Sunday
Laws in Pennsylvania.—Our readers were
informed by us, at the proper time, of the
persecution of several Seventh Day Baptists, for
doing some light work on their own farms on the
Sunday, and that the act of the local magistrate was
approved of and sanctioned by the Supreme Court of
this commonwealth, upon grounds as different, as
given by two of the judges, as different can be. It
was not to be expected that a decision evidently so
unjust, as was proved by us and others at the time,
would be quietly submitted to; and an appeal to the
courts being, as the supreme bench is now composed,
out of the question, defeat being certain, an
application was made to the Legislature so to alter
the law of 1794 as to exempt those who observe the
seventh day from any punishment for working on
Sunday.
The Jews took no part in this petition, and it was
therefore confined to the Sabbatarian Baptists only.
The bill which was reported in consequence has
passed the Senate of Pennsylvania, but we fear that
it will fail in the House of Representatives, where
the committee on Vice and Immorality have
reported unfavourably through their chairman,—a
curious committee, at least in name, to have
referred to them the respectful petition of a
portion of the freemen of the state, as moral and
upright as any in its whole limits, to be relieved
of an unjust burden which ought to weigh upon no
class of the citizens, since many honestly contend
that the state has, of right, no concern with the
religious observance of any day.
Whilst on the subject we may as well record the
fact that, last December, a resolution was passed at
the meeting of the stockholders of the Pennsylvania
Central Railroad; approving of a resolution of the
Board<<55>>of Directors
stopping the travelling on Sunday, after the 31st
December. This decision was entered into without
fully weighing the importance of the question, or
adverting to the influence which brought it forward.
But those who felt aggrieved by it have at length so
far succeeded, though it is but scarcely more than
two months since the resolution was carried into
effect, as to rescind the same for the present, and
to submit the question to the stockholders to vote
by ballot for thirty days, to decide whether it is
their wish to have daily lines on their road or not.
This is a significant fact, and proves what we have
frequently said, that it is only the interested and
their blind followers who have so sedulously
endeavoured to fasten the “Christian Sabbath” on the
community, with all its appendages. We know not
indeed how the question may be decided; but many
believe that there is no doubt that the sense of the
majority is in favour of freedom of travel on every
day of the week. As regards the exemption bill we
copy from the daily papers:
A supplement to an act entitled an “Act for
the prevention of vice and immorality, and of
unlawful gaining, and to restrain disorderly
sports and dissipation,” came up on third
reading. The following is a copy of the
supplement:
Sec. 1. Be it enacted, &c., That nothing
contained in the first section of the act to
which this is a supplement, shall be construed
to extend to any person or persons who
conscientiously observe the seventh day of the
week as the Sabbath; and in all prosecutions
under said first section of the act aforesaid, a
certificate, signed by the pastor, or any elder
or officer of any religious society
conscientiously observing the seventh day of the
week as the Sabbath, shall be sufficient
evidence of membership in said society, and on
the presentation thereof, every justice of the
peace before whom such prosecutions may be
commenced, shall dismiss the same at the cost of
the informer.
The bill and amendments passed final reading
by the following vote ; yeas 18, nays 14.
Adjourned.
Philadelphia.
The German Ladies’ Benevolent Society gave lately a
concert for the benefit of their charity fund; the
musical director, Mr. S. Ehrlich, and the principal
singer, Miss Rosa Jacques, belonging to our
persuasion. Those who are acquainted with the powers
of both, need not be told that everything was done
to gratify the audience highly; but we regret that
although Miss Jacques gave her valuable services
without charge, the expenditures were so heavy, that
but about one hundred dollars surplus was added to
the funds.—On Sunday, the 10th of March (Adar 26th),
the twelfth annual examination of the Philadelphia
Hebrew Sunday School, took place at the Portuguese
Synagogue. The number of scholars was about 150; and
the progress displayed was a sure evidence that much
useful knowledge had been imparted in the past year.
The school has just completed its twelfth year, and
it <<56>>affords a
gratifying proof what enterprise will achieve, even
when contending with difficulties. This institution
supplies now, in a great measure, the want of a
regular establishment for religious education among
us; but we think that the time is not far distant
when we shall be able to announce that the ardent
desire of many pious persons to have their children
educated under Jewish superintendence altogether has
been fully gratified. For our part we cannot see how
persons having the means, and at the same time a
regard for their religion, can rest content with a
mere half-way religious training for their children,
when it would be just as easy to furnish a thorough
knowledge, provided the will only were there to
second the efforts of others to benefit them in this
essential point. At the same time, it is not very
flattering to our self-approbation, that the
smallest village in Europe has its schools for
Hebrew, whilst in America so many children have to
depend upon private tuition for its acquirement.
