The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-17

The ovo Of the Jewish New Year the
eve Of the first day OF the year 1853 was
celebrated at Beth Ahaba Synagogue at
G o'clock last evening.
Tho odihce was crowded. and the cerO-
monies were listened to attentiveiy.
Rev. Dr. T. y. Calisch ohiciated, as
sisted by Yice-Presldent straus
As a service the ceremonies were i'm
pressive to degree seldom felt in even
religious occasions, and as a spectacle
the scene was fraught with a quiet gran
deur that compelled the eye to rest in
reveront awe, while with the beauties Of
diction and choral glorics every listening
soul was thrilled to its depths
The services were conducted almost
wholly in English. and were opened with
prayer a period of music intervened,
and then came the discourse Of DR.. Ca
llsch.
In this Or. Calisch rose to a height Of
eloquent mastery, and in his every word
was contained conviction that the
speaker held the much-sought, rarely
possessed element Of feeing-the basic
element Of all oratory.
II was a sermon 10 his people, and as
fun OF tenderness as fathers counsel
10 his children
DIR CALISCHs SERMON.
The fun text Of Or. Calschs discourse
Is as follows;
Afy Friends:
The NewYear's eve comes to us with its
old. yet ever new tale. A year is dying
year IS about TO be born The gather
fH..I.4 e.
twilight deepening into night these are
ths heraids of death. the pan-bearers ~
the dead year, that we are now about
20 lay 10y the side Of all his brothers
that have gone before him As we do
so-as we 0pon the gates Of the past, how
there come cf0wding 10 us the memories
Of what those years had borne 70 us, the
message OF Joy and sorrow. of smiles and
tears that they had given to us. At such
am hour as this fits well the injunction Of
the prophet, Remember the days OF OLD.
consider the generations that have gone.
Especially appropriate is this thought
whon we remember that with last Sab
bath it is ffty years since this congre-
pation BEGAN TO worship on this spot
Fifty years, Ouo-haf century. What
mutations. what changes have taken
place what mighty metamOrphOses can
bc recorded during that period of time.
How tho halls of memory become filled
with figures and scenes and incidents OF
those by-Ronc foars. How we recall those
d.m days and see the shadowy forms Of
those whose lives have left their im-
press upon tine community. those never
bc-forgottcn fathers and mothers IN
Israel. whose noble work and seif-dcnying
sacrifices made possible not only the visi-
BILE and material synagogues. but that far
10 l.fIffI
invisible sanctuary of faith, that holds
us m its protecting walls.
FIFTY years They stretch beyond the
average life of generation How true
This is we can realize when we con-
slider that as i ann told there is not to-
day living "a single one of the charter
members OF this congregation. Not one
Of the organizers OF our commercial
body remains to-day. Yet these pioneers
have not bulded in vain. the seed they
have sown has blOomcd and spr0uted,
and under the blessing Of God. will bear
perennial fuitagc in the years that are
TO come.
SPIRITUAL LEADERS.
Tho history Of our congregation has
been "a singularly felicitous one. With
but rare exceptions II has been governed
with the harmonious cooperation OF all
us members. and has been served hy
faithful and efficient officers, especially
OF those who have been chosen TO preside
over its deliherations-from the hrst presi-
dent Mr Myer Angle, down 90 that sad
hour when the news OF the death OF
our deeply lamcnted president brought
sorrow 90 us. scarce four months ago.
The occupants of the pulpit, exclusive OF
the present incumbent. have been but
four I'm number "a fact which speaks
volumes 90 the credit of both them and
yourselves 7 need not recall 10 you the
figure OF your first spiritual leader, the
Rev. n. j. Micholbacher. lt was he who
left the deepest impress upon this com
raunity Men who are to-day your lead
crs IN social and religious works men
who arc prominent in all communal la
hors these were his pupils and the
traces OF his influence and his teaching
are felt among them yet to-day. and
through them 20 their children. Assured
IN has he sown good seed and s0wn Il
rgeU-aud we are witness to-day OF his
faithful stewardship.
And no less Jealous were his successors,
the Revs. Bettolheim. Hoffman and Har-
ris They are all well remembered by
you for their unsel6sh work, for their
God-fearing lives and labors Need re-
can 10 Won that solemn moDeT- when
lie while I'm the very act OF G,rvice-as
10 the strains OF a traditional melody
his soul sped homewards unto God That
Sabbath day was a conservation or TINS
building. and that death a fitting close
20 a blameless life. Under the able guild
ance Of these four ministers OF God our
congregation has pursued it's peaceful
loyal path. Three of them sleep with
our dear ones out IN our sacred acre OF
God. The fourth found his tomb in the
silence Of the unmoved depths OF the sea.
Yet not alone aid these men Of God
labor I'm His cause. As Moses on the
mountain had Aaron and Chur 20 hold
up his hands 80 did they have loyal and
devoted followers who held up their
hands In the work which they strove 10
do. and so. | may add. have / had among
YOU and have to-day. There were the
elders of Israel. men oS faith Of cour-
age and OF action. the strong. firm pill
.ars OF the house. fain would call Ga
mir-s those leaders OF old. the fathers OF
<lt. xr.o.ot Conerafton bnf A. 80