The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-04
American Rabbis VIII Observe Fundamental Institution
 of Judaism
MUCH OBJECTION AROUSED
In a Lengthy Report the Sabbath Com mission States There Is No Hesi- tancy Whatever In It's Attitude.
 The Conference Adlourns.

Detroit Mich, July 3.-"This conference declares itself in favor of maintaining the historical Sabbath as a fundamental in- stitution of Judaism, and of exerting every effort to improve its observance and in- struct the executive committee to ap- point a special committee to study meth ods of carrying this into effect"
 The central conference of American rabbls placed itself on record on the Sab bath question today, after an eight-hour session by the adoption of the foregoing amendment to the report of the Sabbath committee on the question What is Our Attitude on the Sabbath Question:"
 officers were also elected this after noon and the conference adjourned sine die
 The Sabbath was taken up at the fore noon session after several committee re- norts had been disposed of and telegram ordered sent to President Roosevelt con graduating him on his decision to forward the recommendations of the Society or B'Nai BRith to the ezar and thanking him for 1t. Rabbi voorsanger of San Francisco, chairman of the commission, 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 follows;
 The Sabbath Report.
 sThe conference declares with no hesi- tancy whatever that its attitude towards the Sabbath must remain unaltered until a stronger view than its own shall de- mand a rigid Inquiry into the present 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- tions whatever, but are justified by all ritual precedent, daily divine services and instruction being a part of the religious discipline of the Jewish people
 .'Ths conference following Jewish pre- cedent of all ages, defines spiritual au- thority as a popular voice, interpreting and giving definite direction to the spirit ual wants of the people. This authority to be effective, must derive its integrity from the divine voice that speaks through man as regards its form, must consist of rabbis, and laymen competent to give direction to the expressed needs or the people and the changed aspects of It's dis cinllne. and. because of their delegated power competent to sanction, approve and execute Its own decrees.
 This conference decides 1t cannot find any other ethical interpretation of sab hath conduct than has hitherto prevail ed.
 No Element of Danger
 ..This conference decides that the trans of <I,of fo Sunday however much opposed by sentiment, presents to the student of history no element Of danger that the fundamental truths Of the soil darity of the people of Israel might pc distributed. At the same time tnis con ference feels that 1t has no right to make an authoritative decision as to the facts, but would prefer reference of this aii- important question to an authority as heretofore defined.
 Dr. Deutsch, member of the commit tee. submitted sub-report on the answer of inc commission to the latter ques- ton. He disagreed with the rest of the commission, holding that historical senti- ment was too strong to permit Of chang ing the Sabbath to Sunday.
 Dr. Sjlverman turned over the chair to the secretary and offered as substi- ute for the commissions reply to the first question, the statement that was adopted this evening viz: Favoring the mainten- ance Of the nlSLcTlCdl cdpDdlH.
 Heated Objection.
 This met heated objection. Rabbi voor- sanger passionately upheld the commis- sion's conclusion. 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. 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 cogni- zance of the theoretical observance of our Sabbath and the practical incongruity of it. I believe that we nave a perfect right to investigate the phenomena of the time, and we see how we can harmonize belief with practices. We owe to our con gregationsn more than a statement that the historical Sabbath is to remain as such Never mind telegrams that are sent by certain people. We are men of spirit, and we have a right to investigate.
 Rabbi Voorsanger then made plea for the creation of a legislative body of the Jewish church and the reference of this question to that body In conclusion he said:
 Tt will be stultihcation-pardon me If use strong terms-it will be stultlfca- tion If we again declare for the historical Sabbath when we know that we will not observe it,
 Vote Is Taken.
 When the vote was taken Dr. Silver mans amendment was adopted by ''ote of twenty-three to nine. Dr. Voorsanger, Dr. Pbiipson and several others who voted NO" wished to have it made clear that in so voting they were not opposed to the historical Sabbath, but were mere- lv uphoiding the commissions attitude on the question. Consideration of the rest os the Sabbath question was then post poned until next year.
 The following officers were elected:
 Honorary president, Dr. Kohler of New York president-elect of the Hebrew col lege at Cincinnati president. Joseph Krauskopf of Philadelphia; vice presi- dents, Joseph Stolz of Chicago, Dr. ). voorsanger of San Francisco; treasurer. Charles Levi of Peoria. Ill.,; correspond ing secretary, w. Rosenau of Baltimore; recording secretary. AdoIph Guttmaker of Doff