This should not be; and we hope that the reproach
thus attached to us may be soon removed, not alone
in Philadelphia, but wherever Jews are found all
over the country; and we are glad indeed that now
there are schools in New York, though as yet only in
part, Baltimore, Richmond, Louisville, Cincinnati,
Cleveland, and Albany; and we see no earthly reason
why congregational seminaries should not exist in
all the communities of Israelites. If these are ever
established there could be little doubt, but that a
high school for the training of youth in the higher
branches of Hebrew literature would be demanded, and
as a matter of course, be started into life, when we
should have the means of educating persons in this
country for the ministry; whereas now, every one, we
believe, connected with the various Synagogues, is a
native of a foreign land. This ought not to be.
Richmond.—Hebrew
and English Institute. At the annual meeting of “The
Trustees of the Hebrew and English Institute,” held
the evening of January 7th, at the school-rooms, the
following officers were elected for the present
year: President, Gustavus A. Myers, Esq.;
Vice-President, Isaac Schriver; Recording Secretary,
Jacob Ezekiel; Financial Secretary, Naphtali
Ezekiel; Treasurer, Benjamin Davis. This institute
was opened on the 2d January, with about thirty
scholars, under the charge of the Rev. Julius
Eckmann and an able assistant female teacher. The
number of pupils is comparatively small, from the
fact that many of the Jewish parents have entered
their children at other schools for a session, which
commences generally in the months of September and
October. The prices of tuition has been placed at a
low rate in order to be within the reach of the most
destitute of our brethren, and is as follows: For
Hebrew, English, and other branches, $14 per annum.
<<57>>For Hebrew,
French, German, or Latin, each $10 per annum. It is
hoped ere long that we may be enabled to lay before
your readers a flattering account of the progress of
this institution.
Charleston. We
learn that Dr. Isaac M. Wise, late Rabbi of Albany,
has been elected minister of the Beth Elohim
congregation of Charleston, to supply the vacancy
occasioned by the resignation of the Rev. G.
Poznanski. We have received Dr. W.’s introductory
sermon, but have not had an opportunity of laying it
before the public.
Mobile.—We are
officially informed that on Sunday, January 20th,
the following resolutions were adopted: Resolved,
That this congregation will pay annually twenty
dollars towards the support of the poor of
Jerusalem, and that we will hereafter recognise no
messenger or agent from Jerusalem. Resolved, That
the president ascertain the proper person to whom
this amount shall be remitted, so that it may reach
its proper destination. Resolved, That the above
resolutions be published in the Occident. Signed by
I. I. Jones, President; and D. Salomon, Secretary
pro tem. On the same day the congregation held its
annual meeting, and elected as officers for the
following year the following gentlemen: Israel I.
Jones, President; David Salomon, Vice-President; M.
Forchheimer, Treasurer; Philip Frankenheimer,
Secretary; and Bernard Cohen, Joseph Morrisson,
Peter Meyer, Isidore Newman, and Hayim Salomon,
Trustees. The seats were then sold for the ensuing
year, and the proceeds amounted to double the sum
realized the preceding one; and our correspondent
expresses much joy that he is able to report the
welfare and prosperity of the congregation, inasmuch
as they are, with the blessing of the Ruler of the
universe, united and increasing, and willing to do
good service in the cause of Judaism.
New Orleans. The
Rev. Moses N. Nathan was chosen minister of the
congregation Nefuzoth Yehudah, on the 24th of
January, at a salary of 2,500 dollars per annum
during good behaviour. The Rev. gentleman has, as we
learn, returned to Jamaica to bring over his family,
and is expected back after Passover. The Synagogue,
now finished, will not be opened for divine worship
before the middle of May next, after the minister
shall have D. V. taken up his residence in New
Orleans. The Rev. J. K. Gutheim has already entered
on the discharge of his ministerial functions, for
the German congregation, and we may congratulate the
Israelites of the southern commercial capital that
their choice has fallen on two men well able to be
eminently useful in the cause of our religion; and
we cannot help expressing our hope that they may be
watchful and faithful, conciliatory and firm, to do
all which the <<58>>nation
of Israel at large, no less than their own immediate
constituents, has a right to demand of them, to
promote piety and true godliness among the flocks
entrusted to their care.
