Evening star., 1934-12-16

pulptC ana 70 the comfort OF the munster
who occupies it. We trust he will be rewarded
by at least q share of the patronage of the
congregation. The pulpit, planned by Mr.. j.
C. Harkness, and executed by Messrs. Donovan
& GerhesS. is chaste and appropriate.
THE dedication sermon was preached by the
Rev. Thomas B. Balch of Virginia, from
Genesis 28:17 How dreadful Is this place!
This Is none other but the house of God, and
this is the gate of Heaven The discourse
was rich. eloquent and appropriate, and was
listened to with marked attention. We are
gratifed to learn that the session of the church
has requested a copy for publication. In the
afternoon the communion was administered to
q large number of professors Of religion from
the different evangelical churches in the city,
who beautifully illustrated the great principles
of Christian charity by uniting with members
of the Central Church in commemorating the
love and suffering of their common Saviour.
The occasion altogether was one of profound
interest, although the high qualification Of
those Immediately interested in this enterprise
was necessarily chastened by the heavy be-
reavement and deep affiiction of one of the
most lovely and interesting families connected
with this congregation. We alude to the family
of the lamented Col. Cross. AS an appropriate
appendix to the foregoing notice, it is proper
to add that at a meeting of the congregation
held on Monday afternoon the Rev. Septimus
Tustin. chaplain of the United States Senate.
was unanimously chosen pastor Of this congre-
CATION"
The Presbyterian congregation did not hold
the property long, and soon it became the
home Of the Methodist Church South which
occupied 1t when the Civil War began. and
when the Government in urgent need OF
hospitals, due to nearby battles of the Army
of the Potomac, this property was taken over
for the purpose stated, as were q number OF
other churches in the city, and it was while
thus being used that it was bought in March,
1863 for $4,000
A PPARENTLY the Government gave up the
building Immediately after it was secured
by the Hebrew congregation, for 1t ceased TO
be q hospital the month 1t was purchased and
the congregation took possession. Under the
direction Of the following managers and Build
Ing Committee, improvements at once began:
Isaac HerZberg B. Kaufman, c. Bechard, c.
HamerSchlag, Sam King, Levi Bar, Leopold OPP
penheimer, Morritz Oppenheimer and B. J.
Behrend.
S. T. G. Morsell drew the plans for the
improvements and the work was executed un-
der the direction of John c. Harkness who
seems to have made a speciality of building
and improving churches at that period The
carpentering work was let to Crosse Bro.
Waite, and the frescoing was done by Carson.
The cost OF the repairs about 81, 500,
which brought the total cost Of the building
up to $l2,500. The congregation then num-
bered only about 80 persons and yet by the
time the repairs were completed, the entire
sum had been raised except s., 900, which was
advanced by members who took stock for that
amount.
The ceremony of dedicating the church took
place on Friday, July 81, 1863, and. as usual,
The Star Of the following day carried a good
write-up. saying:
Dedication of the Jewish Synagogue-Inter-
eSting Ceremonies.-Yesterday afternoon the
new synagogue on Eighth street between H
and I streets Qormerly the NJ z. Church
South) was dedicated by the congregation with
appropriate ceremonies in the presence of a
large audience. Several OF the clergy of the
District were present, among them Revs w.
M. d. Ryan of the M. E. Church and C. T.
Cochel and Oliver Cox of the M p Church
and S. P. Hill of the Baptist Church: also
many prominent citizens, including the MEM
bers of our City Council, members of the bar
and the press.
The ceremonies were begun at the old syna-
gogue at Harmony Hall on D street between
Twelfth and Thirteenth streets where the
congregation assembled at o'clock. Here the
prayer Minchio (evening prayer was said,
and DR. Archheimer of Baltimore delivered a
short farewell address in German after which
the congregation repaired to the new syna-
gogue The five books of Moses, which are
written parchment enveloped in velvet,
were taken in carriages in charge Of the presi-
dent of the congregation, Isaac Herzberg, as
sisted by the two oldest members Jonas Gluck
and Solomon Pribram, and the reader, Samuel
We'll"
| lPON this occasion the Rev. DR.. Isaac Lesser
- of Philadelphia, who dedicated the syna-
gogle, preached a short and interesting SER
mon, embodying reference to the Jewish re-