The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-11-20
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reformed s ,a,L.m-, -xmngn"t step
The resolutions published in this paper
on Wednesday, which were adopted the
day bAto.e a. Pittsburgh by conference
of jewish RsbbiF, gathered from different
parts Of the country, are suggestive ofthe
important CHANGES that are going on in
the world at this time.
People generally associate with Judaism
form Of religious faith that is not only
ancient, distinct and peculiar, but also
from its antiquity practically interchangeable
in its nature. Therefore they must be
more or less astorished to hear it declared
at this day by. its Rsbbis ga progress
i've religion, ever striving to be in accord
with the posiulAtes of reOsOr." So con-
servatiye and Jealous Of all change were
the Jews orce supposed to be that no less
ayriter than Gibbou eaid Of them that they
"prefered to believe in the traditions Of
their ancestors rather than intheeVidence
OF their own senrea."
Thi; may have been an apt illustration
oftheir earlier ,r,ru. in history-atthe time
ofthe introduction OF Christianity,of which
period GiLbon was writing, but intelligent
people know that it has no. been true Of
them for long period sirco then. The
Jewish fclloIars Of Spain, Germany and
England long ago cas-. TO the winds RS idle
and Improbable much Of tna tradition as
well as The practices aud ceremonies that
are still cherished by to.cal!ed orthodox
Jews. No people for hundred years past
HAYS tten more generally pe1vaded by
the spirit Of incredibly and aZaosdcism
that ia abitad in the world than the Jews
And while it ia true that they have re-
markably maintaias their dis:inctness
and individuality AZ people, yet is no
less true that they have been steadily fall
ing away from the old standards OF their
ancient faith. Tasy arc to-day, as they
were originally, mon nthei5ts-sla:i Is, be-
lievers in ono sod ouly, buE in all else,
including even Moses and the prophets,
they ara very largely agnostic5.
The Jewish Rabbis, intheir remarkable
deliyerance at Pittsburgh, have therefore
simply recognized st.t' Of things that
exists very generally among their lsity
and have not by any means initiated a
new departure. And when they say that
their people do not any longer expect q
return to Palestine and do no. consider
their ancient dietary regulations ss of
binding obligation, they simply bring
up the rear OF the advance column that
so long ago passed and repudiated such
ideas.
Whether Judaism as distinctive form
Of religion is now in it's d4esdence and
doomed to extinction need rot be discussed
in this connection, further than to say
that the kernel of the faith is no wise
different from that Of the Unitarian body
ofreligionists in this country, with which
faith there is in some parts OF the coun-
try practical alliance. And as respects
their traditions, they really exist now
only as family heirlooms, and by the in
teligent are only cherished az such.
How long the rite Of circumcision and
exclusivism in marriage and in burial,
and all such peculiaritieg, will continue
10 exist, depends more on the general
changes OF society than on a continued
sense OF conscience in such matters. His
tory tells US that persecution is largely re-
spongible for the long isolation and exclu.
sIyism Of these people. No doubt it ex-
erted wonderful cohesive pressure upon
them. But despite this pressure the spirit
ofchange creptin and an advanced thought
found a permanent Judgement. This
thought is still at work leavening the whole
body Of the people, and it would beatrange
indeed Il in a free country this old-time
exClusiveness, originating in their distinc.
tive monotheiBtic form OF worship at the
outset, and kept alive for ages by peril and
persecution, would not dwlndle and dis
appear,
We have no doubt that such will BIS the
case, and that at a day not at all distant,
as compared with their remote past, the
Jewish people will merge into the whole
body OF their surroundings. The absolu-
ton, 30 to speak, granted by their clergy
at Pittsburgh from certain traditions, is
only mere matter Of form IS respects the
past and present. It's real significance
lies in its delicate recognition of the inevi.
table that is coming.