The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-24
REHEARSES WORK
OF TWENTY YEARS
DR., Calisch Completes Two De-
cades of Labor in
Richmond.
DELIVERS NOTABLE SERMON
Asks Searching Questions as to
Spiritual Growth of
Congregation.
DELIVERS NOTABLE SERMON

Rev. Edward n. CaIiech. Phi. D.. yes
| terday ended score of years as rabbi
Of Beth Ahabah Temple. 1t being the
beginning of the Jewish New Year
the occa sion was fttingly observed
with ceremonies. This was followed
with sermon on the appropriate sub
| Ject OF These Twenty Years"
He referred to the many changes
which have taken place. and the pro-
gress which has been made. Socially.
financially. commercially and indus
trially. he said. the community has
grown stronger and more opulent. But
he inquired OF the congregation which
taxed the capacity OF the synagogue
/ to its limit, whether spiritual ardor
had kept pace with the growth and
progress.
Welcome New Ycnr.
There is no hour that SO emphas-
sizes the paradox of human life in It's
changeability and continuity as does
| this hour of New Years service" DR..
| to welcome with our lives new
| twelve month that, with each passing &
! day. shall become more and more an
/ elemental part of our existence.
I'VE are full OF hope that on tho
wings of Times fight he Will bring us
| joy and peace and prosperity. If we
! are wise. we breathe the fervent
prayer that IL he bring to US sorrow
! or temptation or disappointment we
may have the courage and faith to
| bear them bravely.
| our emotions are eager and optim
| istic They are in striking contrast
with the sentiment and atmosphere OF
| the service of last evening. Then we
came to bury a dead year. Now we
come TO welcome a newborn offspring
| OF eternity. Then we came together
! In the deepening twilight that fore
| shadowed the oncoming darkness OF
night Now we assemble in the grow
| ing glory of a genial September day.
| when the shadows are lesseninE as
the kindly sun climbs to his meridiniaI
| throne. Then our thoughts lay with
| the past, tho irrevocabie yesterday,
whose work and opportunity are finally
and forever closed. Now our eyes are
turned toward the future. whose worth
and opportuniti' are hidden. it is true.
at the moment but they shall be given
to us to have and use and mold them
for our development and our happiness.
Messuge of Twenty Years.
But, dear frienus, l wish. even on
| this bright and hopeful day, to Turn
| your minds and memories to the days
that have been. 1t may occur to you
| that have completed twenty full
years of ministry among you. 1t is the
history and the message S these TWEEN
| ty years that I bring to- day. Not in
q personal sense. not to recount what
| may have been my individual portion
| during these years, but what has been
the progress and prosperity of Beth
| Ahabah congregation. in low far. as
its spiritual guide, / have been true
to the trust which you placed in my
| hands.
This much of personal note. how
ever. you Will pardon, when / say taa,
| this trust twenty years ago was placed
In the hands OF very young man. but
! brief period out of the school room
and coming to you as total stranger,
and from what, twenty years ago, was
pronouncedly differing religious and
even civil atmosphere. You received
me with kindly welcome and cordial
confidence. l have trieu during these
years to justify that welcome and tina,
confidence. AS the years went by my
life became more and more an integral
| part OF yours and of the life of the
! wider community OF our city. 1 denied
myself the several opportunities that
! came TO me to enter larger nelds and
! materially moro attractive activities
| because l felt that there was duty
| mere to You that !, perhaps more than
|
| Whether this duty has been well or
| lily performed. works and not words
| must testify. That our personal rela-
| tons have been wholly Happy and most
| pleasant, and that the blessing OF our
gracious Father in heaven has rested
| upon us. is that for which we this
| day give reverent and grateful praise
unto Him; and We beseech the continu
ance of His wise and wonderful low
ing care and guidance.
The progress that we have mada
! has been in many res Dects rema rkablo
| The changes that have taken place in
| the personnel of our congregation
| though not unnatural or unexpected,
yet nave also been many and signifi-
! cant. Some idea OF these chanres
/ may ne gotten il we recall the FACT ma
/ during this period there hav. been
! performed 2i2 marriage ceremonies
ana 90 funeral services. Not all OF
| these 1T is true, have been or members;
OF our congregation. | have otticiated
| at these services outside of the citv.
but the number of these latter is com
| paratively insignificant, and we can
| consider the changes that these figures
| imply, as affecting ourselves and our
numbers. The membership of the con
| gregation q include seatholders as well
as members) has been doubled Twen-
| ~ Se"i' aSo we ma" epproAima tely us
| heads of families on our rolls 70
| day we have $50 names.
| In the manner of our service there
| has been likewise marked change
/ iH0Ish ours Is conservative conrre
CATION and in conservative comInu
nlty that is not quick To adopt limo
| vations that affect its inner. deeper
life. none the less the reform move
nent that swept over the American
synagogue during the past generation
has made itself felt among US. Though
we nave not gone the lengths that
others nave, yet We have made radical
changes. When ] assumed charge of
the congregation, we worshiped with
| covered heads and began our Saba tn
| evening service at the shutdown hour