Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-22
gath and Humanity
Baltimore Sun)

Faith and Humanity"
Baltimore SUM-
The Council OF Jewish Women held in
New York this week adopted a motto
that was eminently womanly, and which,
at the same time, embodles the highest
religious sentiment. with the broadest
love of mankind. Faith and Humanity"
arc watchwords which appeal TO every
heart and mind, and include ali aspira-
tons and hopes of the present and of
the future. Although the first meeting
OF the council was held in Chicago in
1898. the session Just concluded in New
York seems to have attracted more gene
raj attention than any Of the pre-
vious conventions. and it IS safe to pre-
dict that from this time on ii will oc-
cupy n prominent place among the help
ful and progressive organizations OF the
country. It's object IS explained TO be
tho more thorough education Of Jewish
women, a tightening of the religious
bonds Of the faith, and philanthropy in
an its forms" Resulting to some eX-
tent, doubtless. from the intellectual agi-
tation which Is at present affecting
women of all creeds and classes. II rep
resents only the better side Of the femi-
nine impulse and activity OF the day.
In so far as It recognizes the intellectual
rights and needs of its membership, and
proposes 70 bring them in touch with
modern thought and development, IL IS
not unlike the educational and literary
associations which are TO be found IN
all parts Of the country. But included
IN these new and laudable ambitions are
higher and still more praiseworthy pUr-
poses. While It embraces the new wo-
man in the best sense Of that much
abused term, the woman whom the world
has always loved and honored still finds
In Il her most congenial sphere and work.
This idea was admirably expressed IN
the excellent address made by Mrs. Solo
mon. tho president of the council
on Monday. Our programme" she said,
provides for the study of Jewish his
tory and Ntera ture, and the best methods
Of philanthropy to be pursued I'm
small circles. We insist upon the study
Of both branches Of our work, in order
TO widen the field for those who have
been pursuing one or the other. We
realized from the first that Jewish ma
tional organization hal but two pur-
poses for characterization and philan-
thropy-in this land OF liberty. where the
most sacred day in the life OF a
man should be the day on which he re-
ceives his right OF citizenship. For the
laws Of the Jews were civic laws.
Jewish virtue was inseparable from civic
virtue All the laws that were binding
upon the citizens were religious laws
Would that we Jewish women might ring
the paean of religious liberty TO all.
wherever they dwell-the right OF citizen
ship to all who observe the laws"
The home and school are TO be the
centres in which this organization Is 10
do its most effective work Through
the school and home" says Mrs. Solo
mon, must woman WELD her greatest
influence counteracting tho disadvan-
tages OF wealth and leisure, as well as
those Of poverty, preventing moral de-
terioration. All our efforts in the widest
fields must aim at the elevation OF the
home-that bulwark OF society-remem-
bering the standard established by our
forefathers. We must train the children
TO love the higher things Of life-the trea-
sures that cannot be bought and
sold-thus securing for them the consola-
lions OF a thought-life that never fails"
And TO this she added. eloquently, in
concluding her address: "a true Jewish
womanhood, Jewish life and home true
10 our spiritual inheritance, true to the
flag under which we live, faith in Gods
providence-there are the ties that bind
us. this IS the Jewish thought that shall
belt the globe. bringing its message OF
higher life. OF spiritual aims and pur-
poses practicing Justice, loving mercy
and walking In modesty and humility be-
fore God IN His light For this. wo have
come together"
Such an organization as this cannot
but exercise in time a wide and power
ful influence for good. not only upon
members Of the Jewish faith, but upon
those Of every other. 1t already numbers
IN its ranks many women OF great
ability and character and before long
will be sure to attract TO itself all the
best and most representative Jewish
women II Is significant movement,
and one which is all the stronger from
the fact that while instinct with the
energy and the thought of the day II
recognizes. and includes in its programme
oil that IA best I'm the history Of the
great Jewish race. The nobility or It's
aim. the breadth OF its charity could not
be better expressed than In It's motto,
Faith and Humanity"
IL IS one which might well be adopted
by all who love the human race. and
who wish 10 see the world grow better
and happier Jewish records are full OF
the names Of Hebrew heroines, whom
mankind honors for courage, for devotion
TO duty for patriotism, and for a glo-
rious faith and constancy which nothing
could dim or shake. Their spirit still
lives In the present generation, and will
manifest itself through this new orsani-
zation IN deeds Of tenderness and love
and IN the moral and spiritual strength
and elevation which inevitably flow from
the influence Of good and earnest women.