Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-07-02
DISCUSS SABBATH
BY Those Whose Religion Sets
Apart the Seventh Day as
a Day of Rest.
REPORT OF A COMMISSION Is READ
Suggests a General National Council
of Jews-Referred Back to
the Commission.

Detroit, July 2.-The Sabbath ques-
tion, one of the most important mat
ters now before the Jewish people, was
taken up by the central conference
of American rabbis. Rabbi j. Noor-
sanger, of San Francisco, chairman of
the Sabbath committee, appointed at
the last meeting of the conference to
consider all phases of the Jewish Sab
bath and the question of changing it
from Sabbath to Sunday, presented
the report of the committee. The read
ing of the report was attended with
scenes that bordered ON the sensational
at times. Sharp comments. pungent
criticisms, and decided objection fol-
lowed the reading of each section, and
several times DR.. Voorsanger was in
terrupted by the critics of the report.
They Seek an Authoritative Council.
The commission, after Il most care
full consideration, decided that it had
no jurisdiction to recommend anything
in the nature of legislation looking
toward any change and declared that
the conference was incompetent to leg
islate any fundamental Jewish insti-
tuition out of existence. The commits
sion reported that a definition of the
religious authority that should regulate
the authority and discipline of the Jews
was paramount to any other question.
1t recommended the creation of a ra
tional conference composed of rabbiS
and laymen, constituting an authority
tionS might be referred. This plan is
in effect a scheme to consolidate the
conference of American rabbis and the
uni.n of American Hebrew congrega-
tions for the purpose of creating an
organic union between both bodies.
Change Would Not BE schismAtIc.
The commission also reported that
while historically it could not find any
argument to declare Il change from
Sabbath to Sunday schismatic it would
prefer to relegate so important a ques-
ton TO any future authority properly
constituted to decide it. Immediately
after the report was read the rabbis
went into executive session to consider
it. and announced that mt its close they
would issue a statement on the delib-
erations.
RabbIs and Congregations.
Before the Sabbath question was
taken up Rabbi d. Philipson presented
the report of the committee on "Rela-
ton between rabbi and congregation. ="
Rabbi PhilipSon recommended that
the trial sermon be abolished, except
in the case of the rabbinical tyro
about to take his first charge; that
rabbis should be engaged for an in
determinate term instead of for fixed
period. and that either congregation
or rabbi should have the privilege OF
terminating the engagement on six
months notice; that the rabbi should
be an honorary member of the board
of trustees of his congregation, with
the privilege of attending the board
meetings. and that there should be no
change of the ritual by either the rabbi
or board of trustees without the per-
mission of the other.
Real Matter That Is at Issue.
The matter was finally referred back
to the commission to report tomorrow.
The real issue before the commission
is not the abandonment Of the Sab
bath, but whether it would beschismat-
ic to hold services in the synagogue
on Sunday for those Jews who cannot
"a on tho Sabbath