place in our modern synagogues, is given:--

"The ceremony of circumcision, as practiced by the Jews in our own
times, is thus: If the eighth day happens to be on the Sabbath, the
ceremony must be performed on that day, notwithstanding its sanctity.
When a male child is born the godfather is chosen from amongst his
relatives or near friends; and if the party is not in circumstances to
bear the expenses, which are considerable (for after the ceremony is
performed a breakfast is provided, even amongst the poor, in a luxurious
manner), it is usual for the poor to get one amongst the richer, who
accepts the office, and becomes a godfather. There are also societies
formed amongst them for the purpose of defraying the expenses, and every
Jew receives the benefit if his child is born in wedlock.

"The ceremony is performed in the following manner, in general: The
circumciser being provided with a very sharp instrument called the
circumcising-knife, plasters, cummin-seeds to dress the wound, proper
bandages, etc., the child is brought to the door of the synagogue by the
godmother, when the godfather receives it from her and carries it into
the synagogue, where a large chair with two seats is placed; the one is
for the godfather to sit upon, the other is called the seat of Elijah
the Prophet, who is called the angel or messenger of the covenant. As
soon as the godfather enters with the child, the congregation say,
'Blessed is he that cometh to be circumcised, and enter into the
covenant on the eighth day.' The godfather being seated, and the child
placed on a cushion in his lap, the circumciser performs the operation,
and, holding the child in his arms, takes a glass of wine into his right
hand, and says as follows: 'Blessed be Thou, O Lord our God, King of the
Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine! Blessed art Thou, O Lord our
God! who hath sanctified His beloved from the womb, and ordained an
ordinance for His kindred, and sealed His descendants with the mark of
His holy covenant; therefore, for the merits of this, O living God! our
rock and inheritance, command the deliverance of the beloved of our
kindred from the pit, for the sake of the covenant which He hath put in
our flesh. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the Maker of the Covenant! our God,
and the God of our fathers! Preserve this child to his father and
mother, and his name shall be called in Israel, A, the son of B. Let the
father rejoice in those that go forth from