Evening star., 1925-05-04

cling To those fundamentals shat
have been tried and proved buttresses
of national solidarity.
In lauding the race. the President
said that from whatever part of the
world the Jewish community of the
United States has drawn for its in
crease its members have always been
eager 10 adapt themselves to our in
stitutionS" and TO take their full part
as citizens in building and sustaining
the Nation"
Made Deep Impression.
1t was plainly evident the Presi-
dents words made a deep impression
upon the more than 5000 persons at
tending the ceremonies Also there
was no miStaking the Presidents feel
ings as he made these utterances.
His speech was not only heard by
those standing within the sound of
his voice. but 10y millions of others
elsewhere throughout the land via
radio.
The ceremonies themselves were
simple but impressive. Il. 3. Beh-
rend presided, and Isaac Cans intro
duced President Coolidge. Rabbi
.Abram Simon poured the oil of con-
secration upon the corner stone as it
was being lowered into it's resting
place. The stone itself was presented
to the community center by ISadore
Freund, as chairman of the commit
tee presenting the stone. Rabbi J. T.
Loeb asked the invocation.
Besides the President, there were
several others who addressed remarks.
including Louis Marshall of New
York recognized as one OF the out
standing leaders in Jewry in America;
Right Rev. James +. Freeman, Episco-
pal Bishop of Washington. Morris
Cafritz, as chairman of the Jewish
community Center work here. and
Maurice BiSCyer. director of the work.
Frederick d. owen. engineer from the
office of public buildings and public
parks, supervised the decorations and
the stone laying.
Louis Marshall Speaks.
Mr. Marshall in his address voiced
a sharp answer to statements alleged
to have been made by Princeton
professor before "A recent meeting
here of the American Society of In
ternational Law to the effect that
the Jew wants to keep his racial in
tegrity and is unwilling to be as
simulated. In his retort Mr. Marshall
declared that the very suggestion
that the Jews hold a divided allie
glance is an insult TO the more than
100000 living in the United States.
IF by assimilation it is meant
that we are unwilling TO surrender
that which has been distinctive in
our civilization, TO abjure our sacred
faith to become Cowardly
recreantS to glorious past in the
land which is dedicated to safeguard
ing the conscience" Mr.. Marshall
said, then we declare with one voice
that we are unalterably opposed to
such assimilation. and that not even
Princeton professor can frighten
us into it. It is a degradation of the
memory Of the Jews, who in every
period of American history gladly
gave their lives and their possessions
for the preservation of the Govern
ment of this country"
In a brief address Bishop Freeman
emphasized the Importance of COM
batting anything that tends to make
a cleavage between the classes.
Mrs. Coolidge Attends.
Mrs. Coolidge and John G. Sargent,
Attorney General, accompanied the
President to the ceremonies. The
music during the ceremonies was
furnished by the United States Ma
rine Band.
The community center building is
estimated TO cost approximately $780,,
600 and will be ready to open next
November.
Recalling the part of Jews in the
struggle of the American colonies for
independence. President Coolidge said
in his speech:
1T is easy to understand why peo-
pie with the historic background of
the Jews should thus overwhelmingly
and unhesitatingly have allied them
selves with the cause of freedom.
From earliest colonial times America
has been a new land of promise to
this long prosecuted race.
Jews Adaptable.
THE Jewish community of the
United States is not only the second
most numerous in the world but in
respect of it's old-world origins it is
probably the most cosmopolitan. But
whatever their origin as a people,
they have always come to US eager to
adapt themselves to our institutions
to thrive under ne influence of lib
erty, to take their 2lll part as citizens
in building and Sustaining the nation
and to bear their part in its defense.
in order to make contribution to the
national life fully worthy of the ira
ditionS they had inherited.
Our country has done much for the
Jews who have come here to accept
its citizenship and assume their share
of it's responsibilities in the world
But ] think the greatest thing it has
done for them has been to receive
them and treat them precisely as it
has received and treated all others
who have come to it. If our ex-
pertinent in free institutions has
proved anything, it is that the great
est privilege that can be conferred
upon people in the mass is to free
them from the demoralizing influence
of privilege enjoyed by the few.
Rise to Higher Level.
This is proved by the expert
ence here, not alone of the Jews. but
of all the other racial and national
elements that have entered into the
making of this Nation. We have
found that when men and women are
left free to find the places for which
they are best fitted, some few of
them will indeed attain less exalted
stations than under a regime of
rise to a higher level. to wider
horizons, to worthier attachments.
ITO go forward on the same broad
ening lines that have marked the
national development thus far must
be our aim. 1T is an easy thing to
say, but not<So simple to do. There
is no straight and smooth and posted
highway into the vast, dim realms
of the tomorrows. There are bogs
and morasses, blind roads and bad
detours.s No philosophy of history
has ever succeeded in charting ac-
curately a day of the future No
science of social engineering has been
able TO build wide and easy roads by
which to bring up the van of human
progress in sure and easy marches.