world for the incipent human race.
The Eden episode is the type OF our hui
manity-the acquisition Of knowledge
brings pain-but il Is not the knowledge
iust obtained 50 much as II S. the ignOr-
auce just exposed that gives the sorrow.
Where ignorance is bliss It's folly TO
be wise is a misleading sentiment. Under
no normal condition IS Il true human
bliss 10 be ignOrant-it might be bliss for
beast or animal not TO know Of better
things than are allotted 20 him. but no
human being wishes to keep himself or
another human being 10 the level Of a
beast. grumanitys destiny Is 20 pro-
gress EDWARDS and upwards-and know
ledge. ever widening and deeping, is the
as lohg as humanity remains IN igno-
rance. so long must 1t bring constant
offerings Of expiation upon the altar Of
suffering and of sorrow. because OF the
sins which its ignorance engenders.
Consider by what tell and tears man
has risen 10 Ms present heights Of in
tellectual acquisition. Consider how his
knowledge Of the universe. OF the earth
and tho ocean and of his own and other
life has been gained in the school OF bit
ter experience Consider what lives have
been lost, what suferings endured, what
mfscries borne, what pain and agony
gone through that we may know to-day
what IS told TO us In the books OF art or
of science that rest upon the shelves of
our libraries Think of the martyrs OF
science and exploration, OF invention
and discovery the brave pioneers Of the
pathways OF knowledge, all whose labor,
pain trials, tolls and deaths were Of
ierlngs brought upon the altar of hu-
mainly to atone for its sins Of ignor-
auce.
And i'm the regulation Of our physical
lines. what has not been. through all
the AGES past and even to-day yet offered
up as expiatory sacrifice for our sins OF
ignorance. Countless the lives that have
been given. countless the tears that have
been shed, countless the groans. the
nConies. the heartaches and the sorrow
burdened souls that have come through
our ignorance OF the conditions Of our
physical life and the needs OF its preser-
walton. Consider the plaques. the cpl
denies. the pestilences. the widespread
maladies aud distempers that have de-
vastated the human family in every age
that swept down human lives as the
standing corn is beaten by the hurricane
and that an have happened and happen
to-day because OF ignorance The Blu
bonlc plague Is demanding It's daily trib-
nte Of thousands IN India to-day. II Is
but q few years that the cholera alarmed
al Europe and less time since all fought
the yellow fever on our own shores. Can
any one say that these things are IN
avoaable, that they must be. save that
they are the offerings which Ignorance
IS stiil bringing upon the affairs or ex-
perience.
And in our moral lfe-ah. what sacri-
fees are We not bringing. We think our
lives well-ordered enough. But. when We
consider the murders. the suicides. inc
divorces the sduiteries. the corrupion IA
onre. "thr brawls." the drunkenness
which are daily recorded In our paperbi