The Washington herald., 1909-05-26
JEWS CELEBRATE
The SPRING FEAST
PenteeOSt Observed in the
Capital SynagOgueS.
/ CHILDREN CONFIRMED TODAY
Twenty-Five Young Men and Women
VIII BE Enrolled Under Israers
Banner in Eighth Street Temple.
Rabbi simon breaches ImpressiveIy
on Childhood and Religion,

The Feast Of the Pentecost opened in
the Jewish Church at sundown yester-
day. II is the feast Of the budding year;
Of the springtime. when fruits are ripe,
and all nature feels the stirring Of new
impulse.
For thirty-dve centuries Israel has ceIe-
5rated this feast. ore OF the most an
cient OF rituals has come down with il.
one Of the most venerable OF her tradi-
tions. To her it is indissolubly linked
with childhood. It is the season when
budding youth. IN keeping with the spring,
is brought within the synagogue.
Youth Confirmed To-day.
This morning Jewish temples through
out the city viii receive their youth with
a ritual consecrated by the ages. There
VIII be the charm Of the new relation on
both sides. the church glad to receive
new recruits. and youth eager to be en-
rolled on the long and ancient roster OF
Israel
There VIII be twenty-five young men
and women received in the Eighth Street
Temple this morning. and IN anticipa-
ton Of It Rabbi Simon preached a ser
mon on Childhood and religion 70 a
large congregation last evening.
The Feast Of the Pentecost Is thirty
five centuries Old" ne said. and We
have surrounded II with the halo Of boy
hood and sirlhood. u is a sweet kind
day-4save eRvelOped IL in beauty. The
feast IS deeply significant
Childhood is composite Of all the
past and is prophecy OF the future We
iutruSt the future OF the church TO the
child Of to-day Il is a day involving
the greatest responsibility. Therefore
while We have surrounded our holidays
with the JOYS Of the feast, We also accept
It's burdens
Ancicnts Feared Census.
Remember that thousands OF years
aso there was a peculiar feeling about
the census-that is. the roster Of the
church Il was regarded as uniucky and
dangerous It was feared that men might
gain wrong impressions from it. II might
give a sense of false security.
Some said il would lead to reliance
t upon mere physical strength, instead O,
. a reliance upon God. Men. knowing TIE
strength Of their battalious. would fail tc
invoke the aid Of God before going q
battle. Now, Israers entire history IS op-
posed 70 large battalions.
1t IS not 10 be thought that the con-
quest cf our people has been a nlitary
one. We have sought cur victories. and
gained them. in other fields. But il is the
irony Of history that the people who most
wanted peace were the victims of war. A
peaceful nation has been the victim OF
others"
Dr. Simon then expOUnded brief PHI
losOphy Of the child and the church He
sc0hed a. the idea that the boy or gi-l
should not be brought within the church
until he was sufficiently mature 20 CON-
prehend its doctrine or choose between
the different faiths. He believed nothing
was gained By this procedure. and much
vas lost
Some say the child has no connection
with religion, - he Continued But 7 con
front them with the opinion OF the mas
teTs. I believe the religious life OF the
child should begin at an early age. He
should be nurtUred with the great truths
OF the faith from the first and be devel-
cped in the church.