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New York.—We learn
that in the case of the Elm Street Congregation, New York, the Supreme
Court of the state has decided in favour of the claimants to membership,
to be entitled to all the rights of electors; thereby sustaining the claim
upon which the present occupants of the building insisted in the unhappy
dispute so lately prevailing. We have been promised the opinion of the
court, which we will give, if obtained, in our next number. Since now
there is nothing doctrinal in the contest, as it was merely one for power,
we hope that the feelings of friendship which in some instances have been
interrupted, will be speedily resumed; that the various parties may prove
by their conduct that they contended merely for right in the abstract, not
for the honour of ruling over others; and that, since a separation has
taken place, both divisions will reach each other the helping hand to
carry out any useful measures for the public good which may be proposed
from any quarter.
Savannah.—One
of our correspondents in Savannah informs us that the permanent fund for
the support of a Hazan commenced about two and a half years ago by the
members of the small congregation of that place, amounts already to the
handsome sum of five thousand and three hundred dollars. Our friend gives
the chief credit to the ladies of his city, aided by those of New York,
Philadelphia, Charleston, and Bordeaux in France, in getting up a fair
which netted a considerable sum. It is hoped that in less than two years
the fund will have increased sufficiently to enable them to procure the
services of a competent minister.
At
the annual meeting of the K. K. Mikve Israel of Savannah, held at the
Synagogue on Monday the 15th of Ab, 5605, 18th of August, 1845,) the
following gentlemen were elected officers for the year 5606: Isaac Cohen,
Parnass; Sheftall Sheftall, Solomon Cohen, Jacob De la Motta, Octavus
Cohen, Levy Hart, and Judah. M. Isaacks, Adjuntas; from whom Levy Hart was
chosen Treasurer, and J. De la Motta, Secretary.
Baltimore.—The
new Synagogue erected by the Hebrew congregation of Baltimore, is at
length finished. The consecration of it to the service of Almighty God was
to take place on Friday the 26th of September (the 24th of Elul). Any
interesting particulars attending this joyful occasion will be announced
in our next.
St.
Thomas.—We congratulate the Israelites of this island in having
secured the services of the Rev. Mr. Nathan. His appointment for life has
been confirmed by the Danish government. His well-known conservative
principles and graceful eloquence, together with his acknowledged talents
as a teacher, open to him and his flock a prospect of a pleasant union,
which we trust may not be interrupted on the part of the minister, by ill
health, for many, many years.
Montego
Bay, Jamaica.—We see by the Voice of Jacob, No. 110, just
received, that great complaints are made against the Rev. Rabbi B. C.
Carillon, lately installed minister of Montego Bay, for attempting violent
and unauthorized changes in the usual form of worship as current amongst
Portuguese Jews. We have ourself received a letter, dated at Kingston,
August 6th, speaking in terms of decided disapprobation of the innovations
introduced. It was to be hoped (though in this we were deceived) that the
reverend gentleman would have learned sufficient wisdom from experience,
that it will not do to place himself above public opinion; for though he
has just recovered a sum, we believe equal to two thousand four hundred
dollars, against his late congregation at St. Thomas, for a breach of
contract by dismissing him, he has no right to expect that in Jamaica he
will be sustained by the courts if he does any thing against the
reasonable demands of his constituents, to confine himself to the liturgy,
and not to destroy it. We fear that Mr. C.’s course will lead to bad
feelings between himself and the Israelites under his charge; and if he
will heed our advice, we would counsel him to confine himself to his
duties, and not to assume the part of a reformer, in opposition to the
laws of good order and ancient usages. We write this with extreme
reluctance; the course of Mr. C. had been complained of to us frequently,
by many correspondents; but we would not speak of the subject till now,
when finding that it had been animadverted on in an English paper, it
would be somewhat of a false modesty on our part not to speak out plainly;
since we will always be found true to our duty, to condemn any public
measure, when we deem censure justly deserved.
Burton
Street Synagogue.—A correspondent of the Voice of Jacob calls
upon the members of the Burton Street Synagogue to reunite with the other
congregations under the spiritual guardianship of Dr. Adler. We hope that
conciliatory counsels may prevail, and that the breach may be speedily
healed by a lasting peace. We have expressed our sentiments so frequently
on the subject, that there exist no causes which ought to prevent a union,
that we deem it superfluous to add any more at present.
Dr.
Adler continues in his labours of preaching on the Sabbath in
various congregations, and of visiting the various schools. Abstracts of
his discourses, &c., are given in the Voice of Jacob. He has issued a
circular requesting statistical information from the different
communities, preparatory to an active interference in the reorganizing of
schools and charities. He promises to be an active friend of education;
and so far he seems to have corned the approbation of his constituents,
and we trust that he will continue yet more to secure it by being
generally useful. We shall report his progress from time to time.
Russia.—St.
Petersburg, Aug. 21.—“The Emperor lately issued an ordinance, ordering
small portions of land to be awarded to poor Jews willing to occupy
themselves in agricultural labour; but the rascally subordinates of the
government have contrived to make this decree of none effect. Yet such is
the dreadful slavery in which the poor Jews live, that they dare not
complain; for though the Emperor would instantly see justice done them,
they would become the victims of the cruelty of the subordinates.” —European
Times.
The
Hanover Congregation.—The Orient, No. 33, contains the
address presented to Dr. Z. Frankel, of Dresden, by the congregation of
Hanover, thanking him for his championship of the orthodox cause, at the
late assembly of Rabbis. The same number expresses also the entire
satisfaction of that congregation with the step taken by Dr. Adler, their
former Rabbi, in signing the protest against the proceedings at
Brunswick.—Voice of Jacob.
Jewish
Publication Society.—The Treasurer pro. tem. acknowledges
the receipt of eighteen dollars from eighteen subscribers in Savannah and
Saundersville, Georgia, and St. Louis, Missouri, and a donation of five
dollars from Mrs. E. P. Cohen of Baltimore, and of three dollars from Dr.
Amos Henriques of Kingston, Jamaica.
No.
II. containing the Hebrew Tales of Dr. Hyman Hurwitz, is just ready, and
will be sent to subscribers by the earliest conveyances.
The
committee urge respectfully upon all the friends of this enterprise which
promises to be so useful an auxiliary in the diffusion of correct Jewish
principles, to induce their acquaintances to become either donors or
subscribers to the publication fund, as it depends altogether upon such
accessions whether the work can be carried on. The committee are anxious
indeed to do their portion, to select books, to see them through the
press, and to despatch them to their respective destinations: but they
require the helping hand of all to give permanency to this
enterprise.
By
some inadvertence the names of Mr. S. Hart, Charleston, and of J. C.
Lyons, Columbia, South Carolina, were omitted in the list of the temporary
agents prefixed to the second number of the Miscellany.
Ourself.—We
were told a few days ago that the London Jewish Chronicle contained an
article somewhat severe upon the Occident for the piece headed Jewish
Emancipation, in our No. 27. As we are not in the receipt of this
journal, we are not able to pay our respects to its editor at present; but
we promise him to do so, after reading his strictures, should we deem them
worthy of a reply. We are not over proud; but we consider controversy,
especially upon personal matters, of too little importance to waste the
time of our readers by its perusal. The learned editor will please accept
this as our explanation for the present.
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