The record-union., 1899-09-05

the heroic within him, and that this
element is rarely, ii ever, unfolded by
prosperity, by happy conditions or by
pleasant surroundings. It's the calam-
tiles, the mlsfortuneS, the sorrows of
life that bring out our higher and
nobler traits. But let us beware in
recounting our misfortunes, our calam-
tiles and our disappointments that we
do not place the causes thereof where
they do not belong. There are misfor-
tunes beyond our control and there are
evils within our control.
If the self-retrospection the self-ex-
animation in which we are this day to
engage, is to be honest and sincere. let
us not hesitate to look inward rather
than outward for much of the cause.
Let US not hesitate to confess that we
are largely responsible for many of our
own misfortunes. We hate to acknowl-
edge our responsibilities We often lack
the courage to confess, even to our
selves, our own faults. We must re-
member that the world is not only pa
tient and forbearing but that as a
rule, it is appreciative, and that if we
have not met with better success, it
must be because, in some way. we were
not deserving. Let us be lenient and
charitable with the faults of EVERYONE
but ourselves. We may strive and
struggle, labor and toll, and vet fall
short of success. The consciousness,
however, that we have done our best.
that we have left no duty untitled, no
task unperformed, cannot but lessen
our disappointment
We can live aimlesslv. or. like the
mariner who starts out with a definite
destination IN view, we can have a goal
before US and bend and tend our ener-
gleS to the attainment of such end.
This goal may be to win wealth or
place, power or pleasure, regardless of
virtue or character; or our aim NAV
be to secure any or all of these advan-
tages, but only in a manner consistent
with right acting and right living.
Too many Of us want all the honors
and pleasures of life but are unwilling
to pay for them; too many of us expect
TO get wisdom and prosperity, power
ana influence, the respect and esteem
OF our fellows, very much as the
gambler who, on the throw of dice,
expects to rake in his fortune. Wealth,
to be a blessing, must be<the result of
industry and application, of economy
tempered with enterprise, of honesty
and energy, of giving UP the desires of
to-day for the better things of to-mor-
row. Wisdom comes only from thought
and reflection, from study and obserya-
ton. Power comes only from knoWl-
edge of self and knowledge Of
the world. Influence. and es-
TEEN, and respect come ONLY from the
attainment of character, from a culti-
walton of the higher and better quail
ties within u.s. If, then, we wish to
enjoy the blessings of wealth, of power
of influence, of the esteem of others, we
must pay the price of life of toll, of
thoughtfulness, of usefulness and of
ht-mindedness.
We can no more cheat Gods world
of men than we can cheat Gods earth.
We can no more win the good opinion
OF others by evil deeds and lost oppor-
tunities by misspent days, by riotous
nights, than we can hope to gather figs
Where we have planted thistles.
There is no easy road to wealth, to
honor, to station, to the esteem of
others. The honorable attainment of
these rewards comes only from effort
and self-sacrifice, from toll and moil.
from trials and aff1ictions.
When We leave this temple of
worship, let it be with the earnest re-
solve that the present and the future
shall profit by our past that the year
to come shall to us be a nobler and a.
better one, because of our errors of the
past. Let us, from our heart of hearts,
ask Providence to give us the strength
and the power to begin with this hour,
to lead higher, purer life, to think less
OF self and more of our fellows, to set
aside all base and unholy desires, all
low and ignoble thoughts. If, in this
spirit, we can leave the house of God.
the hours we have spent here will not
have been in vain, the dollars lost to us
by the suspension of our labors or the
closing of our shops and offices. will
not have been wasted; we shall go forth
better and nobler men and women.
stronger in mind purer in heart and
higher in character This day will
have been red-letter day in our rel
igious life and the year about to open.
will be the most helpful and fruitful in
all our career. If prosperity comes. we
shall be enabled to enjoy it more wisely
and intelligently; if adversely comes. we
shall be able to bear it more heroicallv
and philosophically.
May the incoming year bring to us a
spirit of peace and of blessedness. a de-
sire for moral betterment and for
spiritual growth, and may God, in His
power and kindness, strengthen US in
such desires and help US to live in such
higher and better spirit.
The services at the synagogue will
commence this morning at s O'Clock.
and the choir service will be held at 10
O'Clock. Mrs. ]. Ginsberg will officiate
at the first service and Mrs. H Vein
stock and Miss L. Heilbron at the lat
ter.