News Items.

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.