New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-23
WHAT REFORMED JUDAISM NEEDS
PLAIN WORDS FROM FELIX ADLER-CHANGEs THAT
SHOULD BE MADE.

PLAIN WORDS FROM FELIX ADLER-CHANGES THAT
SHOULD BE MADE.
An audience that packed Chckering Hall
gathered yesterday morning hear Professor Felix
Adler's lecture Reformed Judaism" Some NIFTY OF
sixty persons secured seats platform and between
800 and 400 stood throughout the lecture MI Adier
spoke for hour and five minutes. He was ut times
eloquent and impassioned. He began with n graphic
picture OF tho Fall OF Jerusalem and said that the suffer-
ngs undergone the Jews then were but the beginning
Of long series of similar trials that lasted for the next
LOO years Their religion was the bond that held them
together; and it must have been great religion IL
was practical while Christianity speculative
religion Judaism did not emphasize doctrine or dogma.
It's three principal ideas God the priesthood and
the return Of the jews to Palestine Suddenly there
came change and the Jews began to feel the influence
OF modern ideas One layer after another OF tho law
was rejected until finally the Reformed Jews came to the
spirit of the Bible and that spirit resolved Itself into
Monotbeism But IN insisting doctrine
they departed from the old basis Of their relg-
ion and hereu is their weakness. They
have taken away the underpnning OF their
whole system and have only tho spritonly the gho5t
of their old religion which they can't cothe with hesh
and blood. The Reformed jews make brave snow III
external things but life has departed from them lne
religious instruction creates neither deep nor lasting
impression lew hours Wetk-h leN nu.u a ~, ,Str
arc all that Reformed Jews can devote TO thcr
Professor Adler proceeded to point out the changes
which in his opinion should be made IN kelOrhed
place,
rerorriIcd They shouid cease dwell on doctrine:
Tie emphasis of their religion should no longer De %
the lawgivcr. but ON the law Granted thaJ oeiei
in God thcn, Is IT necessary 10 harp con
stautly ths They admit that they don't Know WhaI
ne will God is They must have recourse To reason
10 find out the laws that should govern hfr In their
convention at Pittsbu-g last week this mistake was
made They insisted having the right prayer anu Inc
right ritual. congratulate yourselves, Reformed
Jews" exclaimed Mr. Adler; they have given you q
new prayer book. | think the LORD doesn't care loI
their prayers; | am sure lie conh get AonB
very N ituOut them. Uaughtcr.I what they shoulu
81, IL . f., Ip t.XfI
your ways evil doing- aud execute righteous JUG
ucut bet ,vecu man and An earnest attempt 10
show tho Moral Law Is divine thats tue great hcu
Of the present rel gipus situation. ms ono oNho &c
ttpuf q men and cannot be takOn away III dlu
NOT originate in experience hut II founded on a"u ana
auscrudcnt sanction. Then the Reformed jews 'houih
"a. To right wrongs aud establish justice no" ahd here
let them boud to the task OF nius up The moral conil
ton OF mankind. ,. D.. .,
character Of the jewish ministers Heretofore lry h'Nt
been piololl-is. 10 interpret books. PHILOSOPHY must
take the place OF pAologA. and thcy nu-t tiy poiucs
and economies. Thirdly, thffc Sh1nd h' u
WIpul-uut ~ the lines or 7"pttat4'u between
the Reformed jews aud those Who Mold The sam" IDEAS
Iuci Ato uo longer ricc. but religious community.
Lisiv the absurd and foolish NORTON ulf thr jews are
an elect people must gn some claim thIt they possess
higher morality than other people, buy WpfIF dn'-
not ran in tun boot The JrNt uAy" their virtues aga
Ar, have tLc.r vice, too Race pride i- the
most oIiou. oi 40 these vices. -hSut APP au,"I leg
b, bt the tt-a ui those Wup Wota lu iAr ola lh'f-"7
c4uuuf-to c4.tttr tur oil Vices % cali them iy thrlI
r-lf names aud cNrIpttt tLcu. LET them keep ihrl
uu-llcl home altar. fnc.r warm -ymTutDl's. their row
rrfube CD a a-r furr humility. hIf These 10 NOT 'A
htu-t the scale OF huhI1 virtues Tho Jews h'1d learn
toaI o." Christians tt tue idea 20 monopoly oi rrH-
much more roIatuaut the idea ~ % monopoly ~ moo
AMY