The New York herald., 1877-09-16
NINETEENTH STREET SYNAGOGUE.

Tho Rev. Henry p Mendes preached yesterday at
the Nineteenth Street synagogue. The lesson Of tho
day from the last chapters OF Deuteronomy. Mr..
Mendes SAID that by universal CONSENT OF tho
most magnificent poems ever conceived is the song
Of Moses Depicting the passions of man in the most
exalted ana telling dicson, describing the grad ual
rse progress and decay OF nation 1t rises with the
lofty language to description Of the horrors
tendant upon unaithiulness Then, like a subsiding
tempest, 1t gradually falls to gentle strain more
soft and soothing II breathes iortn Heavens mercy
to us final triumphant vindicaton and restora
1t was fit legacy for him to leave his people,
said the preacher. IL was ut ending to such noble
lie as his, 1T death for tho patriot poet, preacher
and prophet Moses.
CEREMONIES OF coSPIRMArIoN
II Is to the public entry and recognition OF the child
partcpalor in the possession OF this heirloom, or,
In other words, the confirmation OF a child In the re-
sponsblities OF hts religion, that the preacher would
direct their attention When jewish child attains
the commandment, certain ceremonies are observed,
which vary different countries. In many places the
youth has 10 hold forth IN sort OF religious dspua-
ton friends aud rabbcs ol the Others
read part all OF the lessons OF the day. Others add
part OF the days prayers and the pr0phe,ica solec
tion OF the sabbath generally reciting in addition
suitable Introductory prayer.
In the treatise Avoth ol the Talmud, alter prescrb-
ing the age al which the child shall successfully study
the Scriptures and Msnna or hrs portion OF the Tai
mud. 1t Is declared that arriving the age OF
thirteen he s bar mitza, confirmed The age OF girls
Is eswhere fixed at twelve, public ceremony, how
ever, being observed for the latter In rabDnca times,
II being considered as unsued TO the sentiment of
the ago and the secluslon In which all females are
kopt.
CONFIRMATION INSTITUTION.
The remark In recent article IN a popular pcriodi-
cal that confirmation us of the few utons in
troduced by the reformers that have upon the
public taste" is maniiesty incorrect, for the section
Avoth OF the Talmud was written centuries, nay,
ages, before the article, the author and the hc
champions were thought of Why, In days long gone
by, wncn Hebrew father took ms ch I'D TO school for
the iirst tune, the OCCASION invested with
mony. HOW much more, then would they celebrate
the day OF bar mitza, religious majority ITSELF Tor
which the education was only preparatory? Tho
child was told on being brought 10 tho MASTER that
hc was like his people at Slnai about to receive
the law: the master then spread his mantle above
him. symbozing thus that he honceiorth under the
shadow Of the law The difference between the con-
rmation, the writer referred 10 claims and that of
the rabies, Is that in his they wait lor a number
OF children to be assembled and have the ceremony
convenient tIrne whic the rabbics have when The
child attains the fxcd age, whether that convcn-
tent time or Dot-a difference Father IN lavor Of the
rarbcs, as the importance OF the Institution s likely
be diminished In the eyes OF the intelligent child,
who It can be delayed AZ convenience.
You wall thus sec, said Ar. Qendes IN concaugaon,.