The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-28
ACTIVITY AMONG
 JEWISH LEADERS
pr. Newf1eId Reviews Work of
 St. Louis Convention
M MEMORlAL ENDOWMENT l
Progress Made In Securing subscrlp- tlons for the Hebrew College In Honor of the Late Or.
 |. M. Wise.

The eighteenth biennial convention of the Union of Hebrew congregations held In St. Louis last week, was said Rabbi Newfield. who has recently returned home, the best attended convention since 1873 when that body was organized in the city of Cincinnati And 1t was not only noteworthy in point of attendance, but also on account of important action; therefore, 1t may be called the most im- portant convention yet held.
 There were delegates present represent ing Jewish congregations from all sections of the country.
 Memorial Endowment.
 The main point discussed was the Isaac M. Wise memorial endowment fund. Tt was regrettable." the rabbi said, that all subcommittee did not report to the een- tral national committee in time to get a complete statement of all the collections made to date. Even our own sub committee in charge of the collections ir the southern states had failed to make their report complete. The amount sub scribed and collected in the city of Bir- mingham was in the neighborhood oi sl50O. On the floor of the convention however, these not officially reported amounts were made part of the re- cords.''
 The printed statement of the national endowment committee reported to date of December S1, 1902, showed that s16000O was in hand with some s12,Oo0 subscribed and still uncollected. In addition to those amount is the magnificent gift of s1oo 900 by Jacob H. Schiff of New York.
 On the floor of the convention seven delegates pledged themselves to give Slo,- GOO each. Bearing in mind all these facts, also that the eastern states, the western and Pacific communities have not yet been canvassed, there is hardly any doubt but that the half million dollars will be raised within short time.
 BIrmIngham's Share.
 ''The city of Birmingham has certainly done it's full share" said the rabbi, and it was so acknowledged by the central committee, although still few more contributions are expected from us, in- asmuch as there are some of the mem bers of Temple Emanuel, who have as yet not contributed.
 "The sentiment prevailing at the con- ventlon was that this memorial endow- ment was to be a monument to all the Jews of America, especially to the middle and less wealthy class--a sort of popu- lar fund. as a token of the undyine esteem in which the sainted pr. Wise Is held by all Jews of America.
 Tn connection with this endowment the work of the Hebrew Union college. the pet child of the union, came in for a great deal of well-dese:ved praise. Its alumni, now holding over 90 prominent pulpits throughout this land, are living testimonials to the college at Cincinnati.
 ''The presidency of the college, it was declared at the convention, would soon be filled by the selection of one of the most learned scholars in America"
 Other Work.
 In addition to the endowment question the convention considered and adopted a number of resolutions tending to strength en Judaism in America.
 It was reported that the union now has 115 congregations on its membership roll, with total of some 10000 contributing members in these congregations
 It is estimated that this means at least 10000 belonging to the union. An effort Is to be made to enlist the cooperation of all the unaffiliated throughout the various congregations, this problem of the un- affiliated being of special importance in large cities where young men and even married men often fail to join congrega- tions. While we in Birmingham, added pr. Newfield, scarcely have any such problem, still we, too, are widely inter- ested in this missionary work, intended to reach the large number of those who neglect to affiliate with our congrega- tional activities. The question of circuit preaching in small communities that have no minister and frequently no congrega- tlon or even Sabbath school, was grayely considered. According to resolutions adopted, steps will at once be taken to properly remedy the deplorable condi- tions existing In Jewish circles of smaller cities.
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