The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-24

end material step of progress that we
have taken was the building OF the
new temple Keeping pace with, rather
anticipating, the tremendous growth
and westward movement of the city,
the congregation nearly ten years ago
resolved to build home OF prayer.
The subscription therefor was raised
and the lot was purchased. 1t is in
terestinS to remember, in the light of
present conditions, the chorus of pro-
test that arose against the site that
was chosen. on the ground of it's be-
ing so far away to the West. The fore
sight of the purchasing committee has
been amply vindicated Plans were
| prepared by various architects and
those OF the present building adopted
In the spring OF 1908. The first spade
full of earth was turned In the pres
ence OF large gathering. on the af-
ternoon of the Feast of Conclusion. Oc-
tober %. 1908. The cornerstone was
lad March 1. 1904. The building was
dedicated during Channukah week.
october 10 and IL. 1904 This splendid
building has been a source of pride
ana pleasure not merely to ourselves
but to our neighbors and fellow cit
liens. who have rejoiced with us IN
its stately and dignlfied beauty. and
regarded 1t as an ornament to our fair
city.
Thus far, Is the record of our ma
terial progress, of the tangible things
that appeal to our physical senses. Do
'ney represent as splendid a progress
oil the spirit? Are they true record
( OF similarly fine forward movement
g that loving loyalty and centuried de-
fotion that have been at once the
glory and the strength of our fathers
ana our fathers fathers? Materially
our lVei have ben enriched and en-
iarsed We enjoy pleasures, comforts.
Injuries. not even dreamed of twen'
| ty years ago. Has our religious life
oeen equally enriched and enlarged .
socially, financially. commerciallv IN
! dustrially, the community has grown
stronger and more opulent Has ira
spiritual ardor kept pace With this
I power and progress?
! are we as intensely. as therouehlv
as ioyally Jewish as we were twenty
years ago? 1t is a question / wouiS
| nave you ask yourselves. and to non
Ger IL carefully and conscientious1v.
| Let us also ask. what do / mean
by being Jewish? Is 1t merely cues
uon OF social segregation, of ritual
| 'stlc detachment and of doctrinal d.
FerSenc, with or without conscious
| conviction on our part? 1t is some
OF this. and yet this is by no means
| ell.
Willing Loyalty.
BY being Loyalty Jewish I mean
/ TO be consciously and willingly loyal
TO those Ideals of our religion. and
10 those forms of religious practice
and Observance, which the best anG
most earnest thought of our leaders
| mold to be the modern duty and ex.
! preston of our faith. 1t is not q
! question of the manner or hour OF
| worship whether II be with covered
or uncovered heads. at shutdown o,
later, nor of what form of ritual we
! use as the vehicle of our worship. I,
| is the question of the spirit of our
| worship. OF attachment, devotion. and
| above all, OF sacrifice. 1t Is not the
/ question whether we have finer syn
asosue. but is II the more frequented?
| Does 1t make our lives finer, our char
acters more Qod-lilke? We have more
! pews. lave we proportionately more
occupants? Is the greater beauty OF
| the temple reflected In the greater
! beauty of our lives? Have we pro-
! crossed in honor In conduct. in moral
| ity. In kindness. in reighborliness. In
citizenship, in public spirit and in
| private Integrity as we have progress
/ cd in material wealth and splendor:
| After all, these things. and these
| things only. represent the true pur-
| pose and spirit of Judaism Funda
| mentally Judaism emphasized charac.
ter and not catechism. 1t is not the
! mission of Judaism to impose creed
! upon mankind. 1t has never been
an actively proselytizing religion. II
! has from earliest days taught a
! breadth of view and tolerance OF
| opinion that could be well followed
! even to-day. We insist upon our doc
! trinal divergence because we believe
| that our tenets and principles are the
| truth. that they are acceptable TO rea :