Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-22
Going West"
tScrmon mt Memorial Service, iorn
kippur, 1881
by RADBI EDWARD n. CALISCH,
ph. -.

We are within the most solemn hour
oI most solemn service. To the pro-
FOUND emotional stirring which this
Htonement Day causes in our breasts
we are adding another that touches
me deepest and tenderest chords OF
%ar ne TO no Jewish heart does this
me latent depths OF our being 1t
enxeiops US within an atmosphere Of
days 1t calls TO the dcafcst ear, and
1t hears. II touches the caliouscd cDn-
science and II auivers in response.
heart string Of love IAN ana They they Too Too
throb IN answer. as we recall the dear
ones who have fallen upon sleep. safely
hhelcrcd IN the cvcriasting arms OF
our Heavenly Father In the vision Of
r"membrance there troop before us the
ranks or the immortal army. There
come TO us the strains Of the choir in
|isinic. rather. mother. husband wife,
hea. children Of our deepest affection.
cut off In the bud Of innocent infancy
or in the unfolding loneliness or
rropising bloom. Dear ones all. we
remember you this hour with unfor-
getting love.
This remembrance OF our dear ones
VINO have gone from us in the normal
course or events is coupled to-day with
the thought OF hundreds Of thousands
VINO have been called by the cXiScncies
OF the present dreadful conflict TO an
mad needed TO do go. had the world
remained II, peace. We mourn for tne
hover OF youth and young manhood
gathered by the grim reaper upon the
incarnadined battle fields abroad We
Sricve for the many seemingly useless
sacrifices OF this great catastrophe.
But In His Infinite mercy God pro-
Hldes means Of comfort and OF rcas-
surnnce Out OF the darkness OF this
~nrld-tragedy there CLEAN flashes OF
nRht mat disclose TO us the greater
possibilities OF our human life. a new
power Tor inspiration IL granted to us.
that is revealed often by word. or a
phrase. that takes on new siRnificance
ne had not dreamed before. that crys-
aa!iizes our underlined thoughts and
had not hitherto had.
Among these phrases. born out Of
the travail OF this terrible tragedy. is
the one ! have taken FOR title TO this
sermon. When soldier meets the
great adventure. when he has made
s saS shhpreme ro saeFilce: his eomrades
gone west" Whoever coined this
phrase has consciously or Unconscious
power OF comfort and OF healing for
me hear, that is deeply hurt.
rare our lie to a day. Like day. any
single life is but IA brief. very brief.
span span OF existence. mere inhnitesimal
eternity. Like day, our life may be
full OF sunshine and brightness. or it
may be cloudy and oreary and vet with
the rain OF our tears. Or il may be
Solorless and dun. not marked from its
ielIo%s D! anything or special moment
or achievement For some it may be
Il moderate. genial, uneVentfui day, for
others stormy and tempcstuous pass
age from the cradle 10 the grave. For
some II may he as short. hurrying
accomplishing period OF summer
pleasantest mood. or again as "a useful.
harvest-bringinK. cnriching day o
h,i f,I
nlled promise OF budding springtime
Bu, Tor all OF us. save those whose
footsteps IN childhood or early youth
have found tn. pathwa: 10 the tonU.
our life. like the day. has it's dawn OF
beginning. It's sunrise Of developing
intellect and physical powers. It's
morning OF maturity for labor and
achievement. It's nocntidc OF greatest
strength and accomplishments, It's after
sunset. when the light gradually dim
and nnally, through the twilight %
age goes out in the night OF the grave
SO II is an apt phrase. and a corrce
smile that iikens our life 10 DAY.
and our departure as Il journey to the
western horizon, beyond which thos
who saw US day by day can see Us
Blu, there is something more in this
phrase than mere comparison OF our
with the passage OF that single unit
Of time that is com pa ssed by the revu
luton Of the earth upon its axis and
especially more is II al this time when
all the world Is mourning its dead, and
almost every, nation like Eizpah -
weeping for her slain sons We ara
brought face TO face with the fact tina
going west is universal human eN
pericncc, that literally from the mo-
ment Of our birth all our faces and oui
ern hills But thereby we have com
10 learn that death is not the fearful
it it's is not the single tsrrityins expert .,ii
ence OF the individual. The reaper has
heen robbed OF his horrors. and our
mortal parting is but a passing phase
OF all life. of all the wonder and wis
dom and majesty OF Gods beautiful
universe. Death has been crowned
consummate courage. the fine fortitude
with which th.se young men have met
him face to face and unhcsitatingly
walked hand in hand with him. En-
shrined now above the mere physica
fact OF our material mortality is the
spiritual grandeur OF great cause
heart OF our boys. Death is but life's
greatest adventure" Hitherto We have
been fearful OF embarking upon it.
We dreaded the hour when it APP
preached us, the moment when our
footsteps must tread upon its threshold.
US, new hope. new comfort Going
west" what visions o, golden sunset.
OF roseate-tinted clouds, Of crimson
skies of radiant. iridescent splendor
painted upon the walls of the world
by the hand OF the Master Artist OF
the universe. Going west"---a journey
outward from the shore of our ac-
customed habit tits true, but on what
sea Of limitless beauty and splendor
and glory and OF mystery-whose un-
bearing waves carcss tho frail bark
OF our being, whose soft breezes bear
the incense of a sweetness hitherto
unknown. upon whose bosom there is
Going west we arc. but beyond the
golden CLEANS Of that western glory is