St. Landry democrat., 1886-01-16
Reformed Hebrews.

we puOilSh below declaration Of
principles adopted by the recent con-
ference of reformed Hebrews in New
Orleans. It is significant that in free
liberal country like the United States
the Hebrews are reforming their reli.
gion, so as to be in harmony with their
surroundings; while under the despotic
governments of the old world, where
they have always been illtreated, they
stick to the old iron bound creed. The
Jews therefore with us are no longer a
nation, separate people, but church,
a religious organization. They claim
that Christianity is a daughter OF the
Hebrew church, just as the Methodist is
a daughter of the Episcopal church,
aud the latter of the Catholic church:
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
In view of the wide divergence of
opinion of conflicting ideas of Judaism
to-day, we, as representatives OF Re
form Judaism in America, in continual
ton of the work begun in Philadelphia
IN 1869, unite upon the following pin
ciples:
/. We recognize in every religion an
attempt to grasp the infinite, and in
every mode, source or book of revela
ton leld sacred in any religious sys-
TEN the consciousness OF the indWelllng
of God to man. We held that Judaism
presents the highest conception of the
God idea as taught in our Holy Scrip
tnre, and developed and spiritualized
10y the Jewish teachers in accordance
with the moral and philosophical pro-
gress of their respective ages. We
maintain that Judaism preserved and
defended amid continual struggles and
trials and under enforced isolation this
God idea as the central religious truth
for the human race.
2. We recognize in the Bible the
record of the conservation of the jew
ish people to its mission as priest OF the |
one God, and valne it as the most po-
tent instrument of religious and moral |
instruction. We hold that the modern |
discoveries of scientific researches in |
the domains of nature and history are
not antagonistic to the doctrines of Ju-
daism, the Bible rejecting the print
tive ideas OF its own age, and at times
clothing its conception of Divine Provi-
dence and justice, dealing with man in
miraculous narratives.
3. We recognize in the Mosaic legisla-
ton q system OF training the Jewish
people for its mission during it's nation
al life in Palestine, and to-day we ac-
cept as binding only the moral laws,
and maintain only such ceremonies as
elevate and sanctify our lives, but re-
ject all such as are not adapted to the
views and habits of modern civiliZa-
ton.
4, We hold that all such Mosaic and
RabbInlcal laws as regulate diet, priest
~ purity and dress originated i'm ages
and under the influence of ideas alto
sether foreign to our present mental
md spiritual state. They fail to I'M
,ress the modern Jew with spirit of
,riestly holiness. Their observance in
'ur days is apt rather to obstruct than
o further modern spiritual elevation.
5. We recognize in the modern era of
universal culture of heart and intellect
he approaching of the realization of
sraefs great messianic hope for the =
sta blishment of the kingdom of truth,
lstlce and peace among all men. We
outsider ourselves no longer a nation
uta religious community, and there
pre- expect neither return to Pales-
inc nor a sacriticial worship under the
pms OF Aaron, nor the restoration OF
ny OF the laws concerning the Jewish
tate.
6. We recognize in Judaism a pro-
resslve religion, ever striving to be in
ccord with the postulates Of reason.
We are convinced of the utmost neces-
ty OF preserving the historical identity
18th our great past. Christianity and
liam being daughter religions of Juda- in
no, we appreciate their providential RI
ission to and in the spreading of co
onOtheistic and moral truth. We ac-
1Owledge that the spirit OF broad hui
anlty OF our age is our ally and the
lhllment of our mission, and there Ell
re we extend the hand of fellowship
all who operate with us in the estab-
'lment of the reign of truth and
zhteOusness among men.
z We reassert the doctrine of Juda- VI
n, that the soul of man is immortal,
ounding this belief on the divine ma
re OF the human spirit, which forever
IDS bliss IN righteousness and misery
WIckedness. We reject, as ideas not
Dted in Judaism, the belief both in
Oily resurrection and in Gehenna and
len (Hell and Paradise) as abodes for
erlasting punishment and reward.
La full accordance with the spirit of
'saic legislation which strives to
sulate the relation between rich and
or, we deem it our duty to partici- yol
te in the great task of modern times ~
solve, on the basis of justice and ].
hteousness the problems presented l..
the contrasts and evils of the pres
organization of society.
20 formulate articles of creed is no G.
Telty in Judaism. The Maimoni-
IN creed of thirteen articles framed
the twelfth century was modified by
eph Albo in the fourteenth century job
reduced to only three. The Rabbi Jon
al Conference in Pittsburg have 3 Z
retore, notable precedents for their