The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-12-30

she .xclaims. "Hear, oh Israel, the
Lord our God. The Lord is one,p This
ceremony occupied over an hour, or
rather that length of time elapsed before
the return of the candidate, though it
was announced that she was suffering
somewhat from nervous prostration and
desired to be alone awhile, During her
absence the males composing the congre-
cation removed their hats, took seats and
entered into general and familiar con-
yersation. The protraCted delay rem
dered some of them uneasy, and the
Rabbi had some difficulty in retaining
them all. Finally the Rabbi himself be-
came impatient and called to the ladies
to hasten their operations. AT last, at
nearly six o'clock,
THE CANDIDATE RETURNED,
accompanied by the full company of la
dies, who took their positions in the
back parlor with the folding doors drawn
open The male congregation resumed
their hats and their standing positions
in the front room. Miss McGoffey now
appeared in full dress. She wore an
olide-brown silk, striped with a lighter
shade of brown and trimmed profusely
with feather trimming. Her head was
still uncovered, but her hair was carefully
dressed, and back hair being braided and
coiled and decorated with white rose
buds. A bunch of white flowers was
also fastened in the bosom of her dress.
The long watch-Chain was omitted, but
she still wore earrings and other light
iewelry. She looked very pretty and at
tractive. She occupied the same posi-
ton in the room as before. When the
dispositions were all made the Rabbi ad-
dressed her briefly as follows:
LEAH, DAUGHTER OF ABRAHAM,
"By the answers you have made in the
presence of this congregation, and by the
other ceremony in which you have just
engaged, you have been made member
of our brotherhood. 1t now remains for
me to give you Jewish name by which
you will hereafter be known among us,
You will no longer be called Ellen, but
Leah, daughter of the Patriarch Abra-
ham, the founder of four faith. Approach
and allow me to salute you by your new
name."
Hereupon she approached the Rabbi,
who kissed her. Then picking up pa
per, he said:
"You are now q Jewess, member Of
our brotherhood and hope and trust
you will approve yourself a worthy and
useful member. l hold here the certifi-
cate of your admission, signed by the
President and other members of the con-
gregation, and by my humble self, which
| will read to you.
THE CERTIFICATE.
"We, the undersigned, bear greeting
and witness to all, that to-day, Thursday,
the 18th day of Kissley, $685., correspond
ing with December g. 1875, we have ad-
mitted, after duo examination and trial
and public confession, Miss Ellen Nc
Goffey, into the union of our creed IS an
Israelite; that we have given her the
name with which she shall be called in
the houses of worship and Israel, Leah;
and that we hope and pray that she will
become valuable link in our religious
brotherhood and true citizen of the
country. May God bless her. Amen"
After reading the certificate the Rabbi
again called the candidate to him, and
placing both hands on her head rever-
emily blessed her, first in the Hebrew
tongue and afterward in English, as fol-
lows: "The Lord. bless thee and pre-
serve thee. The Lord make His face to
shine unto thee and be gracious to thee.
The Lord lift up His countenance unto
thee and give thee peace"
This concluded the ceremony, and the
new member was introduced to all pres
ent, the men shaking her Lands warmly
and women kissing her, all calling her
Leah. Wine and other refreshments
were then served, after partaking of
which the company broke up.
WEDDING.
Later in the evening Miss McGoffey
was married to Frank Boskowitz, a young
Jewish gentleman from Nevada. Like
the ceremony of admission, this was
measurably private and purely informal.
All the usual pariphernalia of an Israel
itish wedding in the Synagogue was dis
pensed with. The bride was dressed as
at her second appearance in the above
ceremony. The Rabbi addressed the
couple few words of advice and admo-
milton. The ring was then produced by
the groom and placed on the brides
finger, the groom saying, "Thou art
hereby sanCtifed unto me according to
the laws of God and Israel" The Rabbi
thereupon pronounced them man and
wife, prayed over them and pronounced
the usual benediction.
The rest of the evening was devoted
to merry-making and enjoyment.-San