Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-27
Celebrated With Impressive Religious
Services by Jewish Congregation.
BEGAN LAST EVENING AT SUNSET
Rabbi Stems CongratuIatory Mes.
sage to His People.
ARK OF THE COVENANT

The celebration of the beginning of The
Hebrew New Year. which becan last .,cp-
ing at sunset. was observed vi;, impr,s
siNe religious services by the eonvrera-
ton OF that faith i'm this city The meet
ing was held In the First Congregational
Ihurch, the use of which ediiice having
been rendered by the pastor. Rev. DR. s.
M Newman, and his congregation
The large auditorium was filled. there
peing scarcely vacant seat. Rev. Dr.
Stern presided and MIR. I. l.. Blout. pres!-
dent of the congregation. occupied a seat
on his right. with Mr.. Philip Peyser. am
officer of the society. on the left The
music was furnished by a choir composed
jointly of that of the Hebrew Conrresa-
ton and Of the church I'm which the serv-
ices were held. The platform WAS dec
GRATED with flowers. and the Ark Of the
covenant occupied prominent place upon
The exercises were begun by the sing
ing of the doNoloey. Praise God. From
Whom All blessings Flow Will. at the
same Tim, the orgauist. DIR. George. w
Walter. played Hebrew anthem.
After tn, singing OF an appropriate
psalm, Rabbi stern read the portion of the
ritual set apart for use on New Year day.
DIR. Stcrn's address,
DR.. Stern, in his address. called attention
to the fact which he mentioned. he said
with feelings of gratitude, that not only
had the Congregational Church been ten
dered the Hebrews for use during the pres
ent holiday season, but that a similar offer
had come from the Church of Our Father.
Continuing MIR. Stern said, i'm part:
The new year dawnS upon US most
auspicidusly. With the inspiring. never-to-
be-forgotten scenes of the laying of the
corner stone of our new temple stiil fresh
nalr cd n~irh
happy visions of our sanctuary complete:
of an increased religious enthusiasm and
a broadened spiritual life and activity i'm
our midst, as promising gifts OF the coming
year, We are delighted, at its very thres-
hold, with the kindly. fraternal feelings
manifested toward us on the part OF our
fellow citizens of other creeds. feelings
which We most heartily and sincerely re-
ciprocate.
Truly the best means of wiping out even
the last Vestige Of prejudice is the gradual
removal Of such barriers between creed and
creed as would prevent their nearer APP
Proach 10 and contact with each other.
The leVeling of such barriers tends TO ex-
pand and broaden the view. 1t opens the
eye to the truth that goodness and godli-
ness are not confined to any particular
creed or dogma-a truth which Judaism
recognizes i'm the maxim: The righteous OF
all denominations will inherit the life TO
come. 1t causes US. like Jacob of old.
awakening from his sleep, TO cheerfully
acknowledge, Truly. the good is in this
place, and L knew it not"
Significance Of the Event
DR.. Stern explained the significance of
the religious observance of the New Year,
and referred in eloquent and feeling Ian
suage to the death of the late president
of the congregation, Mr.. Henry King, jr.
The services were closed with the pro-
nouncing of the benediction, i'm which the
favor of the Lord was asked upon this
land, from the beginning to the end OF the
year.
Services Today.
The celebration was continued today at
the same e1iice. the exercises beginning at
10 o'clock, and again a very large audience
was present. The musical part OF the pro-
Sram was rendered by the regular choir of
the congregation, with DIR. George W. Wal
ter as organist. Rabbi Stern made an adj
dress in keeping with the event. and the
services prescribed in the ritual We're close
ly followed.
A few of the stores kept by Hebrews
were closed liz accordance with the ancient
custom, but at most places. conducted by
members of that creed, there was no sus-
pension of business. Rabbi Stern was
yesterday presented by the members Of his
congregation with a very elegant upright
piano as a New Year gift.