New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-26
CHRISTMAS ONLY
SHAM, RABBI
Peace Observance in the
Midst of War Paradox,
Asserts DR.. Silverman.
DR.. HARRIS breaches
CHRISTIAN PRAISE
Life of Love Being Pierced with
Sword, Says Bishop Greer in
Cathedral Sermon.

Modern Christmas celebrations, es-
pecially festivities In the midst of the
present world war, were yesterday
characterized as the most monstrous
paradox Of modern times by Rabbi 10
seph Silverman in a sermon at Temple
Emanuel
DR.. Silvermsn took as his subject
the question Has Christmas Mes
sage for the Jew ," lie answered 1t
with the emphatic assertion that until
recently it had been a day OF persecu'
tion and bloodshed for the Jew and
that to-day it was but a hollow mock
cry.
Stripped Of its modern glamour and
theological aspects, Christmas is but
heather festival" said he. at is
grounded upon mythical and supersti-
tious interpretations Of nature. Here
tofore the date. December %. was nc
cepted BY heathens as the time for ce!e-
brating and doing honor TO their varl-
Gus gods and Idols.
I'm China and Egypt the date was
celebrated in heather times as the
image OF Jesus. exposed in Rome to-
day. is reverenced Bacchus was
shown i'm ancient Rome "a an infant on
It's birthday, and Saturn was wor-
shipped as a father god in the Sa-
turnalian feasts held during the las
week in December II vas at the mid
winter feasts in India that the present
custom Of decorating homes with ever
green originated.
Observance in Schools Opposed.
christianity is responsible for anti
Semitism because Of the false doctrine
that the Jews are responsible for the
death Of Jesus. Every Christmas is
an anti-Semitic celebration. and |
am opposed 70 its observance in the
public schools.
1.-The Christian attitude toward the
present war is the greatest inconsist-
ency of modern times. and the Christ
mas celebration of peace At this time,
in the midst Of great world war, is
but a monstrous paradox. They sing
peace, and the cannons cry that there
is no peace. This monstrosity makes
Christmas a hollow mockery.
"I do not ridicule Henry Ford, as so
many people do, but honor him for
crying to the potentates Of Europe for
peace-for demanding that they prac-
tise what they preach. | honor Mr..
Ford because he left Europe, which is
but a charnel house.
"No, Christmas has no message for
the Jews, but Judaism has. That it has
was illustrated at Carnegie Hall last
Tuesday night, when men, women and
children In every walk Of life gave to
the fund for Jewish war sufferers
An opposite view Of Christmas was
taken by DR.. Maurice II. Harris, OF the
Temple Israel, Harlem, in his sermon
Yesterday. DR.. Harris said that when
so many hands were raised against the
Jews many Christian nations had well
coined them with open arms. he men
toned Poland, England and Holland as
countries that had practised true
Christianity in their dealings with the
Jews
Hopes War Is Only Episode
christmas peace is peace Of love,
but the life of love is being pierced as
with sword this Christmas said
Bishop Greer in a sermon at the Cathe-
dral Of ST. John the Divine yesterday
morning. "But have no heart 10 dwell
upon il, and you have no heart to hear
il. We hope that this is hut ar cpl
side-that il has a meaning which we
may learn. We hope that 1t does not
break the connection between the mean
ing Of the first Christmas and those
that are TO come"
A plea that all Christians pray for
a more general acceptance Of the di-
vinity Of Christ was made at Trinity
Church in a sermon by the Rev. Will
lam T. Manning. Christmas, he said,
was the time FOR a true practice Of
Christian principles.
ST. Patrick's Cathedral was crowded
when solemn pontiAcal mass was cele-
brated by Cardinal Farley. Long
strands Of holly and ivy festoons hung
from every pillar and on either side OF
the nave and the entire interior Of the
great structure.