Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-22

photo by Clinedinst)
public we have been privileged to lay the
foundation stone for the erection of a sa-
cred eGifice to be devoted to the God of
Abraham. the most high God, who is the
possessor of heaven and earth.
How glorious is the day. How inspiring
the thoughts and suggestions called forth
by the sacred event What treasure OF
lessons is contained in the sermon Of the
stone-the stone which has played such
humanity.
THE stone. we know, has been connect
ed with every manner of worship. 1t was
made an altar to God under various forms
and diverse conceptions 1t was ded Gated
to the God of Abraham and the gods of
Terah and of Major. 1t was erected as
memorial pillar in the name of every exist
ing creed. 1t figured in sacred ceremony
of both ancient and modern usage.
ITO the Jew and the Gentle, the Chris
tan and the Mussulman, the Buddhist and
the Brahman-to all the stone has its
peculiar fas -ination And the reason for this
general and genuine interest of religious
worshpers in the stone is easy to sur
mise. The stone suggests strength and
durability. Hence it is set apart as a
connecting link between time and eternity,
as monument to the imperishable, name
and glory to the mysterious power that
is high and exalted above all things tram
sient.
1.-The stone also serves as a testimony Of
of material dissolution unto their heavenly
destination; a sacred memento to those
who follow them in the succession of the
ages: remembrance Of mans dearest and
most precious connections wherewith his
destiny Is entwined.'
S1umberers Of the Dust.
The speaker said that the white slabs
visible in the distant fields are the unmis-
taxable signs Of the abode of the slumberers
Of the dust. resting beneath in their eternal
repose and that the stone is also peculiarly
characteristic of the human organism.
Civilized religion was described as that
which recognizes the all-preyaiing law of
God, under which all are equal before God.
and which holds true to the Mosaic prin-
cfple. "One law and ordinance for both the
stranger and the native-born.'
The stone in architecture was mentioned
as representing religion.
''The pure and simple ideal of an all-rul-
ing Providence will never never be denied
by the best forces of human reasoning" 1t
was added. while the earth remains, while
there is the enigma of the cradle and the
grave. the unsoived problem of life and death.
and while man will continue to gaze in Won
derment at the awful manifestations of ma
ture, inexhaustible and unsearchable, the
idea of a God will never vanish from the
human mind. and the Hebraic faith will al
ways remain the middle bar that holds to-
gether the everlasting ties of man with
Heaven. The ideal of Jacob has triumphed
and will triumph. The grand doctrine of
monotheism is and always will be the key
stone of all religious ethics"
49,. Position of the Jews.
Continuing Rabbi Loeb said:
"Our position as Jews Is indeed peculiar.
While socially and politically we are an In
tegral part of the people in the midst of
whom our lot is cast and. in conjunction
with all our ,fellow-citizens, It is our right
and duty to labor for the best interests
of a common country; In our religious life,
however. we cannot intermingle Will the
outer world. for we cannot possibly side
with any one faction without antagonizing
all the rest. In our name and our calling