The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-29
AT THE JEWISH TEMPLE.


Two congregations held a union Thanks
giving service in the Jewish Temple on
North Delaware street yesterday morning.
The Plymouth Congregations Church and
the Temple held a union service, and a
specially arranged programme was carried
out by Rev. H. c. Meserve and Rabbi NJ.
Messing. The Rev. Meserve pronounced
the invocation. followed by the reading of
the Tooth Psalm by Rabbi Messing. The
choir then sang the Psalm in Hebrew. The
Rev. Meserve read the Governors procla-
nation and Rabbi Messing read the first
Thanksgiving proclamation, the twenty
sixth chapter of Deuteronomy. The Temple
quartet sang Praise the Lord" and the
Rev. Meserve read the sixty-seventh Psalm.
Lord of the Harvest" was sung by the
quartet and Rabbi Messing delivered the
first address.
He said that Thanksgiving day had not
been set apart by the Jews as a day for
special service. but that it was observed out
of respect to the request Of the government.
He said the Jews had much to be thankful
for since they had found refuge in this
country, where they are free from persecu-
ton and may worship in their own manner
and according 10 the teachings of their own
religion. The day is a day for expressing
gratitude he said for freedom and blessings
shared alike by all of the people in the
United States. He said America is
blessed with free institutions, that the peo-
pie have representation in the government,
have a voice in making the laws. and adj
minister the functions Of state. He said it
is different in the old country, where a
favored few are designated TO rule by the
blue blood in their veins and a system of
aristocracy. Without these qualification
he said no one could rise to nobility in the
old countries, but in the United States, the
most humble men have reached to the
highest craftsmanship. In the old country
he said it is difficult for the government to
control a small province and it is only done
by intimidation, while here more than TO-
10000 of people are governed by the COM
mon will of the majority legally expressed.
Mr.. IL. Van VIE sang a solo, Charity, g"
and the Rev. Meserve delivered the second
address. He said all should be thankful for
the free institutions OF government and
state that leave none hampered who seek
for truth. The principles of the Pilgrims
who came to America to establish a free
government have never been forgotten and
the seed they SOwed has ripened into a
bounteouS harvest. He said this is the
happiest Thanksgiving he has ever eX-
perienced, and the principles of brother
hood are more apparent, to him in the fact
that his congregation has been rendered
the use of the Temple for worship. He
said he is proud to tell questioners that his
congregation worships in the Jewish Tenn
pie and that this united service of the two
peoples eXemplifies the brotherhood of man
as taught by God. Continuing with a
scriptural quotation he said: Have we not
all one Father? Hath not one God created
US" In conclusion he said, then let us
like children pray and live as sons of
God"
The service closed with All Praise to
Cod by the choir, prayer by Rabbi Mes
gregation and benediction by the Rev.
MeServe.