The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07

MED that the very large mass OF educated
Jews I'm this country, in so far they
have any affliation with the synagogue
belong to the Reform wing. But at the
same time. it must not be forgotten that
there is a very large body of orthodox
and conservative Jews. whose number has
been greatly increased during the last
twenty years through the influx OF Rus
sian. Galician. and Roumanian Jews. 1t
would be outside of my province were
to attempt to criticise either the work or
the results of Reform Judaism in this
, country But it is a question in the minds
even of some of the leading Reformers
themselves how far success has been at
tanned in developing the religious senti-
ment of their people in the direction of
a pure Theism uncolored by any Jewish
or as they call it, Oriental observancos.
They themselves confess that the Sunday
service movement has not developed as
they had hoped it would, and a number
of them feel that in weakening the hold
which specific Jewish observances have
always had on the Jewish peoule, they
are doing away with one Of the most
powerful incentives to the reminding of
the religious flame among the Reformed
Jews
Reform Judaism without some centrif-
ugal force is bound to continue on the
road it has once taken. The logical out
come of the principles formula ted at the
Pittsburg conference is gradual de-
velopment into an ethical Theism with
out any distinctive Jewish coloring. The
leader of advanced Reform Judaism in
this country has recently said that Juda-
ism must be recast along the lines Of
universal ethical religion; that then all
distinctive Jewish elements OF the syna-
gogue symbolism will pass away, and that
such a denationalized Jewish temple will
seek a closer alliance with Cnitarianism
and Theism. and with them, perhaps IN
a few decades, will form a new church
and a new religion for united humanity.
hat such a tendency is inherent in Re
form Judaism is seen also in the forma-
ton of the Society of Ethical Culture in
New York. The leader of this movement
is the son Of former prominent rabbi
of the leading Reform congregation in
this country. In seeking to bring out
the underlying ethical principles of Jul
daism. he has gone entirely outside the
pale of the ancient faith. and the move
ment would not concern US here were it
not that nearly all the members (at least
of the parent society in New York; are
Jews, whose evident desire it is not to
be recognized as such. at least SO far as
religious ceremonies and social affilia-
lions are concerned. The society does
does not even bear the name Jewish. but
with a certain leaning toward liberal
Christianity tries to find a basis for the
morality and ethics of the old synagogue
outside the sphere of supernatural relig-
ion. While the Ethical Culture Society
has been quite power in certain lines of
charitable and educational work. it may
reasonably be questioned whether it has
any future a form of church organi-
cation. The Unborn longing of man for
some hold upon things which are super
natural will lead many of its members to
will seek it in the Jewish synagogue is
hardly probable. seeing how the racial
and other ties have been broken or at
least greatly Ioosened They or their
children will glide rather into some form
of the dominant church, possibly. in the
swinging Of the pendulum. into some or
thodoX form of that church | cannot
help quoting the words of an intelligent
outside observer of the Jewish question
the Right Hon. James Bryce Member of
Parliament: If Judaism becomes mere
ly Theism, there will be little to distin-