The Jewish outlook., 1907-12-06

ished, that sensibility to what in
olden times was called from piety'
is dead, or that we are not the better
the traditional holidays. All are not
constituted alike, and undoubtedly
many sitting in cold judgment on the
minister's sermon on YOm Kippur
are untouched by the thought that a
mighty record of a years dOings in
life is being reviewed by the great
record keeper. But it is in the blood
and the marrow of others and its in
huence is most potent. SO the holi
days are cherished by many of us. We
have the emotional element. Every
child appeals to it, our mothers never
die because they possessed it as we do,
we do weep and we laugh, and we do
not want either one of these blessed
emotions to freeze. For us there is
no cold religion. There was none
when only men prayed in the syna-
gOgue, while the women gOssiped in
the gallery between prayers. 1t is
real, and what is real has soul. and
the souls thoughts are emotions.
Ilt .NIIlcTICdIl JtNcSS IL IIot IlCCtS-
sarily maudlin. because she believes
that the Almighty has hidden much
from her knowledge and that the con-
fines of religion are in the mysteries.
Just how much of the old will she
believe or retain depends on her his
tory and geography. 1t is not for
one to establish the limitations of the
other. but for all to grant the same
privilege to each that she asks for
herself. To be a factor for transmit
ting our religious inheritance to an
other age we must do our share to-
wards upholding the synagogue and
the Sabbath school. These are our
well spring of vitality for the present
and the future. Our pulpits are suf-
fering from two causes. inadequate
salaries in most of them and lack of
audiences. | once attended syna-
gogue while visiting city. on Satur-
day morning. To expect any man to
preach to such an array of benches.
with his inspiration from the echo of
his own voice. was asking too much.
In the afternoon. at social gath
cring. | found all the women of
the city. inquired of num-
ber of them for the cause of their
absence from the synagogue. |
learned that Saturday was market
day. \ course i'm domestic science
will enable any woman to buy for
large hotel in half day: what on
earth can she purchase for fiat, that
she cannot arrange for an hour for
the temple! An empty synagogue is
not alluring to brilliant men. espe-
cially when it accompanies starvation
salaries. We need bring dignity to
our worship by willing attendance
and earnest cooperation. 1t is diff
cult to secure the money in small com
munities. and some are doing remark
ably well under great stress. With
the increase in numbers in large for
tunes. we may secure subsidies. and
that may be a task for us in the near
future.
The best educators of the day teach
the value of religious training to help
make up the knowledge of right liv-
ing for the child not apart from the
general education, but related to it,
as part of it. We naturally turn to
the child when we consider religion
as factor, for with him rests the
perpetuation of our faith. We are
not exceptional in aiming to encour-
age the study of the Bible. What
tons of literature we all swallow in
our age, yet we balk at this one VOL
ume. 1t is our own contribution to
Al ~