Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-21
RABBI WISE EU[0G|zED
Oscar Straus Panegyrist of
Great Hebrew Scholar.
MEMORIAL Is DEDICATED
Wide Influence on American Judaism
Attested by Secretary of Commerce.
JACOB H. SCHIFF ALSO SPEAKS
Union of American Hebrew Congre-
cations United in Special Serv-
ices in Philadelphia.
ACOB H. SCHIFF ALSO SPEAKS

PHILADELPHIA, January 2l.-Mem-
| hers of the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations united today I'm the dedica-
ton of a memorial window to Rabbi
| Isaac NJ. Wise at the Temple Israel.
Oscar S. Straus, Secretary of Commerce
| and Labor. made the principal address
at the unwilling exercises. and declared
that Isaac sWise's influence upon Ameri-
can JIda ism has been greater than that
of any one man. Jacob III. Schiff of New
York spoke of the influences Rabbi Wise
had eXerted on Hebrew scholastic devel-
| onment
The memorial window to the Hebrew
scholar was designed by Sir Moses
| Ezekiel.
Mr.. Straus' Eulogy.
Secretary Straus said:
Isaac NJ. Wise, rabbi. scholar, teacher
and reformer, came to this country in
the middle of the last century. From his
early youth his soul painted for free
America He derived his love for repub-
lican institutions from his study of the
Scriptures.
He knew as our Puritan founders
knew, who derived their inspiration from
the same sacred records, that the spirit
of freedom first embodied in the Hebrew
commonwealth lay at the basis OF our re-
publican Institutions.
His determined purpose was, in the
words of DIR. krauskopf, one of his most
brilliant and distinguished disciples, to
educate a ministry for American needs
a ministry not any less American because
Jewish, and not less Jewish because Amer
ican.' To carry out this purpose he found
ed the Hebrew Union College at Cincin-
natl, to which he devoted nearly fifty
years of his life until it's very close.
I'VE call those great who have given
their lives to some noble cause ana nave
thereby influenced for the better the course
of events. Today, from more than a hun
dred Jewish pulpits. American Judaism Is
|expounded by his disciples, the men who
have sat at his feet and received from his
lips the wisdom of his teachings.
Isaac M. Wise's influence upon Ameri-
can Judaism, while living and since his
death, has been greater than that of any
other one man.
Addresses on the life and influence of
DIR. Wise were made by DIR. Kaufman
Kohler, DR.. Louis Grossman of Cincinnati
and DR.. Joseph krauskopf OF this city.
Deny This Is Christian Land.
After a spirited debate on the question
of means to prevent sectarian teachings
and practices In the public schools, the
delegates to the twenty-f1rst council of
the Union of American Hebrew Congre-
cations passed resolution yesterday
appointing a committee to spread litera-
ture which shall take the position that
from a constitutional standpoint this is
not Christian country.
The report provoked argument over
section which stated that the question OF
"sectarian teachings in schools might
properly go through the courts, but that
high judicial authorities have pronounced
Obi SnhIacf
Christian cOuntry?
Several delegates objected to the section
on the ground that 1t might be construed
as reflection on the Supreme Court OF
the United States.
The section was finally amended so that
all reference to the courts was eliminated
and the resolution was passed.
Text of Resolution.
The resolution read:
THAT the Union Of American Hebrew
Congregations in council assembled pro-
tests enphatically against all such re-
ligious teaching and practices in the pub
lie schools
'"That it urges its constituent members
and appeals to all who are in sympathy
with the movement to jealousy guard in
their separate communities the secular
integrity Of our school system, and that
1t submits that success here. as in all
movements of this character. is effected
only by presenting united front.
THAT 1t suggests to its members for
purposes of educational campaign on
This subject the pamphlet of the Central
Conference of American Rabbis, why the
Bible Should Not be Read in the. Public
Schools
THAT inasmuch as men high in position
have declared it to be a Christian coun-
try and being convinced that this subject
Is the root subject and should be first
calculated, it recommends that this coun-
ell appoint committee to act In con-
junction on church and state of the Cen
trail Conference of American Rabb1s to-
ward the publication and wide distribu-
ton of literature which shall take the
stand and effectively hold by cogent and
convincing argument the position that
from a constitutional standpoint this is
not a Christian country.
The Zionist issue developed In the pro-
ceedings when resolution was offered
requesting the department Of immigration
to strike the word Hebrew" from the list
of questions put to immigrants regarding
their nationality.
Zionists Are Heard.
DR. Heller of New Orleans said that the
resolution was anti-Zionist in character.
inasmuch as the Jews were race. This
view was upheld by Rabbi ]. L.. Magnes
of Temple Emmanuel, in New York. Dis
cussion was still in progress when adj
journment was taken for the day.
Other questions affecting civic and re-
ligious matters were discussed by the
council and a resolution was passed con-
demning the evil results of child labor
Men of national prominence in Jewish
organizations were speakers last night 'on
"Israers Work in America" at exercises
at Rodeps Shalom Synagogue. Jacob l..