Year: 1867

they have to be changed in order to sat
isfy the separations of the priesthood. As
we have read in the annals OF past years.
What man, however high, prominent and
influential his position, would have dar-
ed to denounce our public school system
as being deficient, of that standard Of
| genuine morality and common religion,


as we have heard it proclaimed in these
later weeks? What body of men would


have dreamed of proposing an amend


ment to our Constitution, by which sec


tartan principles xere going to be Snug
gled in the magma charta Of human and


universal liberty and equality What
Legislature then, would not have scorn-
ed, and not only rejected, a proposition,
as was made during the last session in
the Ohio Legislature, to divide the
school funds for sectarian purposes and
sectarian school systems? Would it
then have been thought possibility.
that the city of New York is actually
and ann naaliy taxed nearly 5000, 900 for
the benefit of sectarian institutions? I
was startled when 1 saw this fact an
nounced, during the past week, in the
New York Herald, and we all must see,
aud must confess, we must awake from
our lethaTgy; we must save the broad
and glorious foundation Of our Consti-
tuition, which rests on the uncompromis-
ing separation of the State from the
Church; yes, we must assert and reas.
sert, time and again, that while we Jews
will heartily join any efforts in that noble
and patriotic direction, that our religion
has nothing to do with such anti consti-
tutional movements.


We are satisfied with the letter Of the
Constitution as it reads; we are pleased
with the laws Of the S :ates, and claim no
favors and privileges for religious insti-
tutions. We are pleased with the sys
tenn pursued in our public schools, We
are the strongest advocates of the doc.
trines that the inner moral worth Of the
citizen must decide for his citizenship
on earth and in heaven; and that all
fanaticism, all bigotry, all church rule,
must be kept at bay by the sacped letter
and spirit Of the Constitution. We can
do it without reservation; for let it be
understood that this is spirit Of Judaism;
this the essence OF its doctines this the
meaning of its teachings; Love for all,
without preference for either sect or
church or denomination this is the plat
form Of our creed; this We reaffirm.
confirm and proclsim on this sacred
birthday of Judaism and, as we have
never surrendered this principle, so, we
shall keep, and guard, and stand up for
them all to the end of all times.


OF course this definition of Judaism
They think it is in the rear of advanc-
ing mankind; last outpost, forlorn
troop; while, rightly understood. it is
still the vanguard, still ready to adapt
itself to the spirit of the age and the
wants of the time. And, because the
world is ignorant Of this fact, hence it is
our duty to reassert and reproclaim it,
and put Judaism in its proper light be-
fore the noble hearted and free minded
American people.


And in this spirit, my brethren, We
have reared and instructed these con-
irmants who are now standing in your
midst to proclaim the doctrines they un
derstand, and they are willing to adhere
to. They have been taught to worship
God as the eternal source of universal
love, grace and mercy as the father Of
structed to consider religion as the
means of advancing a moral life among
all classes Of men, and not as the means
of severing brother from brother and
disseminating religious hatred and pre-
judice instead of fraternal love and for
bearance- They are willing to live up
to this doctrine, to adhere to their God
and their religion, bnt to stand with the
same obedience to the law of the coun-
try, to swear allegiance to the spirit of
the law, and to be true and faithful Is
raelites.


o. may Heavens best blessing be with
them in this solemn and sacred hour;
may the sympathy We show to them en-
courage them to persevere in this resolu-
ton; may they succeed in carrying out
these principles Of our religion, then
they will become an ornament to socie-
ty; good fathers and good mothers
themselves, an honor to their parents, .
credit to themselves, worthy representa-
tives of our religion. May this our
hope be realized and our prayers be
granted. Amen


A bit Of sharp practice has been going on =
Hudson W. A man contracted to purchase