Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
DECIDES TO REMAIN
Rabbi Simon Declines the Call
to San Francisco.
TOLD IN AN UNUSUAL WAY
Announced From Pulpit of Church
of Our Father.
MUCH QUALIFICATION SHOWN
Statement Made After the Head Of
the Hebrew Congregation Had
Finished an Address.

An unusual demonstration occurred at
the Church Of Our Father last night when
at the close of meeting held under the
auspices Of the Optimist Club Rev. John
Van Schaick, jr, pastor of the church,
announced that Rabbi Abram Simon of
the Washington Hebrew Congregation
would remain in Washington. Rabbi
Simon had, shortly before the announce
ment by DR.. Van Schaick. finished an ad-
dress on Lincoln. When DR.. Van Schaick
thanked DR.. Simon from the pulpit for his
address he expressed regret. that DIR.
Simon was soon to leave Washington for
San Francisco in acceptance OF a call
from the Temple Emanuel Of that city.
Just as the gathering was being dismissed,
Rabbi Simon plucked DR.. Van Schaick by
the sleeve and told him that he had mail
ed letter of declination to San Francisco
only an hour before he came to the
church.
Demonstration of Satisfaction.
The applause of DR.. Van Schaick' s
words of regret at DR.. Simon's leaving
was as nothing to the applause which fol-
lowed his announcement Of the rabbits
intention to remain in Washington. That
cision in the matter which has been inter-
esting the Hebrews of Washington for
some time should come from the pulpit
of a Christian church excited pleasant
comment on the part of those who were
present.
In speaking of DR.. simon's proposed plan
to leave Washington DIR. Van Schaick
said that at the risk of appearing to in
terfere in the affairs of another congrega-
ton he wished to charge the Washing
ton Hebrew Congregation not to let DIR.
Simon leave them. The man. he declared,
was too valuable to be allowed to 20
away from Washington. DR.. Van
Schaick said he spoke not only from his
own personal friendship for DR.. Simon,
but for the interests Of the Hebrew Con-
gregation and the city of Washington as
well. The speaker was interrupted fire.
quently by applause on the part Of the
congregation.
1t was after the meeting had been dis
missed that DR.. Simon approached DR..
Van Schaick and said:
Just one hour before I came here to-
night I mailed a letter to San Francisco.
declining the invitation to go there. and
announced my intention Of remaining in
Washington"
together again and told them the good
news The applause that greeted his an
nouncement was earnest and prolonged.
Many members OF DIR. Simon's congrega-
ton were there to hear their pastors ad-
dress They crowded around him when
the audience had been finally dismissed
and expressed their appreciation Of his
decision to remain in Washington.
In discussing his decision in the matter,
DR.. Simon said It had been arrived at
after a month of careful thought. He felt.
he said. that his duty lay here although
If he had gone to San Francisco he would
have found a congenial field for his
labors.
DR.. Simon's Lincoln Address.
DR.. simon's address was on Lincoln
the Optimist.'' The great man. he said.
was not one of those passive optimists
who let things drift in the belief that God
would take care of all without the neces-
sity Of human eadeavor, but was an active
optimist, who. although he felt that man
could not do the work of God, considered
1t mans duty to do his best always. The
keynote of the Lincoln character, the
speaker said. was to be found in that
Lincoln motto: Il am not bound to win,
but 1 am bound to be true; I am not
bound to succeed. but I am bound to
stand for that which is right
Speaking of the need of the Lincoln in
fluence in the present time. DIR. Simon
said:
For every hospital that is built a new
brothel is opened; for every penitentiary
opened new kindergarten is established
Where there is such moral and financial
support of social reform we have at
present there need be no fear that we are
marking time. But more work and great
er work is needed.
IF Lincoln were alive today he would
support confidence in the courts. whether
it be local, federal or the Supreme
Court of the United States. There are
many perils besetting the American peo-
pie. and one of the greatest of these is to
undermine the standing OF the judiciary in
the public mind
Lincoln's Gettysburg address was read
by H. G. Gauss.