The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-04

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TEMPLE.
| From the Louisville Courier of Saturday.
The Jewish congregations in this city a
we'll as other religious denominations hav
been much interested of late in the report
ed conversion of Christian woman t
Judaism, an. event unprecedented in tn
history of Louisville, and with but thre
| or four parallel cases in that of the coun
try. This interest having grown witt
more certain information reached its cul
mination last evening in the admission o
the lady into the faith. The Synagogue
was crowded with a large and attentiv,
audience eager to witness the novel cere.
monies that were TO be added to the regu-
| lar Friday evening service.
Mrs. Julia Kuetner, the wife of dry
goods merchant on Market street, between
Second and Third, is an American woman,
and has always been member of the
Episcopalian church. Some eight or ten
years ago she married Mr.. Kuetner, Jew
by birth and profession, and this may have
contributed something to her conversion,
certainly to her interest in the subject. She
has three children, all of whom were cir
cumcised some months ago, they being,
however. much older than the usual time
for this rite. Several months ago she
applied to DR.. Kleeberg, the Rabbi of the
synagogue in this place, for admission into
his congregation, stating herself as firmly
convinced of the truth of his teachings,
and desirous of separating herself from all
of her earlier religious antecedents. DIR.
Kleeberg, desirous of testing the firmness
of her convictions, has subjected her to this
probation of several months, but, she re-
manning unshaken in her resolve, he yes
terday received her into the faith.
Mrs. Kuetner, attended by her husband
and children, was seated in the front pew
of the synagogue, not an uninteresting
looking woman, but with face somewhat
pale with the excitement of the no doubt
trying ordeal through which she was to
pass. The ceremonies began with the
singing of 'The Heavens Declare the Glory
of the Lord" from Handel's oratorio -
This was followed by the reading Of the
evening prayer-a part of the regular SER
vice-by Mr. Lasker, the chanter of the
congregation, with the alternating respon-
ses sung by the choir, Miss Bach's soprano
ringing clearly and melodiously above the
rest The Introductory hymn preceded the
sermon. which was preached by the Rev.
DIR. Kleeberg.
Mrs. Kuetner then came forward, and
took her place upon the dais at the foot of
the altar, attended by two lady friends.
DR.. Kleeberg commenced the ceremony of
admission by reading the Goth verse of the
cxviii salm-"Blessed,b ,be he that cometh
in the name Of the Lord we have blessed
you out of the House of tho Lord" He
then asked her the following questions, to
each of which she answered in an audible
voice, 81 do believe:"
"Do you believe honestly, 'uprightly
and sincerely that there is but one eternal,
spiritual and most perfect God, who has
created everything, who ruleth everything,
and preserveth everything? Do you be-
lieve that God has never appeared in any
shape or form; that He fills with His
glory the whole universe, and that the
earth alone may not contain Him ? DO
you believe that God is merciful and of
infinite mercy, kind and of infinite kind
ness, patient and long suffering, and that
He rewards the good and Furnishes the
evil in this world and the world to come
Do you believe that the soul of man is
created pure and stainless, and that man
can shun evil ard do good, and that if
be has sinned he may, by true aud up
right repentance, reconcile himself to God?
Do you believe that God hath chosen
Israel to be nation of priests, and will
you always bear in mind that you are now
of that people and will you now mani
fest by piety and the other virtues that
you are of a nation of priests? And
will you always exclaim, in happiness and
in misery, in suffering and in affliction, in
life and in death, Hear, 0 Israel, the
Lord our God is one 7"
He then opened the ark of the covenant,
containing the scrolls of the law, and, in
its presence, Mrs. Kuetner read, in loud
voice, the following prayer:
"Blessed and adored art Thou, Eternal
One, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
oullSulCu iAO WiVh WiouOii uINoictohN-
ing to embrace Thy holy law, and to fol-
low Thee into humility and piety, and to
love Thee with all my heart and all my
might. Amen"
Then, placing bis hands on her should
ers, The Rabbi said:
"Jacob wrangled whole night with an
angel. When dawn came, the angel gave
unto him another name-Israel. So do
endow thee with another name. Hence
forth, added to thy other names, thou
shalt be known as Leah. May the Lord
make thee like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and
Leah, aud the Lord bless thee and keep
thee, the Lord make His countenance
shine upon thee, and be gracious unto
thee. 4 The Lord lift His countenance upon
thee and give thee peace.
TIen he welcomed her in behalf of the
the choir chanting the Adon
Alan as its hymn of rejoicing. With the
blessing the congregation was dismissed,
ond opothar nm, har xuapt ont with IL