The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-06
IDR,CALlSCH..O|N'lI|.
? A|.R|.'Sl||.F||A L, Z
Takes Issuc With Those WHO
Object to the Great #NVagrle-
III .s 4' rian Opera. y. $ita ts
SAW II IN NEW YORK DIRK
Rabbi Says the Stage Is q Child
Of the Church and Possesses
Great Educational Value.

Ahaba Synagogue last night, Dr.. u n.
Cnlisch preached n notable service ION
the subject, "a rabbits Impression OF
Iarslfal.'
While In New York 81 short while ago
Or. Caisch saw the opera that has
created such sensation In the religious
world. III recording his Impressions OF
the playhc gives toiL the highest praise.
He takes direct issue with those who
have objected to the opera. IN which
class are included a number OF Rich
mond ministers, and some Of tho de-.
Eominational .weekllcs. which have cx-
pressed themselves pretty strongly upon
the sub feet. VI w.
Text: Psalm xxly-5;G. s.s "A
q ~ THE SERMON. 55
The Rabbi began by saying that some
persons had objected to the portrayal
'0fsa religious theme on the stage. These
seem to forget two things:s First..thc
Tact that the stage Is the child OF tho !,
church. The drama was born at tho
foot Of the altar says Mr. Hamilton
W. h1abIe. and he speaks with knowl-E
edge The earliest dramatic presentn-
tons were religious ceremonies. The y
modern drama. evolved from the miracle
plays OF the madiaeval,2 church. Second,
the directors seem TO overlook The cdu-3
cntional value of the stage. Until the
time Of Shakespeare, the drama wns
hardly regarded as an avenue for serious
literary effort. But IInce the day Of
Avon's bard there has been scarcely any
literary luminary OF any brillance who
hns not 'cssaycd the drama. For the
theatre offers the widest field for poetic
Is n microcosm. a little
world In Itself, upon whose boards are
reproduced the tragedy and comedy of
life. Because Of this kinshlp to our life
lie appeal and It's Influence are inestt-
inltble. Especially = nrs THIS the c;isc i
before the day OF the daily paper and
the periodical ma game That tho I'M
fluence and the power OF the stage may
1 DO perverted to evil use cannot be de-
r.icd. Such Is the danger ofevcry human
institution. None will deny the utility
and the necessity of government. Yet
government has been u prostituted into
tyranny and despo tism. would say
further that IN all the years since Shape
speare, the stage has not caused as much I
n iscry and bloodshed as were produced
by tho single occasion OF witchcraft In
sny one century In England, or Scotland
or France. ~ ssf,
& It has been my observation that when
TIE stage does essay y strictly religious
theme, 1t does so with a reverence and
u serious carnestness chat Is not sur
rassed within any sacred edifice. The
passion play at oberammergnu Is an act
OF devotion. The production Of Parsifal
III Bayreuth Is the mecca OF an annual
pilgrimage Of worshippers. And as It
was produced In New York It impressed
me as would serviceiin a cathedral or
q & church. There Is an a tmosphere Of
reverence and. cxaltation in the presen-
tatIon that has subdued even the frivol-
IS of the metropolitan aristocracy. One
feels that there Is portrayed before him
with the irresistible eloquence of melody
the story of a sin-tainted soul striving
penItently for pardon and the career OF
ar innocent soul keeping itself pure ana
stainless against all the temptations OF
The world and the flesh. The marvel Of
tho mechanical accessories and the beau-
ITO Of the unrivaled scenic effects Simply
add to the appeal that penetrates to the
heart. III
After giving the story Of Parsifal.
Rabbi Calsch spoke OF the Holy Grail.
He said there was a tradition. that origi-
rated most probably in England, OF a
knight who, by reason OF his pure and
unsulled life had attained to heights OF
holiness that touch the divine TINS
knight was made the central figure of
many legends and romances, that have
been handed down in literature, chief
or which arc the Arthurlan legends so
beautifully rendered By Tennyson, and
this story OF Parsifal (Which Is the Eng
lisll PercivaD as given by the Middle
3 German poet, Wolfram Won Eschenbach
The tradition was crystallzed by tho
church into the story Of q cup. which
was used by Jesus at the last supper,
4 and again used to catch some OF his
blood This cup, called the holy grail,
2 became a precious relic possessed OF NIL
raculous powers 1t was guarded by, q
& company of knights of unsullled me-
Only ono whose life was pure and Tree
S from saint to sin was eligible to the
knlghthood Of the grail.
IL is this phase that We find the uni
,ersal thought renderlying AS almost
ai people have u tradition OF q golden
age OF Eden. innocence and happiness,
So almost all people have traditions Of
8 hero who typifies the virtue and ethical
= ideals of that people. And humanity re-
cognizes this fact, among MI It's diverse
cyeeds and beliefs. that there ls IN n.y.
i manity power of exaltatlon. OF nop!e
4 striving, of pure ideal that Is humanity's
kinship with divinity Tho psalm, ~ *
tresses this thought In the eighth Psalm,
wien he makes man to be but niue
iSss than angels and again in the TWEEN
Sy.fourth Psalm. when he asks; WHO
can ascend the hill OF the. Lord. ana VINO
stand in His holy placer" and ne gives
answer ole who Is pure Of hands and
clean Of heart; who has not g'yen h' 3
81 soul to iniauity nor sworn to deceit
Here YOU have a perfect picture OF the
moral hero the knight Of purity ana IN
tegrity. The whole story Of human en-
deuvor is one Of constant effort to reao'
perfection. The divine possibility or nv
man nature is that which renders vs.
potential God-lke heroes, The unsWerV-
inG obedience to the voice of conscience
Is tho mark of the righteous man.. u
is not creed, but conscience; not doc,
trine, but deed, that make the mora
hero. Theologes are many; religion Is
one. WHO can dare question the recesses
81 the soul that seeks communion Will
It's God as how 1t WHIP Faith Is pre-,
cious fire within the hearts holy Of
l,oles. Let none enter there with irreyye'
rent tread. Truth Is n gem with man,
facets, though its light be but one. B'l
ira deed is the common possession 81
the race. and IL 1t be pure, honest I'M
selfish, aud God-honoring. 1t brings Us
doer within the knighthood Of tho hol,
and tia communion of the heroes Of