The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-11-18
TIE REFORM JEWS.
THE nADBlN1cAI coSvESTIoN

In Session at Pittsburgh PromulEates
Declaration of Principles What Modern
judaism KcPrsssum-The Highost
Conception of the God Idea.
PIrTsDuRau, Pa, Nov. l7.-At tc-day'a
session OF the National RSbblnicll Con-
yention the time was taken up with the
discussion and finally the adoption OF the
declaration OF principles submitted by
Rev. Dr.. Kohler, Of New York. The
paper which wa1 designated as declAra-
ton of independence acknowledges the
Bible as divine revelation and the claims
that Judaism present tho highest concep-
lion Of the God idea. They declare that
all such Mosaic aud Rab5inic Il laws as
regulate diet, priestly purity and dress
originated in ages and under the in.
luenCe u ideas altogether foreign to our
preteut mental aud spiritual state; they
iRil to Impress the modern Jaw with tue
spirit cf pricstly holiness AMI their OBJ
servanCa in our days is apt rather to OBJ
struut their farther modern spiritual
elevation. The declaration EeasSarrs ba-
lief in the Immortality Of tile Eon', but re-
j4Cts as idesls 10; rooted 10. Judaism be.
liefs both in bodily resurrection aud
Gehenna and Eden Ns abodes f1r ever
lasting punishment or reward.
TIE DECLARATION ~ DETAIL. Z
In view Of tno wide divergence Of,
opinion, Of conflicting ideas in Judaism to-
day we, as representatives Of Reform Juda-
ism in America, in continuation OF the
work begun in Philadelphia in 1863, unite
upon the following principles: 4
First-Ws recognizo iu every religion
an attemp. to grasp the lnhltte, and in
every mode, source or book OF Revolution
held eacred in any religious System, The
Consciousness OF tho ildweIling oil God in
man. We hold that Judaism presents the
highest conception OF the God idea as
taught 10 our Holy Scriptures, aud deyel-
oped aud spiritualzsd by the Jewish
teachers in accordance With the moral
and philosophical progress o! their respect
i've ages. Wo maintain that JuIaism pre-
served and de:eni led amidst cOlnGual
st,ugg!es and trials and under enforced
isoIation this God idea as the central re-
liyious truth for ths human race.
Second-We recognize in the Bible the
record OF the cunseCratiOn OF the Jewish
people OF its mission "a priests OF the one
God and value 1t as the most potent in
strument OF religion aud moral instruction.
We hold that the modern discoveries OF
scientific researches in the domains Of ma
tire and history are not autaHonistlc 10
The doctrines OF JudAism, the B,ble re-
fl cling the prinAtive ideas OF Its own age
ard at times clothi9g the conception OF
Divine PtovidoDc9 and justice, dealing
With man, in miraculous narratives.
MOSAIC LEGISLATION.
Thiri-We recognizy in the Mosaic leg
isla.ion system Of training the jewish
people Tor its mission during It's national
life in Palestine, and to-lay We accept
as binding only the moral laws and main
tain only such ceremonies as elevate and
sanctify our lives, but reject all such as
are not adopted to the views and habits OF
modern civlliz ttion.
Fnurth-We hold that all such Mosaic
and Rabinn; cal laws rs regulate Dict pIiastiy
purity and drssa, originated In ages and
under the influence Of IDEAS altogether
foreign to our present mental and spiritual
state. They fail to impress the modern
jew with spirit Of pIicstly holiness
their observance in our days is apt rather
to toobstructthAn to further modernspiritual
elevation.
Flith-We recognize in the modern era
Of universal culture Of heart and intellect
the approaching oil the realization Of Ia
rael's great Messianic hope for the estab-
ment OF the kingdom OF truth, justice and
peace among all men. We consider our
selves no longer q nation, but q religious
community, and therefore expect neither
return To Palestine nor asacri6cial wor-
shin under the sons OF Aaron, nor the res
toration Of any OF the laws concerning the
Jewiah state, t f
PROGRESSIVE RELIGION.
sixth-We recognize in Judaism pro-
greSsive religion, ever striving to balm &C.
cord with the postuIates ofreason.
We are convinced OF the utmost me-
oessity Of preserving the historical identity
with our great past. Christianity and
Islam being daughter religions Of Judaism
wo appreciate their Providential mission
to and in tho spreading OF monotheiatic
and moral truth. We acknowledge that
the spirit Of broad humanity OF our
age is our ally and the fulfiiment Of our
mission, and therefore We extend the
hand OF fellowship to sll who operate with
us in the establishment Of the reign OF
truth and righteousness among men.
seyenth-We reassert the doctrine Of
Judaism that the soul Of man is immoral,
grounding this beliefon the divine nature
| OF the human spirit, which forever finds
bliss in righteousness and misery in wick
edness. We reject rs ideas not rooted in
Judaism the beliefs both in bodily resur.
rection and in Gehenna and Eden Hell
and Paradise) as abodes for everlasting
punishment or reward.
Eighth-In full accordance with the
spirit of Mosaic legislation which strives
to regulate the relation between rich and
poor, we deem it our duty to participate in
the greattask OF modern times to solve, on
The basis OF Justice and righteousness, the
problems presented by contrasts and evils
Of the present organization OF society.
TIE VErEHINARIANs
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