SYNAGOGUE 



5669 



SYNECDOCHE 



ference and diameter of circles; c stands for 

 circumference, d for diameter, v for volume, 

 a for area. 



In chemistry either the first or the first two 

 letters of its English, Latin or German name 

 is used to designate a metal or an element. 

 Hg (from the Latin) is the symbol for mer- 

 cury; Fe (also from the Latin) is the symbol 

 for iron. H stands for hydrogen and for 

 oxygen. Such a symbol not only represents an 

 element, but it also stands for a specific quan- 

 tity of that element. O always means sixteen 

 parts, by weight, of oxygen; Fe always means 

 56 parts, by weight, of iron. So a chemical 

 formula may be constructed simply by putting 

 down the letters of the elements composing 

 the compound. Small numerals may be added 

 to each letter to show exactly what proportion 

 is needed. Thus, the formula for water is 

 H^O ; AgCl represents the composition of sil- 

 ver chloride; Al^SOih that of aluminum sul- 

 phate (see the article CHEMISTRY, subhead Ele- 

 ments). A.C. 



SYNAGOGUE, sin' agog, a place of local wor- 

 ship among the Jews. Supposed to have origi- 

 nated at the time of the Babylonian Captivity 

 (sixth century B. c.) , it was in existence wher- 

 ever the Jews had settled at the time of Jesus, 

 and continues among them to the present day. 



In New Testament times the synagogue was 

 built at the cost of the community. It was so 

 constructed that the worshiper, on entering or 

 at prayer, faced in the direction of Jerusalem. 

 The furniture included a chest, known as the 

 holy ark, in which were kept the rolls of Scrip- 

 ture used in the service; a lamp that burned 

 perpetually, symbolizing the presence of Je- 

 hovah; candlesticks for use on Sabbath and 

 feast days ; a rostrum for the reader and proba- 

 bly a desk on which to rest the roll; seats for 

 the elders, in front of the ark and facing the 

 people ; and seats for the congregation, the men 

 on one side and the women on the other, di- 

 vided by a screen. The ruler of the synagogue 

 was responsible for the service, and he chose 

 those who should take part. The elders formed 

 the lesser Sanhedrin, a body having civil and 

 religious authority over local cases. They were 

 examined by members of the great Sanhedrin, 

 but were elected by the congregation. 



The Great Synagogue was a body of 120 

 members, probably organized at the time of 

 Ezra and Nehemiah to define and teach the 

 Law. It is believed to have finally determined 

 the Old Testament canon. At a later period it 

 became merged with the Sanhedrin (which see). 



SYNDICALISM, sin' dik aliz'm, a condition 

 sought in the labor world by which the day la- 

 borer shall control all industry. Just the means 

 to be employed are difficult to state, for among 

 men who preach syndicalism and who aim to 

 bring it to reality there is not unanimity of 

 opinion. Syndicalists are not looking for suc- 

 cess through the Socialists; they do not hope 

 for results through politics, although many of 

 them belong to the Socialist organization. They 

 do not wish for ownership of industry by the 

 state unless they are strong enough to control 

 its policies, and of this they have no present 

 hope. They have learned to expect nothing from 

 legislative action which will strengthen their 

 cause. They do not even look for support in 

 their revolutionary plans from trade unionism 

 collectively. Syndicalism must be worked out 

 on lines peculiarly its own, for its supporters 

 recognize the impossibility of winning the ad- 

 herence of those who believe in the existing 

 order; those who aim to advance the great 

 cause of labor by working along lines which are 

 even moderately conservative, denounce syn- 

 dicalism. Its foremost advocates in America 

 are the members of the Industrial Workers of 

 the World, the most radical labor organization 

 ever known. 



The advocates of syndicalism have therefore 

 adopted a policy not countenanced by legal 

 standards. By harassing their employers, the 

 capitalists, whom they look upon as their ene- 

 mies, they hope to wear them down and force 

 them through never-ending losses to lose inter- 

 est in industrial life. It is proposed to accom- 

 plish this by boycotts, strikes, and particularly 

 by sabotage. When the capitalists are weak- 

 ened and in despair it is their purpose to in- 

 augurate a vast strike and in one supreme effort 

 overturn the present system and themselves 

 take possession of all industry. 



It is the hope of the syndicalists that the rail- 

 way workers shall control all railroads, that min- 

 ers shall control all mines, that factory work- 

 ers shall run the factories, and so on through 

 the whole industrial range. They demand all 

 the benefits that accrue from labor. E.D.F. 



Consult Brooks's American Syndicalism; Clay's 

 Syndicalism and Labour. 



Related Subjects. The following articles may 

 be consulted in this connection : 

 Capital Socialism 



Labor Organizations Strike 

 Sabotage 



SYNECDOCHE, sinek'dohke, a figure of 

 speech in which a part of a thing is used for the 



