The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-07-09
PRAYERS FOR THE PRESIDENT.
Impressive Services OF the Washing
TON Hebrew CONGREGATION.


ton Hebrew Congregation.
Impressive ceremonies were conducted ut
the Hebrew synagogues to-day, and as 1t
was understood that the Rabbis were to
make the recent attempt upon the Presi-
dents life feature of their discOurscs and
prayers, the attendance ut each temple was
large. The attendance at the temple of the
Washington Hebrew Congregation, on
Eighth street, was especially so, and the
music rendered by the very excellent choir
was beautiful and impressive.
After the reading ofthc law the Rev. l..
Stern took the scroll of the law in his hands
and the Holy Ark being opened the whole
congregation rose while the minister in an
impressive aud trcmulous voice, recited
The Following Prayer:
"Our thanks, the thanks of whole ma
| ton, are offered TO Thee, o Lord and Father,
| who in Thy tender mercy has turned our
mourning into dancing; who hast taken
off our sackcloth and girded us with glad
ness With hearts bowed down in
grief and sorrow did we stand in prayer be-
fore Thee on our last Sabbath day, while to-
day new hope and pious confidence inspires
our souls. In Thy gracious and paternal
love Thou didst listen to the devout
prayers ascending to Thy throne from the
trembling lips Of many millions of Thy
| children.
The bloody Work of Darkness md
Fanaticism
has not proved successful. Our beloved
Chief Magistrate, though sorcly and dan
gcrously wounded, still lives and now o
Heavenly Father, we again lift up to Thee
our hands and hcprts in fervcnt prayer and
supplication for the continuance of Thy
loving kindness so tcnderly manifested
towards him whose life is priced so highly.
hat hat httt,
skill and care are able to accomplish will
not remain undonc, yet we feel, we know
| that help only cometh from Thee the
maker of heaven and earth. Thou givest,
Thou takcst life. Thou liftcst up the
falling, and Thou, Thou alone
healest the sick. Grant Thou, o
Father, that the most tender hopes of
A Noble and Heroic wife,
of loving and devoted children of loyal ma
ton, yea of an admiring world, may be fully
realized, and send relief and perfect recovery
to our beloved President, who, in these try
ing days, by means of his pious resignation
and admirable fortitude hath more than
over endcarcd himself to the hearts of his
people And grant furthermore, o Father,
that the tenderl love and touching sympathy
thrilling the hearts of all the people in this
broad land, binding them together in one
common cause, may have the happy ten
dency of removing from our midst all mar
row-minded prcjudces, all hate, and all
dissension, and direct the public mind
to the necessity Of instituting such health
full changes socially and politically, as will
save us in future from all crimes and errors.
Bless, o Lord with the choicest blessings
Our Beloved President, James Abram
Garfield,
and send him speedy and perfect healing;
| kIncc I, &c h,nx- nd hnrnin tyitn nd oil his
family bless the Government of our land;
bless our country and our people. Amer"
This prayer was followed by the following
hymn, feclingly sung by the choir, Miss
Hannah Nachman soloist:
o God of Israel hear us.
On the wings of prayer our hearts soar up to
heaven;
We acknowledge thy power supreme,
And thy mercy renewed each morn.
Thine, thine are our hearts,
o God of Israel hear us
Give ear to our petition!
Almighty, Beneficient, hear us
| Thine is the breath we're breathing,
Thine our hearts pulsations.
o God of Israel, hear us!
God, OmnipOtent, full of mercy!
God, Redeemer, hear our petition,
Answer our prayer
o, lsael's God Amen.
In silence, each member of the congrega-
ton then offered up the
Ritual Prayer for the Sick,
as follows:
Lord and Father, who art ever nigh
unto those who call upon Thee in truth, we
approach Thee humbly and sincerely, to i'm
plOre Thy mercy on behalf of our brother.
James A. Garfield, now lying on the bed of
, pain and sickness. Show compassion unto
Thy servant, and send him perfect heal
ing, so that he may again be able to join in
praises and Thanksgiving for the bestowal
of Thy bountiful kindness Amen"
The regular services closed with the
usual benediction, in which the following
was recited:
"May the Eternal bless the President OF
the United States and all the constituted
authorities, the officers of this District and
this city, that through them order may be
preserved aud right and liberty be fostered. y
The ritual of the Israclitcs, as followed
by the Washington Hebrew Congregation,
is full of passages appropriate for such &C.
casiOns and breathe
Pfcty, Resignation and a Sincere
Love of Country.
We extract the following from the prayer
book:
Lord, dwelling in the armament!
Who shall abide in Thy bright tent?
And whom wilt Thou forever bless,
To see Thy mount of holiness?
Who walkcth straight and acteth right;
Whose lips and heart in truth unite;
Who neer to Chandler lends his tongue;
Unto his neighbor does no wrong,
Who lowers not his brothers fame
Feels, as his own, his brothers shame;
For vile men hath no hattering word,
But honors those who fear the Lord.
An Impressive Scene.
When the news first reached the jewish
Temple in this city last Saturday, that the
President had been shot, it was announced
that death had ensued. 1t is custom
among the Hebrews to recte prayer
called Kadesh upon the loss of a parent, and
Instantly the whole congregation felt that
they had lost their father and with one ac-
cord sprang to their feet and with choking
voices offered up the same prayer that they
would have done if their natural parent
had been called away from life. The scene
was intensely dramatic and very impressive
many of the audience sobbing and lament.
ing aloud what, at the time they felt an
irretrievable loss. We cannot more apprO
priately close this notice than by copying
the JpWish ritual ptavar nm