News Items

Philadelphia.—We learn that at the last Annual Meeting of the congregation Rodef Sholem of Philadelphia, the salaries of the Rev. Mr. Frankel and of Mr. Bachman, the teacher, were advanced 150 dollars each, thus showing both the prosperous condition of the finances and the approbation which these two faithful officers have obtained from <<104>>their constituents.—At the annual election of the United Hebrew Fuel Society, held on Sunday, the 7th of April, the following gentlemen were elected to serve for one year: David Pesoa, President; David H. Solis, Vice-President; Abraham S. Wolf, Treasurer; Alfred T. Jones, Se­cretary; A. Hart, M. Reinhard, S. Lyons, M. Arnold, S. Abeles, Z. A. Davis, S. M. Klasser, W. A. Van Collem, Isaac Hyneman, Isaac Lobe, Henry De Boer, and —— ——, Managers. The usual beneficence in the distribution of wood, coal, and stoves, was pursued during the past season, and much real distress was relieved. The amount to be given to each family is generally restricted to one and a half cords of wood or one and a half tons of coal; though in case of necessity an additional half cord of wood or half ton of coal may be given. The Society has been in existence now for nine years past, and has thus far relieved, we think, all whose claims were in any degree admissible, and we think both to the satisfaction of the recipients and the bestowers of the charity. We wish it a happy influence on the poor for many years to come, or until there shall be no more distressed to claim its attention.

Louisville.—On Purim, (the 26th of February,) the  Incorporated Ladies’ Hebrew Beneficial Society tried the experiment of an Anniversary Ball in aid of their funds. The managers were Messrs. Fox, Schlessinger, Wurmser, Oberderfer, Herzog, Brown, Goldsmith, and Feust. It was held in the Assembly Rooms, and the company separated at a late hour highly delighted, and it was resolved to continue to celebrate the anniversary at the same season every year. The net proceeds were seventy dollars, which our correspondent assures us was as much as could be expected under the circumstances.—The Holy-days have passed over with a great deal of satisfaction, the Synagogue, which is considered an ornament to the city, was crowded morning and evening. The introduction of a choir has materially improved the service. The minister, Rev. B. H. Gotthelf, preached in German, on Sabbath, the 3d day of Passover, and the teacher of the congregation, Mr. A. I. H. Bernal, in English on the Sabbath previous, in the afternoon. We are told that considering the number of Israelites in the place, there is much less open profanation of the Sabbath than in the East. It was at first the intention of the managers of the congregational school to hold an examination of the pupils on the middle days of the Passover; but in consequence of the sudden illness of Mr. Bernal it was postponed, and will not take place now until the fall vacation. There are upwards of eighty pupils in attendance, and we are <<105>>told that taking them all in all, they are progressing rapidly. The directors are—Messrs. A. Tandler, Chairman; E. Lieberman, Secre­tary; M. Strauss, A. Gerstle, and B. Sachs. They meet once a month, to receive reports, &c. The teachers are, at least in part, Messrs. Gotthelf and Bernal and Miss Esther Bernal, who, we are glad to hear, perform their duties faithfully.—There is another Ladies’ and one Mens’ Hebra; the latter is but six months old, numbers 35 members, and is incorporated. From the amount of mutual benefits, as detailed in the letter before us, which it dispenses, we fear it cannot long survive; and if the members would take our counsel they would either double their annual subscription, or restrict their expenditures within reasonable limits.—We are sorry to learn that there is a strong intention manifested of building another Synagogue “up town,” as it is called; if the fault is with the laws of the corporation as they now exist, we confidently hope that the members will listen to reason and amend them before a disunion takes place, when the mischief will not be easily repaired. We trust, however, that the projectors of the new congregation will pause before they proceed, and at least make every effort to obtain a redress of their grievances, if they have anything to complain of; and they may rely on one thing, that one well-organized, powerful congregation, is worth a thousand little fractions of Minyanim, each too weak to effect any good or useful object by itself, and, as usual, hostile to all the other sister communities in the same place. We are at the same time pleased to state that the Synagogue seems to flourish under the charge of Mr. Gotthelf, and that it is open for worship besides four times on Sabbath, on Monday and Thursday, Rosh-Hodesh, &c. The officers are: S. Ulman, President; Samuel Lieberman, Vice-President; S. Roggenburger, Treasurer; B. Rosenberg, Gabby Beth Hayim; A. Tandler, Secretary, pro tem.; S. Bacharach, B. Marx, F. Mark, A. Sale, A. Steinauer and E. Hilp, Trustees. The members amount to between 80 and 90, of whom every one owns a permanent seat in the Synagogue.—It gives us much satisfaction to be able to lay such full details of this increasing congregation before our readers, thanks to the favours of several kind correspondents; and we would thank our friends, everywhere, to write us at all times such full particulars of then communities that we may be able to announce something more than merely a dry elec­tion of officers from year to year.

Frankfort.—Dr. Emden, a Jew, has been elected one of the secre­taries to the new Legislative Assembly, recently renewed here.

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Paris.—On the 20th of January a meeting of the Portuguese congregation of the French capital took place, to take into consideration the building of a new Synagogue for that body, in lieu of the small and inconvenient structure in which they now worship. There are said to be in Paris 205 men, or heads of families, of the Portuguese Minhag; 177 females, 202 boys, and 181 girls, and the expense of building the Synagogue is estimated at 120,000 francs, one-half being for the purchase of the ground. Rabbi Isidor made a handsome address at the meeting, which we would gladly report had we the space. The committee to carry out the intentions of this meeting, and to devise ways and means for that purpose, are—Messrs. Solar, Monteaux, Millaud, Leon, the elder, Silveyra, Lange, Astruc, and Almosnino. Mr. Lange at once offered 1000 francs as his donation.

