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(Continued
from Vol. 1, issue 12.)
The
Sabbath morning service is commenced and continued according to the
Minhag Sephardim. The congregation make the responses as usual. Previous
to returning the Sepher, a prayer for the government is said in English.
After the Yimloch is said audibly and repeated, the reader pronounces
"Mizmor le David," the choir then sing the Psalm accompanied
with the organ, during which the congregation occasionally join. After
the law is put up, and the reader resumes his station at the desk, he
reads a selected hymn, or psalm, from a collection composed by talented
ladies and gentlemen of the congregation in some instances paraphrased
from those of David, &c. Then follows the delivery (when there is no
discourse) of an appropriate prayer. The service as usual is then
continued to the Ayn Kaylohenoo and Adon Olam, which are sung by the
choir with the organ. The benediction is pronounced by the reader as at
the conclusion of the evening service, and the congregation dismissed
with a voluntary on the organ. The above constitutes the present form
adopted by the Organ Congregation, as it is designated.
We
shall now revert to our special notice of the disputing portion of the
congregation styled "Remnants," who were seceders from Both
Elohim when the organ question was agitated and adopted, and who being
in the minority at that period, abandoned all their rights as members.
They are now united to a minority or dissenting party of the original
organ advocates; are more numerous than the organ party, and worship on
every alternate Sabbath in the new Synagogue where the organ is erected;
an arrangement made between the parties until the right of exclusive
possession shall be decided. Each party during
the intermediate Sabbath assemble in separate rooms fitted up for
public service. The Remnants, as they are significantly denominated, are
advocates for old forms, and ostensibly opposed to the organ
accompaniment during divine service, and are uncompromising in all
attempts to improve or abridge, particularly the abandonment of the
observance of the second of holy days. They are remarkable in their
regular attendance at Synagogue.
The
present or temporary reader is the Rev. Mr. Rosenfeldt. He is admitted
to be a gentleman of competency in Hebrew, biblical, and rabbinical
learning, and gives the promise of great proficiency at no distant
period. He pursues somewhat the forms and manner of the Rev. Mr.
Poznanski, and may be said very properly to be no inferior prototype.
The service in Synagogue is performed according to the Minhag Sephardim.
In contradistinction with the organ party, the Bamay Mawdlikin is not
omitted. The responses are made by the whole congregation audibly. The
tunes to the psalms are the same as with the other congregations, and
conducted by a well-instructed choir of gentlemen, the ladies chiming in
good harmony and with the members generally, producing a regular and
pleasing effect, far different to what it was formerly. The deportment
of both congregations is attentive and respectful, thereby maintaining
just claims to the consideration of the community in general.
In
addition to the service, the Rev. Mr. Rosenfeldt reads a prayer in
English for the government, and has recently commenced, what we
understand he contemplates continuing with, on every Sabbath, a
discourse or sermon also in the English language. His compositions, as
far as he has progressed, are considered plain and instructive. His
gratuitous services as reader to his congregation entitle him to
commendation, and doubtless from his present developments will at no
distant day obtain the preference.
A
consentient and correlative disposition prevails among this party to
further and respect the laws of Moses and the rabbinical institutions,
and they seem desirous to emulate the good cause of having their
children instructed in all that pertains to our sacred faith. They are
opposed to the use an organ during our service, but in other respects
they accord to their brethren in the opposition all that is calculated
to inspire and promote proper devotion. They are warm advocates for
regularity and moderation in offering up their prayers to God, are as
sincere as their co-religionists in the cause of enlightenment, and are
as anxious to sustain ancient institutions. Many are particularly
tenacious of their religious rights, and are as scrupulous in observing
certain ceremonials as their brethren elsewhere. The zeal now manifested
by both parties in the cause of our holy faith, contrasted with what it
was a few years since, bespeaks the highest commendation, and we hazard
nothing in adhering to our first position, that there is manifest change
and improvement in the religious observances of the Jews of this place
since the spirit of reformation has spread among them. May the Almighty,
whose matchless wisdom alone guides the destiny of our nation, look
graciously on the individual exertions of each party in the endeavour to
sustain his glory and establish his supremacy.
Observer.
Note.—The
above article came to us anonymously; but we think that we may freely
ascribe it to Dr. Jacob De La Motta, formerly President of the
"Remnant" congregation.—Ed. Oc.
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