The times., 1899-09-06
PRAYER IN THE TEMPLES
Impressive Celebration Of the Jew.
ish New Year.
Its Observance Continued Today by
the Orthodox Congregations-Ra
Makes Reference to the Dreyfus
Case - Selected as Scapegont.

the first day of the new year ended with
the setting of the sun last night. With
those of the orthodox faith the celebration
will continue into today. The Adas Israel
Congregation and the Avas Shoben Con-
gregation will hold services this morning
at O'Clock. Rabbi Crosby conducted ser
vices at the latters place of worship last
evening, consisting of prayers from the
orthodox prayerbook and scripture read
ings from Genesis. The shofar or trumpet,
was sounded according to the ancient Jew
ish custom The male portion Of the con-
gregation wore their hats during the serv-
ice and had thrown over their shoulders
scarfs of white with blue and black ends.
The principal service of yesterday Was
held at the temple of the Washington Con-
gregation at Ii o'clock a. M, with Rabbi
Stern officiating. The temple was filled
to its capacity and the services which pre-
ceded the sermon were impressive.
Rabbi Stern's address was eloquently de-
livered and greatly impressed his hearers.
He said in part:
My friends, today the portals of a new
year are opening before u.s. How strangely
our hearts are moved in the solemn hours
dividing what has been from what is TO be.
Behind us the year that has past, with its
memories, joyous or sad, encouraging or
& ~.
darkness most complete, mystery profound.
How are we to enter? Oh my friends,
whatever may have been our experiences
Of the past whatever be our outlook into
the future, let US, in the spirit of our text
as strong men and brave women, as true
children of a sturdy God-fearing race.
cross the threshold hopefully, praying with
well the meaning of the phrase, Send out
thy light and thy truth; these shall guide
me into safe future But let us ponder
well the meaning of the phrase Send out
thy light and thy truth For a safe
I guidance in an unknown future we need
/ that light; that truth that has its source in
God, the essence of light and truth. The
light that leads away from God is false,
snare TO our feet. The truth, so-called,
that conflicts with Gods truth is spurious
and deceiving, pitfall to both body and
soul.
The shofar's solemn sound is to impress
upon US this great lesson, according to the
word of Holy Writ, Happy the people who
understand the awakening sound of the
cornet; they walk o Lord, in the light of
Thy countenance. Rosh Hashanah comes
TO US to teach US the great fundamental
truth, God reigneth'-not blind chance In
Him, our Heavenly Father we must place
our trust; to Him alone. and none other,
DO we owe homage and alteration. 1t comes
TO teach us that the fatherhood OF God i'm
plies the brotherhood of man. enjoining
upon one and all the duty of love and JUS
tlce, charity, and benevolenee, kiadliness
and unselfishness toward our fellow men.
Have these simple, ancient truths found
due recognition in our boasted modern age.
with its fierce struggle for existence, its
grinding competition, its frequent out
bursts of violence and bridled passion, its
gross materialism? Dazzled by what we
/ fondly, yet falsely, call the light of pro-
gress-do we not often permit the divine
light within us to burn low, or to become
wholly extinguished? What If an enlight-
ened head means an impoverished heart, il
increase in knowledge and education is not
coupled with corresponding rise in the
moral scale, the improvement of soul and
character? Would you be guided or would
you have your children be guided by a new
tangled shallow philosophy that aims TO
rob US OF our faith in God that makes
mammon our IDOL and sel6shness and
greed our ruling passion; that would strip
life OF its ideals, beholding in it
nothing worth living for save the gratif-
cation of our sensual appetities amidst
continuous rounds Of pleasure and enjoy
rlent, and that when troubles and trials
weigh heavily upon u.s. would 90 so
far as to sanction the cowardly act of self
destruction"
Rabbi Stern next spoke of the great need
OF prayer and of Gods truth and Gods
hight to satisfy the cravings of the puzzled
mind. He spoke of the advancement of the
masses in education and the dawning of
better day for Israel of the short life of the
anu-Semite movement in Germany and
Austria and then, touching the Dreyfus
affair, he said in part:
While the farce of the trial is slowly
dragging itself along; while base, corrupt
witnesses in gaudy uniforms shamelessly
trample upon truth, and biased judges
mysteriously deliberate bshind closed
doors. the world has long rendered judg-
ment No man in his sober senses, within
or outside of France, doubts for a moment
the innocence Of the poor martyr, the
hopeless victim Of religious prejudice. po-
htical corruption, and military despotism
and audacity. No one less than these
Judges and generals can, from the facts
in the case, believe Dreyfus guilty But,
in spite of all even at this late hour, who
would dare predict with a certainty, the
immediate outcome of the struggle? All
the world knows that Dreyfus has been Sc
Iected as scapegoat. And Dreyfus be-
ing Jew-the most convenient scape-
goat available, because of that widespread
prejudice against the Jew, diligently fan
ned by unscrupulous agitators and notori-
Gus Jew haters-the old story is likely to
repeat itslef, that, whether guilty or inno-
cent, "Thut NIGHTS, der Jude wird verb
rannt!'
The morning has come but still,
friends, the old prayer is in order: oh.
send forth thy light and Thy truth, they
shall lead me-"
For five long, terrible years, throughout
the silent, dreary nights OF solitary con-
hnement on desolate, distant isle. far.
tar removed from his loved ones. the noLIe,
heroic, sef-sacrificing wife and darling
children
heartless jailers, the only human beings
with whom he could come in contact. how
often that hapless martyr ray have prayed
for the light and the truth that would re-
move the shame and disgrace from his in
nocent head and the shaclSles from his wary
limbs? What could be more pathetic dur
ing the progress OF the present trial than
thgsaceasional outbursts of utter disgust
ana burning indignation of the prisoner at
the bar at the Infamous, false words he
was compelled to listen to, and his fer
vent, impassionate appeal, oh. for the light
ana Inc truth, it is all / ask for,'
But after all, the experience of Dreyfus
is the experience of the Jew throughout
the ages. From the time of Haman OF old
throughout the many centuries of trials
and suferings, even to the days of our
modern Hamans, the Stockers, Ahlwardts.
Luegers, the Drumonts, Rocheforts. the
Gonses, Merciers, and Rochets has not the
Jew been charged again and again with a
lack OF patriotism and good citizenship.
and with numerous other possible and inn
possible crimes. charges as prepost erous
as they We're unfounded?"
Dreyfus, the martyr, has suffered much
but IN his suffering, borne so nobly pa
tiently and manfully, the Jew once more
stands gloriously vindicated before the
world, and the 'affaire Dreyfus has prov
ed another effective. IN I'm of