Vienna.—We are informed that the minister, Dr. Bach, has recently given another proof of his determination to carry out the Jewish Emancipation Act to the fullest extent. A Jew having bought a piece of ground at Gratz, for the purpose of building a hotel, and meeting with great opposition from the corporation, applied to the Minister of the Interior, who offered him a piece of ground belonging to government, with the remark, “The state is willing to give a good example to the corporation.”

Montreal.—The annual examination of our Sunday School, says a valued correspondent, took place at the school-house on the Sunday after Purim (5th March). All the scholars were present, and although the school has only been established about fifteen months, the pupils (thirty in number) all acquitted themselves with great credit, and exhibited a degree of advancement that was quite surprising, affording evidence that the “labour of love” of those young ladies who, with our respected Hazan (Rev. A. De Sola), devote part of their time to this good work is not labour in vain. The examination was attended not only by the parents of the scholars, but also by all the Israelites resident in the city, who were so pleased at the proficiency displayed by the children, that a vote of thanks was proposed, and unanimously passed, to the teachers, Miss Rebekah Joseph, Miss Dora Hart, and Miss Emma Solomons, and to Mr. De Sola, and a subscription opened for the purpose of purchasing prizes to be distributed to the most deserving.

That much good is to be effected by instilling into young minds a sound religious education no one can doubt for a moment. And it is a matter of congratulation, that in our small community we can find <<107>>ladies sufficiently zealous in the cause of our holy religion, to devote a few leisure hours to its advancement, even in the performance of such a pleasing task as this.

New Benevolent Society At New Orleans.—We are requested to announce the formation of a new society at New Orleans under the name of “Love and Benevolence,” the purpose of which is to render assistance in case of illness, and to attend to the burial of deceased Israelites entitled to the services of the society. The officers are, Jacob Pretto Henriquez, President; I. C. Labatt, Vice President; Daniel Wolff, Secretary and Treasurer; E. Sampson, First Trustee; and L. Hertz, second Trustee.

New York.—We are informed that the new Synagogue Anshay Chesed, of New York, will be consecrated to the worship of Almighty God on the day before Shebuoth. We are also credibly told that the Rev. Drs. Lilienthal and Schlessinger and Rev. S. M. Isaacs, are expected to preach a sermon each on that interesting occasion. This building is situated in Norfolk Street, and is, we believe, the largest Jewish place of worship in New York.

San Francisco—California.—We are informed that the Israelites in this place have organized a charitable society, purchased a piece of land for a burying-ground, and are about organizing a congregation. We have no doubt that before long the worship of the God of Israel will be celebrated after our ancestral customs at this new commercial capital of the Far West, in the same manner as it is done in the distant East. May the Lord prosper it.

Curaçoa.—The Sunday School in this Island, under the charge of M. De Casseres, is progressing prosperously. The lady teachers are Misses Leah and Rachel Senior, and Miss Sarah Lindo.

Tunis.—Letters from Tunis, of the 18th January, say that the cholera is at this moment making great ravages in this city, particularly among the Jews; and the number of fatal cases from the 4th to the 18th of January was not less than from 20 to 25 a day. One cannot, therefore, sufficiently praise the generous measures adopted by the Bey to diminish the effects of this terrible malady. His Highness has established three hospitals for cholera patients, carefully divided, according to their religion, and all the expense incurred is defrayed by him. Among the Jews as well as the other sufferers, the Bey has ordered to be distributed 400 camel loads of wheat, 800 goat-skins filled with the finest oil, and 10,000 piastres. A three days’ collection made among the Catholic and Jewish merchants produced 18,000 piastres. All the prisoners for debt have been released.—Archives Israelite.

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Columbia, South Carolina.—We are pleased to learn from the public prints that our worthy friend, Captain Henry Lyons, was chosen on the first of April, Intendant (Mayor) of the capital of South Carolina, a position which we are sure he will fill to the satisfaction of his constituents and with honour to himself. Whilst mentioning this election we must also chronicle the appointment of another of our friends, Solomon Cohen, Esq., of Savannah, Georgia, as Cashier of one of the principal Banking and Railroad Companies of that state; and it gives us much satisfaction to bear our testimony that in this case also honour was conferred only to whom it is justly due.

Europe.—It is now said that the Austrian government has ordered the forced war-tax imposed on the Jews of Hungary to be repealed, and even to restore what has been so unjustly taken. Several more Jews have been elected or appointed to offices in Austria and Germany, but at the same time we learn that Austria and Russia arc going to deliver over to each other all Jews who may escape without a passport from either country. Glorious news this must be, to those who deny the coming of the Messiah for Israel; what a consummation of the brilliant prophecies which predict the glory of our people! Let our readers reflect!

New Orleans.—We have been kindly invited to attend the conse­cration of the new Synagogue of the congregation Nefuzote Yehudah, which is expected to take place in the course of May, probably the day before Shebuoth. It is our intention, God willing, to be present, and hence, if we should carry out our present thoughts, it will be out of our power to issue the Occident in the beginning of June; but our readers may depend on not losing by our temporary absence, if we are ever permitted to return to our post. But we have full confidence in the good saying of our wise men שלוחי מצוה אינן נזקין, that those who are sent on errands pertaining to the exercise of religion are not injured in their going or returning. But if it be otherwise decreed, we know “that our Redeemer lives” to protect us in life or to lend us through the portals of death to a life far happier than the earth has ever been to us, and the many who toil for their daily bread, in the anxiety of heart and the ingratitude and indifference of the world. But why should we complain? why should our rebellious heart give vent to its feeling? We are yet endowed with that intellect which our God has given us; malice cannot rob us of our hard-earned reputation; and so cheer up! there are better days coming! For the present, therefore, farewell hind reader, till we meet again.