Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-10
Rabies In SESSION.
OPENING or THE THIRD ANNUAL
CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK.
How Shall Converts 20 Judaism DO Re-
ceivcd ?-Aboiition Of the Abrahafnic
Rito Rccou,m ended--Othcr Subjects.

day nlgnt. Inc meeting was puDic ohr'
and the spacious hall was completely
filed. There were, says the New York
Times, between fifty and sixty rabbis pres
ent. among them being the Rev. DR.. Isaac
M. Wise. OF Cincinnati: the Rev. DR..
III. Hecht, OF Milwaukee; the Rev. DIR.
]. s. Moses. OF Chicago; tho Rev. DIR.
Mielziner. of Cincinnati; the Rev. DIR.
Kaufman Kohler, of New York; the Rev.
DIR. William Roseman. of Baltimore; the
Rov. DIR. S. Jacobs, of New York. the Rev.
DIR. ]. Ieiwinthal. OF Nashville; the Rev.
DIR. Harrison. Of St. Louis; the Rev. DR..
II. Grossman. of New York; tho Rev. DR..
Edward n. Calisch. of Richmond, Va. the
Rev. DIR. Goodman. of Syracuse; the Rev.
DIR. Shanfarber. of Baltlmore tho Rev.
DIR. Joseph Silverman, OF New York; the
Rev. DR.. Charles Levi. of Cincinnati, and
the Rev. DR.. NJ. Harris, OF New York.
The Rev. DR.. Wise. the president OF the
conference. presided. The Rev. DR..
Kohler, of the Temple BETHEL. 10 the
vice-presdent the Rev. Charles Levi, of
Cincinnati, is secretary, and the Rev. DR..
NJ. Harris, of New York, assistant secre-
tary.
The opening prayer was made by the
Rev. Dr. Rudolph Grossman. of the Tenn
plo Bethel. Tho Rev. DR.. Silverman, of
Of welcome and President Wise read the
annual report.
The report took strong ground
in favor of making American Juda-
ism progressive. and condemned tho con-
servatiye aud orthodox clement as not
worth paying attention TO. Reviewing the
work Of the past conferences, the report
said that many important topics would
come up for consideration this week.
The principal topics to be considered
would be the new manual of public wor-
ship. the cremation of tho dead from a
Jewish standpoint, the initiation of prose
lytes into the covenant of Judaism with
ont the Abrahamic rite, and the question
"a to what position the Jewish churches
should take relative to the Column bian Ex-
position III Chicago next year.
Vice President Kohlor said that, al
though he was radical himself he could
not agree with Rabbi Wise's policy Of ig-
noring tho conservatives. DR.. Kohler was
in favor Of extending the hand OF fellow
ship 10 them. Jews everywhere ought TO
recognize every mans rights 70 differ IN
opinion.
JUDAISM AND PROSTITUTES.
At the second days session the report of
the Committee on Judaism and Proselytes
was discussed, particularly az 10 tho initis-
ton of proselytes without the Abrahamic
rite.
Rabbi Wise, Of Cincinnati, presided and
read the report of the committee, which
was appointed at the Baltimore conference
last year. This report, saws the New York
Herald, cmbodies the opinions of DIR. Henry
Berkowitz OF Kansas City; the Rev.. Mr..
Bun, of Vicksburg; the Rev.. DR.. Felson::
thai. Of Chicago; Professor Mielziner, OF
Cincinnati the Rev. Mr.. Sonneschain. OF
I.Hti Epsfbpil of tllz pifV.
Rabbi Moses. of Louisville; Rabbi Schrie-
Der. of Little Rock: Rabbi Landsberg. of
Rochester and Rabbi Hecht, OF MIL
waukee.
That part of the report touching upon
the question of the Abrahamic rite IN the
case of proselvtes was mooted in the Phlla-
delpbia and Pittsburg rabbinical confer
ences some years ago. and no little feeling
was displayed by radicals and conserya-
tlves.
