Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-06
TWO RIVAL FACTIONS , Y, s. 2 Exist in the Gathering of
 Delegates
 9' e nz IN THEN,CRESCENT CITY The Annual Grafton Causes
 Heated Debates.

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 5.-J judaism would
 seem to be torn up into two rival factions if
 the delegates representing the ebrew con gregations that are now in session be &C., counted representative. men. The ancient
 faith Of Israel, according to the view of the
 average gentle, is being attacked from
 within its own citadel, and the glorious
 traditions of the ancient faith would seem
 to have been handled of late in rather an
 unceremonious fashion-as the profane
 would say, ''without gioves.'
 The annual oration of Mir. Leo Levi of
 Galveston provoked such an amount of ad- verse criticism well favorable con-
 ment that at the afternoon session the dele- gates were plugged into vortex Of most
 "peppery" character. There wes lots of
 ginger incorporated into the session of the
 association, and it's surroundings were in
 marked contract with the placid events which preceded it.
 The oration of MT. Leo Levi compre-
 hended series of severe strictures on the attacks of reformed judaism, which, it was asserted, was endangering the very edIfice
 of the lsraelitish faith. Particularly was the speaker severe on the rabbs, and com- ing closely on the heels of A sort of au
 "unspoken desire'' to shut out ''the
 rabbis from future conventions, b the sem sation became accomplished. MT. Levi was accorded thanks for his literary work, as we'll as notion to print the oration. As constructed at present the conference seems to be composed of a majority of re- formers. Al least the lay delegates are. IL Is even said that MT. Levi, whose ora ton has caused such a hub bub, is de- scrbed az a reformer, and reliable author iIy has it that the reverend rabbis are nearly all to man in sympathy with the principles of the reform element. The at tack of MT. Levi was of course resented Nc kk kis tardo aa hoin
 in n great measure an attack upon the clotb and therefore to be vigorously
 fought Dr. Wise is said to represent re- formed Judaism, and the college over which he preBides Is naturally the exponent of the tenets of those views of the admiDis- tration of the ancient faith.
 Erie fly laid out, the differences between the two schools of thought amount to this: The orthodox Jew believes in the closest adherence to the ancient ritual, doctrines and practices. He accepts the Bible as the absolute revealed word of God, and is strict in his attention to all dietary and other rules of the church. lie holds also that | Judaism is accomplished.
 l The reformed Jew acdords more liberty | Of thought than do the orthodox members of the faith. He is not always firm on dietary rules and believes that forms and ceremonies mean little, and are certainly not essentials. For the Bible he has a great respect, but does not accept it as lit- erally inspired. Indeed the Jewish re- former is sort of free lance, holding airy views on matters for centuries considered
 as vital truths. lie is broad gauged man, "giving and taking,' and one who lives on good terms with himself and the rest of the world.
 The first business of the meeting today was protest from the rabbis to be made part of the printed Levi oration. The pro- test denounced the Levi strictures as un- just and unjustiiable, and the conclusion erroneous. The protest was signed by n tOff ba ahrat oolI and other lay clerical delegates. This precipitated the discussion, which at times assumed very personal character, and in all respects the meeting was about as turbulent as a ward mass meeting. Finally Dr. Wise rose and a hush fell on the noisy meeting. The nestor of Ameri- can Jewdom stood at his full height, aud his eye flashed as he took in the meeting. With whitening scorn he lashed the author of the adverse critique on the Jewish rabbi, and scored the turbulent character of the meeting today. He said:
 The newspaper men are here, and
 your proceedings will be published to the
 world. What position does 1t place you
 and me in? You represent Jewish congre-
 galions, l the rabbinate of America. What
 is the position we find ourselves in2 Are
 you going to allow such strictures to be
 cast upon the rabbinate without protest?
 To do so would be an outrage and must
 not be permitted. p
 Much more the doctor said, and one
 thing he was accorded, what no other
 speaker was granted, and that was an ab-
 solutey quiet, respectful hearing. The
 speaker referred to the compromise made
 between the orthodox and reformed Jews
 when the college was first organized, and
 told how 1t was agreed that all deba.able or
 controversial subjects should be avoided.
 Dr. Wise was loudly applauded as he re-
 sumed his seat.
 The protest then came up for debate on
 the motion 10 have 1t spread on the min.
 L xN.-A A al.a airt,a xlad
 that the yeas had it, and the protest was
 ordered spread on the minu:es.
 The session then adjourned.
 .-.- EAIrHEIrI. SERVANT