News Items.

Consecration At Cleveland, Ohio.—The New Synagogue at Cleveland was, as we learn from the Cleveland Herald, which has been sent us by a member of the congregation, consecrated with the usual ceremonies on the afternoon of the 7th of August, the eve of Sabbath נחמו. The Synagogue is described as a substantial brick edifice 35 by 50 feet, and 28 feet high; as being well finished, and reflecting credit on the taste and enterprise of the Society, numbering about seventy members. They are said to have received some aid from other (Christian) citizens, and the editor noticed the following inscription, neatly framed and suspended on the wall, “A Testimonial of Gratitude to J. M. Woolsey, Esq., and Lady, for their liberal assistance in erecting this Edifice.” The gallery, as usual, extends on three sides of the building, and the ark has also the representation of the Ten Commandments, which is so usual, at least in American Synagogues. The ceremonies and circuits were made as we have described on other similar occasions, after which, “Mr. Lowentritt delivered a very sensible discourse in English, in which he gave a brief sketch of the Hebrews and their oneness of faith through all ages and persecutions, and exhorted his brethren to illustrate and adorn their profession by living in bonds of charity with all mankind, and doing good to each other and to all men as occasion offers. Mr. Lehman next addressed the Society in German, after which the Readers, Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Stern said the Hannothayn Teshuah, and the Mi Shebayrach for the congregation; next Yehallelu, after which the choir sang Mizmor le David (Psalm 29.); the laws were then put in the ark, and the congregation sung Ubenucho Yomar; a prayer followed by the Reader, and the ceremonies were ended with Psalm, 150.”—The editor gives the ceremonies much in detail, and a tone of great liberality pervades the whole article, which is a truly gratifying circumstance, and proves that the strict observance of our duties does not diminish the good opinion which non-Israelites have of us.—We wish the congregation at Cleveland much success and many an opportunity to prove and illustrate the beauty and truth of our religion; and glad should we have been had our friends in the West only sent us an invitation to witness the opening of this house of prayer on the margin of the Great Lakes, and joyfully should we have borne our testimony in a region where, until out few years back, the worship of Israel’s God was unknown. But this was not granted to us; and we rejoice, therefore, that others were there to speak of the goodness of the Lord and the greatness of his mercy to Israel.—May the occasions of such public rejoicings increase, till the land be full of the spirit of truth.

Claiborne, Alabama.—The young Israelites scattered in the neighbourhood of Claiborne propose uniting for worship on the ensuing holydays; they have written for a Sepher Torah, Shophar and other requisites for worship, and we hope that all these will be with them, especially the word of God, at their assembling, and that the plant of faith among them, though tender and new, may strike deep root, in order that the work of the Lord may prosper in their hands.

Augusta, Georgia.—A friend writing from Hamburg, South Carolina, mentions the gratifying fact, that the last day of mourning for the destruction of the temple was observed with more than former strictness among the Israelites of Augusta and vicinity, and that the school for religious instruction in A. is in a prosperous condition. Much joy is promised to the mourners for Zion; let us hope then, that the evidence of true Jewish feelings displayed by the small remnant in A. and vicinity may extend yet farther, and at length arouse them, though few in number, to unite permanently for worship and brotherly union.

Columbia, South Carolina.—The same state of awakening shown elsewhere is also witnessed in Columbia. We hope soon to be able to announce that measures have been matured to celebrate weekly the offices of our faith with becoming fervour.

Jewish Population In Russia.—We extract from the Orient the following statement, merely to show the nature of Russian legislation with regard to Jews. There were in 1843 in Volhynia 184,346 Talmudists; in Podolia 168,331; Kiev 124,844; Grodno 101,729; Kovno 96,923; Minsk 96,483; Moghilev 91,076; Vilna 68,060; Bessarabia and the formerly city government of Ismael 48,540; Vitebsk 47,742; Kherson 32,958; Tchernigov 20,6221; Poltava 16,856; Kourland 15,265; Iekaterinoslav 6,950; city government of Odessa 6,163; Taurida 3,185; St. Petersburg 1,841; Livonia 524; city government of Kertch-Ienicale 72; Kazan 39; Pskov 27; Voronej 23; Riazan 15; Toula 10; Archangel 8; Vladimir 5; besides 232 Caraites in Volhynia, 344 in Kovno; 150 in Kherson, and 3,380 in Taurida; total 1,132,331 Talmudist, and 4,106 Caraite Jews in European Russia proper, with the exception of Poland. There are also 7,670 Talmudists in the Caucasus and the country of the Tchernomoric Cossacks, and 5,330 of the same in the four Siberian governments, Tobolsk, Tomsk, Ieniseisk and Irkutsk, which with those in Poland, 455,330, gives the sum total at 1,604,767 souls.—Our readers will readily understand that, with all the care of the government in taking the census, many must be omitted, or wrongly classified, so that it is assuming but little if we take the number of Jews at nearly, if not quite two millions, as has been frequently asserted. It will be perceived that it is only in eighteen governments and city districts that the Jews are in any considerable number, while in ten they are inappreciably small; at the same time there were none, (and not allowed to be) in twenty-three governments; to wit, Astrakhan, Charkov, Esthonia, laroslav, Kalouga, Kostroma, Koursk, Moskva, (except the few in the army division stationed there) Novogrod, Olonetz, Orenbourg, Orel, Penza, Perm, Saratov, Simbirsk, Saiolensk, Tambov, Tver, the country of the Donish Cossacks, and the city government of Taganrog (there are three governments not mentioned in the report before us, perhaps Vologda, Kharkov and Viatka); so that the Jews are excluded from the best portion of the Russian territories; and if those from the frontiers of Poland are to be forced into the already overcrowded districts, it is easy to foresee what sufferings there must take place. And this is the humanity which some of our people have the heart to praise!—It is strange.

Errata.—In our last, page 247, line 3, for “time” of his slaughter, read “hue;” page 249, line 31, for “levelling” the etherealized spirit, read “dwelling;” page 259, line 21, for “Shabuolh,” read “Shabuoth.”