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Page 6
[fol. vi.]
{who would believe?}
6
and then to teach our children the true idea that underlies the assemblage of Jews in the Temple of God; not because our parents did so and on their death-bed solemnly bade us do likewise; nor simply for the sake of appearances -- for this would practically mean a life of falsehood and deception -- but because of the overmastering need of religious truths, because of the inspiration which the word of God may help us to obtain; because we wish, openly and avowedly in the face of the whole world, to become better men and women; because we wish to sweeten our labour and exalt our everyday routine of life by nobler thoughts, by worthier actions; because we wish to raise ourselves into a purer atmosphere. This should be the reason that induces us to frequent the Synagogue, whether it on this annual day of Atonement or on the weekly Sabbath. O ye parents what a burden of responsibility rests upon your shoulders! What thoughts do ye convey to those little ones who daily raise their innocent eyes to you with innumberable questions? What religious ideas, if any do you instil into their tender minds?
Page 7
[fol. vii.]
7
What religious influence do you bring to bear upon them? It lies within your own power to sow smiles or tears, joy or sorrow. What Which have you done? Let your conscience answer. Weigh it well in your minds that ponder over the fact that the future of our ideal & inspiring religion hangs upon the enthusiasm or the indifference of your children? Have you or have you not a care for it? Does it concern you? Is it to be a moral & predominating influence upon over the rest of mankind? Then render your home a veritable sanctuary wherein your children may imbibe sweet & wholesome truths, refined & religious ideas, broad and humanitarian sentiments -- that they may grow up to become religious, loyal and patriotic citizens, worthy sons & daughters of equally worthy parents -- that they may bless and not curse the day when they saw the light of the world, that they may when they arrive at to the dignity of manhood and taste of both the sweet and the bitter fruits of life, they may with honesty look back upon the days of their childhood with the purest and most ardent affection, that the very word home
Page 8
[fol. viii.]
8
may sound to their ears like the sweetest and & loftiest strains of heavenly music, that the words father and mother, may may fill them with the deepest feelings of love, of reverence, of devotion. Multitudes may embitter their New Year by undo reflections upon opportunities neglected and lost in the past and denied in the present. But the future is still ours with all its hope, with all its lovely visions of sunshine. And despite the fact that we cannot peer into the long & mysterious vista of this mysterious future, despite the fact that we know not what a day, aye one hour may bring forth, nor what joy or sorrow may fall to our lot, yet this blindness forms the very stimulus and salt of life, for we know & should realize to the full, the glowing possibilities inherent in man's nature. Courage, Resolution firm determination combined with faith & hope -- these may sterling qualities may transform the path of one's life from one of thorns & thistle, of arid emptiness, into one of luscious growth; they may transform a wasted life of wretchedness into a life of true happiness, a life of honour, integrity and uprightness.
Page 9
[fol. ix.]
9
It does not depend so much upon opportunities as it does upon the man. Let each man & woman do perform their sacred duty quietly and fearlessly & and unswervingly and the bitterness of life will be sweetened by many & many a gleam ray of God's light . There Remember, there is no Evil one cannot face or flee from but the consequences of duty disregarded. A sense of obligation pursues us ever. It is omnipresent like the Deity. If we take to ourselves wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, duty performed or duty violated is still with us, for our happiness or our misery. If we say that darkness shall hide us, in the darkness as beneath the glare of the noonday Sun, our obligations are are yet with us. We cannot escape their power or fly from their presence. They are with us in this life, will be with us when the last breath of life is about to be extinguished, to pain us, to make us wretched if they have been violated and to console us so far as God has given us the grace to perform them. Thus virtue is and always has been its own reward, although from our material point of view, this does not seem to be invariably true.
Page 10
[fol. x.]
10
To man's limited vision, disorder sometimes seems to be the offspring of pious & noble exertions. Yet again when troubles sweep o'er the world like sheeted storms , when men fear exceedingly & strong powerful men cower & shrink and little ones believe the next step to be the precipice down which we are hurled into ruin, then the Sun shines again & God smiles. (Page 12)
Although I had determined not to allude in any way to what I may rightly term the greatest outrage & tragedy of the century I cannot here resist from saying in connection with our subject, that here also, despite the fact that a nation once respected & honoured by all the powers that be, has sunk so deeply into the mire of dishonesty & degredation as it is possible to coneive, despite the indisputable fact that she has brought upon herself the condemation the contempt and disgust of every justice-loving & law-abiding citizen throughout the world; despite the fact that the very earth shrieks against the crime & the foul injustice with which it has been dyed red -- yet we do not despair. It is not[*] yet not altogether darkness & the shadow of death.
{ [*] This word "not" was originally written as is, then immediately struck through. In a later edit, the entire paragraph was abandoned, which is transcribed with all words in the paragraph struck through. }