The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-28

ls able to deny that the Jewish nation, when CON-
pared with other nationalties, stands foremost In
point of education; and OF late years Jews have
made such rapid strides In their intellectual
condition that on the Continent Of Eur0pe-the
acknowledged seat Of learning-they now carry
the sway in almost every branch Of art science
and literature Even the statistics OF this country
have brought to light the same favorable results,
and ut the late examinations Jews figure In good
numbers In passing the different degrees.
Why, therefore, should there be lack OF Jewish
ministers such as you 80 ptifuly descrbes In fact,
theology is just the sheet anchor OF Jewish learn
Ing, and can assure you that the poorest Jewish
schooboy, In the most wretched village in Poland,
very often knows more OF theology than many
Doctor OF Divinity although he il capable Of deliver
ing his sermons In English. There are about one
hundred thousand Israetes In the city Of New
York. and numbers may be met with whose talent
lies dormant for want OF proper training;
and TO my sorrow, be it said there is
States either for training Jewish ministers
or for giving thorough education to our Jewish
youth. and thus avoiding the necessity OF sending
them TO schools belonging TO other denominations.
The Philadelphia "Mamonides College," which you
mention, could never have ceased TO exist for want
OF sufficient funds for The charity Of the American
Jews is proverbiai, and they would have never suf-
fered to see tts doors closed on that account But,
as ann gwen Sc to IL i proved barren
no fruit. The college ut FinsDury square, London,
established by the Chief Rabbi only few years
back, has produced In very short time ministers
and teachers, almost TOO many for the British isle
and thus almost ali the English colonies are sup
piled ut the same time. But even In this conn
ministers in any OF the congregations; ana
H. unexpectedly some s"on PANE 70 af hs imm m
nent, then 1t must be attributed to the loaves and
fishes, which at times, offer richer richer bait IN one
Jews in this city are all foreigners and it matters
but little to them whether their preacher delivers
tu sIiStp AfNss fhnuo
capable OF understanding the language he is max
ing Of and that his ministry Is compatible with
only language adopted in which a Jewish minis
ter should deliver his sermon Are there not many
Lutheran and other places OF worship In this city
tirely in Germans Does not God listen to all
prayers and does He not understand all
the ,very language which God Himself speaks
If you think, however, that there are American
Jews who are willing to give up Hebrew, their
can only say it must be either ignorance, or that
they care but little for their own or any other
for the sake of appearance or for the gain Of filthy
lucre. You mention that the rising generation de-
appreciate and hold fast to, and that they require
something more than mere recitation OF Hebrew
and German prayers. This is indeed sad mistake
on your part, for l am able to assert that
almost for centuries there never was felt
such thirst for Hebrew learning, even among
all classes of the Jewish population one
meets with at the present time. Besides,
the many Jewish institutions which abound in oil
parts OF Europe clearly prove your assertion ground
less, and lately only some of the most eminent Jew
| ism scholars have opened Jewish university at
Berlin, where lectures the Tamud daily held,
| which are attended even by nOn-lsraelites The
land which Jews may choose from time to time for
their home cannot have the slightest influence upon
jewish religion; and If you really think that the
American youth do not manifest that love for their
synagogue which their forefathers showed, then
| the blame rests with "yOung America" having re-
ceived no proper training, and not with the Jewish
religion which knows Of no inquisiton or any other
torture to cOnne its followers within the iron bands
OF the system OF byg0ne ages.
| have no doubt that, should Reverends Gutheim
and aaver fea ny e Leave ns tito
much Tor the sake of their knowledge of the Eng
lsh language but rather on account OF the loss the
congregations will susCain In being deprived OF
their spiritual guides. English being the vernacu-
| lar, admit that the language ought to be made
constant study, yet cannot understand that CIV
ing religious and secular instructions in that
language should prevent empty pews and neglected
These are all suggestions which have not the
slightest doubt are well meant on your part, but
they are in no wise calculated to advance true re-
! ngiOn as far as Israelites concerned. Judaism
whether here anywhere else requires no
change. 1t Is now, and will always remain, the
in days gone by; and IL, unfortunately, here
and there few sOcalled rclormers can be met
with who really contemplate such change as you
imagine then ample experience gained at confer.
that they were entirely in the wrong. And when doc
tors disagree who shall decdey All we want Is
men Of talent and sincerity, such as the Continent
OF Europe boast Of These are the true REFORM
ers of Judaism to which they cling with heart and
soul. even the religion OF their fathers. These
excellent ornaments OF the Jewish religion labor
continually for the advancement OF true knowledge
and understanding, both morally aud religiously,
the superiority of the Jewish race only the bless
ings promised to all mankind viii be ushered in,
even the time when truth and love shall reign
| trumphantly together II. ABARBANEL.
| Ministerial Movements, Changes, SC.
|
The North Carolina Presbyterian laments the
moral changes that have come over portions OF
! that State within ten years. In Chapel Hill, n c..
where, at the breaking out of the war, there were
large congregations, now the Methodist Church Is
the only that enjoys regular preaching, and
that but twice month. The Episcopal church
gates nailed up; the Baptist church is closed,
and the dozen nominal Presbyterians open their
substantial church whenever Calvinist minister
strays that way and stays over Sabbath. At all
other times those and all others atcrnize with the
Methodists. Two years ago the site of the present
| town of Morrisonvle, ILL.,. was an unbroken
| prairie but a few days ago the Presbyterians OF
that place dedicated new church and indicted
into Office, their pastor, Rev. f. P. Rankin, Of
Elizabeth N. j., son of Rev. Dr. Rankin, OF Baskng.
ridge, ~ J. The building cost $4,000. about 81, 100
of which is still due upon 1t. The Reformed Pres
byterian Church of the United States has
Synod, Presbyterics, 100 congregations, 90 min
istels, iO3 elders, 22l deacons 3,2s5 families,
| S,7S2 communicates, 516 Sabbath school teachers
4,5S1 Sunday school scholars, 4Gl Daptisms during
the year, $40 increase 631 decrease. The total
trbutons OF the church were $20l Estimating
nearly twenty three dollars for each communicate
Rev. William NJ. Parry, late OF Nottingham Eng
land accepts the call OF the Old south church. Wor
cester. Salary $4,000 The Free Church OF Scot
land has now occupied COnstantinOple a mission
station to the Jews for twentyseve years, and
next TO Pes til 1t is the most important OF the fields
I'm WI n q n mo
large number OF conversions and the high
character OF the converts. especially within
the last three years, has been very marked.
Rev. Mr.. Tomory has lately met with even
unexpected success in the prompttude with which
his appeals In Scotland were responded 10 for a
has every encouragement for believing that fur