The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-01-08

I ,ouise C;uthsrz,, Ii betrothed 70 Mr.. Henry
MEM, q we(l-known Main-s5treet I nun,
raho w;li lead Her to the altar 50 t1rday tae
9Th of next month. 49, ~ ia I
dim, height. slender ana OF sfase'h, III.
riare. dark-brown hair and eyes. the alte 3
mi and expressive lighting up faee OF
r r fhan ordinary beauty. Yesterday she
wore n black silk dress with flounced ofer-
dreas OF the same material, black velvet hat
with feather to match, lilae.colored k!ds,
RULED wbite.lace collar, aud o proftision OF
tleap-cnt black lace. OF jewelry, plain gold
was worn, and of that only EARRINGS and
plain bar clasp at the collar, care being taken
to avoid anything like display.
The church was we'll filed with worship.
,,ers and friends and refatives Of The convert,
who at on the front seat, directly before the
rabbi, beisg accompanied by her INTENDED
sister.iu-law, Mrs. NJ. S. Judah. Great IN.
tercst was manifested in the ceremonies Dy
t,le congregation, snd at their conclusion
many OF tile ladies came forward and warmly
embraced their new sister in religion.
Throughout the entire service bliss Gutherz,
although her position was a trying one, never
faltered. and ut the proper time she made her
confession and prayer in low, hfm tohe
that was plainly audible throughout the en-
tire synagogue.
The hour 1OaA., NJ. being the one devoted
70 REGULAR services, the usual singing and at
tendant ceremonies were gone through !;
after which Rabbi Samtield read the second
CHAPTER of the book OF Ruth, in which the
story of that naiden''s efforts as a cleaner in
the fields Of Boaz are recounted. For biz
text he took tho quotation, am the first
and am the last. and besides me there IS no
God"
In the course of
HIS SERMON
the rabbi said that he did not by any means
regard Christianity as failure, but he beheld
in the errors which Christianity has commit.
ted by accepting the unfounded belief in a
trinity the means Of progress for the religious
ideas in Judaism. Christianity was to bring
about u reformation i'm the heather world
which Judaism could not accomplish; the
dazzling sublimity Of rational religion, the
deep lessons Of strictly unitarian principles,
could not be understood by the heather. \
system of religion had to be offered to them
which would tolerate some heather mytholo-
gy in its construction, so as to Unacceptable
IN their sight, and in Christianity that system
Of religion was found.
AT the conclusion of the discourse the
choir sang sacred hymn in excellent voice.
Then the rabbi read from the LIST and "a
chapters of Ruth. In addition, he said:
i" Blessed be he that cometli in the name Of
the Lord We bless you out Of the house
of the Lord. Thou. o Lord, art the portion
of nv Inheritance Thou hast drawn my lot,
my possessions are fallen in agreeable places ;
yea, my inheritance is pleasant to me-"
ADDRESS TO TUE CONVERT.
Then, addressing the convert, the Doctor
said:
"Nliss Gutherz, you have to-day entered the
house of God, and approached the sanctuary
of the ever-present Jehovah, with the firm
resolution to embrace Judaism as that system
of faith which you hold to be most rational
in its doctrines, most beneficial to the dcmes-
tic happiness of individuals and the welfare
of humanity. Ii this opinion OF yours were
but of to-day OF yesterday, would call the
ceremony of this hour conversion, Il change
OF religious ideas; but am glad to say that
with you il is only the public adoption Of that
which you believed long ago. You were d
.Jewess at heart long since by the liberalit!v
of your religious sentiment, and by the SUI
periority of your reason above mysterious
dogmas and miraculous conceptions.
"Though reluctant in the admission OF
proseytes to Judaism, we will gladly admit
one who comes TO us invested with the claims
of love, reason, ami faith. ..,... ......
"If it is, therefore, yet your carrest desire
to be one of ours, request you to state
what you believe to be true in regard tt
Gods attributes, human dignity, and lsrael'i
missipn.' &s,i
THE CONFESSION.
Miss Gutherz arose, and without hesita
ton made the following statement or con
tession: II believe that there is but one
indivisible, eternal, spiritual, and most per
| feet God, who has never assumed any shape
| or form, and who rules and governs the
| world by immutable laws. am also con
WINGED that man is created with Il pure soul
and endowed with faculties to preserve this
original purity, which is the cornerstone TO
| the beautiful relation existing between man
and God, the child and the father. | also
! do firmly believe that there is no other me.
diator between God and man save the
power Of mind. and no other salvation for
| sinners except the abandonment Of evil ;
that the soul, being immortal, will partake
! Of reward and punishment III the world to
come, the manner Of which is only known
to the Almighty. L also believe that God
has selected Israel TO be the Messiah OF the
world to redeem mankind through the ever.
lasting truth of a pure religion, which will
unite all mankind into one brotherhood by
| the means of truth, love, and peace, when
| they all will acknowledge that God is one
| and His name is one"
THE RABBI's RESPONSE.