words we desire to pay no compliment to Dr. Einhorn. His merit and worth are too well recognized to need comment at this late day, and even if they were not so, we would be the last one to eulogize another merely for the purpose of idle adulation. Truth is however not flattery; hence we have no hesitation as a public journalist in expressing our belief that the Rabbi of the Beth-El Temple, though advanced in years (and men do like their ease in their old age) is yet as incapable to-day of sacrificing an iota of his principles as he was when he possessed all the vigor, fire and enthusiasm of youth. It is such men as these we need in Israel's ministry, such men that it is the duty of congregations to seek and acquire.

We doubt not that the new congregation will soon assume a high rank among the great congregations of the country and that its example will in process of time be productive of the happiest results. There is a noble future before it. Though much has been done in the Jewish fold, there is yet much to be done. There are still errors to eradicate, false theories to uproot and abuses to be corrected. To it therefore the eyes of the Jewish community of this country will be turned, and its movements will be closely watched with no little solicitude by all earnest members of our faith. A Beth-El should always be the place whence will emanate knowledge and light, correct principles, true religious fervor, and that practical example of righteousness and piety without which all theoretical lessons must lose their wholesome effect. Believing that in this respect, as in every other, the congregation will be worthy of its name, we cordially bid it "God speed" on its holy mission.

THE WORTHIEST OF TREES.

A WEARY traveler had been journeying all day across an arid plain under a scorching sun, and was almost overcome with fatigue, when at length his path led him into a thick forest where the spreading boughs of many a stately tree cast a cool shade over the ground. Winding amid the trees was a gently-flowing rivulet and on its brink grew crowds of bulrushes with bending stems, and heads humbly stooping to the stream beneath. Here the traveler rested, and as he lay on the ground, began to admire the beautiful trees by which he was surrounded, and to wonder which was the most valuable of all.

Thus thinking, he fell asleep, and dreamt. Behold in his dream, he saw the trees of the forest pleading before him, each claiming to be considered the worthiest.

First spoke the cedar, and said, "What tree can be compared to me? On the lofty heights of Lebanon is my abode, and my top touches the sky. Under my fair spreading boughs all the beasts of the field find shelter. Of me kings build their palaces, princes their mansions. All men admire me; all poets have sung my praise. Surely I am the king of the trees.”

"No," said the palm; "with all thy vain boast, O cedar, thou art barren, thou yieldest not sweet fruits, which satisfy the hungry, and refresh the weary. And does not my tall trunk excite the admiration of men? Useful and beautiful, I claim to be king of the trees."

Then spake the myrtle. "Ye, tall trees, lack my fragrant odor. Ye gratify only man's bodily wants; but my sweet scent delights his soul. When hungry, he, like the brute, eagerly eats of thy fruit, O palm! when weary, he, like the beasts of the field, lies down under thy shade, O cedar. But when his soul is calm and serene, when contemplating the glories of his Maker, then he holds in his hand a sprig of my boughs, and its grateful fragrance raises his lofty thoughts still higher. And so I claim the royal crown of trees."

Then a multitude of other plants took up the strain; some boasting of their delicious fruits, some of the beauties or fragrance of their flowers. Each, on account of some quality of its own, claimed the pre-eminence.

But the poor bulrushes, that grew on the bank of the rivulet, were silent. They knew that they had nothing to boast of, and they humbly held their peace.

The wayfarer in his dream felt puzzled, not knowing to which of the haughty candidates to allow the superiority; when lo! he heard a voice from heaven, proclaiming-" Be abashed, ye proud trees, ye that vaunt of the gifts that I have deemed fit to bestow upon you. Ye are all alike deficient of the virtue of humility. To the humble bulrush shall be assigned the superiority. Its meek silence is in my ears more eloquent than your pompous boasts. Moses, the meekest of men, has been chosen by me, as the messenger through whom my Law shall be given to the world; and the meekest of men shall choose the meekest of trees, as the instrument with which to write that Law." And so Moses wrote the Law with a reed of the lowly bulrush.

THE STAGE.

THE Academy of Music seems destined this winter to be a scene of operatic entertainments excelling in brilliancy and superiority all previous representations held within its walls. The entrancing delights of Italian opera as rendered by those great artists of the Strakosch company were still fresh in the minds of an admiring auditory when the announcement was made that English opera, with our own favorite prima-donna, Miss Clara Louise Kellogg, as the principal attraction, would reign at the Academy for a brief period.

