Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-12

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| son hnds him invariably a returning sup
plant at the throne Of God. I have said
mat 1t is religious sentiment that most
powerful motive Of human action, that
eHects his return. But it is not this
alone. There is another factor CT in
nuence that is in this particular instance
perhaps no less effective, ana that is VIVA,
snail term the Jewish consciousness It
contributes an element Of feeling that
plays no small part in the power and the
purpose of this day.
we find Its evidence in that sense of
solidarity that pervades the Jewish peo-
pie, scattered throughout the world. We
know though we do not perceive it, with
physical sense, yet we know that all over
the world Israel is kneelinS at the shrine
Of Jehovah.
No community too small or 1nsignif-
can't none too large or powerful but
that they are all intoning the same pray
ers. making the same confession of SINS
reading the same portion of the sacred
Scriptures and in the same sacred Ian
guage of our fathers, though varied as
the nations Of men be the tongues they
speak In their daily discourse.
A Band of Brothers.
There is in this knowledge a sense of
brotherhood that is as ozone to the soul.
Every jew feels to-day that he is one of a
band of brothers, not large, as compared
to some others, nor compact nor other
wise united than in this very sentiment
that agitates his own breast, yet bound
together by a. common history, a COM
mon suffering, and a common hope. This
consciousness of the tie that holds them
together. this sense Of a solidarity that is
real only in its subjective conception this
is in itself a centripetal force that drives
the scattered people toward the centre OIL
its hope and it's spiritual strength, that
makes them every one turn toward their
house Of worship on this solemn day, as
the heiathus turns towards the sun. 1t
is a pity that it is not continuously effec-
tive, this Jewish consciousness, for it is
the saving power of the faith and the
people.
And yet, what is It? It is not faith
alone. nor the religious worship which is
All expression of faith. It is not prayer
nor devotion alone, nor alone the confess
sion of belief and its doctrines. 1t is
these; it is all these; but it is something
more. 1t is the sincere attitude of the
believers toward the world. toward the
problems Of life and human conduct, to-
ward ones fellow-men and country. 1t
is not only belief, but it is the translation.
Of that belief into a force. an impulse,
motive Of action, a guiding principle. 1t
is not an intellectual proposition; it is
something deeper; it is an emotion. It is
an experience, which, however it may be
fortified by reason or by intellectual
demonstration. Is prior to and stronger
than. reason. The mother needs no argu-
ment to prove or justify the consciousness
of her motherhoods JOY, and the Jewish
consciousness, when aroused, needs no ar
gument and no justification. It is an i'm
pulse that will carry the Jew to his duty.
even as her love will carry the mother
into the fire to rescue her child.
First Fruit Self-Respcct.
l. The first fruit of this Jewish con-
seriousness is self-respect The Psalmist
says Psalms l1e. VS.. 14) 81 shall pay my
VOWS unto the LORI, in the presence of
the Whole congregation" There are too
many OF us who are shame-faced about
matters, We are towards not Of
conscience. but in the face of what we
think is ridicule, or idle curiosity. How
many OF us are trying to eradicate every
thing that is distinctively Jewish. wheth-
er IN outward form and observance or In
inner doctrine and thought in order that
we may not be distinguished from our
felloW-men. We ape the manners. the
an1usements, the ideals, and above ali the
wees OF our neighbors, to show forsooth
that we are not different from our neigh
bors believe in the universal brother
hood OF the human race, I believe fer
ventlyz and sincerely In the oneness Of the
human family, as believe in the oneness
of humanity's God. But I no less believe
that God gave to every class of people
on earth a mission to perform, and each
nation and people is kept distinct till that
mission is performed, or falling in their
duty, that people is wiped off the face of
the earth and their task given to another.
Thus with all my heart and soul do I be-
lieve that Israel has distinct part to
play in the great drama of human devel-
opment, and believe that it shall remain
distinctive until that part is performed,
Or being tried and found wanting. Israel
shall perish miserably. from the memory
IF man, and its high privilege given to
another. Shall we then prove recreant to
our holy trust? Shall we deny and con-
zeal and struggle to hide and evade. and
sondly imagine we ara hoodwlnking our |
Sod, when we do not even deceive our
'ellow-mar? II shall pay my vows in the |
presence Of the whole congregation. says
he Psalmist. Here was no fear of pub
icity; no shame-faced backwardness in
lis service because forsooth people were
ooking Here was the courage of con-
fiction, the calm, uncaring pluck to do his
!uty, giving utterly no heed to curious on
ookers, or friendly or unfriendly wit
lesses; because here was man conscious
# the fact that he was in touch with his
sod, and he was not afraid to testify to
his fact before all the world, Indeed
he whole psalm Is saturated with this
bought. He says Tvs. 9-l0) Il shall walk
,efore the Lord in the lands of the liv-
ng. believe, therefore. shall speak
,ut.'' Can there be truer picture Of
srael's message and privilege? Who Of
IL peoples SO walks throughout all the
ands Of the living as does Israel? Who
( all peoples has SO clearly by natural
the power Ito believe. and
therefore, by divine appointment the duty
- sneak. out The ciousness Of
his truth should make us. like the
,salmtst, ready to pay our VOWS In the
ace Of all the world, TO declare# BY word
nd deed. By life and conduct, that the
,ternal Jehovah Is our God as heswaE our