We also learn that Mr. Touro has at length made a
deed of gift to the congregation of the handsome
Synagogue, which has, been fitted up with all things
requisite, without regard to expense; thus
consummating in the most liberal manner what he had
so devoutly begun. We wish him many happy years to
enjoy the fruits of his pious benevolence.
Detroit. The Sisters of Charity. The Rev. S.
M. Isaacs, of New York requests us to call the
attention of our readers to an appeal in behalf of
the Hospital of the Sisters of Charity in Detroit.
These benevolent ladies lately watched with tender
care over Mr. Benedict Joseph, a member of Mr.
Isaacs’ congregation, who was seized with a mortal
sickness on his journey westward, and in his last
days was tended with sisterly kindness by these
devoted women, who though acting in the cause of
their peculiar faith, show attention alike to
persons of all religions. A few weeks ago a young
Jewish female, on her journey from New York to St.
Louis, was arrested by illness in Detroit, and also
died at the hospital of the sisters. As their means
of usefulness are limited by the want of funds, they
have addressed a letter to Mr. Isaacs requesting him
to interest himself in their behalf. He has
accordingly inserted an appeal in the Asmonean,
which has no doubt been seen by a large portion of
our readers; and he asks of us in addition to call
public attention to the same. All donations
addressed to the Rev. S. M. Isaacs, 669 Houston
Street, New York, will be duly forwarded to their
destination.
Montreal. Thursday
the 3d of January, having been appointed by the
Governor-general, in council, to be observed by the
people of Canada as a day of general thanksgiving
for the removal of the cholera, there was a service
held in the Synagogue. After Mincha
(afternoon service) Psalms cxvii. and cxviii. were
chanted; then followed a Hebrew prayer, then Psalm
c. Next came a sermon by the Rev. Abm. De Sola, the
minister of the congregation, on the text, “But he
being merciful, forgave iniquity and destroyed not,
and often called back his anger and awakened not all
his wrath.” The service concluded with Ps. cxi. The
Synagogue was well attended, as we learn.
Bavaria.—The public
papers bring the following:—“In the sitting of the
Legislative Chamber of Bavaria, on December 14th,
the important question of the emancipation of the
Jews was carried by 91 against 50. Two Catholic
priests were among the minority.”
But we just learn from the same source that the
first chamber had, at the<<59>>latest
account, thrown out the bill by a vote of 29 to 7,
and that even the equalization of the civil rights
of the Jews, proposed ultimately by Count Armansperg,
was rejected by 24 against 12 votes. So we may look
out for a renewed increase of immigration on the
part of Bavarian Israelites, into the United States,
and we have here another evidence that prejudice
dies hard.
Georgia.—We learn
that the law of marriage which required a magistrate
or a minister of the gospel to perform the
ceremony, has been altered so as to place our people
upon an equality with all other denominations. The
wording of the law was, we think, entirely
accidental.
The Rev. Mr.
Nathan, we omitted to mention in our last,
on first landing at Savannah, preached in the
Synagogue, to the edification of the Jewish
community, who are still without a minister; and at
Mobile, on his stopping there on his return, for the
moment, to Jamaica. It is needless for us to say
that his hearers in both places would be pleased
could they have the gratification often to listen to
this eloquent preacher.
Montgomery, Alabama.
— The Congregation of Montgomery elected for the
present year the following officers : Jacob Myer,
President; Henry Lehman, Vice-President; Henry Weil,
Secretary; Emanuel Lehman, Treasurer; and Jacob Weil
and George Myer, Trustees.
Spanish Town,
Jamaica.—The congregation of this place,
lately addressed a series of resolutions highly
complimentary to their young minister, the Rev.
Henry S. Jacobs, for his, we think, gratuitous
services to the congregation, which has been for
some years without a regular minister. We gave
lately a sermon of Mr. Jacobs, and hope that our
readers thought well of the production of this young
man, who was born and educated in the island of
Jamaica; he is a scholar of the Rev. Moses N.
Nathan.
Another Reconversion to Judaism. The Jewish
Gazette, under date of Berlin, the 30th of
September, reports: “Lately there died here the rich
banker Lessing. A little while before his death he
returned to Judaism, which he had quitted, and at
his earnest request he was interred in the Jewish
burying-ground. This occurrence has excited a great
sensation in the city. And well may it; for the
Christians must see that they can depend but little
on their converts, and that no sooner does the
presence of death show them the folly of their
change, the deceitfulness of their vain hopes, than
they lay hold of the pillars of that faith which has
supported Israel for so many centuries. So must it
ever be. |
