The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-13

| ereO together. IT your OnIy cla1m fOl l felicitation were your acquisition ot land on this historic street and the
 erection of this beautiful building, we | should not all be here tonight. You | have honored us with your invitation l and we have gladly accepted it, be- 1 cause this building and our gathering are reminders that while the eyes o1 many focus to-day as of old on what | the Hebrews are doing in the age-lons scramble and fight for material pos sessions, in which all hatred and cruelty spring forth, their phenominal and fiercely envied success in the
 realm of arrangements and antagon-
 isms is not their main deed.
 Hebrews' Inheritance.
 What advantage hath the Jew?'' asked Paul of Tarsus long ago, and
 answered swift: Much every way;
 with the oracles of God" Years earlier that one whom Paul called Master. whose name be adored! sat by Jacobs well and spoke of the things of the spirit and true religion to a wo- man of Samaria, and to her question ing replied: "Ye worship that which we know; for salvation is of the Jews.'' They were intrusted with the oracles of God" Salvation is of the Jews" It is our remembrance of those words that made our feet glad as we came hither tonight. When men ask: What do these He brews here? it is the truth in those words which turns our thought away from all the strivings and sordid suc- cesses that estrange, and remind us that the honor and the glory of the Hebrew is his inheritance and testi- mony of faith in the one ever-living and true God. Three, and only three,
 
 Judaism, Christianity and Moham- mechanism; and all three call Abra- ham Father. In religion as in science men to-day with increasing zeal and enlarging hospitality are seeking for the one great underlying and all-in- forming unity. In this search we stand together as heirs and custodians of a common faith. That in which we are agreed is more thanNstha in which we dicer. And in this realm we can give freely and suffer no loss. The critical questioning of to-day is no longer concerning forms of words or inconsequent trivialities. Is matter the beginning and end of all? Is man only a higher animal destined to oblivion and nothingness like the beasts which perish? Or is there an Living God who made all things by the word of His power, and in Whom all things consist? And is there III IudH HUI Cdtiicu py 0ou, O spirit that goeth upward? To these which are the most vital questions, Hebrew Temple and Christian church give the same answer. And when it is asked again: What do these He- brews here?' we answer: They stand as they have ever stood in the fore front of, the battle testifying to the reality and supremacy of the things of the spirit, and to the right and power of God to rule and overrule for righteousness, brotherhood ana peace, in all the affairs of men. There fore we bring you praise and honor on this suspicious occasion, and with you give thanks to the one ever.living ana true God, the God of Abraham, your God and ours, and wish you Peace, everlasting Peace.
 Rev. H. A. Davenport's Remarks.
 Rabbi Levy referred to the Presby- and said they had done good work. He then introduced Rev. H. A. Daven- port of the Peoples Presbyterian church who Hkened the two faiths to the two brothers who cultivated the field where King Solomon built his is the manifestation of the heart of God and the real spirit of the Mosaic law.
 He said that it was in that spirit he came to congratulate the congrega- ton and to bring the good will from his church. They would dignity and help the whole city They would all work together for righteousness. which was needed in this community. He referred to the fact that Abraham was alike considered one of the fath- CTS of the race by Jew and Gentle.
 Rev. Gerald H. Beard of the Park Street Congregational church was %t,1 nd aC c
 Rev. G. H. Boards Remarks.
 s'I am glad to take the opportunity you have so graciously given, to bring you greetings and congratulations and good wishes, not merely for myself, but in behalf of the Christian people of Park Street church. It is good to think that the larger and more beauti- full temple of worship which you are to-day dedicating, fine as it is, is a symbol of something finer still-the expanding and increasingly glorious worship and work into which the Flu ture is calling you as people of God.
 And I am still more glad to be here, because this seems one moro little step toward that unity of all those who believe in God and righte- ousness which is one of our city's has been too langley in the past. The so-called Orthodox Christian has looked with suspicion on the Liberal and the Liberal has indulged in cer- tain superiority toward the Orthodox; the Catholic has held severely aloof from the Protestant, and the Protest ant has almost forgotten that the Catholic was a Christian; the Chris tian has been scornful of the Jew, and the Jew has been rather hopeless of the Christian. And all the time the forces of evil in the world are chal- | lenging those who worship God and would obey his commandments to | come up to the help of the Lord l against the mighty.
 we who bear the name of Chris | tian have much in common with you | who are Jews. We share with you | not only in a common interest in hus | manity and desire for humanitys up- | lift, but far more, in that comforting, l courage building faith in the Father i God which is the one ground and i'm spiration for that unselfish love and ! service which is the sole hope of prog ress and betterment. The God of | and Isaac, and Jacob is our God as well as yours. The serene ma- iesty of Isaiah's message. the passion ate humanity of Jeremiah's 1amenta- tions, the fearless fidelity of Amoss and the yearning persua- siveness of Hosea's tender forgiving owe, are part of our heritage, as of yours. Most of all. he whom we Christians own as Lord, Master ana Saviour, and whom you claim as one of your great prophets. himself gave Christian in deed and truth, which ,,et ho to