The times., 1898-09-26

The brilliantly illuminated Temple of
the Washington Hebrew Congregation
was crowded last night from the ground
floor TO the roof to celebrate the occasion
of Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.
This service is probably the most solemn
one in the Jewish ritual
1t is not only the Day of Atonement,
but of universal reconciliation, and all
differences whether in business or in so
cial life. must be made up and all sins
committed during the past year must be
repented for. 1t is one of the few OBJ
servances which seem to bid defiance to
time and the changes incidental to it.
Rabbi Stern last night delivered a blow
to orthodox Judaism in his address at
the close of the services which must have
startled those who cling to the ancient
tenets of the faith.
The rabbi is not orthodox in his faith.
and has discarded in his services all the
accepted ideas OF the devoutly orthodox
While his eIoquence in the pulpit and his
personal magnetism have attracted a
congregation which, for wealth and cul-
ture is certainly second to none in the
United States there has been an uneasy
feeling among certain members of his
flock that the new ritual which he has
introduced and which differs slightly
from the orthodox ritual, is not exactly
in accordance with the strict principles
of Judaism as taught 70 them in their
youth.
The rabbi seized the occasion last night
to deliver his views upon the subject to
perhaps the largest congregation which
he has ever addressed since the dedica-
ton of the temple. Ever since he mas
been the pastor of the congregation he
has objected to the wearing of the hat by
male worshipers during services. This
was an innovation that caused consider
able comment, which was subsequently
increased by his appearance in the pulpit
in an ordinary frock coat, without gown
or bands.
In his sermon last night Rabbi Stern,
after the first few sentences, describing
the origin of the service which was being
celebrated and its ordination in the book
of Leviticus. and the lessons of brotherly
love incuIcated in the text launched at
once upon his theme of reformation.
In plain terms he said that he did not
see why a prayer TO the Almighty should
be more acceptable delivered by a man
with his head covered. He could not see
the sense of people in this age of prog
| ress troubling themselves about such
matters There was nothing in the
| Scriptures enjoining such an observance.
! Quoting from an eminent Jewish author,
he showed that in the thirteenth century
the German, French, and Spanish He
brews prayed in their synagogues with
| heads uncovered
IL had been objected. he said. that the
custom of praying with the head uncov-
cred was essentially a Gentle one but
what of that2 No man who was gen
| tleman thought of entering the house of
a friend with covered head. This being
! the case how much the more should he
| uncover when addressing his Maker. Cut
toms that have outlived their usefulness
must die out, and this was one of them.
If he thought that it would benefit the
cause of Judaism TO keep his hat on in
the pulpit or in the congregation he would
| advocate il, but the custom was obsolete,
and at least $50 Hebrew congregations in
this country had discarded it.
| The speaker reached the climax when
he said that it had been serious OBJ
! lection TO his ministry that ne had dis
carded the gown and praying bands,
| which are worn by the orthodox rab-
| bis of the faith. This was not consider
! ed TO be priestly. To this he would reply
that a Jewish minister was not a priest.
| Any man possessed of sufficient education
| could address a Jewish congregation and
| the question of garments was not one To
be taken into consideration for moment
| Rabbi simply meant teacher. and as
such the minister of a congregation
should b elooked upon by his congrega-
ton.
Rabbi Stern then spoke of the new rlt-
ual which he had introduced. and defend
ed it by saying that the Hebrew tongue
formed an essential part of it, although
| parts of the service were in the English
| language in order to meet the require
ments of such members of the congrega-
| ton as We're not versed in the Hebrew
| language.
This ended one of the most remarkable
| and radical discourses which was, per-
| haps, ever delivered from a Hebrew pull
pit in this or any other city, and caused
| a genuine sensation among the more con-
servative members of the congregation
This afternoon will occur the most SOL
ernn ceremony of the Jewish Church, the
memorial service for the dead. The music
on that occasion viii be of the most sol
emn character, and. contrary to the usu-
al custom will be rendered exclusively
by the quartet of the Temple.