The times., 1898-09-10

lHG fbOlai fSdiIf1iSl expresses III tnSSe
words: II was glad when they said unto
me. let us go into the house of the Lord
| Psalms, cxxii:1.)
"Gladness, joy, qualification at the final
realization of a cherished hope the
eminently successful completion of an un-
dertaking as stupendous as it is laudable,
are sentiments naturally predominating
in this hour.
Il know you will bear with me, friends,
and not consider IL presumptuous If, as
one who, for twenty-six long years, has
taken profound interest and active part
In the affairs OF this congregation and all
that concerns its welfare, l would, in the
first place. voice the joy that fills my
| own heart to overflowing in this proud
| and happy moment.
Truly. i was glad when they said unto
me. let us go into the house of the Lord;
when at last the hour had come for the
| conservation of this magnificent shrine
the result of so much faithful labor and
| self-sacrifice
For in it we may behold the evidence
| not only of material progress. but of re-
ligious growth and spiritual enlargement,
| a growth that extending over a quarter
| of a century of congregational life, had
| found its outward expression at two for
| mer occasions similar to our present Gel
| ebration: at the enlargement of our old
| place of worship. first in 1877 and again
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/ marking a distinct advance in our his
tory as religious community, in their
| successive occurrence could not but lend
sweet announcement to my soul, drawing
| closer and closer the ties of love
and affection for a. congregation
that has honored and cheered me
! by its continuous confidence-'and a
| threefold cord is not easily broken
Indeed, the thought of the three
dedicatory services on this hallowed spot
and of my participation therein-by the
| grace OF God-as your minister, prompts
me in this solemn moment TO dedicate
| anew heart and soul, and the best lGeaV
ors / am capable of to you and the
sacred cause | have espoused in your
! midst. In the language of the threefold
! covenant of old: BE thou betrothed unto
! me forever; be thou betrothed unto me
in righteousness and justice. in love and
| kindness; be thou betrothed unto me in
faithfulness, that thou mayest know the
Lord
But amidst the iubilant manifestations
of the joy and gladness of the hour, while
| the eye dwells enraptured on the enchant-
| ing spectacle before us, and the ear, in
| eager ecstasy, lends itself to the charm
of swelling anthems and sweet, melodious
! harmony, we should not, we cannot be
| forgetful of those whose presence miss
| today We name them in our hearts in
| which they are enshrined for everlasting
remembrance. Faithfully they have aid
| ed in the building up of the congregation
and prepared the way for the erection of
this sanctuary. Like Moses they were
| destined to leave the scenes of their ac-
| tivity ere the work was completed. But
! standing on the summit of the Nebo of
| their achievements, the vision of
the land of promise filed their
| parting spirits with the sweet as
surance that their labors had not been
in vain, that others would take them up
and bring them TO a successful compile
| ton. May their memory, rather than I'LL
our hearts with melancholy sadness on
this festive occasion, be to us an inspira-
1ion. an incentive to follow in their foot
steps.
And you friends who through Gods
mercy have been preserved TO witness this
glorious day, may indeed joyfully exclaim:
| / was glad when they said unto me, let
us go into the house of the Lord
LAS Jewish citizens of our Nations Capd-
tai, you have long felt the need of such
sanctuary. And II is doubly to your cred
| IL that what perhaps ought to have been
attained through the combined efforts Of
| our co-religionists of the United States
You have accomplished single handed
| despite seemingly insurmountable obsta-
1
| full temple stands today a monument to
your lberality. self sacrifice and harmo-
| nious cooperation. and as by its erection
YOU have enriched the architectural beau
| ty of our lovely Capital City-a monument
| TO your public spiritedness and patriotism.
But remember, our text does not speak
! of this house as a beautiful monument
1t reads: 4 was glad when they said with
| me, let Us go into the house of the Lord
Jacob said upon awaking from his sleep:
| This stone which have set up for a me-
| mortal shall become a house of God
Even so this imposing monumental struct-
ure will become house of God only ac.
cording to your willingness. now and in
! future, to make it a house of prayer and
| worship, a center of religious education
| for both young and old Therefore. speak
! ing in the language of our text, I should
! be glad If you would say unto me- we
will go into the house of the Lord we will
| endeavor TO visit these sacred precincts
regularly-even after the echoes of this
inspiring celebration will have died away.
Furthermore, our gladness and gratifi-
cation upon taking possession of this
| beautiful edifce should in no wise be
| lessened or disturbed by criticism-not
even by the contention that so handsome
a structure should have been erected in
"a more desirable locality
Without thought of opening an un-
| timely and Improbable discussion of a
| settled question, / merely desire to empha-
| size that if we regard this edifice as what
| in the light of our text 1t really is and
| stands for a house of God and center of
| religious education and instruction, then
| its close proximity to your homes and
! places of business does not only appear
practicable but peculiarly suggestive of
| the necessity of close relation between
synagogue and home, and of the sancti-
! flying, ennobling influences the former
| should exert upon the latter. As thought
ful, conscientious Israelites you cannot
divorce your Judaism from your homes
and business centers, nor confine ii with
in the narrow limits of the synagogue. Re-
! igion is not a luxury to be enjoyed for an
| hour or two each week in some fashona-
| BILE shrine in fashionable neghbOrhood,
| by limited few, but rather living force
! a moral discipline to influence, direct and
shape our every thought, word and deed,
! at home and abroad, in public mart and
private office.
Again, we are glad today to go into
our new place of worship as close neigli-
| bors to our friends of Calvary Church,
| to continue the pleasant relations that
have existed between us for thirty-six
| years.
I'VE recall with pleasure that their
worthy pastor at the cornerstone laying
| of this temple invoked Gods blessings
| upon us and our undertaking, and that
our congregation, while temporarily
! without place of worship, during our
| great holidays a year ago. enjoyed the
! hospitality of Congregational Church.
| whose spiritual representative we are
glad to have with us to participate in the
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