New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-13
URGE PEACE IN EMANUEL
Trustees to Keep Hands Off in
Controversy Over Ritual.
MAGNES NON-COMMiTTAL
Associate Rabbits Attack Upon
Reform Judaism Causes
Wide Comment.

It was stated yesterday that the board OF
trustees of Temple Emanu-El would pursue
a peace policy in an effort to end the con-
troversy in the congregation on account OF
the Passover sermon preached by the Rev
DR.. J. l. Magnes, associate rabbi with the
Rev. DR.. Joseph Silverman in which he
urged q halt in the modern reform OF
Judaism and a return to the more orthodox
doctrines and ritual of the Jewish Church
Such policy had been determined upon
it was said at the meeting of the board
Wednesday night, when the subject was
discussed, and il was decided not to take
sides in the matter and to urge upon mem
bers of the congregation not to do so.
DR.. Magnes himself remains in a quiet
position of hope and expectancy, and was
non-committal last night as to the possible
effect his plain criticism and charge OF
lack of faith might have upon hts future
relations with large part of the congre-
ton.
Temple he said, and 1 cannot discuss the
matter further at this time
He declined to comment upon the report
that he contemplated Withdrawing from
the Temple Emanuel and organizing a
would be less reformed Judaism" and more
ritual. He said he could not prophesy what
action might be taken by the congregation
at the annual meeting on May %, when the
matter is expected to have a final hearing
At that meeting two rabbits for the coming
year will be elected.
Members of the board of trustees were
generally non-committal yesterday as to
he
protracted meeting Wednesday night
Louis Marshall, honorary secretary of TIE
board. said he did not expect that DR..
Magnes's sermon would create any serious
factionaI feeling among the congregation.
There was nothing in the sermon to AFFECT
seriously the peace and harmony Of the
congregation he said, and like many
other frank discourses from the pulpit fl
would naturally be received with whole
some divergence of opinion by the hearers.
A prominent member of the congregation
who is not on the board Of trustees, said
yesterday that II some matters, as dio
many other members, he agreed with Dr.
Magnes. 1T was a startling sermon, he
said. and while no serious differences ap-
pear to have arisen on account Of Dr
Magnes's remarks. il has nevertheless led
believe that. entirely outside of ritualistic
matters, some of the forms discarded by
the reformed church could be retained with
out affecting the spirit Of democracy which
prevails under our more modern institu-
tions One of the principles Of Judaism
is that man is a free agent. entitled to
entertain and express his own opinions and
to hear opinions expressed by others. We
hal4a1-a in FORMS as -hAv lend dignity and
respect to ceremony everywhere, but not to
the extent that they become ritualistic. I
should like to see the robe worn in the
pulpit, and other forms observed which
have been abandoned apparently in a mis-
guided spirit of democracy. One of the
faults of so-called modern democracy is
that il tends to disregard some Of the
beauties of the past"
The Temple Emanuel is the leading re-
form congregation, and one Of the wealth
lest in this country. It's board OF trustees
is made up Of men high in finance and
philanthrophy in the community. The ser
mon which the junior rabbi, DR.. Magnes,
preached on April a was referred to in
some of the Jewish publications as re
markabe" and one such paper stated that
1T may be considered the first full public
expression of the spirit that inspires the
new party In Judaism that is dissatisfied
with the results OF reform Judaism upon
Jewish children, youth and adults alike"
The whole spirit of the young rabbits dis
course was a frank appeal TO retntroduce
some Of the discarded forms and cere-
monies which were cast aside by the re-
form movement. He told the congregation
that true Judaism was in process of decay
under the present regime.