The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-04
FOR SABBATH
 OF JUDAISM Conference of RabbiS De-
 clareS Itself. THE SESSION AT DETROIT A Telegram Sent to President
 Roosevelt.
Chief Executive Congratulated on His Determination to Forward the Petition of the B'Nai B'Rith
 to St. Petersburg.

nistorlcal SaDDatn 8S a IunuhmeutAl tn- stitution of Judaism and of exerting ev- cry effort to improve its observance. and instructs the Executive Committee to app point special committee to study meth ods of carrying this into effect''
 The Central Conference of American Rabbis placed itself on record on the Sabbath question today, after an eight hour session by the adopting of the fore going amendment to the report of the Sabbath Commission on the question:: What is our attitude on the Sabbath question?'
 Officers were also elected this after noon and all business transacted and the conference adjourned sine die.
 The Sabbath was taken up at the fore noon session after several committee re- ports had been disposed of and tele- gram ordered sent to President Roose- welt congratulating him on his decision to forward recommendations of the soci- ety of BNai Earth to the Czar and thanking him for 1t.
 The Substitute Report.
 Rabbi Voorsanger of San Francisco Chairman of the Committee, introduced the Commissions substitute report, which the conference ordered last Wednesday after the first report had been declared too long and not positive enough. The report was as folioYs:
 ''The conference declares with no hesi- tancy whatever that It's attitude towards the Sabbath must remain unaltered un- til a stronger view than its own shall disorder and the incongruity presented by theoretical profession and practical viola tions of the day of rest.
 "This conference resolves that Sunday services having the character of week day services. present no ritual objec- ritual precedent. daily divine services and instruction being part of the religious discipline of the Jewish people.
 This conference. following Jewish precedent of all ages. defines spiritual au- thortty as a popular voice. interpreting and giving definite direction to the spe- cial wants of the people. This policy to be effective must derive it's integrity for the Divine voice that speaks through man as regards it's form, must consist of Rab- bis, and laymen competent to give direc- ton to the expressed needs of the people and the changed aspects of its discipline, and. because of their delegates power. competent to sanction, approve and exc cute it's decrees.
 This conference decides it cannot find any other ethical interpretation of Sab bath conduct than has hitherto prevailed.
 Transfer to Sunday.
 This conference decides that the trans fer of Sabbath to Sunday. however much opposed by sentiment, presents to the student of history no element of danger that the fundamental truths of the soli- darity of the people of Israel might be disturbed. At the same time this confer ence feels that 1t has no right to make an authoritative declaration as to the facts but would prefer reference of this all l-important question to an authority as heretofore defined"
 Dr. Deutsch. member of the commits sion, submitted a substitute report on the answer of the commission to the latter question. He disagreed with the rest of the commission. holding that historical sentiment was too strong to permit oS changing the Sabbath to Sunday.
 Dr. Silverman turned over the chair to the secretary and offered as a substitute for the commissions reply to the first question the statement that that was adopted this afternoon. favoring the maintenance of the historical Sabbath.
 This met heated objections. Rabbi Voorsanger passionately upheld the com missions conclusions. We are not afraid of the Ghetto Jews." he declared in ring ing tones. and we must recognize that there are waves of thought among the Jewish people at present that we must take cognizance of"
 Will Not Lie Down.
 we are not going to lie down supinely. We owe to the world a declaration that while We stand by the historical Sabbath, we still take cognizance of the theoretical observance of our Sabbath and the prac- tical incongruity of it. believe that we have a perfect right to investigate the Tb af 10 lime and how we can harmonize belief with practices. We owe to our congregations more than a statement that the historical Sabbath Is to remain as such. Never mind tele- grams that are sent by certain people We are men of spirit and we have right to investigate"
 Rabbi Voorsapger then made a plea for the creation of an executive body of the Jewish church and the reference of this question to that body. In conclusion he said:
 Tt will be stultification. pardon me if I seem to use strong terms, it will be qualification if We again declare for the historical Sabbath when we know that we will not observe it."
 When the vote was taken, Dr. Silver mans amendment was adopted-23 to 9. Dr. Voorsanger Dr. Philipson and sew eraI others who voted no wished to have 1t made clear that in so voting they were not opposed to the historical Sabbath, but were merely upholding the commits sIons attitude on the question. Con- sideration of the rest of the Sabbath com missions report was then postponed until next year
 The following officials were elected: Honorary President. Dr, Kohler of New York President-elect of the Hebrew College at Cincinnati; President. Joseph Krauskopf. Philadelphia; Vice-Presldents, Joseph Stolz. Chicago; Dr. J. Voorsan- ger, San Francisco; Treasurer. Charles Levi, Peoria. Ills; Corresponding Secre- tary. w. Rosenau, Baltimore; Recording Secretary, Adolph Guttmaker. Baltimore.
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