The Washington herald., 1908-01-06
DEDICATE A TEMPLE
Hebrews Worship in New
Adath Israel Synagogue.
SERMON BY REV. DR.. MENDEs
New York Divine Delivers Dediea-
tory Address, Laying Special
stress On Purposes and Aims Of
DemagOgues of the Orthodox Jews.
God Not Only for the Hebrews.

stress On Purposes and Aims of
DemagOgues of the Orthodox Jews.
God Not Only for the Hebrews.
With impressive services and addresses
by prominent Hebrew divines, the new
Adath Israel Synagogue. at Sixth and 1
streets northwest, was dedicated yester-
day.
The deGicatory sermon was delivered
by Rev. Dr. H. p. Mendes, Of New York,
who said
This synagogue, situated in the chief
city OF the youngest and greatest nation
of the world has been consecrated with
more Importance than is usually associ-
ated with events of this kind
DR. Mendes laid stress on the purposes
and aims Of the synagogue of the prtho-
dox Jewish religion. lie said:
Built by Father Abraham.
The first altars. synagogues, OF places
of worship, were built by Father Abra-
ham. in order that he might preach the
Word of God and make the people under
stand that they had "A Superior Being
watching over them. This God was not
only God of the Jews but God for the
world. Moses, when he stood before the
burning bush. did not address Cod as the
God Of the Jews. but he called Him the
God of all mankind So, too, all the
patriarchs Of the Hebrew race knew God;
not rs their God only, but rs a God for
all humanity. A synagogue, therefore
should be place Of worship for all man
| kind. and not alone for the Jew. Every
| Gentle is welcome to enter the portals
of this synagogue and pray TO the God
Of mankind"
Dr. Mendes said. in speaking OF the
Bible.
The synagogue is only the caslet The
/ jewel 1t contains is the Bible Through
/ the Bible tie world Of thought has been
/ revolutionized. and man mas been enabled
/ 20 step forth from chaos 10 progress. The
/ cornerstone Of Americas greatness is
/ the Bible Tn England before that great
1 upheaval the reformation. those people
/ who were prosecuted fled from their ma
| tive land and came to the shores Of this
I country and brought with them the
Bible.
Jews Have Been Mighty.
"The Jews 10 whom the Bible was given.
and who have kept it i'm their synagogues.
have been mighty. Empires like Babylon
/ fan, but the Bible and the synagogue
stiI exist Let us TO whom the Bible be-
longs show the people OF this country
that the jew can and will always be an
/ ideal citizen. so that our oppressed broth
( ct may come 10 this land of freedom and
practice IN peace the religion Of orthodox
/ Judaism"
! Referring 90 the recent trouble IN Rus
sia the speaker continued.
I DO not the martyrs who gave up their
/ lives in Russia. because they refused Co
give up their syuagogues. inspire MS to
/ be faithful and loyal 20 Judaism Great
/ viii be- the blessing % this country when
/ il shall appreciate the meaning OF the
/ orthodox synagogues. They stand for
/ righteousness and justice"
/ The services opened at 3 o'clock i'm The
afternoon with the chanting of psalms
/ by choir Of male voices under the dlTec-
/ ton OF Rev. II. Glass. OF Baltimore. cam
+ tor. While the singing was in progress
I solemn procession. led by the cantor.
marched around the temple thrice ear
rying sacred scrolls. AS the procession
/ halted before the ark the psalm XNTV
{ Of David was sung by the congregation
/ At the conclusion Of the singing a red
/ curtain. shielding the interior If The ark
was drawn aside. and the holy objects
/ carried in the procession were deposited
/ within the ark.
/ The platform on which are situated the
/ tabernacle. the ark, and the pulpit IS
/ large and Commodi0us, and occupies one
/ side Of the edihco
Light Perpetual Lamp.
The ceremony Of lighting the perpetual
/ lamp was performed by Nj Louis steer
man The lamp is suspended over tie
ark. and gives forth soft red ilumina-
/ ton.
/ Rev. Dr. Abram Simon then offered the
/ dedication prayer, concluding by saying
May ;his synagogue stand forever foE
/ the worship Of God.
! Rev. Or. II. W. Schneeberger. of BalJi-
i more. explained the Importance OF estab-
/ fishing places of worship and the ueces-
/ slty OF prayer.
Prayer said the speaker ''is the link
/ that binds man 90 Cod"
After describing at length the purpose
Of a synagogue, he said;
/ Every house OF worship is a manifes-
/ tation of a spiritual voice within man.
that raises him to the atmosphere Of the
divine"
Rev. DR. Louis Stern offered the clos
/ ing prayer.
Cost of the Building.
The edifice cost $4,000. Its interior is oi
cathedral style with large and small
arches meeting in graceful proportions
/ The large. central dome rises to a height
of sixty-nine feet above the auditorium
and that affords plenty Of light which
/ comes through tho windows arranged in
a circle. Several riehly-colored glass
windows. gifts Of the congregation. face
the Sixth street side or the building
While not so large as many Of the
other churches in the city the synagogue
is considered TO be one OF the finest types
of French and Byzantine architecture IL
Washington. 1t has FIVE domes the lars,
central one being forty feet in diameter
As yet no pastor has been selected by
the congregation. but it is expected ong
will be named in the near future.
MAY REMARRY COUNT BONI.