True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-01-14
From the Boston Courier
A JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.


of the opportunity TO crafty my curiosity.
In company with one who was also stran-
ger, walked to the synagogue on Elm
street. The first thing which we encoun-
tered was IuIe, that the men only should
enter OH the lower floor, and the women go
into the galleries. The person at the door
very politely asked me TO walk IN pointed
out a seat and tod me to PIT on my hat
All the hien had their hats on, not except
ing the minister and his ASSISTANTS and the
former was distinguished by 4 hat, the rim
ofwhich was turned up with Il loop at each
side; he wore 4 black, like our Christian
cIergymen, and white cravat; he was
light compIeXioned, large featured, with
large sharp nose, and had, altogether, the
most intellectual face Otany IN the assem-
bly,. On raised platform IN the centre,
surrounded by heavy mahogany railing,
on each corner of which was an lmmenSe
candle in brass candle.s'icI;, stood at the
desk the minister and three assistants, and
one other was sitting on bench behind
them; Que was reading what appeared 70
be short sentences, and occasionally anoth-
er would Join In, and then the whole tour
would sin" out aud then the whole congIe-
CATION would respond; singing IN a loud
voice, and quite mu>lcoIiy five or SIX or
more Sylab.e>; then the minister would
read or chant, for the service was all con
Quoted in Hebrew, Suppose-at any rate,
it was 10 me an unknown lorgue. Each
man in the assembly wore white, or
dirty white, or a white Sate-coIoled mantle
or shawl. and they appeared to be OF differ
erent degrees; some of these nantes were
decorated at the ends with black or blue
black stripes, sometimes three small, one
broad and then three other stripes; some
wereslriped with only one stripe, and some
were striped with pale pink, some with
pale blue, and noticed one with pale
yellow aud white satin stripe. DuIHg
the g,eater pant Of the service; the mcn
were passing in and out, taxing OF the
mantle rs they went out aud rgSuming It
on their return; ard when 1t was pEl on It
was gathered up first in the two hands,
held our at length and brought up TO the
hips, and then thrown over the head on the
Stlbl tNNiNs Sbllli WIN N'lAl EfAAhN'NN - 4
like a tippCt, and some were spread open
down the back like large shawl. The
lower floor had seats for about two hundred
aud fifty, under each of which was box,
to which the owner had key, in which
was kept his mantla and his books, and
every SratwaS numbcred-Ihesenls were
plain benches with backs. like an old FASH
toned sctlcc, not stuffed painted TO initiate
oak. aud they were ranged IN straight rows,
four deep, on three sides. The fourth side
was mostly occupied by a handsome cir
cular temple, the roof OF when vas sup
ported by six handsome columns Of color
ed marble, or made like those IN lhe Dos
ton Merchants Exchange, of hard COM
position and of tie same ColOrs; on the top
Of lie tcmp.e-tarl can callitby no other
nam1-Was. IN the centre, a white square
tablet, with an inscription in golden He
brew characters, IN two columns or pages,
supposed Ia be the Fen Commandments,
The tablet was supported on each side by
golden cornucopla reversed, golden grapes
and other traits falling through work pan
neIled. and the part directly in front was
hid by white curtain, which extended
from the top TO the floor. The gallery
extended on three sides also the front was
white, aud on the top of the front was
heavy mahogany Misunderstanding, which
almost entirely excluded all view Of the
women lhcrc.rom. Around the coTicc of
the temple, which was also white, was an
inscription in golden characters. Back Of
the six columns, all was enclosed By ma
hogany work. At intervals on the front
of the gallery, were large caud.eStckS, IN
Which was candle; and in the Gentle Of
the west end was clock. The whole
appearance of the interior of the house VS.
impressive, but plain and VOID Of ornament,
other than have mentioned. The floor
was covered with painted carpet. on
which, round the front Of the seats, aud IN
the passage TO the door, was laid thick
straw carpet, TO prevent the noise ofpoople
walking.
As Tor the services, they were as have
said. IN foreign tongue and having no
explanation, | can only describe them as
| saw aud heard. There was one man
who, more particularly than the rest,
seciHrd % assist the minister: aud occa-
someone 'rontIe audience would
ascend % the desk. touch the end Of his
mantle 70 the scroll which lay before the
and then touch il % his lips /; he
would then humble over = few words,
and assistant would, with him, 20 through
a sort Of question aud answer, or the reciia- /