The evening times., 1898-09-10


officers of the congregation, and addresses
by prominent men.
The key 10 the temple was delivered to
the chairman of the building committee
by Miss Ray Hahn, assisted by Misses
sondheimer and Harris. The temple was
formally turned over to the congrega-
ton by Mr.. William Hahn, chairman of
the building committee.
ELOQUENT addresses were delivered, and
they follow:
DIR. Stern's Invocation.
The invocation and address by DR.. Stern
follow:
Lord, open Thou my lips. that my
mouth may proclaim Thy praise! Let our
first and primary thought be of Thee, OF
Thy great power and love, and the fore
most sentiment of our hearts prayer of
praise and thanksgiving for the bestowal
of Thy boundless mercy. Successfully
completed Is The work of our hands, fin
ished the sanctuary In which Thy name
is to be proclaimed and glorified Humbly
and sincerely we think Thee that Thou
hast prospered our undertaking, and gra-
ciousIy guarded from danger and mishap
those engaged in the erection of this
sanctuary. Gathered here today for the
conservation of this house to Thy service
we would, in contemplation OF its beauty
and grandeur. jubilantly exclaim with the
seer Of old: How beautiful are Thy tents,
Q Jacob, Thy tabernacles, o Israel!
But not in a spirit of empty boasting
and vainglory do we rejoice in our
achievement Rather would we pray,
humbly and devoutly, with Jacob: How
aWe-inspiring is this place; this is none
other but the house of God, and this is
the gate of heaven This is the house of
God. Though heaven is Thy throne, and
earth Thy footstool, and the wide i'm
measurable space cannot contain Thee,
yet we know that Thou dwellest with the
meek and lowly. and that in every place
where Thy name il mentioned, humble
though it be- Thou wilt come TO US and
bless us. And this ia the gate of heaven
May in Silent contemplation Of these lofty
halls our spirits ever rise to high and no.
hle ideals. and the beauty and loveliness
Of this sanctuary impress us with the
beauty Of Thy service. and elevate and
inspire us with what is beautiful, good,
and true.
Until these mighty walls shall crumble
into dust may all who enter these portals
that come to us i'm the quiet of Thy
sanctuary, and the inestimable blessings
of prayerful communion with Thee. Au-
thor OF life and death, wise and benef-
cent Dispenser of veal and woe, joy and
sorrow.
As from Zion went forth the law and
Thy word, o Lord. from Jerusalem, so
may this sanctuary of our modern Jerusa-
lem prove a worthy factor for the
strengthening Of religion, the dissemina-
ton Of truth. justice, and righteousness,
and the promotion OF love of human kind,
home, and country.
Bless with Thy choicest blessings our
beloved Republic. and grant that the in
crease OF its material strength and pres
tige among the nations of the world may
tend 10 widen and deepen its influence for
good, for the furtherance OF liberty and
peace, justice, and humanity, at home and
abroad
Bless Thy servant, the noble and be-
loved President OF this nation. the Vice
President and all associated with them
I'm the Government. our Capital City and
municipal authorities. Bless our congre-
cation, its officers. and members. and all
those who so faithfully labored in and for
the erection OF this sanctuary. cheerfully
means Bless all assembled here this
evening; bless Israel, bless the whole hu-
man race. Amen!"
The address.
There are moments when in contem-
platiOn of the sublimely beautiful in ma
ture or in art. or overwhelmed with emo
tions that stir the heart to its very DEPTHS
we realize the difficulty of adequately ex-
pressing what 80 deeply and profoundly
moves the soul. Such moment is this
TO you as well as to me- What would
seem 10 convey as nearly as possible and
Yet in language terse and simple the
sentiments now uppermost in every heart.
the Royal Psalmist expresses in these
words: u was glad when they said unto
me, let Us go into the house of the Lord
Cpsalms, cXXii:lD
'Gladness. JOY. qualification at the final
realization of a long g-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 it, as
one who. for twentN-six long years. has
taken a profound interest and active Part
I'm 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 overlooking in this proud
and happy moment.
Truly. ] 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 IL 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 century of congregational life. had
found its outward expression at two for
mer occasions similar 10 our present cell
ebration: at the enlargement of our old
place OF worship. first I'm 1877 and again
ten years later. These three events. each
marking a distinct advance in our his
tory as a religious community in their
successive occurrence could not but lend
sweet encouragement to my soul. dra " ing
closer and closer the ties of love
and affection for 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 e1deav-
ors j 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 jubilant 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