The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-04

nations.
The Ancient Hebrews in a Modern Age.
BY special correspondence from Cassel,
Hesse, we were enabled to place before
our readers on Monday last report Of
the proceedings of the International congress
of Jewish rabbis held in that city during ses-
sion extending over three days. This veneer
able assemblage embraced shining lights in
Israel, gathered at the "call" from all parts of
Germany, from Austria, Switzerland, Sweden,
Holland, England and other quarters of the
Old World. The subjects submitted for de-
bate were worthy the consideration of such
congregated talent. Inspired by sanctiaed
commission direct from Moses, and invoking
the guidance of wisdom inherited from Solo
man, the rabbinical congress resumed the
task of solving the conflict with which the
Hebrew Church is threatened-a conflict
between religion and science, between old
rites of worship and modern ones, which was
commenced and continued in the last two con-
and 1916. Our reporter shows that very
satisfactory progress was obtained by the
members, the main points of o most harmo-
NOUS agreement of reference being enumerated
thus 1.-THE rabbis are in favor of using in
worshipping, as far as possible, the German
language instead of the Hebrew They agree
to a general abbreviation of the service; drop
those portions which treat of sacrifices and
votive offerings. as also the prayers for resti
tuition of Jerusalem, return to Palestine and
the re-establishment of Jewish empire. They
acknowledge the necessity of new doctrines
regarding the mission of Israelites, and depre-
cate every semblance of sefglory."
We regard this Jewish ecclesiastical conven-
ton, held at q moment of critical change in
matters Of creed and forms of worship all
over the world, as well as of sweeping politi-
cal revolution in both hemispheres, as of very
great importance-an opinion which our
Israelitish friends in the United States will
readily endorse. The venerated rabbis in
Cassel give warning to Christendom that
Israel is about to put her house in order, so
that the people Of the Jewish race and faith
may quietly assume, after an intelligent and
beatified adaptation to local circumstances,
their proper position on earth-a measure of
fulfment to which they are entitled, IL the
proper moment has really arrived for its fru-
ition, by their physical persistency, their
patience, their sufferings, their wanderings,
their indestructibility under penal enactments,
royal denunciation and hierarchical anath-
ema; their humility and peculiar charity in
clothing the naked and finding money for
the needy, so that the distressed, after
proper application, may at all times enjoy
either "a cup of water or cup
of wine, according to the terms of the
''bond' duly completed. This moment of
fruition has, we think, arrived. The Jews
are looming up on all sides. In England
country which has been ruled by ''blood" since
the days ofthe Conqueror-we behold Mr. Ben
jamn Dsraeli, lineal descendant of the race,
and at one time humble as Moses when bun
died from Egypt with nothing but old clothes,
overlapping the descendants of the Norman,
called to the second step of the throne-as
BELTS son of Abraham, David and Solomon
devoting himself to the work of pacifying
tumults of sectarianism in the Christian
churches, and shining out as a sort of pre-
cursor, or John the Baptist, in wilderness
of unbelef, If he should not turn out to be the
Jewish Messiah himself He has already, as
Chancellor of the Exchequer, dealt with the
''money changers" he stands uncontrolled by
Parliament, yet ''renders unto Caesar" and
H., -, -.
the way of reform. We will not,
however, pronounce on. the exact char
acter of his mission until we learn how he
has carried Great Britain through the next
general election. Napoleon leans coniden-
tally on the faithful" of the house of
David, and the wonderful success of his latest
and most triumphant loan is due, perhaps en-
tirely, to the exercise of the wonderful fnan-
cial science of a son of the once despised
race. North Germany is ennobling Jews,
Austria attracts Israelite bankers and
barons to Vienna, estimating their presence
and crispy bills as presenting more effectual
means Of national resuscitation than did
the musty parchment of the Roman con-
cordat, while the British Parliament is aided
vastly In its deliberations by the experiences
Of many distinguished children of the faith
In the United States we have three millions
Of Jews, four millions of negroes, three mil
lions at least Of Catholic Irish and half n
million Of Chinese, besides any quantity of
Germans, Catholic, Protestant and infdel
but OF all these our fellow citizens of
the jewish persuasion are by far the
most philosophical, the most industrious
and the most silent. They adapt themselves
stake to" our government institutions at once,
give no trouble to the authorities, never bore
the people for Offices, are thankful for their
Lkahop4 nor ahaI,lm 4