New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-29
promptly do the right thing by New-York ana
the whole country.
DIR. GOTTHEIEs SUCCESSOR.

According 70 recently printed reports 1t
seems probable that another popular pulpit IN
New.York will soon become vacant, and the
manner IN which IT will be filed may have an
effect on large part Of the community even
outside of the metropolis. The Rev. Or. Gus
tav Gottheil. it has been said. will give up his
active work in the Temple EMANUEL where
he has been In charge for little over twenty
five wears. and make room for younger man
md one who Is physically able TO attend TO
tho manifold duties OF the Office. The congre-
cation Is the one after which hundreds or
smaller ones fashion their course. and changes
In the ritual or service which the Temple
MEL might adopt would be quickly m-
tated DR. Gottheil represents the moderate re-
form class Of Judaism which had its origin In
the United States under the leadership OF the
Roy. Drs Isaac NJ Wise David Einhorn ana
Samuel Hirsch the main objects being to make
Judaism attractive to the rising generation, to
substitute English for Hebrew, to teach the
law rather than the letter. and to eliminate
from the ritual the features which were es-
sentally Oriental and out Of place in this coun-
try It was hard fight, and 1t took many
wears before some Jewish congregations would
consent 70 n change by which men and women
might sit I'm the same pew and not In separate
narts of the building II took long time also
70 introduce chOrs ard congregational singing.
and hundreds Of good and worthy men severed
their connections with congregations to when
they had contributed for years when the rule
was adopted that men must remove their hats
in the synagogue The adoption of the Eng
lish prayer-book doing away with the second
feast day and RELOCATING to the archives the
Oriental PRAYING scarf and other ritualistc
paraphernalia. were all slow and labored steps
which led to the Reformed Judaism as II Is
expounded now in the Temple Emanuel ana
mapy other houses Of worship in New-fork
and throughout the country.
While the reform movement was In progress
q now marty came TO the surface which went
many stems further than the original reformers.
They advocated the dsuse Of the Hebrew even
IN the few short prayers which are familiar 10
all Jews: they favored the abolition of the most
sacred rites and ceremonies, and pointed 10
tho observance of the holidays which had been
retained by the trainers Of the reform ritual
&c ridiculous and unworthy of observance III
the nineteenth century. They preached ration
olism morality. ethics humanity and many
other things but not Judaism. They advocated
the destruction Of the venerated landmarks
which generations of Jews had suffered 10
maintain. and finally argued In favor OF aboi-
ishinp the Jewish Sabbath and opening the
svnagogues converted by them into lecture
halls only on Sunday In the opinion or these
radicals. Judaism has accomplished its purpose,
and the next step should be to wipe out all
barriers which exist between the people OF the
ancient faith and other creeds. NO more llght-
ing the Sabbath lamp, no more confirHauoh Oh
the children no more repeating the Scheha
Yisroel no more rising TO praise the Loru III
the Kadisch for the dead. and no more OF an!
thing that the Jews have held dear ana sacred
| They evidently did not believe that the main
tenance Of the forms and ceremonies Whlch
they were doing away with were respohsiDie
for the survival OF Judaism, despite It's perse
cutors. or II they believed II, they thoueht
that the forms could be dispensed with pe-
cause Judaism had outlived itself. Iney proo-
ably doubted that the family love and harmony
which was source Of Jewish strength nj all
| times and under all circumstances was the re-
sult OF the very customs, usages ana cere
monies which they called 'oldfashioned ana
| "out of date.
The orthodox Jews looked upon the efforts OF
tho radicals with horror. but the reioriners OIL
tho Gottheil- X ohlcr Wise class kept their HOOKS
together and saw them Increase ana gro"
stranger Now one Of the leaders. full IN
wears and with glorious record Dchihd h'ih'
will retire and there Is talk OF hiiihg MS piaoe
with rabbi who has been conspcuousiy proni-
,nent In the ranks Of the radicals ana ior 'ha'
reason thinking Jews believe tha' hiasiiiu'"
rs many congregations will take their cue iroli'
the Temple Emanu-El the seiec'oh Vi ~
Gotthcirs successor may have msups ene''
| on Judaism in America.