The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-02
TEMPLE EMAS U-EL.
Completion Of Unique Deslgn-Happy
Blending of Architectural Styles
Beauties Of the Interior DecOra-
tion-General Description Of
the Temple-Wea.th Of
the Congregation.

Fifth avenue, corner of Forty third street, combating
with a rare and, II might be said, an unconscious
harmony six different orders or architecture-Sara.
cenic, Byzantine Meresque, Arabesque, Gothic and
Norman-nas at length reached, after great expendi
sure Of money taste and SKILL its eliminating etiect
IN the dazzling splendor or Its interior decoration.
The gorgeous srescoes in mosaic are finished, the
arb OF the covenant stands perfect in blaze OF
golden glory above it, the tablet OF the laws lies
open, and on its azure field the precepts
laundering from the Mount are all inscribed in
bcid and glittering characters The interior OF
rue temple is rich beyond comparison. No Christian
church among us can equal its aniuent extrava-
gance OF decoration All the primary ana secondary
shades OF color have been blended throughout its
ample area Of frescoed walls with unrivalled skill
and beauty, and Its magnificent organ, with Its
greet pipes reaching to the roof, win to-day roll
forth the grand old music OF Israel, thrilling the
Hebrew heart with the self same melodies that
stirred the spiritual fervor OF the worshippers in
eSolomon's temple.
OF the many imposing ediices dedicated to sacred
worship tnat line the sides OF Fifth avenue and lit
their delicate spires to the neecy clouds none is so
unique, so attractive and captivating 10 the eye
as this strangely constructed temple OF Emanuel.
From the Norman base to the Moorish minarets,
with their fairy-like tracing, all Is novelty and
beauty alike. Ii may not be correct measured by
the trne standard OF architectural TASTE and indeed
1t would be strange II it should, where such pot
pourr OF styles-a patchwork as various in patterns
as the coors OF Josephs coat-are brought
together to produce one desired effect; but
the marvellous adaptation OF parts in them
selves so widely at variance is a triumph Of art
that pleases the general while It cannot avoid
evoking the criticism that dislikes innovation. The
building s le4 feet in length, ninety-sx IN height
mr. m VIII The frnn m
has ricn effect In pillars arched openings ana cor
nices all deliberately carved In Dorchester and Ohio
stone. Some object to the want OF uniformity In
the shade OF the building material, While others
complain that tho contrast s not pro.
nounced enough; but 1t should be consid-
cred that here, as well as in the form
Of architecture, the design OF the artist still
predomiDates. The blending OF style is copied in
the blending OF color, while violence OF contrast is
everywhere avoided. The Two open beifres or elon
gated cupoas which rise upon either corner, sur
mounted by spires pointed with star signiying the
shield OF David, are exquisitely light and graceful
But, perhaps one OF the most charming Of the arch
tecturai devices is an open gallery which springs
the roof from either belfry. The gaze OF the
many thousands who, dag by day, ride along Fifth
avenue to the Park and back again will never tire of
these beautiful Moorish minarets. Poised at gduy
altitude on slender pillars, through which come
gmpses OF the blue sky beyond, they as II
ever ready TO be lifted up and waited away oy the
first breath OF heavenbound breeze.
The interior of the synagogue is divided into
nave, two aises and lransept. The large columns
which support the gallery and roof are Of Dorches
ter stone OF delicate neutral but the four small
columns are OF polished Peterhead granite. Above
the side aises and under the root there Is an open
gallery peculiarity often seen in the cathedrals
Of the Old World but never adopted here before. In
this gallery an extraordinary effect has been intro
duced OF character quite as original 1t Is artistic
From end to end OF either gallery a row
the outer side by curved tlnwork, '' painted ed
OF bright aZuiine color. When lighted up
exactly resembles moonlight bursting in ali It's sil-
very spendor through the windows at the sides.
The choir gallery at the front end OF the building
moor OF the Iempie every par OF the baustrade and
ovcry pipe OF the organ seems to be enamelled In
gold, amethyst and emerald The whole presents q
picture OF exceeding brllliancy, in keeping with the
rest OF The interior. The organ l said to be
the Music Hail OF Boston. It's great size cannot
be lully appreciated until one ascends to the choir
gallery and looks up the line Of these enormous
phi es that breathe the deep dlapason notes against
the roof itself But the music or that organ some
thing TO hear as its tones vibrate In huge waves OF
like pillows breaking into softly dying murmurs on
the beach. In this synagogue all is changed except
sept The change is the work Of the reformed
or hberalized Jews. Under the old dispen.
s ss men anu . women do not sit, Sit together;
organ or choir OF singers Matters are reversed
here as well IN progressive az in an aesthetic spirit
The sexes occupy seats together the service Ia read
from desk, or pulpit while the eleyating nspira-
tion OF music Is furnished by an organ and trained
choir OF singers. The woodwork OF both pews and
gallery Ia or solid unvarnished OAK carved in ara
besque designs and inad with coors in the vicinity
OF the ark. The windows are OF stained glass, the
pews are all carpeted and must be very luxurious
resting places during o prolonged service. The
aisle is lighted by series Of clustered jets, each
cluster resembling burning bush, and throwing, by
their combined erulgence flood OF mellow light
into the remotest corners Of the temple, bringing
out the cooIs In the mosaic rescoes with an addi-
time when the sunlight streams through the beau
uful rose window, the eject Is very fine The grand
ararc X umpS In se the spacs
admits OF nearly all that art can accomplish In this
particular without detriment to the general arrange
whispering gallery In ST. Paul's Within It's pre-.
clDcts football sounds like the reverbeTaons OF
tated In the original design has not beensscertalned
but 1t is feature nevertheless, worth the inventive
exercise OF securing.
At the rear OF the church q sumptuous committee
room Ia situated, fitted up In red upholsterng and
hung with three large. heavily framed portraits In oil
Of the President, LOUIS May; the Vice President
ing committee, Martin Dlttman. There are two
Hardrobes, IN renaissance STYLE at one side OF the
room and a long table, covered with red leather, IN
the centre.
on the second story, at the rear. is another CON-
mlttee room, fitted up In blue uphoistertng OF the
same character as the one mentioned In
the basement OF the temple 10 lee
ture ROOM capable OF seating large share
OF the congregation, and apart from this,
nearer TO the front, are nine small school
rooms where the youthful Hebrew mind Is indoc-
trinated In religious precepts and principles The
vesnbuie OF the temple Is handsome aud epacious
and It's decoration gives Just faint foretasts Of the
greater grandeur that presldes within. tablet at
either side Of the main entrance records the names
Of the trustees and the members OF the building CONF
mlttee to whose energy the temple owes It's exist.
ence. At either side OF the inner entrance il dona-
ton box for the charity hospital and one for the
orphan asylum. The poor and the friendless
bored through these modest mediums OF appeal.
IN ten pews from the pulpit sit every Sabbath ten
Inlionaires, and from that point back an aggregate
OF millions more is represented Did there ever Sit
together since the days that the fair aud regal
ruler OF Sheba was escorted by the gorgeous retnue
OF the court OF solomon to the temple OF that
-2onarch's ambition such galaxy OF worldly
wealth, and II might be ventureo, such galaxy OF
beauty and refinement The roof or the temple is
nat and cut into squares by the transverse arches
good deal OF elaborate polychrome painting alls
IN the spaces The best time 10 observe the many