The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-23
PROF. ADLER IN STANDARD NALL
The second Lecture -Disciaimina the Appel
Istion. .'Jewish Meetings"

lstion. "Jewish Meetings."
Standard Hall was filled yesterday with
an attentive assemblage that had gathered to
listen to Prof. Felex Adler's lecture on Tho
Immortality OF tho Soul" Among those pres
ent were noticsd Prof. Theodore W. Dwight
and other lawyers. The first thing on the pro-
Rramme, ss on the preceding Sunday, was
some classical music. The lecturer then took
up bis theme, and discussed. as one Of the arsu-
ments In favor OF immortality, the supposed
universal acceptance OF that doctrine by man
kind. He pronounced this the weakest Of the
arguments in support OF the doctrine, and one
that was not satisfactorily founded in fact,
there having been many uncivilized peoples that
did not believe In an endless immortality, while
such future life as they did believe In was only
an existence Of torment and evil The lecturers
views were illustrated by references to the relia-
ions and customs OF various barbarous or
semi -barbarOus nations.
For next sunday the speaker announced that
he would continue his discussion of the same
sub lect, taking up " The Theory OF Reward and
Punishment" Further musical selections con-
cluded the proceedings.
Before the audience broke up Prof Adler said
that he desired 30 correct mistake made by
the newspapers In speaking OF his lectures az
"Sunday meetings OF the Jews, or Jewish Sun
day services" There was nothing correct in
this except that there were meetings, aud they
occurred on Sundays. they were not either
Jewish meetings or meetings OF jews. There
was nothing exclusive about them. They were
open to all persons, OF whatever denomination,
and all such persons were eligible TO member
| ship.
That there is no exclusiyeness about the asso-
| citation for which Prof. Adler lectures Is true
| but 1t is also true that bearing upon the propri-
| ETY. OF styling these meetings Jewish. Is the
fact that they were originated by Jewish gem
| temen, Avowedly for the reason that there were
| many Jews VINO had no Meditation or no OPP
pOrtunity to attend religious services on Satur-
day, and could not attend any that were quite
to their mind on sunday even Mr.. Frothing-
bans not seeming entirely satisfactory or
| adapted to their wants aud Ii thus became
necessai y to institute some new Kind Of gather
| ings on sunday that would give them more suit
| aple opportunities OF n oral culture than any
| then existing. 1t was at first proposed, and 10y
| Prof Adler himself, to have "A programme more
resent bling the usual style Of religious services,
| song, anu this Is reported to have been omitted
| by reason OF the opposition offered 10y the rabbis
| OF the city, oUd by some of the more conserva-
| tive Jews, who feared that these meetings
| might be step toward the ultimate suDstitu-
| tion Of SUNDAY FOR Saturday az the Jewish Sab.
| bath. n proposal TO hold sunday meetings ioI
| the benefit OF those who at ended no services
on Saturday was explicitly rejected by the con-
| gregatOn Of the Fifth Avenue Temple, and tbs
| rabbi vi a reform congregation in Lexington
| avenue is reported to have taken "A solemn vow
| that he would leave his pulpit II his flock tried
| not In any sense Jewish. II is not apparent
| wherein they differ from Others that have long
| been instituted In this city, and which are
| neither Jewish, Christian. nor Mohammedan In
| character. and not exclusive either, admitting
| persons OF every denomination to mem bers hi y.
| Whatever. 1t consists in their being a new de.
parture for good atn ong the Jews. and IL Is only
that view Of them that has made them interest
| ing to the general public.