Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-28

OF ms Ike and live 1t as much as posi-
bic after the fashion Of the ancient
people OF Israel.
ALL SHOULD MEET
ON THE SAME FLAME;
Despite the marvellous growth Of
Beth Ahahah and the widening
circle of its influence and it's continual
reaching out after the things that arc
best and In keeping with the spirit
Of an enlightened age. there are still
some GlarinE defects. said Mr. Nelson,
that must he mcnded If the church
is TO make that progress in the future
TO which its record OF glorious achieve
ment in the past entities it,
we are not democratic enough"
said MIR. Nelson For instance. seats
in this temple. where we should all
NEE; on a basis of perfect equality
for the worship of God. are apportioned
according to contributions for church
purposes They are allotted like seats
In Il thcater. The man who can buy a
season ticket gets a good sent for the
season. but the poor man who cannot
afford II is made To sit far back to the
rear or Is RELOCATED to the gallery.
This keeps many good people who are
reiigiously inclined out of the temple.
and keeps the rest OF us from coming
life would be AT once a pleasure and
an inspiration and q pleasure
YEARS ARE FRUITFUL.
OF NOBLE EFFORT
Or. Calisch spoke. in part. as fol-
lows:
''Twenty-tive years ago, when began
my ministry among you. chose for
the text OF my inaugural sermon that
.amiliar passage from the prophet
Malachi Gil. y for the lips of tho
priest shall keep knowledge. and the
law shall they seek from his mouth.
for he Is Il messenger of the God OF
hosts gave this TO you then as the
ideal toward which would strive in
my work among YOU. In my relations
with YOU. How far ! have approached
the realization of this ideal in these
five and twenty years of my labors
among you. II is not for mo TO say.
Perhaps II cannot be definitely stated
by any one. for the work of the spirit
is not always open to the eye of our
human vision, and the seeds sown In
las fields bear frutaGe oft unseen and
unknown by us.
But II II be permitted to measure
by the standards Of such knowledge
as is given us. I feel that / may say
with all modcsty, yet with a certain
pride. that these years have been fruit
tul in noble effort and rich In Il
splendid progress Cor Beth Ahahah. To
speak Of things tangible and material,
the congregation has moro than
doubled itself in size during this period.
This increase in our membership made
necessary larger house oe worship.
The congregation re :ponded generous
~ 10 the demands OF this necessity,
and built this magnificent temple.
which now. in so far as it's original cost
is concerned. stands, free OF debt. as
monument 10 the loyalty and devo-
;!on of lis members.
BETH AHARAII ron
PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM
Again, as far as outward things
may he a gauge OF ihe progress of the
spirit Beth Ahahah has marched with
It's sister CONGREGATIONS along the lines
Of an advancing and progressive Ju-
daisU1 Twenty-Five years ago the
members OF the congregation Worship
+ &c with covered heads, and with q
( semi-orthodoX ritual To-day we wor-
I ship the Goo Of our fathers in the hope
and vision OF our fathers. but with
accessories and atmosphere that are in
keeping with the spirit of an en-
liGhicned age and country We have
changed our ritual and the hours and
manner of our service. We have not
/ changed. hope, the loyalty and the
fervor of the oldcn days We have
helped the congregation by giving the
women OF Israel more and more place
in the activities OF congregational
lie. | feel that, in accord with this
spirit OF progress. we shall he ready
TO make such further changes as shall
contribute to the material and spiritual
growth of Beth Ahabah. We cannot
stand stu. He who does not go for
ward. goes Backward said an ancient
and honored teacher in Israel We do
not know what the coming five and
twenty years may bring us. hut we can
be assured that II we meet the COM
ing years as we have those given and
gone. in spirit of loving loyalty. of
unse!fish and ungrudEing devotion. In
spirit of brotherly feeling and COM
munal responsibility that works for
the common good above the preferences
OF personal pride or ind ptdual opinion,
We need have no fear for be future OF
Beth Ahabah. Secure in the achieve
inent of the past, justly proud Of this
house OF love that we have builded
both materially and spiritually, let US
look 10 the future in the confident
hope tina: the glory OF the second
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