The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-08
many years ago at the building of the Ma

many years ago at the building of the Ma
son street Synagogue.
The proceedings opened with the per-
Torrance of music by the Pacific Hebrew
Orphan Asylum brass band. The young
sters, under the guidance of their leader,
acquitted themselves admirably.
Julius Kahn addressed those assembled.
He congratulated the mem bers of the con-
gregatlon for having succeeded thus far in
their aspiration to build a new house OF
worship. He reviewed the past history OF
Ohabai Shalome, tracing its origin from
the time when the so-called reform move
ment started throughout the European
Hebrew congregations, and later found
footing in America. Of the ninety orig
anal members, ten were present at the gath
erlng yesterday. At the meeting of men,
bers who left the Temple Emanu-El in 1864
a building committee was appointed and a
brick building accommodating 900 persons
was erected on Mason street near Post.
The cornerstone was laid on the 28th day
of May, 1865, and the contents of the box
inserted therein were included in the new
stone laid yesterday.
Mr.. Kahn stated that it was owing to the
lndomltable perseverance of the members
OF the Auxiliary that the new place OF wor-
ship was about to be built. He mentioned
some of the features which will be prom
inent in the finished building. The plans
will include a stage, well-fitted retiring
rooms, and a hall for the Ohabai Shalome
Auxiliary Association, the committee hav-
ing taken this means to mark its sense of
the services of the Auxiliary. The build
ing will be completed in time for the
Hebrew New Year next September. The
speaker concluded by hoping that this
would be the beginning of a new era of
prosperity for the congregation which had
so far weathered the attacks of time.
a. Altmayer, president of the congrega-
ton, In a short address stated that his con-
gregation would continue firm in the sup
port of the principles of conservative
Judaism, and he expressed the thanks of
the trustees to the many persons who had
lent their aid to the building committee.
Prayer was offered by Rabbi Jacob
Nleto, of the Congregation Sheriff. Israel,
and after solo, sung by Mrs. Tenney, the
reverend gentleman delivered the address
of the day. He said:
My friends, at the cordial invitation of
the president and directors of this conere-
cation, have been asked to address YOU
this day at the important function of lay
ing the cornerstone of the synagogue
Ohabai Shalome. / would like to preface
my remarks with few words that were
spoken by the old patriarch, Jacob When,
after being driven from home, he trudged
the weary desert by himself, he expressed
his thankfulness to God by saying: This
stone, which | set up as a monument. shall
be house of God Verify, this has been
the sentiment of our race. 1t has been the
constant ambition of the Israelite to erect
place wherein he may give thanks to the
deity Tor his loving care of all his creatures
1t has been his constant prayer, Blessed
be thou who openest thy hands and salts
fest the wants of ALL A people receiving
from the world the least liberation. vet in
their prayers breathing the broadcast SYM
pathy that man can conceive.
"Ohabai Shalome will build temple To
God. The members will come within it's
walls to thank him for that he has satisfied
the wants of all flesh. No PRAYER will he
breathed Tor Israel or Jew alone, but for all
mankind. Ohabai Shaiome, The Lovers
OF Peace is name which in itself suo-
gests noble and sweet sentiments. There
cannot exist true worship where there is
not peace. We bury the stone with the in
scrlptlon Lovers of Peace Friends. let
us not also bury the sentiment of the
words, or, If we bury it, let us bury it deep
down In our hearts in order that we may
call 1t up when occasion arises: and when
storms threaten to break over our heads.
let this sweet sentiment be the one that
Shall draw us together once more, make us
united In one common bond and with one
divine mission. The synagogue may be
beautiful structure; it may rival the finest
IN architecture, but it is not to the syna-
gogue alone that we must look for the con-
tlnuance OF our religion. The finest themes
may be discussed in the pulpit or denun-
cation may be hurled from the rostrum,