The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-30
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Rabbi Ehrenreieh Preaehes Strong ser-
 mon on Thanksgiving.
 Thanksgiving Day was observed by KahI Montgomery with impressive ser vices at Temple Beth-or under the direction of Rabbi B. c. Ehrenreich at o'clock yesterday afternoon. The house of worship was decorated with palms and flowers, and the fruits of the season, indicative of the spirit of the day. Special music was rendered by the choir.
 The oratlon of the day was delivered by Dr. Ehrenreich, who was assisted in the services by c. F. Moritx,. who read the Thanksgiving proclamation of President Roosevelt and the lesson from the Scriptures.
 Dr. Ehrenreich spoke in part as fol- lows:
 Tt is a glorious thought that is contained in this day set aside by the chief of our nation for thanksgiving. Many of us have come from lands in which liberty is as yet not even in the making. Its first rays are coming through a heavy and dark mist which. when it first began to show itself, seemed threatening and foreboding.
 Our ideas on religion vary. and are as different as the nationalities that are gathered under. the flag that floats over us. But on this day we are united. We are at the close of the harvest sea- son. The fruits of the field and the crops have been gathered in, and we find the condition of our land prosper ous to a glorious degree. Prosperity on all sides. The industries have re- sponded to willing hands, anxious to develop what possibilities we possess.
 Let all men unite in giving thanks to God. There5is no sectarianism in the proclamation, as some would see therein. The distinct command is that each serve God on this day. according to his conscience, and in the spirit of his faith, even if that faith be only for an hour. Thank God that the spirit of the proclamation is the broad one whereon our Government has been es- tablished by the fathers of the nation. Thank God that we live in land where church and State are separate, where all men may worship their God according to their own conscience, and in accordance with the spirit of the tradition of the religion in which they were reared. All men should have re- ligion of one kind or another, but as the State is the representative of all mems minds and thought. 1t must nec- essarily be founded. Such Is our Gov ernmcnt It Is neither Christian na- tion nor a Jewish one. nor Unitarian nor is it atheistic. It is founded upon no sectarianism. but upon the belief that a higher power exists and that all men are brothers. So long as we keep this spirit intact. so long must we keep growing from strength tc strength. If the nations of the world would come to recognize the import ance of this principle first taught tS mankind by our Government ther' would be no scenes such as are enacted tn countries like Russia. There nigh never have been a St. Bartholomew day over the crime of which the work still shudders. There would have beer no Kishenev nor disgraceful scenes. ~' are enacted every now and then in tn name of the most ideal thought tha the human race ever developed. no would the third commandment on thu decalogue be broken. nor the holiness of the sovereign of the universe n' questioned.
 Happy and glorious Americal Teach CT of the race. of the importance O ] righteousness and good feeling to al men, We. In our principle. exemplif! this the highest teaching of religion We, the American people. having n' State religion are the most religious il | that we practice religion. We, tn people without form in our governnlen | tai religious life, are yet the mos 1 truly religious people upon which tn sun ever shOne. And this day. so glo rious a heritage from the Pilgriu Fathers should incVleste in us at al