The Savannah morning news., 1904-09-11
RELIGION AS
A convenience.
R0SH HASH0NAH SERMON
PREACHED To LARGE CoNGREGA-
TION BY REV. GEO. SOLOMON.

DIR. Solomon Said That Unfor-
tunateIy Religion is a Source
of Amusement to Many
But Rabbi Must be Called i'm for a
Marriage or a FuneraI-New Year
the Day That Decides for All the
Outcome of Struggle Between In
ner Forces of Evil and Righteous
ness.
Rev. George Solomon preached the
Rosh Hashonah sermon yesterday
morning at the Synagogue Temple
Mickva Israel to a large congregation.
The lesson of the sermon was taken
from Genesis, xxi, 1892. The serv-
ices were very impressive and fully
reflected the solemnity of the ocda-
sion they were intended to celebrate
Rev. DR.. Solomon said:
And Jacob called the name of the
place Pencil; for Che said) have seen
an angel of God face to face, and my
life had been preserved. And the sun
rose unto him as he passed Pencil"
Genesis, xxi, 31-32)
Another wave has broken on the
shore of time. Borne forward on it's
crest the bark of our life has been
landed on the beach. The anxious
night of waiting and expectancy has
passed, and the golden rays of the
morning sun disclose to our view the
long-looked- for port of the new year.
Reality rarely accords with the bril-
liant pictures painted by our magma
ton Though the power of a time
honored tradition constrains us to
gather in hallowing this day. to many
no doubt, despite the eloquent fervor
of the preachers, who throughout the
world are earnestly striving to i'm
press it's sacred character, there is
little in the day that would distinguish
it as being of so much Importance.
Religion AS Convenience.
''Crises never pass us by unaffected.
However callous or different in our
natures, whether or not we give WISH
BILE evidence of it, we are all more or
less concerned at the possible out
come of each turn of events. Be it
merely the result of a wager, or the
issue of an all important plan, we
wish always to win, and so in every
case We feel some interest and anx-
ietv.
Though it is unfortunately true that
religion is matter of convenience, or
even a source of amusement to large
number yet the fact that at a we'd
ding or a funeral they feel it necessary
to call in the service of a rabbi, and
when in mourning and on the great
holidays they are most particular to
be regular in their attendance at the
synagogue, though they never darken
its doors on any other occasion, proves
that religion means more than they
really know or are willing to admit
The overcrowding to-day of seats
whose gaunt emptiness from Sabbath
to Sabbath seems to grin at the rabbi
like a CHASTITY skeleton incapable of
ever again feeling the pulse of life
proves more forcibly than any argu-
ment that despite their sneers, born
of superior wisdom, the scorners of
religion would avail themselves of its
possible benefits, and by their attend
ance to-day purchase, perchance, a
years supply of happiness.
Can you not see, my friends, the
justice in the plea, that as there is
nothing that forces your attendance
to-day any more than throughout the
year, you come solely because of an
and your presence here to-day either
convicts you of foolish weakness or,
as l believe you would rather admit,
points out the duty of giving more
heed to your religious duty during the
wear.
Is Real Importance.
There is then. a real Importance for
all of us in the new years day. It
is the moment that decides for us the
outcome of the struggle as 1 described
1t last night, between the conflicting
inner forces. If in consequence of the
reflection it produces we achieve the
victory; if we can exchange the name
of Jacob, synonymous of the willy
trickster, for the proud name of Israel
the champion of God, the man whose
higher nature triumphs over his baser
self then, as did Jacob, can we call
this place of our assembly, Peniel, and
this New Years Day will be the monu-
ment marking the victorious outcome
of the battle, commemorative our meet
ing, face to face, with God.
l spoke of the new year as our hap
by entry into another port. To car
ry out the figure this would imply that
each year we embark on another voyage
over the sea of life. This is not, how
ever, so simple as the taking of a
pleasure trip, in which, after purchas-
ing out ticket, we enjoy all the luxu-
or trouble until we reach our destina-
tion. We embark, not as mere pas
sengers, but rather as the masters of
ship. We are the helmsmen whose
intelligence guides the bark of our
career over the ocean of life. 1t is
not merely leaving one port, and fol-
lowing definite course, reaching an
other.
Studying the Chart.
While the traveller is securely enjoy
ing the conveniences of the grand sa-
lon below, above, in his cabin, the
captain is busy bending over the chart
which indicates the route mapped out
by previous navigators. He studies the
winds and tides and currents, ques-
Tons the heavens and sounds the deep,
That he might find the correct way,
avoiding hidden rocks and shoals. The
mighty engines rotate according to his
signal and the ponderous wheel direct
ing the rudder, turns beneath his
guidance
Well may the lines of care mark his
earnest visage, for one false reckoning,
and the proud ship, with its precious
cargo of human freight, will meet with
destruction. To him the lines of the
Chart Indicate the attempts Of earlier
mariners. In 1t he reads the history
OF vessels gone astray Of shipwrecks
al H. IL