The times., 1897-06-07

ing, in their old historic synagogue on
Eighth street, between II and l streets,
yesterday, the occasion being Shebno.h,
or Feast of Weeks The service was .s-
peciaIiy interesting because OF the beau
tiful and impressive confirmation exercises
which mark the day.
Beside the confirming OF the three
young people who had reached the age
for admission aS full members OF the Con-
greeation, the occasion was rendered meIn-
orable by the shower OF congratulations
which fell upon the bonored and beloved
rabbi, Louis Stern, yesterday being the
twenty fifth anniversary of ofhisincumbency.
Leading me nbef of the congregation spoke
in the highest praise OF their rabbi, and
at the Close of the services the follow
ing resolutions III his honor were adopted
unanimously:
whereas the Washington Hebrew Congre-
gatIon VIII, ror The jdst time, nave services
Iii tile present tempe on SUNDAY, June o,
ana
Whereas their beloved Rabbi, Rev. L.
Stern, Will, on that occasion, celebrate MS
twenty-fifth anniversary as minister OF
SAID congregation; and
whereas the inemiers OF tne cOngregd-
tion wish, in solne proper manner, tc
testify their love and high appreciation Of
nls eminent services;
therefore, be IL Resolved, By the wash
ington Hebrew congregation tuaI we here
with tender TO cur beloved friend, teacher
and munster, our warm and sincere hoin-
age and affection, ASSURING hnI that We
appreciate ALL that he has done for the
members of the congregation, individual
y anG collectively, JBdl We deem IL a
privilege 10 SextenG these fraterna1 greet
lngs, sincerely trusting ana wAsung Inat
tile years 10 come may be those OF health
and happiness, and that bis services may
be conuuclve To Une elevation anu pros
pcrity OF the congregation.
Resolved, That a copy of these resolu-
Tons be presented to Rev. Mr.. Stern, in
sclibed on TIE minutes of the congrega-
tlon, and published IN the daily press OF
THIS city.
Shepnoth, besides commemorating the
revelation of the ten commandments at
Mount Sinai, is also tie spring festival of
the Jews, and in consideration of this the
altar was gracefully decorated with palms
and cut flowers.
When the reading OF the first half OF the
ritual had been concluded the confirmants.
Nellie Bebrend, Sadie Blumenthal aud Henry
Woog, marched up the aisle, preceded by
the president and vice president OF the
synagogue.
In their hands they carried each n bon-
altar as spring offerings to God Henry
Woog read from the five books OF Moses ohe
ten commandments in the original He
brew. after which Nellie Behrends deli~-
cred the opening prayer invoking the Did
OF heaven upon herself andher companions
upon their entrance into womanhood and
manhood.
This was followed by questions by Rabbi
al.
the fundamental principles OF Judaisin
with remarks by the oonfirmants as fol-
lows:
Distinguishing characteristics of Juda-
isn," Sadie Blumenthal: "our Relation TO
Other Creeds," Nellie Behrend; The Jaw
and His Country" Henry Woog.
Rabbi stern, in his sermon, said that
the three confirmants standing before Kim
should remind his hearers Of the three
fold significance of the day. First, it was
Shebnotb, commemorative in its ancient
and accepted sense of the revelation upon
Mount Sinai secondly, it was the last time
the congregation would assemble In that
house of worship: thirdly, it was the occa-
sion OF the adoption of a new ndinipruycd
book of ritual
The thought" he continued, (which
comes TO me in this connection is the old
saying of the rabbes: There is season
for ever ything, time to tear down an "a
time TO build up, a time To sow and time
to reap"
'Sheinoth celebrates q time of building
up 1t commentaries the real birth of the
Jewish religion For the ten command
ments. revealed on this day, $500 wears
ago, is the foundation upon which the SUPER
structure of Judaism is built. Nay. it
marked the birth OF all religions; for the
fountain Of Judaism fed the waters of all
cultivated religions
The time of the giving of the law was
also a time TO tear down. For the Jews had
much to unlearD which they had learned
during their sojourn among the Egyp,ia ps.
And while the old pruverb says that it is
easier to tear down than to build up. In =
fgurative sense, this is untrue, as there
is nothing more tenacious than habit
The hardest things for the Israelites to
live up to, Mr.. Stern went on to say, for
they werein direct contradistinction to the
customs OF all the peoples with whom they
COME in contact, were the belief in the
unity OF Cod and the injunction to love
their neighbors as themselves
Rabbi Stern next referred to the new
prayer book, which was used for the first
time by the congregation, and remarked
that the tearing down of some Of the
antiquated forms and obsolete practices
prescribed by the former ritual was we'll
timed.
and literally" he continued. "I would
say that tins is the time for tearing down
as regards the House Of God in which we
are now worshiping. This is the last
occasion upon which we will meet here,
the beloved synagogue to which, for thirty
four years, we have resorted In time of
sorrow and time of joy
while we may feel tinge Of sadness
because of the pleasant memories attached
to the old beloved structure, let us re-
Joice that on this sound spot building
superior in beauty and dimensions is 10
be erected.
And as you leave this sanctuary, o, ny
congregation, 1 pray to God to bless
You and your dear ones, that you may
be spared to witness the dedication of
cur new home. when e shall be finished"
Atthe conclusion of the services Mr. Harry
King, president of the congregation, |; d.
dressed those present and congratulated
them upon the prospect of soon having the
new synagogue for which they had laaored
SO long, and at the sam e time be sought them
to continue their efforts that the new strc-
ture might be put up free from debt. He
concluded with eulogy of Rabbi Stern, In
which he was joined by Hon. Simon WOLF,
the next speaker. The resolutions We're
then adopted.
During the service Rabbi Stem .unoupccfJ