That matter was precipitated two years
ago, when Roland Bernard Gelatt, then
managing editor OF the Kansas City Ne,cs,
was admitted into the jewish Church
without the initiatory rite. The story,
which is n romantic one, was told fully at
the time in the Herald.
Mr.. oELATT's CONVERSION.
Mr.. Gelatt met IN Kansas City Miss
Ada Refer. the belle of the Hebrew Sec
ton. He proposed marriage, but the re-
lgious faith OF Miss Refer and her family
with any matrimonial inten-
lions. ThereupOn Mr.. Gelatt applied for
admission to the Jewish Church. When
Rev. DIR. BerkowitZ told him he must sub
init to the Abrahamic rite Mr. Gelatt de-
INJURED. DIR. Berkowitz, not desiring to act
upon his own authority, wrote q letter TO
the Jewish clergy of America. The matter
a
Berkowitz, on the strength OF tho letters
received, decided to dispense with the
rite. Mr.. Gelatt made a confession OF his
faith in judaism his name was changed TO
BENJAMIN. and on August 4. 1890, be was
married TO Miss Refer, with whom he Is
now living in Detroit.
The substance Of the committees re-
port az read yesterday was that there Is
nothing in the canons Of the Church or in
the rabbinical law making the inltiatory
rites necessary to prOselytes. A resolution
was offered TO the effect that 1t be lawful
and proper for rabbi TO accept any homo
rable and intelligent Gentle without the
formality OF these rites, provided he be-
lIeved in God. obeyed His laws, and be-
lieved in the mission of tho jewish laws;
also, that proselyte shall be accepted by
the rabbi in the presence of two associate
rabbis Professor MlelZiner and Rabbi
OcUGWD Eltl ullltIllg iNtOl ~ VIC AciihpA
treating the matter from Biblical, the
latter from rabbinical standpoint.
The matter YVES discussed IN private ses-
sion, and DR.. Mielziner. Rabbs kohler,
Hecht, and Moses took part. RABBI kOL-
Ter said that the liberal Hebrews We're no
longer guided by the letter of the Mosaic
law. An amendment to the resolution
was offered providing that the acceptance
of q proselvte should take place III the
presence Of the president and vlce;;presl-
dent Of the congregation and ten Hebrews.
This was voted down and no vote on the
resolution was taken, the argument not
being concluded.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
The Committee on tho Presidents An
nual Message recommended that the tx
scutiye Committee of tho conference act
with a committee of three appointed by
tbe World's-Fair Commissioners TO adopt
plans for presenting the Hebrew religion
At the Congress of Religions TO be held at
Chicago.
The report of the Committee on Crema-
non was circulated, but not read; The
rist of the report is that II rabbi be
,alled on to officiate at the rites of crema-
ion over the remains OF coroligiOnlst no
should not refuse on the ground that ere
nation is opposed TO the Jewish faith.
Tho chairman of this committee - Rabbi
Felsenthal.
HEBREW RITUAL AND soSd.
Rabbi Oscar Cohen, of Mobile, Ala,
opened with PRAYER the third days session
Of the third annual Central Conference Of
American Rabies. The conference did
not take up the question of abolishing the
Initiatory rites III the case of proselytes.
This is the one topic upon which the con-
ference is unable to agree, and time for
will be given. The matter
will undoubtedly be disposed of during |
The present conference, and every men,
Der when voting viii be required to ex-
plain his vote.
The Ritual Committee recommended |
the adoption of a prayer-book edited by |
the Central Conference. IL Is TO be similar |
10 tho prayer book already in use, with a |
lew changes and the addition OF original |
English prayers.
book was offered by Rabbi Guttman. and |
amended by Rabbi Kobler so rs TO provide |
or a new Jewish hymn-book, with original
words and music, in the compilation OF |
which the editors shall consult the leading |
,antors of the country. Rev. Mr.. Spar /
yer, cantor of Temple Emanuel-El and |
of the Cantors' Association |
If this city, wanted the whole matter /
placed IN the hands of that association. |
lie charges several rabbies with being OPP
posed to cantors in the churches. The |
natter was finally settled, the conference |
the resolution.
Ia. boz %f