St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-26
A Pretty CEREMUNY
By Which the Jewish Syna-1
gogue Increases It's Mem
bership.
Rabbi Hess Diseourses to His
People on Pentecost .
Duties. ~
tbs 4.
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st. Louis Officials Visit st.
Paul to Inspect Local &
Models. 10
Features Of Interest That.
Will Mark Red Rock
Camp Meeting. "a

The Jewish church at the corner of
Ninth and Minnesota streets was yes
terday morning the scene of an impress,
sive ceremony, the confirmation of six
little boys and girls to membership in
the church. The building is rather
small for the large congregation it is
called upon to contain at each success
sive service, and its insufficient size
was emphasized on this occasion, when
every available inch within the walls
was occupied and number of people
were compelled to remain standing
throughout the service. 1t was the day
of all days with the Jewish people of
the city-the anniversary of the feast
after the passover. The church
bore evidence in its inter
ior decoration that the day was one
of no ordinary Importance. Flowers of
rare beauty and fragrance were ell evil
dence everywhere about the building
The altar was decked with floral trib-
uteS, and bank of lilies and ferns
lined its length and gave bright, cheer
full appearance. The confirmation
service, although differing much from
that used in the Christian church, bears
a general similarity in method. A list
OF questions prepared by the rabbi at
his discretion, relating to the Jewish re-
liglOn, are asked of the applicants for
admission, and answers have previ-
ouSly been committed to memory. The
confession of faith made by the candi-
dates in chorus is in the following form:
Before Thee, oh God, who art One, AL
mighty, All-Wise and Most Holy, we make
confession of our innermost conviction, that
Thou alone art God and none beside Thee
Thou alone art the Cause Preserver and
Ruler of all things; Thou alone art our Re-
deemer Savior, Father and King; eternal
Love. infinite Mercy and absolute Goodness
art Thou
The minister then interposes with:
This indeed is our God and the God of our
fathers And will you also love Him with all
your heart, and soul and might?
And the children make reply:
We will. indeed until our life does end
With our last. faint breath we will exclaim:
Hear, oh, Israel, the Eternal is our God, the
Eternal One" b
At intervals the choir comes in, and
an excellent choral or ganiZatiOn it is,
the soprano solos being as finely sung
as the exquisite compositions given de-
manded. The confession runs on:
1--WE firmly believe, heavenly Father, that
all men are Thy children, endowed with an
immotal spirit. destined to share in eternal
felicity by following Thy ways of righteous
ness. We believe that Isael, Thy first born
son, has been chosen as priest among the ma
tions, ordained to carry Thy law through all
lands and all ages, until justice and peace
shall forever unite the human family. and
love entwine all human hearts; until truth
shall triumph virtue hold dominion and
light prevail -4.
This, indeed, is Israel's inheritance and
mission. Now, will you strive to be faithful
to your duties as IsraeliteS, as children of
God?"
I'VE will, indeed. God shall be the ideal
OF our life Blessed be the Lord, who in His
holiness gave Israel the eternal law We
firmly believe that Thou, Heavenly Father,
rulest all nations i'll justice and love- By re-
wards and punishments, by joys and sorrows,
Thou educatest and leadest us to ever higher
aims. until, at last we reach the great goal,
when oil mankind will be united in the brill
liant light of truth divine.n
This indeed is the kingdom of God Now,
will you promote it with all the strength Of
your body and soul?'
1--WE will. indeed. Our watchword shall
be: THE Lord will reign forever, Thy
God, oh Zion, from generation to generation,
halleluyahr'
With the conclusion of the above the
choir breaks into song again. and the
ceremony nears its conclusion. The
sermon delivered by Rabbi Hess, in
Closing the service. was d powerful one,
and, to some extent. dealt with the his
tory of the Jewish race, its past and fut-
ure greatness. More particularly and
at greater length it treated of the sea-
son at hand and of the Importance of the
day to the Jews. Speaking of the
prejudice of nations against the race,
he showed that the nineteenth century,
with its enlightenment, had swept away
all but remnant of that unreasOning
prejudice of the last century which had
condemned the sons of-elsrael to be
wanderers upon the face Of the earth
and of no permanent place of abode
as a race. The future was
bright. Education and progress
in everything, in religion as III
science. had taught the world that the
time had come when injustice and OPP
preston, such as had been melted ont to
the Jews for centuries, must cease, and
it was rapidly becoming only memory
of the past. The address was listened
to with deepest interest by the congre-
CATION. 1t was a most mastery effort,
and particularly suited to the day and
occasion.