The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-09-28

good and wholesome instruction, so as to fulhl
the announcement of Holy Writ, THAT we
should become radiant Light unto all ma
tions'
Cause Thy choicest blessings to rest on this
congregation. its officers, and its mem bers
ION them and their children, on their wives
and all that belong to them" May they
have peace within their walls and prosperity
| within their palaces"
And do Thou, 0 Lord, bless and preserve
us. Cause the light OF Thy countenance to
up Thy coun tenance upon US, and grant US
| peace. Amen
10. Free-will Offerings before the Taberna-
| Gle.
H. The Choir sing: Ucnoochn Tomnr.
SERMON BY REV. J. wEsCHLER.
The Rev. J. Weschler now addressed his
hearers in IN eloquent and impassioned man
ner for about thirty minutes. He CONNIE need
by saving that the progress and advancement
| of congregation in Israel Is always Judged
| by It's houses of worship erected by its syna-
gogues and temples reared up for the service
Of the Most High. Synagogues and temples
| have been considered from the most ancient
time until the present the great centre places
| of religious life-the great levers of piety,
charity, and philanthropy. Hence wherever
! and whenever 4 synagogue was finished and
dedicated there was great rejoicing among the
faithful, and 4 full congregation assembled to
| render praise and thanks 10 the guardian and
| preserver of Israel.
| There are so many "reminiscences connected
| with every Jewish house of worship that Ian
| guage is entirely inadequate TO give us any.
| thing like q true picture of the same Israel
has ever been willing to contribute its mite
| for the erection and maintenance of its syna-
gogues and temples and Its pride has been, at
every period, TO embellish their outside and
inside appearance in every way possible
every piece of furniture, every vessel which
was procured was calculated to inspire Its
worshippers with the same feelings which the
patriarch Jacob uttered: How fearful is
| this place. 1t is none other but the house of
| God and these are the gates Of Heaven
If, continued the speaker, we take brief
review of the history Of Israel, and Of all
| the dark periods through which it had to
pass we will find that its synagogues We're
| like, at the time of Moses, The pillar OF cloud
| to lead and guide it by day, and the pillar OF
| fire to lead and guide it by night
The speaker next referred TO the fact that
| Israel had been prosecuted more than any
| other nation on record she had been driven
| away from country to country, and from place
| to place, and was often denied the free eXer
else of its religious belief; but noLwithstand-
| ing all this, it had never sanctioned the idea
| to be without a synagogue or TO diminish its
| space in any shape or manner whatever. The
| synagogue was Israel's shelter-its refuge
| nay, more, it was the Heavenly armor when
| all the outside world was against it.
| Thus you will see, my brothers and sisters,
| that we have o-day ample means Tor thank
| fulncsS and that we should come before our
| God with feelings of rejoicing, for he has
done mighty deeds for us, not only rs ma
| ton, but also for your congregation III par
ticular.
To-day we are assembled here to rededicate
our synagogue after il has been enlarged,
newly furnished, and Splendidly arranged for
| Divine service. Who would have predicted
| such q happy state OF affairs three or four
years ago, when the battle-cry of war, Of de-
| 1aSn tinn hon ri Nyh u
| we went, and when everything seemed dark
and gloomy2 This time has passed happily
off, and although all have suffered, and your
| first efforts must have been directed to recover
| partly the damages sustained here and there,
| and to provide for yourselves and families,
| You have nevertheless not forgotten the syna-
| gogue; and you have not only resolved, but
YOU have executed the plan, to make the syna-
| gorue what it should be--a delightful place
i sane tuary of the living God in Israel. You
were willing to make the necessary sacrifices
for this laudable object Therefore l bless
| YOU here TO day in the name OF God and may
this day, when we rededlcate our synagogue,
| open Il new era for this congregation. May 1t
| be the foundation of greater strength-the
| supers tructure of everything noble and
| great. Yes, may the words OF the pro-
| pllet be fulfilled, who says " Greater shall be
the glory OF the latter house than the former. y
| Thus spakc the prophet when he compared
the condition of the second Temple to that OF
| the first and so TO us seems our present syna-
| merely because II is more handsomely fitted
up, but because we have the words of the
prophet fulfilled.
We hope and trust that 4 brighter day is
approaching-a bright day to give us peace IN
All its significance, in every condition of life
| Peace for the congregation, peace for Israel
and peace for humanity ut large. But the
synagogue alone cannot give us this peace OF
which the prophet speaks-it Is 0niy tht
meanc-tbe lever to procure it. We mus
understand the voice of the synagogue, and
come there
l. With a thinking mind 9 with suscep.
tible heart; 3, with pious spirit; and l.
with 4 firm will.
| These points the reverend speaker proceeded
| TO discuss briefly but clearly and logically
The late hour 1T which we write compels
us to close our imperfect sketch or the able and
eloquent effort. ltwas listened TO through.
out with intense interest, and we trust pro-
duced Il profound and lasting impression
upon all present.
| THE BUILDING.
The building is now one of the neatesr and
most inviting in our city OF churches. The
recent enlargement and improvements have
contributed greatly to It's capacity aud com
fort.
The sacred altar and surroundings are thu
design of Ma or John Gibson, .Ir., one Of ouI
most skilful architects, and the work has
been most fai thfully executed by MeSsrs. John
George Gibson The painting is the work
of Mr.. Isaac Schriver, and we have never
seen Il more complete, tasty, and finished job
The tablets with the decalogue, are executed
in blue and gold on frosted ground, which
sparkles in the gaslight with the brtlliancy OF
diamonds.
The building committee, who deserve al
praise for their faithful discharge OF duty, are
NJ l.. Straus, w. w. Nelson, Isaac HutZler
NJ. Mllhiser, NJ. Rosen baum, and Joseph
Sirause.
There will be service in the synagogue thi:
forenoon, and the public is invited 10 attend
| THE NELSON STATUE was raised to its pedes
tai ont the Washington Monument about
. | o. clncl1 vestarday and when Uncovered wa