Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-11-18

National Council of Jewish Women
Fnvors Advanced Methods.

National Council Of Jewish Women
FnVors Advanced Methods.
NEW YORK, Nov 17.--Promptly at the
appointed hour the third session Of the FIRST
annual convention OF the National Council
Of Jewish Women opened today with Mrs
Hannah G. Solomon In the chair and a
goodly attendance OF delegates and visitors
The session was given over to the more
important standing committees reports from
which were read by their chairmen First
was the report of Miss Julia T. Essential
Of Chicago, chairman Of the committee ON
religion, one purpose Of the council, the
report said, was to arouse the interest Of
American JewCsses in Judaism, its literature,
history and the bible.
I'VE have lost" to continued, "thc reycr-
cntial spirit that pcryadcd the every action
Of our ancestors. That spirit cannot be re-
stored. but it may be substituted by a
nObler pride, We believe especially that the
central plan OF our work must be to
strengthen the pivotal point of cur religious
activity, to help to oncrgize the waning
interest in divine worship. We are en-
dcavoring to change a dormant spirit OF
apathy into desire for knowledge"
The national committee on religious school
work, Miss Julia RiChman of New Norl,
chairman, was the second to submit its re-
port
IL claim for our committee said Miss
RChman mot only the key to the pcrma-
nent usefulness OF the National Council of
Jewish Women, but the key to the perma-
nence of all true earnest spiritual Judaism.
Chief among the defects of the present
Sunday school system according to Miss
Rchman, are the improperly trained teach
ers. complicated plan of work, lack OF CO.
operation between parents ana the school
and absence OF spiritual aims at home. She
recommended. among other things. the for
nation of infant and post confirmation
classes the establishment of normal classes
for the training OF teachers, and the intro
duction of a more spiritual tone in the Sab
bath schools.
Next on the program was the report of the
national committee on philanthropy The
report was read by the chairman, Mrs Car
re s. Benjamin of Denver, Colo. After Miss
Felsenthal had finished reading the report of
the committee on religion, Mrs. Sarah H..
Lyons Of this city asked the privilege of the
floor.
II understand" said the chairman, that
Miss Lyons has minority report to offer"
II beg your pardon" replied Miss Lyons.
lit is a majority report" Thereupon Miss
Lyons proceeded to utter her protest against
that portion of Miss Felsenthal's report
which makes reference to Claude Month
flores criticism of the bible.
OR. Morals of Philadelphia has declared
the Montifore criticism is detrimental to
Judaism" declared Miss Lyons.
Here Miss Bessie Myers of Albany, n. Y,
asked Dr. Berkowtz of Philadelphia to give
his opinion of the question at issue. He eX-
pressed himself as loath to discuss the mat
ter and doubted the wisdom of the council
taking up the discussion of theological
themes.
II will say however" he added chat the
Jewish Chautauqua society did recommend
the Montihore critique with certain rcserya-
tions. This is all l care to say on the sub
jeCt at this time. The report of the national
committee on religion, as submitted by Miss
Folsenthal, was then adopted, Miss Lyons
alone dissenting.
Mrs. Hanna Marks of Cincinnati moved
resolution that the members of the council
use their influence to stop the Dissertation Of
the Jewish Sabbath by shopping, social gath
erings and visiting. The resolution was
unanimously adopted
Evidently there was something in Mrs
Richmond's paper which ranked within the
breast CT DR.. Mendes, who upon being given
the floor said no amount of Sunday school
work would do any good unless the parents
set the right example at home.
Reports of the work performed by the in
dustri9l and Sunday schools in the various
sections were then submitted and adopted.
When the council was called to order after
recess the chair read the following telegram:
ST. LOUIS, Mo- Nov. Ito the National
Council of Jewish Women: The Women's
Christian Temperance union, i'm convention
here assembled, sends you cordial greetings
we are workers together for God and hui
mGnity.
An appropriate fraternal reply was made
Mrs. Ellen NJ. Henrotn OF Chicago, presi-
dent of the general federation OF woman's
clubs spoke informally on the social aspects
OF woman's clubs. The world. in the speak
er's opinion. is rapidly breaking down all
artificial barriers. and every day it is being
shown more clearly that the idea of social
life is not the society life
Mrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson president OF
the National Council of Women of the
United States, also spoke briefly saying
among other things: 81 have felt about
this congress that you could not come 20
any place that needs you more"
Mrs. Sophie c. Amman of Kansas City read
tho last paper of the day: Child Life; Its
Needs and Its Training"