Omaha daily bee., 1914-11-21
PASTOR STUDIES CENTURIES
Historys Relation to Religion
Theme of Rabbi COINS Sermons,
BEGINS WITH THE FIFTEENTH
Asserts Date of Discovery OF New
world Also Marked Beginntng OF
New Things Morally, Intel
IectuaIIy and socially.

THE Soul of the Centuries new
series of dissertations dealing with ms
torys relation to religion. is the SUBJECT
which Rabbi Frederick conn has selected
for a years study
In the first OF these lectures entitied
The Fifteenth Century; the New
World delivered last night, RABBI
Cohn said:
Il purpose to examine each century
with a view to ascertaining its essential
spirit or soul
in our study OF the centuries we shall
begin with the fifteenth century for all
the centuries that went before were III
a manner but the preparation Tor TINS
yonderfuI century; this century itself
he beginning of a great era of human
history. II is the transition century that
marks the definite division OF the new
from the old. the distinct separation OF
mast views of life from the dominant con-
ceptions Of the world in which we i've
Rabbi Cohn said that as the discovery
of America marked the discovery OF
new world, so that same year and cen
tury marked the beginning of a new
world, morally, religiously, intellectually,
politically and socially.
with the fifteenth century the
medieval era comes definitely to an end
and humanity enters positively and
confidently upon the modern period, the
period in which we live, which is so alive
and thrilling and so instinct with hope
and promise for the days that are to be.
New Methods Adopted.
what was the soul of the fifteenth
century? II was the soul OF the break
up OF the old and the dawning of the
new; il was the soul of invention and
discovery; of mankind entering upon
new paths and making trial Of new
methods. For one thing it was the awak-
ening of the soul after the long, ten
centuried sleep of the middle ages. The
human intellect and the whole mental
life Of man were reborn.
The fifteenth century was the century
OF the renaissance which, taking its rise
in beautiful, cultured, artistic and
fascinating Italy, spread thence to all
Europe and ultimately TO all the world.
The fifteenth century witnessed the So
called revival of learning;' the resur-
rection Of art and culture, the resur-
rection of reason the general stimulation
and kindling Of all the intellectual facul-
ties, due to renewed acquaintance with
the ancient and classical literatures of
Greece and Rome, made possible by the
discovery of ancient manuscript, and i'm
rnenseiy furthered by the newly-dis-
covered art of printing, about 1850, almost
the very year when Constantinople fell
d45S) sending forth hosts of Greek
scholars TO occupy professional chairs in
the newly-rising universities and to ex-
plain the old masters in the new spirit
and in accordance with the newly-ac-
qured knowledge.
''Soholasticism gave way to modern
scientific knowledge. With the rebirth
of reason was already planted the seeds
that were to arouse and quicken the
consciencc: and Renaissance was instinct
with Reformation that was to characterize
the succeeding century and with revolu
ton in England and in France that wa
to be the dominant fact in the subsequent
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
New idea stiu Retained.
In that springtime OF the human
spirit the life was terminating that wat
to come to blossom in the succeeding
centuries and that fills with beauty anc
fragrance and expanding power the
activities and forces OF the day IN which
we live The nineteenth and the TWEEN
tieth centuries are no less unuer thu
spell and spirit of the Renaissance thai
were their predecessors; and the new ag'
marches on TO the music awakened on
of the marvellous melodies Of the past
and particularly out OF the matches
achievements OF that century that 4
rightly regarded as leading the van il
humsnity's all-conquering progress
toward tho goal Of civilization and OF life
For the lesson Of the centuries is tn
lesson of progress. AS great singer ha
expressed it: Yet / doubt not thro' tn
ages one increasing purpose runs and tn
thoughts of men are widened in the pro
cess Of the suns
And of hope; for l believe we shall no
conclude these lectures without feeling