The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-21
NINETEENTH STREET SYNAGOGUE.
SABBATH AND REFoEM-LECTURR By REV.

HENRY p. MENDEs
Rev. Henry p. Mendes has been preaching course
OF lectures upon the prophets before his congre
CATION in the Nineteenth Street Synagogue and has
now entered upon a second He yesterday took his
text from the passage in which the prophets mis-
sion is set forth Ito root out. to pull down. to de-
stroy, and to throw down. to build up ana to
plant" Aftor describing the prophet and his
character the reverend gentleman said This Ia
the mission Of true reform. not only to root up,
to pull down. to destroy and to throw down. but
build up and to plant. by this standard we must
Judge all efforts In such direction. by this standard
we must judge American reform. by this standard
VIC must condemn it, True Il has changed the un-
couth. suporstitious religion OF Immigrants from
European hamlcts or African and Asian coast towns;
true It Is that Ashkenaz and Lephardec shake of
much that Ia desirable since II forms part of
and Intelligent orthodoxy. but they know not where
to stop. where to draw the line; and here 1t is that
the influence Of reform registers Its failure. 1t has
rooted out. pulled down, destroyed and thrown
down; but what has II planted? What has
IT built mp! Inc whole tenor OF rabbinicnl le2isa-
ton TO erect u fence round the land OF sinai
lest hostile Influences should approach, mar its
beauty or in any way injurc Its integrity The
fence Ia rooted out, pulled down, destroyed and
thrown down, and now. how has the law Jared?
Laid open to invasion. rendered deienceless IL has
been subjected to nroad after inroad all made un-
der the usurped title of reform, and the tatterod
fragment IL held mp as the standard of modern
Judaism. II reform was instituted experiment
to better the condition OF Judaism, well aud good;
its greatest enemy will then look with leniency
upon its most garng innovation; but now that II
has been In active power 30 long. what has II built
and what has IL planted? Whatever or good there is
In American Judaism to-day IL to be found
better in England. where conservatism obtains,
and therefore Is not to DO credited to re-
form; Whatever Of culture is visible in Judaism
under the auspices OF American reform Ia infinitely
inferior to the culture OF the Spanish era of our
exile when observances. ncglccted-scoficd at--now
were then respected. historic fact OF which an in
genious Inqusition duly took advantage But the
present week shows modern Judaism In its true
colors. The Jewish community was stirred by q
notable Hamika celebration. The vocabulary IL OK
haustcd In finding words to descant upon
the patriotism manifested, by the enthusiasm
displnyedl But the gloom OF the night be-
fore overshadows the brilliance of the grand patr
otic demonstration. Two meetings were hed-onc
TO add to the Sabbaths glory the other to diminish
it. The former was eloquent proof OF the immense
proportions Sabbath breaking has attained, the
lattcr was equally eloquent OF the desire TO arrest
the course or innovation. and cry, "Hold enough"
IL the Sabbath breaking were only caused by So
called necessity we would lay blame at the door
OF reform but the attendance OF children Mt dancing
schools. the purchasing performed by ladies', the en-
joyments INDUCED In by men, which do anything
but sanctfy the sabbath day. al excused the
ground Of reform.