The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-19
Rabbi's Reply TO the Address or the
Pre- shyIeI1an SYNOD Of New YORK.


A Rabbi's Reply TO the Address or the
Pre- sbyterfsn Synod Of New York.
BRE1HREs, BKLovlD FOR oux FArHER's SAKE"-
Were TO meet your Address without at least,
scknowle0g cement, might not only be accused
Of indifference and want OF respect towards you and
eeged, but We might also appear in the unenvsble
light Of not comprshendng appreciAting the exalted
position allotted by your enghtened body to the rem
paDts of Israel With sorrow, must confess that
have to present ourselves to you beloved brethren
without the authority Of any partuar established as
ISOLATION or ecclesiastical body Of our coregionsts
but humbly to assert that in the general
port of sentiments and opinions, pported
by the pure and lofty minded Of our brethren in both
The joyful evidence Of expiring prejudice, where
with Tor centuries the human intellect has been dark
ened the sentiments OF philanthropy ana kindness
expressed in your message u.s. have not failed to
eutr hearts and to I'LL them with lively sympathy
admiration and heartfelt gratitude towards you.
We admire your generous and noble motive In the
wish I'd draw closer the ties Of spiritual relations
and interests for the Of your spiritual
welfare and would be wanting in candour and self
spsct. were we unwilling to acknowledge It, Our hearts
gsddened to the high import OF Judaism reoog
mixed in this country ana the sacred venerstion you
bestsw that source whence Jointly draw
most important religious and moral doctrines; that
you conscious Of the vast and beneficial influence
II the synagogue on the improvement Of the human
race; that you copsder 1t IN honorable privilege to
analogy between religious tenets and
monies, and in yeur capdor not even deny that you
are indebted TO US for the same.
Most particularly however, do We rejoice that the
secutons during the crusades, the pillages Danish
nts and nassscres to pretended glory Of God,
brethren and meet with their just condemnation and
adherence.
We also regard the founder Of your religion In diff
ferent light from that by which ancestors viewed
him. whose opinions necessarily inhusnced by the
horrible treatment they received at the hands Of his
worthppers and 1t Is with pride when We contemplate
that the man, who for nearly two thousand has
been the object Of divine alteration of great portion
Of The human race was . scion OF the house of Judah
IL be net ci IN
ence of Christianity and it's moral dcorines the ad
Vancement of civilization but do et TO
it. decided opinion, that Christianity uate
ly and Ia pert spIy developed the truth which oonst
tsss judaism ard that yet only part Of that truth
has been impaired TO mankind.
IL appears that inscrutable, Mysterious Pro-
whence has wisely decreed, that the delivesnce Of
denly be accomplished but that the illusion aud
sbCad gradually vsnish before the splendor truth
OF sublime DIVINITY; and discern, in the myster
ous doctrine of tho Trinity and Redeemer the inter-
ytLing ibcident-the connecting link-by which, here
after more perfect human race the sublime truth
Will be unveiled. BY the abandonment Of the adora
ton q tho Virgin MARY aud the REPUTATION of the be-
lief IN her immaculate virginty by Professionalism,
very important point has already been gained.
An adequate snd full reply to your address weuld de-
msnd from us arguments too voluminous for pre-
sent epise and have, therefore, to restrict and
rortant questions only
We perfectly coincde with you that there is no true
worship in God where the heart is not understanding,
ard the mind enlightened with the truth Of the pray
but In order that those OF brethren In faith VINO
70 all parts Cf the globe.
portuniiy to participate in worship wish that,
In prayers the sacred language Of the prophets
be re'siIed BY the iostrueon Of the greater number
a. our youth In the Hebrew lsDguars and by using
Pray books With tIAnslstiun In the yernacuar the
piireipsl objection Is obvated Besides considerable
attention has already been devoted the subject aud
several sysssosucs have not only abolished many
adapted to the spirit Of past centuries but
alec substituted others and hymns 10 modern Ian.
guages and the most essential and Instructive part Of
worseip the femoni Is nearly always delivered In the
ccuniTy's language.
II.
ftrngs IN tie temple are considered by all contempt
Isry sE@eesi who have found the subject OF their
hlion worldly Of I'll eSamiuston as insdmssible, aud
unworthy % be retained In our present era but that
n former times according TO the doctrines Of the IL
nstrio1s Msimouides, they were necessary prescrvs
Although The Scriptures do not furnish distinct
nmsiop Of the pFopriey Of prayers In behalf of the
The Lamentations CT David, at the death OF his sou
Alb alt m.
Bupporg even that these prayers are Of no
advantage TO thesc slumbsrirg ia death which no
htna tting can positively Assert the idea that By
such religious ptffinaree, our dear departed might
be benefited, cannot but produce & fau sy aud SCOT
iIF fensati, Ia in the mind Of the survivor
We cehfess nat frequently By brethren in
hith' a. also by mankind In general, an undue aud
'xtiAyAgAIt homage 10 rendered 60 outward appear
snces; but this the formerly as
figr'd to eur rrorhsts aud nov 60 ministers and
preacher To admonsh sod instruct tbs people how
The LCfd requires CT them 10 be righteous exercise
Ihtue and TO walk before him in humility. "Ye shall
BE- holy. for am boly.n
Itossly tim either for effect or for emulation was
never ainp.o by VS., We grant 90 every the prvi
lgo TO attain salvation aFrssRbly 90 hts fsshionn
rtithsr DO close ~ Bsgogpes religious works
or prayer books sSaiust the believers Of different
faith ffsm CIrs 10 whatever church sect n man
may blcBg be only has TIE far of God before hi
and eNefts himself In the advancement OF his fe9s be-
ires welfare The path ts salvation, according to ths
doctrines Of oar religion, IL uno b,tfutted
You zee, therefore, beloved brethren, tkat our
opinions On several tubects bat that others
egsn they widely differ To it remains i0conceivs-
bic. how any earnestly believe tast BY the
death Of the tins Ct bis vhele remit
ted particularly when that apee Of near so
houfGnd years as worked no brnetci change In stu
fu msn erd the laws OF Gtd are violated then;
or how tire advent Of Co.'s Dominion - according %
the predictions 81 the prophets reign Of universal
BE- otcd, when after the desh Of Jhrist
rsts cutnt aud fsDscism rather incres ed than
diminished
vent prayer of pious con, departed fathers soul
mis- ht be rescued from everlasting punishment not BY
far mere probable aud acceptable than the presump-
ton that by the tls dding Of the blood OF single h-
man being ibnumefsble millions OF his should
qbire salvstioni
BY numerous Christian scholars amongst them the
learned, lar famed Gesenius the attempt prove the
divinity 81 hrst by the prophecies In the Old Tesla
10 cCpyincs you that al those who have acquired inn
pcit faith Ina God and the desty acknowlede hog
pte;umptuOus it would be In mortal to epdesvor
TO eSplsn the manner OF bis being -" For there shall
me sbd lives will never bend thsir Knees,
render divine honors TO any other being but TO the
invisible. hyirg God alone 10 " drm belief that,
or later you ar ell mankind will agree with
thst II Is blasphtmous and sinful in tue extreme TO
render divine reverence TO woman born mortal
1il the advent 81 that happy epoch, when from
~ords eLd to worlds .ns Tod thsl he ana Ills
will eEdeevor TO entertain brptherly feel
irns tcwstts each other andcontinue, not In words
try bot ~ deeds Of kipdness and philanthropy, to
ptiom the works a love 70 al And the tod Il love
mercy will judre and ard MI according to