Judging from the large gatherings which assembled at every performance, Messrs. Hess and Grau, the Managers, have every reason to congratulate themselves on the generous support and encouragement given to them by the New York public. Not indeed but that they merited such support, for though their company could not properly or truthfully be termed great, they yet possessed sufficient merit and attractiveness to render whatever was attempted by them in a manner generally acceptable.

It would be more than unfair to draw any comparison between the Italian and English companies, since English opera is in no part of the world conducted on the same scale of magnificence as Italian opera, and because also a company such as is at present under the management of Mr. Strakosch, is not often seen on this western hemisphere. Without entering therefore upon the ungracious task of comparing the merits of the respective artists, or even without criticising the several performances, which our limited space will not permit, it will be sufficient to state that English opera has been seldom produced in better style or with more agreeable results. Every member seemed thoroughly imbued with the desire to please, and this painstaking spirit was fully appreciated by the large and fashionable audiences which assembled at every representation. Indeed the general feeling was to judge of the performances in their entirety and pass over individual faults. The orchestra and chorus were both of unusual strength for English opera and were in excellent training. The leading artists were Miss Kellogg, Mme. Van Zandt, Mrs. Zelda Seguin and Messrs. Habelmann, Joseph Maas, Wilford Morgan, Wm. Carlton, Henry Peakes, Edward Seguin and Gustavus Hall. The repertoire consisted of " Lucia," "Martha," "Maritana," "The Bohemian Girl," "The Marriage of Figaro," "Faust" and Riggoletto." The season embraced seven evening and two matinee

to

performances, one of the evenings being set aside for the benefit of the French Benevolent Society.

The final season of Italian opera this year will be entered upon on Friday, February 20th, and will extend over a period of six weeks. Prominent in the list of operas to be represented is Wagner's "Lohengrin," which hitherto has never been performed on the Italian stage of the United States. Mme. Nilsson is to personate Elsa, Sig. Campanini, Lohengrin, and Miss Cary, Ortrud. The scenery and dresses will be entirely new, and purchased expressly for the production of the opera in this country. The repertoire will include "Aida," with all its gorgeous scenery, and the well-known operas in which Mme. Nilsson has justly earned her great reputation. The friends of music will thus have another opportunity of hearing Italian opera exquisitely rendered by one of the best and most competent companies at present organized. The sale of boxes and seats for the eighteen nights and six matinees will be commenced on Thursday, February 12th, and the performance on the opening night will be "Lucia," in which Mme. Nilsson, M. Capoul and M. Maurel will appear. No time should be lost in securing seats, as we doubt not that the Academy will again be the scene of immense gatherings.

At the several theatres the changes during the past month have not been sufficiently important to call for any extended notice. The Union Square continues to run " Led Astray," which seems likely to hold its place on the boards for some weeks to come. Notwithstanding the attacks of the Herald and those so-called critics who are inimical to Mr. Boucicault, the public seem not to tire of witnessing this really excellent play. So great is the rush nightly that seats can be engaged a month in advance. For our part we adhere to the opinion originally formed as to the merits of the piece, and maintain that a more moral and unexceptional play has not been written for many years, and if we add to this fact the able manner in which it is produced, and the excitement it has created, chiefly on account of the warfare which has been waged against it, the reason is obvious why the public demand is still so great for it.

Mr. LESTER WALLACK is now appearing at his own house in "Money," and is making a reality of his performance by drawing good paying houses. At Booth's, "Elene" still keeps its place, while the same can be said of " Folline" at the Fifth Avenue. The Volkes are the attraction at Niblo's, and "A Round of Pleasure" is now nightly held at the Grand Opera House.

THE NEW ERA.

VOL. IV.

MARCH, 1874.

No. 3.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE JEWISH CONGREGATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES.

SOME years ago the editor of this magazine issued a prospectus announcing his intention of publishing a work on the histories of the Jewish congregations of this country. Without entering here upon the arguments advanced at that time in support of the project, it will be sufficient to state that his leading idea and hope was by means of the data thus obtained and furnished, not only to place before the

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by RAPHAEL D'C. LEWIN, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

VOL. IV.-9.