Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-11
THE NEW HEBREW TEMPLE
Corner Stone Of Eighth Street Synagogue to
Be Laid Thursday.
President Mckinley and Other Dis
sonic Fraternity to Omcfate.

The corner stone of the Hebrew Syna-
gogue, to be constructed on 9Th street near
H street northwest, will be laid Thursday
afternoon next at o'clock, with simple
but appropriate services.
The immediate act of the laying Of the
stone. which will be placed at the north
east corner. will be performed by Grand
Master Matthew Trimble of the Grand
Lodge Of Maso1s of the District of Column
bia, assisted by other officers of the grand
body. The trowel to be used will, 1t is I'M
derstood. be the same as was used by Gen.
George Washington at the laying Of the
corner stone Of the Capitol
Within the box which will be inclosed in
the stone there will be placed 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 it's present officers;
ter members; list of members of the+build-
ing committee of the new synagogue
names of the architects and contractors,
names of the President of the United
states, the Vice President and members of
the cabinet, also the names of the District
Commissioners; list of the Hebrew chari-
table organizations in the District, copies
OF Ihe Star ana other papers, name of
The Inspection.
On the outside of the corner stone there
will be inscribed in Hebrew, House of
the Lord" number of the Hebrew year and
current year.
The program of exercises comprises, be-
sides that above stated, the assembling of
the Grand Lodge of Masons at Masonic Hall
about pm, to proceed thence to the site
structure. 10
or the congregation and brief addresses
by Mr.. William Hahn. chairman of the
building committee; Rev. DIR. Stern, Presi-
dent I. L. Biout, Mr. Simon Wolf and
perhaps others
1t is hoped that President Mckinley and
District Commissioner Ross, who have
with many others been invited, will attend
and make some remarks.
The exercises will close with the bene-
dictfon by Rabbi Stern, who during the
services will offer an invocation.
The committee is composed of the fol-
lowing members Of the congregations
The rabbi. Rev. DR.. L. Stern, and Messrs
Simon Wolf, l. L. Blout and William Hahn
The program as given above has been pre-
pared by the committee, and under their
direction handsome invitations have been
sent out to the invited guests.
Oriental Architecture.
The building. which occupies the site of
the former synagogue on Sth street north
west between H and 1 streets and addi-
tional ground adjoining purchased by the
congregation, is unlike any other structure
in the city. and when completed will, with
it's oriental style of architecture, strongly
suggest the east and the ancient traditions
of the Jewish faith. 1t is being erected on
strong and solid foundations and it's di-
mansions are ninety feet wide by one hun
dred deep. Two towers, with belvederes
135 feet above the sidewalk a semi-circti-
window in in n no
center portion of the facade, filled with
stone tracery and the shield of David, with
a broad treatment of lines and proportions,
will render the whole attractive and beau
tiful.
The front and towers will be faced with
granite and limestone with granite base
course. entrance steps and platform. The
first story will contain the school rooms,
assembly hall, library and smaller rooms,
while in the cellar below there are to be
fre-proof vaults constructed in which TO
store the records of the congregation. Two
tre-prCof StaircassS are to lead to the audi
forum floor, and from there to the gal
leries above.
A Striking Feature.
The most striking feature of the audi
forum will be a spacious dome, forty-five
feet in diameter, supported by four col
umns, arched between, and all together
producing a grained arched effect. F1om
the interior the auditorium will somewhat
resemble an ancient Byzantine church, of
which Trinity p. E. Church in this city is
a moderniZed example.
The temple will provide seating for about
1900 persons. The accepted design was
the result OF competition entered into by
several local architects, the result of which
was that Messrs. Lewis F.. Stutz and Frank
w. Pease won the prize purely on the
merits of their design. The total cost will
be about 100000.
The Hebrew congregation was chartered
under the laws of Congress in 1854 hut it
was not until some months later that an
organization was fully accomplished. I'm
til 1863 when the building which is being
replaced was purchased from Mt Vernon
Southern Methodist Church, the -cociety
met in various halls in the central pcI ton
of the city.