The Washington herald., 1915-12-04
SAYS AMERICANS
ARE ON DECLINE
Jewish Speaker Says Religion,
| Patriotism, and Morality
Are Waning.
POLITICS MORE CORRUPT
Love of Bible and Flag Alone Can
Save Us. He Tells Hebrew Con-
gregation at Anniversary.
POLITICS MORE CORRUPT

America Is losing its patriotism. its re-
ligion and its morality. and salvation lies
only in a restoration of the former-time
reverence Of the Bible and flag. according
to Rabbi Joseph Erauskopf. ID. D.. of
Philadelphia. who last night delivered the
principal address in Eighth Street Temple
at exercises commencing the celebration
Of the sixtieth anniversary OF the Wash
ington Hebrew Congregation.
Like unto the Greeks of old" said the
speaker. who took for his theme, bible
and Flag: Sheet Anchors of Our Nation.
founders of our nation drew the inspira-
ton of their patriotism and. forgetting il.
We are losing our patriotism. and. losing
that. our politics are more and more be-
coming corrupt. and our morals more and
more lax. We have grown out of the
habit Of looking back with reverence to
the founders of oUr nation. 10 their deep
re igious fcrvor. to their exalted ideal of
loyalty. to their rugged sense Of right
and honor.
DcEcneracy On Nations Surface.
"DeGeneracy and corruption tester on
the very surface Of our nation. Lines be
tween right and wrong. between proper
and improper. between decent and indie
cent. are becoming more and more
blurred. 1t is said that a young woman
recently appeared in Il style Of undress
So conspicuous that she was asked
whether she had come dressed for the
opera or Undressed for an opN'Itinn."
Greed puts even the mos; important
of the Ten Commandments to flight.
What matters it. that thousands Of in
nocent human beings are slain or Grip
pied. that the homes of thousands are
laid waste, so long as rich Profits are
made by the manufacture and eNpOrta-
tion OF munitions OF war? Inscriptions
bosses run politics for gain: corrupt ma
chimes manipulate our elections to their
advantage. ForE"tful OF the origin OF
our nation. there are those who would
deny asylum on our shores To III, needy
and down-trodden from among the peo-
pies across the sea.
sin is losing the adherence that form
erly attached to it. Divorces, of which
we have in some of our States one out
of every seven maria Ces Is losing the
shame of scandal. is gradually coming
10 be looked upon as commonplace occur
renee. The ratio of the increase of moral
ana mental detectives is far in excess
OF the ratio of increase in population.
and the enormous growth of hospitals
show frightful physical decline. Sui
cides have more than doubled during the
past decade OF years.
I'VE need a restoration of former-time
reverence of our Bible and our flag. for
they are the sheet-anchors of our ma
ton, the preservers of our moral
strength and physical prowess."
Holding Fcnst Of HanuIkah.
The opening celebration last night was
coincident with the annual observance
of the feast Of Hanukkah. Rabbi Abram
Simon presided and musical numbers
were given by the temple choir. COM
posed of Mrs. Nellie Wilson Shir-CliN,
Miss Irna Stern Kalisher, John II. No
Ian. and Harry +. Stevens.
The regular Saturday services win he
held this morning and tomorrow morn
ing at IN O'Clock there will he n special
Hanukkah entertainment for children.
Tomorrow night. Senator William l..
Borah will be the principal speaker at
the celebration. Rev. DIR. William Ros-
enau, Of Baltimore. will speak on THE
Opportunity of the American Jewish Pull
pit and Rev. Rev. DR.. David Philipson.
of Cincinnati. will have for his topic
THE Jewish-American Congregation"
Lighting of the Ilannukah candles will
ba part of the service