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Mr.
Editor,
We
can scarcely recall to mind a more pleasing and edifying exhibition than
that we witnessed at the examination of the pupils of the above school,
on Sunday, the 4th May. The nature and objects of the institution are
clearly set forth in its name. It has been founded but one year, when
those who avowed orthodox principles, and were opposed to the
innovations established in the congregation “Beth Elohim,” withdrew from that body and
established this society; and it dates its origin from that
circumstance, as well as from the benignant power of woman’s
influence. Women have caused all revolutions. The Peloponnesian war was
produced by Aspasia; Helen caused the famous Trojan war; and we have
here in this city the daughters of Israel waging an interminable war
against immorality and irreligion, by imbuing the tender minds of our
youth with a knowledge of our ancient faith and a practice of its divine
precepts. We begin to feel and recognise the true social position of
woman; and the existence of this institution has so beautifully
developed her latent resources, her zeal and perseverance, that with a
heart gushing with grateful emotions (as a parent of one of the pupils), we exclaim, “Powerful and beautiful is thy
influence, O woman!” To stand forth as the champion of religion and
morality, is her appropriate sphere. No aim or object can be more noble
or more worthy of an enlightened Jewish
female, than that which seeks to advance the character of Israel by
inculcating those lessons of wisdom and piety, which, like charity,
extend beyond the grave into the boundless realms of eternity. By early
instilling into the mind religious truths, the effect is most happy, the
influence most salutary. It prepossesses the soul, and thus banishes
vicious principles. It is the basis on which rests the chaste and
beautiful superstructure of moral character, which cannot easily be
undermined. Early religious instruction sinks deep into the mind; and
thus becomes incorporated
with our very nature; and in after life vice assails in vain. The soul
imbued with vital religion is impervious to its insidious and baneful
attacks. Let a child remain ignorant of its duty to God and of the holy
precepts of religion, and its moral nature becomes tinged with vice,
depravity, and crime, which only await the occasion to develope their
blighting and devastating power. But we have wandered from our original
purpose, for our thoughts throng thick when we dwell on such a pleasing
topic.
A
very numerous assemblage, composed of the parents and friends of the
pupils, the fair, dark-eyed daughters of Israel, and several of our
Christian friends, filled the spacious room of the Masonic Hall. As we
gazed on the smiling, joyous looks of the children, the anxious hopes
pictured in the faces of their parents, or turned to the teachers, whose
modest deportment and timidity bespoke the intensity of their emotions,
we could not refrain from thanking God that such a school had been
established amongst us. The President’s desk glittered with a rich
array of premiums, to be awarded to the most diligent, and on it were
placed tasteful and rare bouquets of flowers, the offerings of those
innocent beings whose hearts had been made joyous and happy under her
teachings. The coup d’oeil was both imposing and affecting, and
must have gladdened the hearts of all who saw it. The children who were
present numbered about fifty-five, from the age of four to fifteen
years; several being absent from the city, and indisposed. The exercises
were commenced by twenty of the pupils singing “Ane Kaylehaynoo,”
in a beautiful and feeling manner, their voices blending in harmonious
unison; and while the sweet melody of infant voices filled the spacious
hall and rose on high, our heart joined with them in the acknowledgment,
“There is none like our God—there is none like our Lord.” When the
hymn was concluded, the Rev. Mr. Rosenfeld offered the following prayer
to the throne of Divine Grace:
Almighty God, Sovereign of the Universe! Thou who
penetratest the most secret recesses of the heart, and before whose
omniscience nothing can be hidden; Thou who understandest the lisping of
innocent children, and who art the Protector of the faithful and good:
behold us standing in thy divine presence, to hear the truths of thy
holy religion pronounced by the lips of innocent beings who are taught to glorify thy holy name. Oh! our Father, we feel
overwhelmed by thy infinite goodness and mercy, which Thou lavishest
daily upon us; and our hearts overflow with emotions and thanks for thy
fatherly protection, which Thou so mercifully bestowest upon us. Where
is the human tongue that can praise Thee?—where the human heart that
can conceive Thee?—and where is the human mind that can comprehend
Thee fully, oh! Almighty God? If we consider this, oh, merciful Father,
then we feel our nothingness; then we prostrate ourselves before Thee,
and humbly acknowledge our insignificance. We pray Thee, oh Father, to
look down graciously upon us, and upon these innocent beings who are
trained up in thy divine precepts. Be Thou with them in thy attributes
of mercy, and compassion. Guide them with thy infinite wisdom; protect
them from the snares of vice and destruction; and cause them to brow up
to be lights in Israel and supporters of thy holy religion. We invoke
thy heavenly blessings upon the founders and teachers of this noble
institution: may they be blessed with patience and perseverance, and may
they continue successfully in their holy labours which they have
commenced in thy name. Oh, Lord! mayest Thou reward them with
contentment and happiness, and be Thou their Guide in thy unfathomable
wisdom, and assist them in the arduous task which they have undertaken
for the promotion of thy holy cause. Pour out thy divine blessing upon
the members of this society: may their efforts be crowned with the
happiest results, and may they reap the fruit of their endeavours in the
prosperity of this institution, and in the happy state of our community
that will originate from it. Bless, oh, Lord! this assembly, and all
those who take an interest in the promulgation of thy
Word.—Amen.—Hallelujah!
