The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-04-16 00:00:00

A JEWISH DEISICATION SERVICE IN

LONDON.

The Central Synagogue, just erected in Great Port-
land-street. Loudon, was consecrated last week (6th
5630,) with all the solemnities of &Jewish Dedi-
cation Service. An event of so rare an occurrence in
London, although probally it will not be so rare in
the future, naturally aroused the interest of the thou-
s inds of Jews who lee in the metropolis. The appli-
e glens for fatilitlee to *flassa the cerettoiny wets con-
sequently twice as numerous an ths 1,000 sittings pro-
vided in the new place of worship. Large crowds of
the Gentile public gathered around the Portland-street
and Charlotte-street entrances, and remained there
during a service that lasted near'y three hours.
The handsome building, designed by Mr. N. S.
Joseph, has a frontage of 120 feet, and its Moresqe
design, its horse-shoe arch, and interlaced enrichments,
single it out from other English churches. Over the
east facade there is a lofty tower or campanile, and
mein porch at the base, skirted by groups of columns
with highly enriched capitols'. A maesive arch, elabo-
rately crnatheuted in telief, crowns the porch ; and
upon the keystone there is a fiebreet rendering of
Solotuou's words at the dedication of the first Temple,
"Thy people shall pray, and make supplication unto
Thee in this house.' The Orieutal character of the
structure is more strikingly exemplified within- En-
trance to the synagogue is effected through a cloister
100 feet long, and the size of the building seems greater
than it really is, on account of its square and lofty
shape. There are tiers of Moresque columns on either
side, supporting the gallery, clerestery, and vaulted
roof. The goat of the synagogue in about £25,000.
The Jew+ are mere parecular than their Gentile
fellow-countrymen in pointing their synagogues direct
to Jerusalem, and the apse of this building accordingly
faces the south-east. Separation of the sexes is an un-
alterable custom of Jewish worship. The men, out of
respect to the old injunction not to enter the Su-
preme presence with uncovered head, wear their hats
while worshipping. When the synagogue was filled
its manifold beauties and peculiarities at once
struck the stranger. The seats on the ground-door
rising gradually from the centre, so as to afford every
person a view of the altar, were filled with men whose
dark complexions and black hats imparted to the
body of the building a somewhat sombre shade. The
galleries were filled with ladies. On the centre of the
floor Is the Almenar, an enclosed oaken platform em-
bellished with elegant gilt et mchions, and occupied by
the ministers and chorister& At the south-east end
of the synagogue is the recess symbolical of the Ark.
Up to the coitimencement of the scenes it was covered
by a heavy green veltret curtain, eteckeidered with
scarlet and gold. Over It the "Perpetual light" sheds
a golden flood from the roof, and between it and the
ever-burning flame, the Ten Commandments are cut
on two typical tables of stone—live on each. Another
Hebraic inscription over the great arch is the ejacula-
tion of the Patriarch Jacob, "This is none other but
the House of God, and this is the gate of Heaven !"
The Ark is approached by a semi-circular light of
marble steps, which were on this occasion adorned
with choice greenhouse flowers. When in this general
description are included handsomely stained windows;
and that "dim religions light" which lends s subdued
beauty to even less pretensions architecture and less
interesting occasions, the picture of the synagogue on
its f, stet day is complete.
A farewell service had been celebrated in the old
synagogue earlier in the day, and afterwards the Chief
ldabbi, the Rev. Dr. Artem, the Dayanim, the wardens,
and other honorary officers of the congregations,
brought the Scrolls of the Law to the door of their new
abode. The Chief Rabbi (Dr. Adler) exclaimed,
"Open unto me the gates of righteousneei, I will enter
them and praise the Lord." The doors were opened,
and the reader and choristers chaunted while the pro-
cession passed tip the eentre of the synagogue. A rich
scarlet and gold canopy wag hsld ctcr the twos-cation.
The Scrolls o the Law are covered with 'tele et,
heavily embroidered, and surmounted with an imita-
tion, in either gold or silver, of a pomegranate. To
these are attached innumerable bells of tiny size and
musical sound. The scrolls are borne aloft on golden
staves, and at every movement the tinkle of their
a iornments could be heard above the singing of the
choir. When the procession ascended the altar steps,
Sir Moses Montefi ore, who had been selected as the
most honoured of the persuasion, withdrew the curtain,
and the doom of the Ark were opened. The procession
then marched seven times round the synagogue, while
the choir sang special dedication psalms. At the con-
cluiion the Scrolls of the Law were deposited in the
Ark, to remain there for ever, and the venerable Sir
Misses again drew thy curtain.
From an elegant little temporary pulpit placed to
the front of the altar steps, Dr. Adler preached a
sermon. He sketched the history of the Jewish race,
their persecutions and their vigour. He claimed that
all creeds were but a reflex of Judaiam, and that the
morals of every civilised country were based upon the
, Decalogue. In calling upon his hearers to be thankful
for their preservation, he said that under the benign
' reign of the Queen restriction after restriction had been
removed, until Jews enjoyed the same privileges as
their fellow-citizens. Alter the sermon came a icon-
secretion prayer, and a prayer for the Royal Family ,•
then an ode, written for the day by Mr. Michael
Henry; then ordinary evening prayer; and, lastly, a
Hallelujah chorus.
The minister of the synagogue, the Rev. A. L.
Green. performed the chief part of the service, assisted
by the Rev. J. Ascher, with the Rev. S. Lyons as
second reader. The Psalms had been specially para-
phrased by Mr. Lionel Van Oven, and the music was
composed by Mr. J. L. Mombach. Sir Anthony
Rothechild and the leading Jews of London were
amongst the congregation.