The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1906-03-03
LAYING CORNERSTONE
DEDICATION OF THE HEBREW
UNION TEMPLE
Addresses by the Worshipful Grand
Master of the State, Charles
Blum, and Rabbi Brill


the new Hebrew Union Temple, now
under the course of erection at the
corner of Main and Kinds streets,
was Witnessed last Monday after
noon by large assemblage of the
city's citizenship. The impressive
ceremonies were conducted by the
Masonic Lodge of this city. Wor-
shipful Grand Master of the State,
Chas. Blum, OF Shelby, Miss, was
present and conducted the ceremon-
les, and delivered at the close of the
work grand Grafton to the assem-
bied guests He was assisted III the
work by the following officers of
the local lodge: Nathan Goldstein,
as Deputy Grand Master; w. w c.
Boyd, as Grand Senior Warden; Max
Lemlar. as Grand Junior Warden;
Louis Waldau, as Grand Treasurer;
Robt. Somerville, as Grand Secre-
tary; Abram Brill, as Grand Chap
lian; Henry Schall and T P Nc
Mahon. as Grand Senior Deacons
A. H Davis and B. Wolf, as Grand
Junior Deacons; F. Ehrlich and E.
Kellner, as Grand Stewards; A ].
Rose. as Grand Marshall; w. ]. Holt,
bearing Book OF Constitution; d.
w. Thomas, bearing Holy Writings
w. H. McLain, bearing Vessel OF
Corn; c. T. Levingston, bearing YES
sci OF Oil; c. II. West, bearing Yes
sci Of Wine; H. Wilczinski, bearing
Vessel Of Salt; T. S. Shields, as
Grand Architect
The hands OF the time pieces Of
the city pointed to the hour Of three
o'clock when the Masonic Lodge be.
gan their pleasant task
Rabbi Abram Brill was asked tc
invoke the blessings Of the Father
upon the exercises of the afternoon
After which the officers of the lodge
/ performed their part Of the cere-
mony Mr. L. Waldau, in a short
and appropriate speech, INTRODUCED
the orator of the occasion, which
proved to be Rabbi Brill After a
few words of introduction he said
Rabbi Brilrs Speech.
The sanctuary which is being rear.
ed upon these foundations must, like
all other houses of worship, be ex-
| pressive of the fact that in the midst
of life's strenuous activities and amic
the absorbing interests and duties
of daily experience, religions voice
is heard i'll no uncertain manner, re-
minding us that not by bread MOI
| for bread alone does man live anC
exist, but for the nobler things o.
life wherewith he may realize hi:
| likeness to God, in whose image hi
has been fashioned The house O.
worship is the visible symbol o.
mans inherent spiritual nature. No
| to appease the wrath of an angry OF
exacting God, or to win His specia
favor, is public worship established
but rather as an appeal to man him
| self for better and higher life. Foi
us of the house of Israel, the con
gregation has ever been the embod
iment of our religious impulses, th'
concrete expression of our loyalty t
our ancestral faith. The temple is t
us what the land of Palestine wa
for ancient Israel. the bond of uniol
and the rallying place OF the faithful
As there can be no nation withou
| a country. so is the temple indispen
sible to Israel, so can Israel no Ion
ger be considered a nation, but
religious community, from the fac
that the scattered forces of the peo
pie are united mainly in the religion
| body or congregation and cente
about the lofty ideals of Judaism
Israeis bond OF union cannot be po
litical. but religious aspiration. TIL
sentimental tie that has kept it dis
tinct as a separate people, even a
the gull stream in the Atlantic ocear
is the memory OF a grand and tragi
past, aud the hope of a glorious an
compensating future.when the know
edge Of God shall fill the earth a
the waters cover the depths Of tn
sea. There IS no such thing no,
as Jewish nationality. The nation
ality Of each Israelite is that OF tn
nation in whose midst he has chose
TO live. The English Jew is no les
loyal to his Union Jack than we ar
to the starry emblem Of our believe
nation Forty years ago the Jew
the South. in uniform Of gray, ma
ehed to battle with no less patriot
devotion to his side than did til
Israelite clad in blue.
But we are what we are by reaso
Of our choice of one of the man
pathways that lead to God. Til
functions and principles of our r,
ligion may often overlap or coincid
with those of other religions whic
are also working for mans welfai
and Gods truth hft st;al we ali Lno