Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-17
Hebrew Temple Corner Stone Laid
With Plumb, Square and Level.
PRESIDENT -M'KINLEY A WITNESS
Addresses by Rabbi Stern and Oth-
ers Of Congregation.
AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

9Th street near H street northwest, which
took place last evening. was worthy in all
respects of the great congregation by
which the sacred edifice is to be built.
The weather was most pleasant, and the
occasion otherwise as suspicious as could
be desired, the attendance CT almost four
thousand persons, representing every
Christian church in the District. indicating
the fraternity of feeling among churches
which has supplanted the spirit of preju-
dice which once prevailed.
Among the many prominent persons on
the platform, which had been erected spc-
Mckinley. Secretaries Sherman, Bliss, Will
son and Alser, and Postmaster General
Gary; also Rev. DIR. Byron Sunderland
Dr. S. H. Greene of Calvary Baptist
Church; Rev. Dr. Thomas Chalmers Eas-
ton of Eastern Presbyterian Church, and
Rev. DIR. Alexander Kent of the Peoples
congregation, the members Of the build
ing committee. Messrs. William Hahn,
chairman; Meyer Loeb, secretary; Samuel
Bieber, treasurer: Leopold Luchs. Ammen
Behrend, j. SCndhe:mer AMI Max Kauf-
man; Mr.. Simon Wolf. Rev. DR.. Stern, Mr.
w. Nordlinger, the oldest member of the
congregation. and the members of the
chCi...
Nat Weyl, Sol. Herzog, Nat Meyers, Aleck
Wolf. Maurice Rosenberg, Norman Luchs,
T. Behrend. Simon Lyon, Sidney Berter,
Henry Lansburgn. Jerome Frank. Milton
Herman. Adolf Wolf. Meyer Nordlinger,
Sol. Saks Joseph Drayfoos. Nose Blumen-
thai, Sidney Bear, Sidney Rezenstein, Syl-
van Eensinger. Charles Hilbur. Milton
Strasburger. H. Heidenheimcr Sam. MIN
ster, Rudolf Lyon and Meyer Nusbaurn
The choir by which the music was rem
dered was composed Of Mrs. Nellie Wilson
Shir-Cliff, Mrs. Margaret Nolan Martin,
Miss Lucia Nolan. Mr.. w. d. Mcfarland
and Mr.. ]. j. Nolan, with DR.. George W.
Walter as organist.
The Invocation.
The exercises were begun by the Of
fering of an invocation by Rev. DR.. Stern
pastor of the congregation, during which
the minister in a most touching manner
and eloquent words implored the divine
blessing upon the enterprise which the con-
gregation had undertaken.
FOLLOWING the invocation DIR. Stern de-
Hvered an appropriate address, in the
course of which he said that while in all
large cities it has generally been the case
mat churches were among the most beau
tiful buildir gs erected, in Washington this
has not been the rule. 1t was, however he
said, the intention of the Hebrews of this
city to lift its congregation 10 it's rightful
place among the religious organizations OF
the national capital.
DR.. Stern paid a glowing tribute to the
American republic, and said the Jew has
been true to himself and true to his con-
dition, and that by the grandeur and beauty
OF the temple about to be erected to the
worship of God he wished to express his
gratitude to his religion and to his coun-
try.
DR.. Stern referred briefly to the his
tory of the ancient Israelites. and then
touchngly referred to the recent death of
IA - or
president of the congregation. What Mr..
King did for Judaism in this city, the
speaker sad, and how great was the eff
feet of his encouraging words, no one will
ever know.
Chairman Hahn's Address.
After the rendition of an anthem, Thine,
0 Lord, Is the Greatness" by the choir
Mr.. William Hahn. chairman of the tuild-
ing committee. spoke as follows:
Nearly eighteen months ago our late
and lamented brother, President Henry
King, jr., to whose efforts more than any
other mans the erection of this new build
ing Is due, saw fit to confer upon my asso-
ciates of the building committee and my
sell the honor OF devising means and max
ing all necessary arrangements for the
erection Of new temple.
Our instructions were to build a temple
large enough to accommodate our increas-
ing membership for years to come; a build
His worthy oI tne jewish population OF this
national capital, and an edifice that would
be an ornament to this beautiful city, as
Well as noble inspiration to the younger
Hebrew generation of the dawning TWEEN
tteth century.
with limited means and more limited
experience at our command, we set to work
With heart and soul to prove ourselves
worthy, If possible. of the trust imposed up
on u.s. we left no stone unturned to So
cure for you a new building that would
fulfill the requirements in every way, with
out Imposing any unnecessary financial
burdens or exorbitant taxes upon our fell
low members.
The money panic preceding the late pres
identtal cleo ton retarded our progress some
what, and we have been confronted with
various other unavoidable delays; but VIC
Kept at our post, never losing sight of the
aim set before us, and today, Brother
Pres ident, am happy to inform YOU taat
we are ready to have you assist us in the
event OF the corner stone laying
II trust that you and our brethren are
SO FAR satisfied with the work of your
building committee. We assure YOU that -
any mistakes should be discovered in con-
nection with this work, they are not owing
to any want of care or proper spplication
to our duties. So far as we can look ahead
We shall have clear sailing toward the
completion OF this undertaking. The finan-
ces SO far are in good shape, and IL only
you. our dear brethren, will do your dutv
and contribute according to your best abii
tiles. the building and its furnishings will
NC SoiuPteted ny next spring, and / hone
1t will prove a source of pride to you all.
May this building, when completed, not
oEiy prove more worthy place of worship.
but may 1t also be the means of better
educating the young and the old of our
faith In their duties as true men and
women toward themselves, their families.
their fellow citizens and their country.
Now, Mr.. President, in the name Of the
building committee, I kindly request YOU
to take charge Of the corner-stone-lay
ceremonies"
President Blout Takes Charge.
In response to the request of Mr. Hahn,
President Blout took charge of the rest Of
the ceremonies. and after a few remarks
by Mr.. Blout. Grand Master Mathew Trim
bic OF the District Grand Lodge Of Masons
proceeded with the laying. Of the corner
stone. This was done according to the
Masonic ritual, Grand Master Trimble be-
ing assisted by the various officers CT the
Grand Lodge present.
Within box which was placed In the
corner stone there were deposited copies Of
the following: Bible. prayer books used by
the congregation, Constitution of the Unit
ed States, also Of the congregation and OF
the Grand Lodge Of Masons; history Of the
congregation and list Of its present officers:
list Of names Of the survivors OF the char