The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-09
LAYING OF THE
CORNER STONE
EXERCISES AT SITE OF NEW
JEWISH TEMPLE.
Large Gathering Of Members Of the
Anshe Chesed Congregation Yes
terday Afternoon-Rabbi Auspa-
cher Delivered the Principal Ad-
dress and Was Assisted by Rabbi
salzman, Of Wilkes-Barre - Ad-
dress by B. Moses, President Of the
Congregation.

The corner stone of the beautiful
new temple which the Reformed Jew
ish congregation of Anshe Chesed is
erecting on Madison avenue near
Vine street was laid yesterday after
noon with appropriate exercises in the
presence of u large gathering.
Seats had been arranged on the
floor of the building, the basement of
which is completed, and upwards Of
two hundred of the more prominent
Hebrews in this city occupied them
when the exercises were opened at
o'clock with an invocation by Rabbi
NJ. Salzman. of B'nia Birth congrega-
ton of Wilkes Barre, who prayed ear
nestly that the temple might become
power for great good in the COM
munity.
A quartette consisting of the Misses
Lydia Sailer and Ida Garagan and
Messrs Williams and Roberts sang with
beautiful harmony a selection entitled
praise the Lord" Then came a
Scripture reading by Rabbi Anspacher,
Of the congregation, who read a selec-
ton from the book OF Genesis in which
Is related the story Of Jacobs dream
and of his rearing of the stone Of
Bethel in honor of God. This, he said,
is the first recorded instance of some-
thing in the form Of a memorial being
erected to the glory Of God.
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT.
B. Moses, the president of the con-
gregation, made a brief address in
W hich he expressed the hope that the
temple might become the home of a
united and happy congregations; an Or
nament to the city and monument
Of glory unto God. The stone was then
set on the northeast corner by Presi-
dent Moses and Sol Goldsmith, the
vice-president.
In it was placed a list of the original
and present members; a list of the con-
tributors to the building fund; a list
of the choir members; a list of city,
state and national officers; coins of the
year 1902; copies of the four daily pa
pers of this city; copies of all the Jew
ish publications of this state; copies
of the American Jewish year books and
of the service books used in the
services.
The principal address was made by
Rabbi Anspacher. who spoke briefly
because of the fierce heat of the sun
of all those present. The congregation
is nearly fifty years old, he said, and a
life OF that length for a. Jewish con-
gregation in a comparatively small city
is something to be proud of.
ut is a matter of WONDER" said he.
"when we look back over the last half
century and consider the conditions
which have prevailed here, to think
that this congregation should have
nourshed as it has"
LADDER CAN BE FORMED.
He referred to the selection he had
previously read from the Scripture
and said that while there was 40 lad
der such as Jacob saw leading up to
Heaven in his dream that nevertheless
a ladder can be formed by the men,
bers of the congregation themselves.
"You can form a ladder" said he, "of
faithful service in Gods cause; of ear
nest, united, unanimous action that
will ennoble you and those about you
to reach that heavenly goal to which
we all aspire. The Jew needs not so
much a temple to worship God in as
he needs it to win the favor of his fell
low men by showing them how he hon
orS his Ruler.
1--WE are now laying the corner stone
of this temple. When it is completed
and we come to dedicate it, may that
day of dedication mark the beginning
Of an era for you and me and for the
Jewish community in which we live;
an era the distinctive features Of which
shall be a robust piety, a spirit Of true
Jewish humanitarianism, and the sway
Of charity. May we build not merely
Of stone. May we rear a temple of
flesh and blood, of bone and sinew.
through which may flow human blood
by a heart animated by the
best of human activities
The benediction was pronounced by
Rabbi Salesman and concluded the cX-
ercises.
WHEN ORGANIZED.
The Anshe Chesed congregation was
in 1854 in hall on Lacka-
wanna avenue, the original member
ship being about fourteen. One of the |
original members, Emanuel Green, who
bowed with age, was one of those who |
witnessed the exercises at the new
temple yesterday. The present temple |
OH Linden street which the congrega-
tion Is about to abandon for it's new
home was erected and dedicated in |
1865.
The new temple was planned by |
George w. Kramer who planned the
Elm Park church. 1t will be S5x45 feet |
in size and Of brick construction. Con- |
tractor Conrad Schroeder, who has the
contract will have the building COM
pleted on September !.