Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-06-18
The Washington Hebrew Conxrexn.

The WashingtOn Hebrew COnxrexn.
tf0n.
INSTALLATION OF THE NEW MINISTER.
This morning a large number of Israelites a.
sembled at the Synagogue on sth street, to hea,
the opening address OF the new minister called
to preside over the Washington Hebrew Congre-
CATION, DIR. II. Baar, formerly Of Brussels, Bel
gum. Dr. Baar is brother Of Mr.. Lewis Baar
one Of our merchants, and was called here "a
take charge OF this congregation some TIM
since. He Is the first Rabbi this couareoatior
has employed, their services heretofore hayino
teacher. DR.. Baar is Q thorough scholar and
divine. He is q young man. not above thirty.
hve years old, educated at Brussels, and Ia.
n mao, charge Of large congregation in Liver
misfortune TO lose his voice sometime since
and IL Is yet rather weak, but he speaks En- giish
distinctly and purely.
DIR. BARS ADDRESS.
After the usual opening ceremonies, Dr. Baar
commenced his discourse by saying 1t was with
Feelings OF hesitation and timidity that he un-
S aertoek the labors of his present mission; that
he had to express himself in Language not OF
ms native country, and that, like an uprooted
tree torn from the ground, he had come to try
the fertility Of tins soil. These reflections agi-
hand, when he looked to the warm rece ption
which had been accorded to him i'm his sacred
mission, his spirit derived new energy and hope
new wings. Transported by such thoug its, he
would enter upon the duties attached to bis
new sphere OF action with alacrity. In re-
guessing MS congregation to listen t0 him few
moments ne would try and point out in this hour
OF solemn reflection some thoughts which
actuate the Jewish clergyman in the benefit an 4
welfare Of his congregation. He would take his
seAt lor tins PURPOSE from the Misha Etnics OF
the athers.) "Hikel used to say be OF the dis
ciples Of Aaron, that is love peace and
pursue peace, love mankind and bring them
nearer 10 the fora" tlaw.) In tue first
place love aud pursue peace, Whatever
the high Priest, whether we think him interior
In mental powers to his great brother Moses or
whether We consider him rather little too over
mdulgent towards his own family and too yieId-
ing towards the weakness OF his own peopie still
IN one part we have to place HIM upon the
nlgnest pinacie OF virtue and merit, and that is
IN IN. the love OF peace, which pervaded his whole
NE. Peace was the ground line which went
through his family life; it was that ma gical link
which connected him in love with his eminent
brother and sister; it was at last the enchanting
power which assisted him in the discharge of his
congregational duties and impressed with "A aron,s
ulgnlhed character, he had come amongst them
10 speak in the words Of the prOphet-not with
great physical powers or strength, but in the
spirit OF God to promote the blessings of peace
Peace would be the commencement and peace
the end Of his labors; ii would be the comfort
which he would carry into their houses, the So
lace which he would instill into their hearts
the spirit which he would plant in their syna,
gogue, the divine watchword upon which he
would base the future prosperity of their
schools, and, like Aaron, who, as the
Scripture tells US. stood between the iiy-
ing and the dead to stay the plague
SO 1t would be his principal study and endeayor
10 reconcile apparent contrasts with each other
tnat Is TO join link OF harmony between differ
ent religious opinions. between passion and
calmness OF soul, between zeal and indifference,
between selfisnness OF mind and the more noble
impulses OF the heart. Continuing he SAID:
~ on Will be perhaps astonished to see In me
such an advocate Of peace, knowing that one OF
the greatest principles Of humanity, the yindl-
cation OF mans personal dignity was fixed and
decided by way of the sword upon the battleneIds
of this great republic. In answer to this point.
however, we must not forget that the great
events Of history which form a new era IN the
clSllizatioh OF mankind, viii always be decided
py the power Of the sword, whilst the great
moral and religious truths, upon which society
Is built, and which make man a masterpiece Of
the creation, will be surely best promoted and
united family spirit, in short by every united
sentiment which is able to connect man with
God and his fellow brother.
The great Hikel said: ''Love mankind" and
IN pronouncing such sentence OF worldwide
import and meaning, the wsest Rabbi has con-
trIbuted lar ge link to the great chain OF human
brotherhood. The spread of humanity extends
everywhere The various nations on the globe. |
by miraculous invention of human
mind, approach each other the more and more: |
and the commercial spirit, this great clvIzer OF |
the world, bears the flag of mutual understand |
Dg and friendly feelings to all chimes and zones
And it is particularly the Jewish Clergyman |
v no ought to hail with joy every attempt to draw
nations and people closer to each other. Have |
We lsraelltes not, with more or less liberty, |
enjoyed the hospitality of Yearly all the i
nations =? Have We not. with that large !
which is Peculiar TO our people, |
supported every principle that tended toward |
he likeness OF Go:l In every individual member |
u lhe large FAMILY OF mankind? Have we not |
REQ everywhere to keep up in the best spirit |
'ossible the most amicable relations between
nan and man? And TO extend this spirit OF |
InIatnal brotherhood will be my great care
ler from my brother tie 81 Efts& ,sairsy
'ur moral code Is the same, aud actuated
3, " that great heqqs s,.., Of Moses love
Minister the most friendly feelings between
,ur people and other religious bodies. Do not |
he golden rays of hope, so necessary for our
enterprise and success, after they have vanished |
rom our face on the other side Of the ocean |
Use again here with renewed splendOr and on |
hese free shores the stretched out arms OF hui
nanity receive the restless pilgrim and the
weary family father, the chain-bound citizen
md the youthful laborer, the shipwrecked
raider and the prosecuted thinker-in short, |
ZACH honest mind which longs for a suitable |
phere OF activity In which it may develop its
particular talents? As no other country in the |
world has such an opportunity for the spread |
humanity as this one, entreat you to as /
list me in my endeavor TO strengthen |
he feelings OF human brotherhood more among
,ur fellow-men. The cultivation OF such feel |
ngs is the safest means to check that spirit of |
atal intolerance which lately has been uplifted /
towards our poor brothers in ROumania. | am
'ure il only the smallest portion Of that ILL |
guided population had been impressed with Hi |
Sefs words, Glove mankind" our age would |
have been spared of seeing acts perpetrated |
over which humanity and compassion, the twin |
sisters OF love, must shed tears of sorrow. |
Therefore let us pray that Hikels words, |
ike fertilizing showers, may soon fall |
lpon that love-barren country of persecution |
N order that spirit may grow up more in |
harmony with the dictates of civilizing human \
~. 1t behooves us, for the purpose of drawing |
mankind to the Lord, to show by our daily |
,xsmple in life how sincerely and honestly we |
ourselves are impressed with the moral and |
eEgious teachings OF Holy Scripture. 10 work |
N this spirit, and explain the sacred volume in |
II purity and simplicity, will be my earnest |
that the religious idea which am |
Zping to represent win neither be that of i'm |
movable orthodoxy nor that OF sweeping radi- |
,alism. Having a deep regard for the teachings |
IF our fathers, but seeing at the same time that
he age we live in cannot and must not |
hut itself out from every progress, as
BUR whole modern life is based upon
ideas, shall feel no hesitation to
advocate the closest union between tire relig-
ous spirit Ut the past and that OF the present.
And as our religion has gone through all the
phases Of historyf0r the last two thousand years
without that one main principle of its sacred
teachings being weakened or cast aside, 50
place tor the future this divine gift OF Heaven