The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-25
PEWS. or No PEWSY
a Synagogue Heavy Debt-Pews Proposed
rs n Plan TO IiquldRte IL.

Benjamin j. Hart, President OF the con-
CreGation OF Shaarai Tephla was in the re-
ception room in the basement Of the synagogue
in West Forty-fourth street yesterday afternoon
reading letter from Rabbi Mcndes. Turning
to a member Of the congregation. who entered.
he said: =" Our minister is good man. He
offers to give $500 Of his salary and ne SO poor.
II members were rs liberal as he Is. the debt
would soon be paid" Then Mr.. Hart passed
into large room adjoining where services are
held on week days. About fifty Of the promi-
nent members OF the congregation were there.
and conference was had for tho purpose OF
deyising plan to keep the synagogue out Of
bankruptcy. The edince was dedicated in 1869.
Il cost $4,000. 1t is mortgaged for s64. 200.
and has besides, n floating Indebtedness Of
s24 900. $1,000 OF which is urgently demanded.
One OF the ways proposed to pay on the debt Is
10 have pews which members and their families
can pay for. As 1t is now. women and girls sit
on benches in the gallery, and men and boys on
the main floor. The boys and the girls pay
Mr.. Hart called the meeting to order. and
after stating lis object. Mr.. lsaacs. the Sccre-
tary, read the following letter:
To rIE PRrsinFSr TRUSTEES COMMUNICATION SHNRA
rrm, A-G,., s'-n There Is certain middle ground IN
r 'airs :" rei9ms forL9tau@n, mnsrg The rshgon,
now approached. and l. your religious guide respect.
when ms perennial question 81 pcws again appeared
h, year was inclined 20 pay little attention To IT, ioi
had the idea IRON sleep each year and
tall ct u, accord hut when the matter has reached
the iuhllc prints. ana becomes question Of public
,@ns, Men my 9En Go.oH has been therein Dis
ward nninvtedly aud address you
Gentlemen have considered and studied this matter
the noble ',nagoene with which | have been lor i've
years connected have tried school myself 10 hink
oilcws IN shaarA Terhla without ahhurrrncc To regard
lhrm ns necessary evil patiently To be submitted 10,
aul -cntemen. have utterly failed on the contrary,
le more have weighed ne matter The more distinct
these pc w. ana our judaism ! look lar back into our
people regnlauons CONCERNING public worship, and
commanding 'elarau.n OF The seNss IN public assemblies
mud or6ns III. Sonmngnr ons custom. VIZ in H.
whole course OF our history iorhil pews md all tie
'ohar execution h ms day Na,. more nnd in the
minutes OF the Reform synod held ~ Frankfort In ls45
,e 'nI T Mofls whGh are unhesiaungy assented
luton iS gparhuon OF W. sexes II Wholesome nsll
tat SHRINK lron 80 startling so unIewish an innuva
you consider these well gentlemen consider too
ue luusuious past Of your congregation, and pause
ere you by one afternoons vote repadiae ana condemn
nat pasl-sre YOU to-day give orthodox Judaism blow
s ,tl slHtt,I ~ !" w. ehds 4" we eari
uona Judaism ~ this country, toters and tails. the
6ers Viii Won ea ann m @ ro s%' mg y, , y
Reform temples are worse attended than synagneucs
ON sabbath Gay 50 that even now they taxing
ures 10 augment their slim Attendance, Reform temples
are suffering severely from nnancal stress. rms very
uS' an n,oIn,a ssnEof9s tnai hoped Tor prosper
Mgtchmeni Do YOU hope To rNal these establishments
tors for public favor where now YOU eJoy almost mo
say A. tie most o,crvant lsraces That our service
may lie rendered more Instructive | admit none more
readily. In improving tin tins way aud Ia Impressive
neither Improving nor Impressive You propose pcws
source oi revenue, From Whomf From straugcTsf
! have shown you have powerful rivals From your
present members thent Those who have the welfare
10 open their purses They will It on account OF
past associations and not from desire fashionable hut
uaWlu change. To meet tins drncit let rigid economy
be pTaotsed all around Amust share the burden Re.
quate 20 support Hnd mine, hut need be- take OF
from II such amount as to Nuu seems NJ aud lust will
hear H. AMI work the harder n Is Ia preserve tradition
al judaism and shaITN rephia You also eau give All
prove 90 the world whether you have not love and devo
ton tor the old Nhue ana Tor the memories of the dead
AMI gone that cluster around IT, To head the list take
the liberty gentlemen, enclosing for YOUR Use II van
Of $40 and have the honor to remain yours truly,
p IA SOFA MENDEs
Then there was debate lasting three hours.
inc members were about equally divided for
aud against pews. There are twenty-five syna-
gogues IN this city. and five of them have pews.
Except ono synagogue at Cincinnati and one at
New Orleans, no other SYhagOgucs in this cOun-
try or Europe have pews. In the debate IL was
noticed thut the young men were in favor OF
pews and progress, while the men with snow
white boards Were Mortified. A subscription
WAS started and $4,000 raised. Two members
offered 81 900 each II $4,000 more was sub
scrlbed TO make up tho 81. 900 needed. The
young and progressive members want an organ
That seems to be a compromise on which the
orthodox and the latitudinarians will agree,
and the pew project rejected. A committee OF
ten representing both sides. was appointed to
| confer together and report on Sunday next