Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-07-03
Veteran Mason of Helena
Charter Member of Lodge
Organized l25 Years Ago

gertips now. And he is happy, be-
cause he recalls memories Of a we'll
spent life.
Herman Tom was married in 1870,
at Stamford, Conn. With Mrs. Tom
and their three children he came to
Helena in August, 1883, on one of the
first through trains from st. Paul to
Helena. His daughter Jennie, a bust
ness woman, brings him the news of
the day, when evening comes, and let
tiers from his son Ben, who lives in St.
Louis, bring him cheer.
Marked Golden Wedding
1t vas on May 10, 1920, Mr.. and Mrs.
Tom celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary, but two years later she
passed him on the trail, and went into
the land of shadows to await his COM
ing.
If / could only see, the old temple
Emanuel would not be closed" Herman
Tom repeated again and again.
when / arrived here the Jewish
holidays were approaching. Herman
Cans, Morris Sands and Marcus Liss-
ner said that they understood I was
well posted On holding services. AS
they learned l had done this work eve
since | came to America( and had con-
Quoted services at Waterbury, Conn,
and other places for many years., l told
them thought l might be able to lead
them. as | had never refused to serve
my people,
Shortly before the holidays we
rented Parchen's hall, where we OBJ
served the holidays. After those days
were passed l asked them if they would
not open Sabbath school for the chill
dren. We met at Harmony hall. and /
was heart-broken when / saw SO little
Jewish children that had never been
instructed in the Jewish ancient lore.
Then I organized the Sabbath school
and kept it up until about 1889. After
that we observed all our Jewish holi-
days. Then l helped to organize the
Young Mems Hebrew association-that
was in 1890. and shortly after we or
ganized congregation Emanuel. We
had about Is members at that time.
Rabbi Is Employed
Herman Cans and myself were ap-
pointed by the congregation to go to
New York city and to take steps to Sc
cure a rabbi. We went to New York to
buy goods every year. We secured q
yOullH lIdil ny tllN lldlllt Va odlllUCk
Schulman. He held his first meeting
here in April. He ranks now as n Of
the foremost Jewish rabbis In New
York city, and probably in the United
States.
TN 1891 the temple was completed
here. 1t was started in 1890.
rabbi Schulman did not come to
Helena with the intention Of remaining
permanently. He returned to New
York city, after three years Of service,
to lead Temple Beth Ell Home OF Cod
now probably the largest congregation
Of the Reformed Jewish church in the
United States. At the close of his goth
anniversary his congregation presented
him with a gift Of $4,000 in Liberty
bonds.
I'VE we're then without a rabbi for
three years. We had our ermon every
Friday night and also Saturday morn
ing services. I never permitted them
to close the temple.
II shall never forget New Years eve,
In 1892, ! believe it was, when / stood
In the pulpit and saw the temple filled
to the very doors. We observed our
feast days. We had our own choir.
Eyes. had I my eyesight now, the old
doors Of the temple Emanuel would
never be closed"
Tells Of Cemetery Work
He reviewed labors incidental to the
development Of the old Jewish ceme-
terry, now the Home of Peace.
Associated with him in the work
were many prominent Jewish people.
There was M. l.. Silverman, Louis
Kaufman, Henry Lobe, I. L. Israel,
Marcus Lissner. and myself-these
names l o recall-yOu know 1t was
q long time vi 1t was after Herman
Cans died, about 1908, when we started
to improve the cemetery. A fence was
built. Bodies we're placed in orderly
rows. and John Kahn furnished the
t0mbstones."