The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-01

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"0tn'lS' at tne jewish
syhasoeue On Eon street. the Congre-
salon 4@eShem shomaytm's seml-cen-
.enhiai was celebrated with Thanksgiv-
ing services, which attracted an audi
e'lce tIlat niled the cosy edltice to It's
capacity Special musical features
were very much In evidence to the great
enjoyment OF all, An address by Mr.
samuel KRAFT president Of the congre-
eetion' was well received. The Thanks
SWING sermon by the rabbi Rev. Harry
Levi was powerful one. In part he
SAID;
IN directing our attention to our cele-
Dration proper, 1t VIII not be amiss to
say word concerning the day on
winch THIS celebration is being held.
Whlle tar back during the time when
Israel lived Its Palestinean life, thanks
offerings and Thanksgiving days were
not Few and far between, the idea Of
setting aside a special day, to be OBJ
served annually, by services or thanks
voiced IN prayer, did not crystallze Into
custom, until the time OF the Purltans.
Since that time. the last Thursday in
November has been thus yearly mark
ed, but never before, have men had
more occasion to feel grateful and also
to give verbal expression to this gratl-
tude' than they have to-day. From all
parts Of the country have come reports
OF fiourishlng conditions. Crops and
harvests have been plentiful. Work
has been abundant, business has been
brisk. pay las been good. Wants MS q
consequence have been more easily sat
isfied, needs have been more easily pro-
vlded for, and the standard of living
has thus been raised. Men have be-
come more content, commercial difficult
ties have become less numerous, and
the social unrest has somewhat sub
sided. The conditions have made 1t
possible TO devote time and funds to
higher purposes. More libraries have
been founded. More colleges and uni
verslties have been endowed. There
has been a noticeable increase in move
ments of charity, benevotence and phil
anthropy. And to US individually bless
ings have come, friendships and assoc
relationships resulting In stimulus and
uplIft. We have had more opportuni-
ties to study and learn. We have had
good health. And even where death
has occurred, we have found better
ment under divine discipline. The past
year has. therefore brought US much for
which to-day we need sing our praises
heavenward and give utterance to our
Thanksgiving
Our retrospect, however, to-day is to
extend over a period of more than one
years duration. We have. assigned the
celebration of our fiftieth anniversary
to this day. because we think there is
in the fact OF our congregation having
reached Its present position, and In Its
present condition. much for which to
feel grateful, Congregation Eeshem
shomaylm was organized In 1S4s. 1t
had nine members. Its temple was
small room. Its furniture was few
plain benches, and an equally plain and
unpretentious pulpit and ark. There
was no minister no choir, no Sabbath
school, no auxiliary societies.
To-day Congregation Leshem shoma-
YIN has beautiful temple, a member
ship Of about $50 individuals, a Sab
bath school of 20 children, in charge of
seven efficient teachers. Bible and liter
airy classes, confirmation and post-con-
tirmatIon classes, a Sabbath school