The times., 1897-09-17
Cornerstone Laying of The New
Hebrew Temple.
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY THERE
A Great Crowd Assembled to Wit
ness the Services Addresses by
KYeII-Enown Prominent AIen-The
President Much Interested The
Chair He Used Marked.


the site OF ,he old building, which stood Oh
Eighth street, between II and ] streets.
in the presence OF n vast multitude Of in
terestea spectators. Prominent among
tic distin guisheG invited guests We're
FresiaenU Mckinley, Postmaster General
Gary, Secretary Alger, Secretary Sher-
man Secretary Bliss, aads scrslary Wilson.
Among the ministers of the city who wit
messed tie ceremony were Dr. Alexander
Kent, 5f the Peoples Church; Rev. Chal-
p.crs T. Easton. Dr Byron Sunderland,
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church,
aua Rev. Or ;. II. Green.. of Calvary Bap
tiSt churcll The presidents Of the Hebrew
congregations OF The city were also present
Tue District government was represented
hy Commissioners JOHN b. Wight
Everything cOrspired 10 make the occa'
sion most auspicious and befitting the
lcs.utiful temple, The erection OF which
II was intended to commemorate The
I,lar.s OF the arrangements committee Were
perfect il every detail and he program OF
e, eTUises was carried out without hitch
or halt Facing Eighth street a platform
measuring 100 10y 60 feet was erected foc
the accommodation OF those who were TO
AGFE AiEhk III XIX AEANA-4NnS AAAS AA4' @A7NtA-
;-ulshed visitors. Immediately in front OF
this was the cornerstone. a huge block
OF granite measuring 4x3x2-12 feet,
held in place toy a palley. The front o:
tne platform was tastefuny decorated
with the national colors.
ON the front part Of the stage, in full
view of the cornerstone, were President
Mckinley and hls Cabinet ana the minis
.-lR.a. FfF
GERS OF tie Grand Lodge Of the District,
r. A. A NJ, in fun regalia, with officers
and members Of nearly all the local lodges
Of Masons. on the right were the members
OF tie board Of direction OF the congrega-
ton and the building committee, together
with the committee on invitations.
AlthuugH the ceremonies attending the
laying Of the stone did not begin until >
ocisck. long before that nour leJween
3 600 and 1000 spectators crowded
Eighth street from II u / streets A few
minutes after o oclock the Canton Potomac
Drum Corps, thirty strong, came naarching
down Eighth street. playing HAL TO the
Chief ana he next moment President Nc
Kinley arrived and W as given a rousing
welcome by The vast audience soon after
the arrival OF the Presidential party the
exercises were opened with prayer and az
address br the Rev. DR. Stern. pastor oi
the Washington Hebrew Congregation. Dr
Stern said:
1T is not an unusual or rare event
in a general sense, that has caused Ut
TO assemble here today. Most conspicuou,
among the prominent structures OF cities
ereat and small, in this wide land yea. oi
village and hamlet as welfare those drtii
Gated 10 tie worship Of the Most High
with these, the number is constantly in
crcasing.
"Am9ng these, Jewish houses of wor
sinp costly temple and humble synagogue
arcproPortioas tely well represented. Every
where and at all times we have been mind
ful Of the divine in junction: Thou shall
build unto me sanctuary, that I ma!
dwell among thee. Even in the inhos
pitahIe wilderness, through their forty year,
gurney, the pillar Of clouds did not depar
from Israd by day nor the pillar of fir
by night; even as then and there, th
ark Of the covenant and the perishabI
Sanctuary accompanied them from plac
to place; so almost throughout the fort
Centuries which have elapsed since thi
first Hebrew went forth in his divine mis-
sion 20 teach and spread knowledge of tn
oIiy one God
.-Ou free American soil as a component
part OF a great and free and happy ma
tion- that at its first inception solemn.
declared the equality Of all men withou
TeLaId TO nationality or creed, the Aneri
car jew ue 20 himself and his traditions
has sought To give visible expression 20 hi
loyalty and faithfulness as Jew ami a
citizen 10y tie erection Of magnifiCeu
temples in the various cities OF the Unit.E
Only here in the very capital Of the nation
the logically most fitting place, such
monumental structure did not exist. Lon
have we felt its want; long and lOvingl
have we looked forward to the day tha
would grant rs the consummation OF on
cherished hopes. That day has dawne
at last, and heartily do we rejoice in tn
event We feel tnat this is an even
OF more than local significance; that j
marks an epoch net alone il the lst0r
OF our congregation, but in American il
daism.
And may ! he permitted To briefl
refer to the fact that in more thai
an ordinary sense the rearing OF thi
sanctuary, at this particular Urslc, is q
Importance and significance. 1t VIII ris
test against that ridiculous. .prepoSterou
IcticE coming 10 tie surface now an
theT., and strangely enough with renewe
fore in these latter days, that Palestine
thousands Of years ago the home OF ou
anccs1ors, and sacred today 10 jew an
Ger tilc alike, he the country Of the jew
o. modern times stll: and that In th
various countries il which they dwell tC
1ty. they must be regarded as strangei
and aliens. Let theorists and visionists tai
OF rc-estaldiShng a Jewish state in til
distant East; let some good people b.
hold in such movement the fulfilmeI
OF certain spiritual prophecies. The la,
Ing cf the corner stone Of this monuments
structure, in which our children's childre
VII. pray and worship, emphaticalIy pr
oiainls tie falIacy OF such attempts, tt
fUulity OF such hopes.
Witness this stone pile and solemn wi
ness-tlte corner-stone-that the Je
loves his religion: tut thatthis very lovefn
plies aE ardent devotion to the country ths
grants him the free exercise thereof; tht
this own love OF country is supreme an
all absorbing, admitting Of no alienatic
or uffertln by either tradition Of Il
past or hopes OF the future.
I'll mission u the jew today in all q
countries of the globe, as ever, is to aid
the advancement Of religion and moralt
civilization and enlightenment, and
further tho progress Of the human race t
War,l that happier goal To which mankln
slowly but steadily is tending"
At The conclusion Of his address, q