Miss
Henrietta Hart, the President of the institution, then read the
following Report; and her timidity and retiring modesty (so lovely a
trait in woman’s character) consequent upon a first essay before an
audience, impressed us with the belief that she deeply felt what she
uttered; for when she concluded (in a voice tremulous from emotion) the
ardent and sincere prayer, tears gushing from the depths of a feeling
heart choked her utterance. We cannot allow this opportunity to pass,
without awarding to this lady the sincere meed of our approbation, for
the zeal, energy, and unwavering perseverance she has exercised in
behalf of this institution (of which she can proudly claim to be one of
the founders), as well as the distinguished manner in which she has
presided over it for the past year. It would be a useless task to employ
the pen of panegyric in her behalf, when the joyful emotions of her own heart, and the “still small voice,” have already
assured her that she has nobly performed her duty.
“I
rejoice that this occasion affords me the privilege of congratulating
the members of this invaluable institution on the encouraging results
which the past year has produced; results which will not only be
exhibited to you in the examination of our pupils to-day, but will, I
trust, be of incalculable value to them in their future intercourse with
the world, testing the enduring advantages of early religious
instruction. The lessons here taught are calculated to inspire them with
a love for their Creator, and a desire to fulfil his holy commands. What
better instruction, mothers and fathers of Israel, could be afforded to
your children? The seeds of religious instruction, sown in youth, bud
and bloom in maturer years, and yield undying fruit in the life to come.
‘Train up a child in the way he should go,’ (says our Royal
Moralist,) ‘and in his old age he will not depart from it.’ Yes, the
most proper season for acquiring the spirit of religion, and planting
the germ of devotion and piety, is in early life. Lessons of religious
truth then sink deep into the mind, and time cannot obliterate,
circumstances cannot efface them. It is therefore with a heart
overflowing with gratitude, that I offer my sincere thanks to our
All-merciful Father, for his goodness and mercy in thus far prospering
our efforts; and I fervently implore his gracious Providence, that he
may still keep his protecting arm over our institution, and so imbue our
minds with the spirit of our holy religion, that we may implant
ineffaceable lessons of wisdom in those tender minds confided to our
care.
“I take the greatest pleasure in bearing testimony to
the industry and zeal which have characterized the conduct of the
teachers, as well as the application and correct deportment of the
children. Each and all have rendered the most efficient aid in carrying
out our system of instruction; and it will not, I trust, be deemed
irrelevant to this occasion to award them the just praise due their
conduct.
“Permit
me to suggest to your consideration the propriety of establishing a
Library, consisting of works on our national history, for the
instruction of our elder pupils, and of lighter and instructive works of
a moral and religious character, which would render them highly
attractive to the more juvenile classes. In connexion with this subject,
I beg leave to state that there has lately been established in
Philadelphia a society whose purpose is to disseminate books of this
character, calculated to impress upon the minds of the rising generation
the truths of our religion. The Rev. Mr. Leeser, who is at the head of
this great movement, is desirous of procuring auxiliary societies to
unite with that in Philadelphia. The congregation of Richmond has
united, and both sexes of our people there have contributed a small
amount per annum, for which the members will receive a copy of each work
published. I respectfully suggest this matter to the earnest
consideration of our society.
“In
accordance with the 4th article of the Constitution, which invests the
President with the entire direction of the discipline of the school, and
with the power of rewarding the diligent, I had, on the very first day
of my introduction into office, laid down certain rules, to the
observance of which I intended most strictly to adhere, so that I might
be ably to preserve an even-handed Justice in the distribution of prizes
to the pupils. The rule therefore that I adopted to attain this
desirable end was, that each pupil, on the recitation of a perfect
lesson, should receive a ticket, as a voucher for the same;—twelve of
these entitling the possessor to a trifling prize at each quarterly
examination, or four times this number to a more important one at the
anniversary. This explanation I think due to those to whom no prizes
will be awarded to-day, having already availed themselves of the reward
due their diligence. To Master Jefferson Tobias will be awarded the
highest prize.
“In
conclusion, allow me to express the sincere wish that your children’s
future lives may beautifully illustrate the lessons of their
youth;—that the three great precepts of our Holy Law—duty to their
God, their neighbour, and themselves—may be the unerring rule and
guide by which all their actions shall be regulated. May they ever stand
forth as champions of our holy faith, and practically demonstrate our
ancient usages and customs; and may this prayer be heard by the Father
of the faithful, our Creator and Judge, the Preserver unto this day of
his scattered though not forsaken Israel.”
