The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-09-10
B'NAl SHOLEM FESTIVAL
SERMON BY THE NEW RABBI,
 REV. LOUIS YASGoURs
Scholarly Pastor of the olive Stree

At the Temple B'nai Sholem. known as the Olive street synagogue, the new rabbi, Rev. Louis Yasgour, began his pastorate by New Years sermon last evening. There was a quartette and a special musical programme. The Rev. MT. Yasgour. who is well known for his scholarship, has been here for the last four weeks on trial, together with oth-' CT candidates, and he was elected on the first of September This election is a part of the Improvements on which the trustees have resolved in modern izing the service. English prayers have been introduced.
 The Rev. Louis Yasgour was born in East Prussia, in 1872, of Russian pa rents. After preparatory work in Schwerin- Mecklenburg he was in the Rabbinical seminary in Berlin, and studied for some time in Russia. He became Rabbi in Mainz. Coming to America in 1898, he became the head teacher of the first Hebrew school in Brooklyn. He was called as Rabbi to North Adams, Mass, and then to Hous- ton, Texas. Here he remained for three years, writing various articles for the press. In Howard college, In Birming- ham, Ala, wherehe taught Hebrew and German, he has taken work leading to- ward the degree of Ph. D., which he will complete. Here he wrote for the Howard college monthly.
 The sermon, which was in English, was received by the congregation with great interest. It was on The Feast of Creation" having the text, "One gene ration passeth away and another gen eration cometh, but the earth abideth forever" It was as follows:
 Centuries have passed. and many thousand years are behind this vast ltime, when everything was in darkness and a mass of undeveloped matter. Nature, it's unlimited course; every ell ement, loose and intangible, wandered lin q wild manner. aimless and without purpose. Neither rule nor order, as at present, was known at that time, and there was no calculation of time, for lthere was no light to distinguish day from night. Deep mourning enveloped l the earth, which is at present So beau- tifully covered with green grass and stately trees. It was not world of seasons nor time Neither sunny sum- mar nor pleasant autumn, invigorating .I winter nor balmy and fragrant spring came and passed interchangea No l harmonious tones of our lovely feath- lered poets could then be heard. Na- lture slept her deathly sleep. Diseord, Imonotony and disorder prevailed at large. Chaos and confusion reigned Isupreme and obscurity covered the Iwhole planet.
 Then hearken! The creative phrase lis heard, "Let there be light. And as Tits magic note rang out through na4 lures realm the divine behest was ut tered and the chaos was turned into the Ecosmos. God lovingly called this world created for our existence, and He illu- il minated it through a fountain of light.
 God deemed it good to create our world and above all his creations God Ipredominated mankind High privi- Ileges and faculties have been bestowed upon man and he has been favored and Iequipped with mentality. God was not satisfied with his creation until man was put on earth and he became the real and superior work of our Maker. } He called him to fulfill His will and therefore He brought man nearest to Him. Man is created in His image and He possesses the faculty of discernment 2 in the different spheres and some.of the marvellous productions of nature, many lby virtue of his intellectual attributes has spanned a path over the roaring and stormy sea. Every day the world becomes more and more enriched with Inew inventions and discoveries. We
 climb up the observatories to penetrate land perceive the Idanatory world, an6 i've dive into the depths of the sea tt
 get a glimpse at what is going or
 among the inhabitants of the aquari, Ium, So he is made king of the earth
 for every other creature and all produc,
 ton is given for his utility. But he SC.
 lected Israel from among all the other
 nations and called Jacob my first born
 "Mein Liebling," instructing him WitE
 His will and appointing us as His apos
 ties to promulgate the code of monothe
 ism; to preach the divine and sublime
 teachings of the pure and lofty mosai;
 law, faith free from dogma or super lstition; a belief based upon moral eth lies and humanity.
 And at the present time we do persis lin our conviction despite the oppression
 and continuation our race had to suffei
 regardless of the inhuman treatmen lduring the mediaeval dark ages.
 And to-day, on the birthday of ou
 world, we assemble in this house t
 show our gratitude, to give homage ant
 adoration, to magnify and glorify Hi lillustrious name.
 With hearts filled with appreciation
 and thankfulness for His kindness an goodness during the entire passin, year, we come confidentially to appea
 before our Maker to submit our will t His mercy and to supplicate for ou further existence and welfare, For H Ii is our Father and we are His chiIdrer
 Yes, we are His flock and He is ou Shepherd. He is the Leader of the vas universe, and all is His.
 We have outlined our culminator
 and oppressors to stand as witness t
 the fulfillment of Adinoy's promise, an las a pyramid to the only one spiritus 1Lord and Creator of the universe
 The fate of the Hebrew is one c
 those wonderous things that chain tn