National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-09-25
CIVIL FIGHTS CASE.

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ACTION AGAINST HARVEY & HOLDEN.
@, B. Purvis and Professor John NJ. Langston
have brought action against Harvey & Holden,
under the act OF the Legislative Assembly, for
refusing to serve them with eatables. The cir
cumstRnces in the case are that on Wednesday
these gentlemen entered the eating department
OF the saloon and gave their orders, the same as
other people, but were refused by the proprietors
and in consequence thereof action was taken yes
terday against Messrs- Harvey Holden. The
hearing will take place at the Police Court Sstur-
day.
HEBREW FEAST OF TABERN4CLES
To-day begins with sunset and continues eight
days the Hebrew feast Of tabernacles. This IL
one Of the three festivals on which, Of old, the
Hebrews Of Palestine were commanded to appear
in Jerusalem to celebrate the festival and bring
with them gifts to be laid on the altar, each &C.
cording to the wealth with which God had blessed
him.
In addition to its agricultural significance the
festival is also celebrated in commemoration Of
the journey of the Israelites through the wilder
ness, when they were compelled to construct tenn
porary booths for their abodes, whence the name
of the festival The orthodox Hebrews even to
this day erect temporary tabernacles on this fes-
tival in their yards or gardens in commemoration
of the event. Branches Of the palm tree, the
myrtle, the willow of the brook and the citron
are taken into the synagOgues on the principal
days Of the festival, and are held in hand while
the Hsllelujab Psalms are being ehanted. When
the HOsannas are sung n circuit is made around
the synagogue by the reader, rabbi and others
who carry the palms. In the extreme Hebrew
Reform congregation this ceremony has been abol-
ished, as the reformers hold that the bringing Of
the fruit into the temple had significance only
when the Hebrews lived in Palestine pursuing
their agricultural aVOeations.
The festival originally was celebrated in honor
of the ingathering Of the harvest, as the Israel
ties, being an agricultural people, celebrated in
common with the Oriental nations festivals at
the gathering Of the harvests in spring and
autumn, thanking the Creator for the abundance
Of his gifts to man. The festival is, however,
none the less sOlemnly observed among the re-
formed congregation, who look upon it merely as
a commemorAtion Of the wandering of the
Hebrews through the wilderness. Even while
the Hebrews lived in Palestine there was differ
ence of opinion among them as to the use of the
palm trees, the myrtle and willows upon this fes
tivaI. The Pharisees claimed that the fruit and
branches are to be brought into the Temple,
where thanks shall be returned to God for the
abundance Of his gifts during the season, while
the Saducees maintained that the palm tree, the
myrtle, &C.. are to be used in the construction of
the booths. At the present time the first day of
the festival is considered a general holiday, the
following five being merely half holidays. The
seventh day is the DAY Of the Great Hosann a."
when seven circuits are made around the Temple
with the palms. &C., the HOsannas being chsnted
meanwhile. The eighth day is again "a day of
ConvocatiOn," when supplicatiOns are offered for
the welfare Of mankind for the next half year Of
autumn and winter, for freedom from pestilence,
famine and war. Prayers are also recited for the
success of the harvest.