The Indianapolis daily herald. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1865-1868, 1865-12-09

THE NEW ffTBnEw TEMrtF-lAyfxG on 1
RS CoRSKR sroSy--CERENoSEs CONNECTED |
THERKwrrH.--Th nrrday, Thanksgiving day. |
was great day with our I-raelitei-h popuia-
ton. II bad been duly Published in the HER-
AID, sevcrai weeks ago. that, on the 9TH d /
December, the Hebrew Congregation Of this
city would perform the ceremony oflaying the
corner stone q their new synagogue, in pro-
ecss q erection on Market street, according 70
the very ancient customs attending such occa-
sions.
ExERcIsEs At THE TABERNACLE.
Notwithstanding the inclemency Il the |
weather, large audience had assembled at |
the Tabernacle, At half-past one o'clock, CON-
posed A. much Of Spectators a. communicates |
Of the Church. The exercises NJ the Taberna- |
Gle were az follows: First, Music by the
Band. second. An Address TO the Throne Of
Grace, by the Rev. Dr. LIlicnthal, OF Cincin-
natl. Third. Singing 10y the Choir; and,
Fourth, An Grafton by Rev. J. wechsler.
Minister Of the congregation.
The GRAFTON was n finished and highly
creditable production, betraying great crudi-
ton ON the part Of its author, both scriptural
and profane. Mr.. Wechsler paid n glowing
tribute TO our free institutions, and eulogized
the spirit Of liberation which enters 20 largely
Into the framework Of our political structure.
He spoke Of the steadfastness Of the Hebrews
throughout the world, and their unyieding
faith; how they had stood serenely amid the
crumbling fabrics Of centuries OF superstition,
martyrdOm.
T.s1. -. L.I
ereeds and had survived the wear Of ages be-
cause Of Of it, orthodoxy. 1t was life-giving
spirit and did not propose 20 torture or terrify
men into its standard Of orthodoxy.
Judaism had been prosecuted, but the day Of
its persecution Is past, and heneeforth those
who should uphold Its tenets would have less
Of obloquy 10 encounter than they who through
good and evil, through sunshine and storm,
had been true 10 the faith OF their fathers and
had preserved for present generations the gIo-
rious religion which, three thousand years ago,
had made the Holy Land vocal with the sound
Of religious worship. The Grafton Of DIR.
weschler was throughout eminently a national
and patriotic effort, exhibiting much research
and study OF our system Of Government. Fa-
naticism finds place in Mr.. weschler's
mind, and the keynote OF his remarks were its
Democratic institutions and It's broad liberal
| ism. We have space to make the extended
notice Of Mr.. weschcr's address that its merits
require.
THE CEREMONIES.
| Al the conclusion Of the Grafton the pro-
eession was formed and marched to the site of
the new church, where was performed the
ceremony Of laying the corner stone.
| The interest at this stage was very great.
and the crowd OF spectators large. not only
filing up the space around the foundation.
out from the adjacent fences and buildings a
large crowd OF spectators witnessed the pro-
| ceedings.
After prayer by Roy. J. Wechsler, Mr.. ii.
Bambcrger, President. read the following his
| tory Of the Hebrew Congregation OF Indiana
polls:
IL Is now something over nine years that the
indianapolis Hebrew Congregation has been
established. On the 2d day Of November. 1856
the first meeting was held, the congregation
/ organized, and a constitution and bylaws
were adopted. The first officers elected were:
/ vi. Woolf, President; DIR. j. NJ. Rosenthal
Vice President; Max Chaser. Treasurer: and
Ad. Dessar, Secretary. Ii commenced its ca
/ reer with about twelve members, and had, like
all young congregations, to struggle hard for
existence during the first year. Everything
necessary for a congregation haa To be proyi-
/ ded Tor, and II required much zeal and deyo-
| ton OF so few members 10 be successful. But
where there is will there is "A way, was prob
ably verified here. On December @. following
a committee was appointed TO secure suita-
BILE piece Of ground for a burial place: the
committee, however, could not succeed i'm ne
| gOtiating for such. until July :, 1851, when
the congregation purchased two acres of
| ground, very cligiby situated. and shortly az
terward had il fenced in and fitted up appro-
priately.
The congregation was the first nine months
| without minister, and had no place for Di-
vine worship. ON the 18th day of September,
! 1887, they engaged the services of Dir. Behr-
| man as Reader. Soon afterward ut the ensu-
ing holidays. Divine worship was held in a
| room i'm Blake's Block, which proved, howev-
er, entirely inadequate TO the wants of the
congregation, whose membership had i'm the
meantime increased to eighteen. At q meeting
held In May. 1853. committee was appointed
| to procure n suitable hall for Divine wor-
| ship, and the committee succeeded in getting a
lease for ten years Of n commodious hall in Ju-
dah's Block, where the congregation Il now
worshiping. had il handsomely fitted up at a
| considerable expense, and 1t was publicly ded-
| icated to the services Of the Most High on Oc-
| tober 4, 1893. Rev. Mr.. Behrman having left
the city, Rev. j. wechsler was elected Minis
| ter, taking charge Of the congregation Septem-
bes l, 1883, and continuing In office for three
| successive years. During that time the con-
gregauon got along smoothly, sometimes
| losing and sometimes gaining few members.
Rev. j. Wechsler established the first school
| for the instruction of the Jewish youth in
| religion, as well as other branches Of knowl-
| edge, and this school Is to-day in successful
| operation, and attended by some fifty child
l rem.
| During the year 1861, the membership ofthe
/ congregation decreased rapidly, and In July of
| the same year, there were but nine paying
| members LEFT. These few members were not
able to pay an acceptable salary TO minister
Rev. j. Wechsler left, and the congregation
| was a few months without spiritual leader.
| In December following they extended an
| unanimous call again 10 Rev. J. Wechsler
| which, owing TO other engagements. this gen
tleman could not accept Rev. Max Moses was
| elected, and entered upon his Office i'm Febru-
| airy, 1862. The congregation gaining new
members, advanced again, not alone in'strength
but also In the scale Of intellect and perfcc-
| ton.
In July. 1852, the American PRAYER Book
| was adopted instead Of the old form, and a
\ choir organized. Rev. Max. Moses resigninc
| the congregation was for some time again with
/ out minister, until May 1868. when Rev. Dr.
| kalish was elected. At n meeting held in the
] same month, a committee was appointed TO lay
the burying ground out in family lots. place a
more substantial fence around IL, and beautify
| the grounds. This was done. a good many
lots sold, and today the congregation can
Doast ot u cclnciIs we'll answering It's purpose
/ Further progress was made In the internal ar
| engagements OF the Synagogue, the same being
| renovated at considerable expense, and me-
lodeon purchased. Reform and progress had
become the watchword AZ the congregation.
! Rev. DIR. kalish resigned his position on
August 4th, and Rev. DIR. Wechsler was again
| elected. The congregation having now forty
members, felt a strong desire 10 obtain house
| Of worship Of its own, and on October 18th
committee was appointed 10 obtain subscrip-
tons for that purpose. As every good and
great work has it, difficulty. 80 also here.
| The good work was. however. diligently pur-
sued by the committee, and every member and
many who were not members. subscribed for
the good undertaking. On August 9TH
building committee. with full power for ac-
ton, WAS appointed, and this committee has