The children were then thoroughly examined in Pyke’s
Scriptural Lessons, Cahen’s Catechism, Peixotto’s Bible Questions,
Henry’s Class Book, and Johlson’s Catechism. They were divided into
eight classes; and we noticed, as a new and improving feature, that the
geographical location and topography of each country and city were
correctly given, thus familiarizing the minds of the children with the
countries which were once our rich inheritance, which were forfeited by
our disobedience and sin. They spoke as familiarly of Egypt, the land of
our suffering and slavery, as if they were describing the locality of
our own city. In simple yet eloquent language, they led us along the
arid desert of Sinai, and accurately described its sacred mount, from
which God, amid thunder and lightning, gave the Law. We travelled with
them through Babylon, and listened with rapture to their description of
the Assyrian monarch, with his pampered luxuriant appetites. By
Babel’s stream we sat with them, and heard again the plaintive notes
of out captive bards. The prattling of childish innocence lisping “
‘Twas God who made my infant frame;” the explanation of our law, its
precepts and commandments; and the reasons assigned for our sacred
observances, must have sunk deep into the heart of each auditor, as it
did in ours. The members of each class acquitted themselves with great
credit; and where all did well; it would be invidious to particularize.
Miss
Hart adopted the original and novel plan of requiring the most competent
of the pupils to recite some appropriate piece at each quarterly
examination, correctly thinking that it would strengthen their minds,
add grace to their actions, and also destroy the monotony of the annual
examination. In this she most happily succeeded. After the examination
of each class, one of its members edified and delighted the audience
(who could not restrain their plaudits) with a recitation. These pieces
were so appropriate to the occasion, and the enunciation of each so
clear, their gesticulation so chaste and impressive, that we cannot
withhold giving the names of the youthful orators, as a
testimonial of our approbation and delight.
1.
Miss Rosannah Moses.—“The Parting between Rebecca and
Jacob.”
2. Master Carson Joseph.—Hebrew Melody: “Oh! weep for those
that wept by Babel's stream.”
3. Miss Miriam Levin.—“An Infant's Prayer.”—Original.
4. Master Joseph Cohen.—“The Return of the Israelites to
their ancient inheritances.”
5. Miss Sarah Moses.—“The
Rainbow.”—From the Occident.
6. Master Hertz Valentine.—“The Martyrs of Damascus.”
7. Miss Hannah Hyams.—“The Child of Mercy.”—A Talmudic
Allegory.
8. Master Liza Joseph.—“A
Vision of Jerusalem.”—By Miss Aguilar.
The
distribution of prizes was then made; and among the beautiful volumes
which graced the table of the President, we noticed with much pleasure
several copies of “Caleb Asher,” richly bound, republished by the
Jewish Publication Society of Philadelphia. We wish the society may
prosper and flourish, and trust that the hint thrown out by Miss Hart
may be speedily acted on.
The
Rev. Mr. Rosenfeld then delivered a very appropriate address; his
subject those well known verses of King Solomon, “Teach a child in the
way that he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from
it.” This gentleman possesses an acute penetration; his inferences are
clear, and his analysis close; added to which, he is an excellent
classical scholar. He pictured in bold colouring the evils that spring from irreligion, in its
effect upon the ultimate destinies of man. He has little of the proud
flash of words, but he has a sense, a sinew and muscle, and a compass
and power of thought, that few could equal and none surpass in the time
he has occupied in studying our language. When this gentleman arrived
here, three years since, he was totally unacquainted with the English
language. We regret that we cannot procure his discourse at this time, but trust that it
will grace some future number of your valuable journal.
The
exercises of the Society were then closed by the pupils singing the English version of “Adone Gnolam,”
which was effective and impressive; and I rejoice to add, a very
handsome subscription was realized.
The
public exhibition of this school has made us feel that a crisis has
arrived in the history of our people here. They have awakened from the
moral slumber that enveloped them. Those who examine closely, can see
plainly the features of a moving object; and these minute
workings on the surface are not to be unobserved or disregarded. We who
are passing away may remain inert and inactive, with our dearest
interests at stake. Such is the anomalous constitution of our nature,
active to ill, and sleepless in the pursuit of gain; but tardy and
slothful in entering the contest, the prize of which is the happiness of
our immortal souls. But the future opens brightly to
the view, and to
the rising generation, to those
who are weekly imbibing the moral and religious precepts taught in this
and similar schools, must we look for a practical illustration of the
commandments and customs of our holy religion. Let the same zeal
characterize the teachers, the same wise and salutary lessons be taught
the children, and nothing will resist their forcible and most certain
onward march in becoming the bright examples to Israel in the practice
of the observances instituted by the Most High through Moses our
inspired lawgiver. Our religion will then become the great moral and
moving principle; and he who will expect to resist its progress will be
as insane as he who attempts to dam up and intercept the course of a
mighty, strong, yet gently flowing river. “Example is like
statuary; it is sculptured into form—it is reality.” The eye
dwells upon it; the memory recalls it; the imagination broods over it;
its influence enters the soul. God grant that it may prove thus with the
rising generation. Our heart glows with new animation while we dwell
upon this joyful event; and to the President, teachers, and members of
this noble institution, we say, Go on—God will speed your good
work—your zeal and perseverance will command success.
Charleston, 5th May, 1845. |
