ng with the times. The _Jewish Record_
says, "That the Synod of Jewish Rabbis, which has just been held, has
recognised three new principles. 1. Individual authority in religious
matters. 2. The primary importance of free scientific investigation. 3.
The rejection of the belief in Jewish restoration. The Synod also
recommends choral services and the use of the organ in the synagogue, and
musical performances on Sabbaths and festivals." This paragraph is not
exactly correct. The Synod was one of little importance, and the
principles enunciated were not affirmed, only discussed; but I quote it
as an indication of the spirit existing in our day in all the religious
circles of our land.

CHAPTER III.
THE REFORMED JEWS.

Sappho, implies Mr. Pope, at her "toilette's greasy task," is quite a
different individual to "Sappho fragrant at an evening mask." Just as
much does the Jew of the West-end, the Jew of society, rich and
cultivated, the Jew who gives good dinners, drives in a faultless
brougham, on whose fingers diamonds sparkle, differ from the Houndsditch
Jew, toiling along painfully under a load of ol' clo' considerably the
worse for wear, or smoking bad cigars in the Effingham Saloon. In the
same way do the synagogues of the West differ from those of the East. In
place of that in Portland Street, the Jews have erected a gorgeous one,
towards which the Rothschild family have subscribed 4000_l._ Those in
the Haymarket and at Bayswater and Islington are clean and comfortable,
and that in Margaret Street is especially so.

On Saturdays service commences there at ten and terminates at one. Let
us go there. As you enter, of course you face the ark. On each side
benches, well cushioned, are placed. On the right of the ark is a
pulpit. In the middle is the raised platform for the readers and the
rabbi, the Rev. Mr. Marks. There is a gallery facing the pulpit, in
which is an organ, an innovation of which the orthodox do not approve, as
it implies Sabbath labour, and there is another innovation I dare say
equally shocking. Actually in the side galleries appropriated to ladies
you can see them. People of an uncharitable turn often insinuate that so
many young men attend at such or such a church that they may see the
ladies. I don't think the fact that you can see them in Margaret Street
Synagogue adds materially to the male congregation. Yet Hebrew maidens,
some of them, have been and are beautiful a