A FEW WORDS IN CONCLUSION.

A Prayer-book, like the Bible, has its PREFACE‎ written in the human heart, hence I omit it; but I dare say a few words in conclusion.

My opposition to ‘new prayer-books’ is well known, and my aim to do away with the evil is recorded in the Jewish press since 1868, when, quite a young man, I was a member of Rabbi Wise’s family, and by his side an acknowledged power in the affairs of American Judaism. In the Israelite of August 16th, 1868, I wrote: “Thursday, September 10th, 1867, Dr. Wise and myself visited Rev. Dr. Adler in New York. Dr. Wise came to dedicate the Emanuel Temple and took me along. I remained after he left, and Dr. Adler proposed the following: ‘Dr. Browne, I think the dedication of my temple a very favorable opportunity to reconcile Einhorn and Wise. Their entire enmity comes from their prayer-books. Let us then get them to give up their T’filos; and make one of both jointly. You have all the influence with Wise, and I will persuade Einhorn.’ I accepted, and returned in the afternoon with Wise’s full authority to act for him; but Dr. Adler met me with a disappointed look, saying: ‘Einhorn refused to meet Wise, nor would he give up his prayer-book.’” In my Jewish South of July 5th, 1878, in a leader on the Milwaukee Union Convention, I wrote: “Do away with the prayer-book evil, and engage competent, non-partisan men to write a ‘Union Prayer-Book,’ to be sold by the Union at cost.” I then made that unpopular motion myself, which was ruled “out of order” by both ‘‘opposition parties.” The people, knowing this, will be surprised to see a new prayer-book, issued by Browne, and therefore I owe them this explanation: In 1881 I accepted the call of a small, uptown congregation in this city, and had to adopt one of the existing reform prayer-books. But now the Temple Gates of Hope, having a larger attendance by far than any other of our Temples, the congregation saw fit to secure a prayer-book of its own, because its dignity requires it to do away with an ‘‘adopted” book. I publish this prayer-book therefore, chiefly because my congrega- tion wished it, yet do I still hope for a ‘‘Union Prayer-Book,” and shall gladly be the first to give up my prayer-book for Union and Peace. And having consented to issue this book, I was guided by the following principles:

1. A Prayer-book is intended for people that pray. Philosophers, scientists and agnostics do not pray, hence I did not consult their views.

2. People that pray believe in the Bible and in the Resurrection of the dead, and I retained all prayers touching creation and resurrection.

3. The seventh day is the historic day of rest, the Sabbath of our fathers; hence “Friday Evening Talks” with service at a convenient time (8 P.M.) are introduced for the benefit of those who cannot—in spite of their best will—attend services on Saturday. Friday evening, the ‘‘SABBATH,” is ushered in, and if we cannot entertain our hebdomedal guest through the day, we give at least a hearty ‘‘welcome.” Friday Evening Talks, exclusively in English, are devoted to Bible discussions as a rule, and occasionally—according to emergency—to the defense of Judaism against its enemies. The success of those Friday Evening Talks, as means of instructing our young people and defending our rights these three years, will no doubt lead the other New York congregations to follow the example of the ‘‘Gates of Hope,” and thus silence the clamorous voice of ‘‘Sunday-Sabbath advocates.”

4. America is our ‘‘promised land,” we are permanent and happy citizens of the United States, and as such we must pray for the prosperity of our country, and not for Palestine of old; especially after we know full well, that a “restoration” and return to Jerusalem would not be accepted, if offered us, with all the Bible promises strictly fulfilled. Every now and then some writers of ours do us injustice by artieles which make us ‘‘yearn and pray” for a return to Jerusalem, stamping us at once as unwise, as well as ungrateful to this free country, where we live in prosperity and peace. I have, therefore, guarded against these unreasonable “prayers” as to Pales- tine or Jerusalem, in the Prayer-book intended for American citizens.

BROWNE.
1433 Lexington Avenue,
January 12th, 1885.