The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-16
jewish HISTORY AT
SUMNER CHAUGAUQUA
Rabbi Levy Lectures on
Abraham'S Period.
TOWER OF BABEL BUILDERS
Evolution Of MOnOtheism Out Of Poly
theism-Two Sessions of Assem- bly,
at Atlantic City-Miss JULIA Risarnan
on "The Teachers Problems"

ATLANTIC CITY. July 16-Rabhi Cliff
ton = Levy, of New York. was the
+ lecturer at last nights session Of the
Jewish ChautauquG's Summer Assembly.
His paper was on ''BabyIonia in the
Time OF Abraham 50
Rabbi Levy said Ur-Kisdiu. the birth
place Of Abraham, was probably the
chief city of Southern BabyIonia. Uru
being the Assyrian word for city. The
time OF Abraham was 20S3 A. NJ, accord
ing to the chronology Of Archbishop Us
sher.
Il IS known now from inscriptions
which have been deciphered that in The
year 22S0 B. c. the land OF Chaldea was
invaded by the Elamite King. Kudur-
NankhEndi, and it is possible that in
this Eiamite invasion lay the actual
cause Of the emigration of Abraham
from the city Of Ur. Harar. to which
place Abraham went from Ur, is some
see miles northwest Of Ut, on the banks
Of the River BeIich, a tributary of the
Euphrates- Only some ruins and mounds
now mark this spot
The Babylonians OF Abraham's axe
were Semites. and their language was
as much like Caananitish or Hebrew as
Italian is like Spanish. IN the wonder
fUl library Of Assurbamapal. found at
Nineveh by Layard and George Smith.
it is stated, especially in the deluge tab
lets, that they were copied from a later
version in the temple of Nebo, at what
is now called Bi-s Nimrond, OF the Tow
er of Babel
The Toxra- of R,L.J
The inscriptions refer to the fact that
the tower was begun by one king and
completed by another. Nebo. as the
God Of Learning. was the patron deity
OF this tower Of Bel, and the fact that
here was situated the learning priestIy
college OF Babylon, in which all ths Ian
guages were taught, is q possible sx-
PLANTATION Of the legend of the confession
OF tongues.
The conception which we have OF the
monotheism of Abraham must be based
upon the elimination By him of the
other gods in favor OF the worship Of
the one. The study OF the ancient re-
Hgions may upset many Of our theories
as 10 the origin OF Judaism, removing
altogether the miraculous idea Of sub
stituting therefor a more scientific con-
ception OF the evolution Of monotheism
out OF polytheism
The discussion Of school room prob
lens from the practical standpoint of
the teacher occupied the greater part
Of the morning session Miss Julia
Richman, Of New York, presenting a pa
per on this topic in the educational
course
Miss Richman divided her subject into
a consideration of the physical, the ad-
ministTative and the purely pedagogic
aspects Of Sunday school work, discuss
ing under the head of physical features
the proper equipment, lighting. furni-
ture. and sanitation OF the school room
Under administrative were taken UP the
qualifications OF school trustees. princ!-
pal OF superintendent. and Of the teach
ct, the proper size of classes, the cur
riculum and standards for the advance
ment Of pupils.
Personality of the Teacher.
Under pedagogics Miss Rienman con
sidered the personality Of the teacher,
her understanding Of her task and her
preparation for her work The mistakes
made in teaching were pointed out to
be the considering OF knowledge as more
important thar the child and the pIac-
ing Of scholarship above character
Close friendly citations should Be estab-
lished with eash child. as we'll as
friendly personal relations with the par
ent- IN speaking OF discipline. Miss
RichmaE referred to the mistake OF
giving orders instead of developing
sense Of right, and warned against the
use Of threats. promises, ridicule and
rigid marking system.
Good manners should be fnculcated,
and fault finding with the class for
shortcomings of the individual and the
use Of harsh impatient tones avoided
The development Of self-cOntroI In the
child was shown TO be OF important
value in teaching. The child should be
made TO do right, not because 1t was
told 10 do so by the teacher. but because
it was right TO do so.
Discussion Of Miss Richman's Paper.
The Rev DR.. X KohIer. of New York.
in expressing the thanks of the assem-
bly, to Miss RIchman, said that she had
given expression to the best that was
IN all their hearts. He felt that parad-
ing and displaying the children on hoH-
days instilied vanity. Examinations.
too, he believed to be injurious. Condi-
lions which existed in large congrega-
lions compelled departure from many
Of the excellent rules suggested While
he agreed that character building was
essential, as the moral side, religious
convictions must also be inculcated.
Others who spoke on the subject were
Mrs. Kohler, OF New York; Miss Addie
Rosenberg, Of Cleveland, Ohio: Mrs.
Weinberg and Mrs. Strauss. Of BaIti-
more; Mrs S. Belle Cohn and Miss Car
RE Kuhn. of Philadelphia: / Sulzoerger,
bf New York, and Dr.. JudeIsohn. of
Brooklyn.
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