To the second objection it is replied by those who favor its use in the synagogue that the organ did not come to be generally used in the churches until musical instruments were used in the synagogue of Bagdad, as reported by the German traveller Petacbya, of Regens- burg. The venerable Alt-Neu synagogue of Prague possessed an organ in the commencement of the 17th century, while for some time previous to this a similar instrument existed in several syn.igogues in Spain and Corfu, as authentically reported. Certainly song and music formed an essential part of the religious service of the Temple, and was highly esteemed by the Jewish sages (see Krubiin, ch. ii). The Talmudists declare re' ligious singing a Biblical precept, and N'i"i!T3 explain the importance of that command, that singing disperses melancholy, as we sec with Saul, and excited a divine spirit, as seen with Elisha. Music must therefore be pronounced an ancient institution with the Israelites, and by no means an imitation of the worship of other creeds. The organ also forms no part of any religious statute with other creeds, and the objection C^l^n rpn cannot be raised for that reason. But even if such were the case, or would still cause some scru|)les, there is against it an answer in the Talmu<l (Sanhedrin, 39, c). While Ezekiel in one passage reproached the Israelites, "Neither have ye done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you" (v, 7), in another passage he says, "And ye have done after the manners
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of the nations that are round about j-ou" (xi, 12). This apparent contradiction the Talmud reconciles by para- phrasing, '• You have conformed with those that are bad, and disregarded those that are good." liashi, in ex- plaining that passage of the Talmud, remarks, " Good acts are such as that of Eglon, king of Moab, who hon- ored the name of God by rising from his seat" (Judg. iii, 20), which is recommended for imitation, although a heathen custom. Kabbenu Nissim says positively, "The law does not prohibit our imitating idolatrous customs, except foolish acts, but customs fomided in reason are admissible" (To A boda Sura, 33),
Against the third objection, that the Talmud (Sotak, 49; Gittin, 7) prohibits the playing of a musical instru- ment because of the destruction of the Temple, it is an- swered that the enjoyment of music was at all times allowed without any objection by the rabbins. Rabbi Shem Job Samun, of Leghorn, in his decisions, published in p"Iijri ri5''3, relates, " In Modena, a very pious and important city, where many learned and wise Italian and (ierman rabbins lived, among them Padubah, Lip- schitz, and Ephraim Cohen — the latter German scholars of great renown — existed a musical society, without any objection from the rabbins. One of the most esteemed and learned rabbins, I!. Ismael Cohen, gave permission, on inquiry, to a person to attend the performance of that society on the night of Hoshana Eaba." The whole literature of the Middle Ages, moreover, proves that, wherever song and music were cultivated, the Jews participated and showed great talents, and, ac- cording to the assertion of DTsraeli, the Jewish race is peculiarly fond of music. Even a pious scholar, author of the book of the pious, who lived at a very dark time, asserted that the practice of music is allowed on Cha- nuka, Purira, and at weddings. The practice of music was also allowed to disperse melancholy in hard times, and to incite to the study of the law, which formed the centre of all activity. See Deutsch, Die Oryd in der Synofjofje.
See, for a full account of the structure of the organ, Hopkins and Reinbault, The Organ, its History and Construction (2d ed. Lond. 1870) ; T(\\)((tr, Lehrhuch d. Oryelhaulamst (Weimar, 1855, 4 vols. 8vo) ; and the lit- erature referred to under Music.
ORGAN-CASES are not earlier in date than the 15th century. At St. James's, Liege, is an early example of the beginning of the 16th centur}'; that of Amiens was made 1422 to 1429 ; one at Old Radnor is carved, and of the early part of the 17th century. In Spain the or- gan-pipes are arranged in specified compartments, with those of one stf)p projecting from the principal range. They often have painted wings or shutters. See Wal- cott, Sacred ArchtBoloyy, p. 41G.
Organa, Andrea, a noted Italian painter, was born at Florence in 1329. In his youth he devoted himself to the study of sculpture, and later to architecture. Only in middle life did he take up the brush, but he soon secured a very enviable reputation as an artist in this branch. He died in 1389. Some of Organa's paintings are among the most noted of the 14th centurj'. Most of them are at Pisa. A very remarkable production of his is The Unicerscd Judgment. In it he painted his friends as in heaven, and his enemies as the residents of hell.
Orgia, Engl. Orgies (probably from Gr. 'ip^m, in the perfect topya, to sacrijice), or Mysteries, are the secret rites or customs connected with the worship of some of the pagan deities; as the secret worship of Ceres, and the festival of Bacchus, which was accom- panied with mj'stical customs and drunken revelry. These festivals are the same as the Bacchanalia, Dio- nysia, etc., which were celebrated by the ancients to commemorate the triumph of Bacchus in India. The word orgies is now applied to scenes of drunkenness and debauchery.