The New York herald., 1870-01-02

Lecture Of Rev. DR.. Enihern at the Temple
Adaih Jeshurum en- the Third and Fourth
Resolutions Of tho Rabbfnical Confcronce-
Jewish Priesih ood-The Prophet Exekiri
RefOrmer OF the Mosaic Institute Of Priess-
hood-Mxed Marriages.
The anxiety Of Israeites TO hear from the mouth
OF the learned ana eloquent preacher the expIana
uons OF the resolutions passed 0y the Raobinical
conference, brought again a very large audience TO
the temple In Thiry-nlnth street. The lecturer
tnued the subject on which he treated last Satur
days lecture "The Jewish Priesthood Referring
to verses sixteen TO thirty Ezekiel he said the
attempt OF the prophet Ezekiel to effect reform In
the Temple service is remarkable that the Talmud-
lists nesltaled to receive the book Ezekel in the
biblical canon, and only after certain Chanahiah
ben Chskiah had studied It and gave explanations
harm0nzing II with the standard OF faith they with
drew their objections. To US Its intent Ia more
patent. Ezekiel ilved At Q time when Israel had
sunk to the lowest state OF depravity that OF idol
airy. and when he sought relief IN the reform Of
the priestly institution. He transfers the dates
from the High Priest 10 his subordinate colleagues
and increases the severity OF the laws as regards
their persons IL was evidently the intention OF the
prophet to simplify the service and TO abolish the
ONCE or High Priest as supernu0us. One OF those
functions was the pronunciation OF the divine ora
ce and this had ceased with the destruction Of the
1rst Temple The demoralHati0n OF the ordinary
priests was very great during the nrst Temple, whhe
the High Priests patterns purity. The great
responsibility OF their position spurrcd them
greater purity and their snbordlnates looked up 10
Them ~ TO God and basked In the sunshine OF their
sanctity. Men are apt 10 excuse their own apathy
with the energy OF Others and wnie IL VIII not
always do to charge their sins to Others they claim
the credit OF others Exekiei attempted therefore,
TO transfer the responsibility OF the presy station
10 all alike. He orders therefore, that all should
wear linen robes which, according to the Mosaic
law only the High Priest was permitted 10 wear.
lie also wished TO strengthen the barrier that stood
between them anu the people. They should stand
forth as shining paragons. weakening the position
OF tue High Priest, he wished TO strengthen the
priestly caste; hence the prohibition OF marriage
among the people in their olcia dress OF eating Of
meat OF tine torn and deceased The command tnat
they should marry only daughter Of tneir own
| race Is remarkable. The marriage between an
lsraelite and one not OF the Jewish certainly
prohibited, not account OF greater sacredncss OF
the Jewish blood but because OF the tendency such
marriages had 10 falling away from The God OF Is
rael. the priest was, moreover, forbidden the con-
summation OF such marriage rs his blood TO
main undenled. calinot enter ~ length to-day on
the reasons why even ON the ground OF reformed
Judaism, mixed marriages cannot De sanctioned,
| though we do not deem our blood nobier tnan tnat
| OF other races, but ! may say that much to-day.
| True, reformed Judaism, coupled VITA sincere re.
llgiosotv dates from hoary antiquity aud proceeds
| viClTl0usly onward, unc0ncerned OF the enraged
boWlngs 10 the right or The left. Ezekie predicted
the return Ol Israel to the Holy Land when II yet
| In Babylonlan exile. bid he err Certainly his
visions were shr0uded IN mist. He connected with
his prophecy the nope or a reinstatement or thu
| Davidian dynasty ami worship, which both were
never realized; but essential OF his prophecy, the
return ana reform OF Gods people the great idea
| Tor which he labored, and which one alter nim the
second Isaiah pronounced with . farther reaching
eye and IN naming words. "Al this mas oeen ful
hlled. Israel has achieved victory IN The world
that VIII carry out its glorious mission 10 the fu
| lest exteut.