Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-07
HEBREw NATIONAL coNvrNrToN

HEBREW NATIONAL CONVENTION.
For the FIRST time in the history Of
this country national convention Of
representative Israelites will meet to
morrow morning at Standard Hall in
New York; Tho convention is tech
nically designated as the Council Of
the Union OF American Hebrew Con-
gregatiOns, and in its composition is
very similar to the Presbyterian Synod.
composed of laymen and clergymen.
The object Of 1.-THE council, which
meets Tin accordance with laws enact
ed at the organization in 1917 bien-
nially, is to consider questions relating
to Jewish interests in this country and
abroad, to discuss education, coloni-
zatiOn, and such other matters as may
have been brought to the attention of
the executive committee during the
past year. The council is made up of
delegates representing all Jewish con-
gregations throughout the United
States, and is virtually the legislative
branch of the Union. The executive
committee, which holds Office during
the time intervening between the
meetings of the national convention.
takes charge of all matters pertaining
to this Union of Hebrew Congrega-
tions. They have the power to main
tain intact the organization, ts pro-
mote the welfare of those they repre-
sent, and redress wrongs wherever
they exist, whether affecting the in
terests of their co-religionists in
America, Europe, or elsewhere. The
New York Herald says
This latter function has been in
trusted to a subcommittee called the
board of delegates on civil and religi-
Gus rights, and its duties are akin to
those possessed by the Alliance Israel
ite Universale, in Paris, of which the
venerable Cremieux is president, and
to the Anglo-J Jewish Association of
London, presided over by Baron
Worms, and the German Alliance, of
which Baron Won Wertheimer is
president. The president of the
American board, whose functions are
identical with those of the foreign or
CARNATIONS, is Mr.. Myer s. Isaacs
but in America the working of this
committee or board of delegates " is
subject to the action of " the council, +"
which is about to meet in this ciUy.
The number of delegates from all
parts of the country will be over two
hundred. Their chief effort will be
to establish in this city branch col
lege of the Hebrew Union College
in Cincinnati, which is supported by
the Union at large. While the prime
object is to train young men as rabbis,
Gentiles as well as Jews who aim
simply at mastering the Talmud and
Judaic philosophy, along with Chris
tian theology, are made welcome. II
is proposed that in the future no rab-
bis holding official positions in the
various synagogues be permitted to
act as teachers or professors at any Of
the colleges now or hereafter to be
established by the Union.
III - oavk o,,b,oak tbok ,r,ll ~, orroce
the attention of the convention will
be a colonization scheme to prevent
the growth of Jewish pauperism in
large cities and how to check the i'm
migration of pauperS from abroad. L
is understood that committee ap
pointed two years ago is ready t
report and recommend the appropria
ton of a certain fund to purchase
government lands in the far West 1
was stated, however, yesterday that i
the committee favor a sectarian colon
ization scheme-the exclusion of poo
Gentiles from the purchased lands
the project will be strongly resisted OIL
the floor of the convention. 1t Il
understood that the question of cir
cult preaching will receive due atten
ton; and if the executive committe,
is called upon to supply pulpits o
course it will furnish orthodox rabbi
whenever wanted, or those of NOR
advanced ideas to congregations tina
require a reform minister.