The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-07-15 00:00:00

THE EMPEROR OF BRAZIL IN A
SYNAGOGUE.

On Friday evening his Maj. ,ty the Emperor of
Brazil, accompanied by his Chamberlain, Nogueira da
Gamee, visited the Central Synagogue, Portland-street,
London, having previously intimated his desire to see
the building. As the evening service had concluded
the Royal visitor signified his intention to the minister,
the Rev. A. L. Green, of attending during Divine
service the next morning. The Emperor arrived
before eleven o'clock, during a pause in the service,
and was conducted by the president, Mr. Barnett
Meyers, to the pew occupied by the wardens, in
the centre of the sacred building. On the entrance
of the Emperor the entire congregation rose, the
minister intoning the special benediction prescribed
for Jews at seeing a reigning Sovereign, " Blebael art
thou, 0 King of Kings, who hath 'siren a portion of Thp
'lbw), to flesh and Wood." The scriptural Lessons of the
day were from the book of Numbers, c. 25, v. 10, and
faun Jerendab, c, 1, v. 1. The reading uf ale Law

wad -followed by the usual prayer for those who pro-
mote its study, and apply it for the benefit of man-
kind. This benediction was succeeded by the cus-
tomary prayer for the Royal Family, after wkich the
following special prayer was offered up in Hebrew on
behalf sus the Imperial visitor :
•' May Ile .lio blessed our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, :Moses and Aaron, David and Solomon. Mess, preserve,
guard, assist, and exalt His Imperial Majesty the Emperor
of Brazil, his August Consort the Empress, and, all Use
Imperial &nay. May the Supreme King of Kings, in ills
infinite mercy, preserve them and grant them life, deliver
them from nil Manner of trouts), and &Nos and sorrow,
and cause them to prosper in all their undertakings ! Mn;
the Supreme King of Kings in His infinite merry endue their
hearts and the hearts of all their councillors and nobles with
benevolence, that they may net with goodness unto all
Israel. In these slays and on our days may Judah be saved
and lame' dwell In safety: and may the Redeemer come
unto Zion. May this Ise ills graciona will ! Amew"

After this prayer, the sacred scrolls were then re-
placed in the ark, the choir and congregation chanting
the 29th psalm. The embroidered curtains of the ark
and the mantels of the scrolls used on this occasion
were those recently presented to the synagogue on its
consecration, awl the map Tail when the -Emperor was
standing in the centre of the building, anti the scrolls of
the law were being carried in procession to the ark was
impressive. The Emperor remained to the Am.,lah
or additional service, during whirls he quietly left the
synagogue without the slightest interruption to the
service. The Rev. A. L. Green preached an eloquent
sermon on the text " That thy days matt bc prolonged in
the land which the Lord thy God hath !fire). thee." The
service concluded with the hymn of " Adon Olam."
It is said that the visit of the Emperor to the
Central Synagogue is the first that has ever been paid
in this country by a reigning Sovereign to a synagogue
timing Divine service. It may be added, that His
Majesty is versed in the Hebrew language, and wan
consequently able to read and understand the service.