JEWISH NEW YEAR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 614, 17 September 1909, Page 6

JEWISH NEW YEAR.

THE ACCOUNT WITH , GOD. - Thei Synagogue was'crowded yesterday morning for the special service held by tho Kov. H. van Stnveren, in connection with tho festival of tho Jewish -New- Year, and tho Itev. C. Pitkowski conducted an overflow Service in the schoolroom. The appointments of both places were draped 'with white, ■ and the 1 ministers wore tho white robes inseparable from . this solemn festival. Mr. van Stavoren preached a New, Year-sermon on the.text from Ecclesiastes, "What profit has a man of all his labour when . lie laboureth under the sun?". If we wero ac-countable-to each other, said tho preacher, for some of the various .transactions •of life, we were to a; greater extent accountable to' God for all'the transactions of life. In secular affairs tho close of one-year and the opening ,of another found men , busy casting. 'up , their ■ accounts. "Have you r como hero to observe tho New Year-; as. it really ' should- bo observed?" the preaoher ob- „ sorved.. "Havo'you come to make up your accounts with, God, to strike the truo balance " and to 'rcalise, in the words of the text,, tho "t actual profit you havo laboured under ' the , sun?" Their secular gains had wings, and f whilo'it was'necessary .for a man to have his daily avocation and not to log behind in the race of life,.there wore accounts and.transac- ? tions which 6hould have. equally as high a ' placo in his daily .affairs,"Will vou, do less in,religious than in secular Will you 3 not computo your, account mentally, think- of a tho results of your labour, arid strike a true 13 balance? .Here is.tho real object of tho day of memorial.; . . . The,;balanco must .be ■®' struck', and we will see pliiinly that too many d of us who havo dealt fairly and squarely with '* our fellow men have been defaulters in 'our '*• transactions with God." '• "There, is a cry for a change on all sides," g said the rabbi later in l his sermon. "Wo do '• need n chango, n. most vital chnngo in • many g-, respects,, and no one admits it in moro truth y and sincerity thaii I do; ; But whilo wo : regard tho shell,'let us not forget the kernel; > wliilo. endeavouring' to beautify and, adorn .tlio ti casltet let. us not . undor'cstimato tho prieblb?s ir jewel which lieth within. Strike tho balance a of your '. heavenly account,. dear„ congregants, and: see "where yon, stand." .!', -.v. ... :