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644 Chronicles of the Cape Fear Rwer

the erection in Wilmington of the first Jewish house of worship
in the State.

That our Jewish fellow-citizens held religious services in the
city prior to that time we are assured by the oldest inhabitants ;
but this was done occasionally only, although late in the sixties
there was here a quasi-congregational organization under the
spiritual leadership of the Rev. E. M. Myers. He conducted
services, when a ritual quorum—ten adult males—attended, in
an old building on South Front Street, formerly a Presbyterian
Chapel. The earliest permanent organization, however, dates
from November, 1872, and its birthplace was the hospitable
home of the late Abraham Weill, at the northeast corner of
Front and Mulberry (Grace) Streets.

On November 21, 1872, Dr. Mareus Jastrow, of Philadel-
phia, addressed a general meeting of Israelites in the city court
room, and under the inspiration of his address and the chairman-
ship of Mr. Solomon Bear, an organization was effected, and
committees were named to solicit members and subscriptions and
to select a suitable location for a synagogue. As membership in
Jewish congregations was confined to men, the women, anxious
to aid in the good work, organized an auxiliary association un-
der the name Ladies’ Concordia Society, “to promote the cause
of Judaism, and to aid by its funds the maintenance of a temple
of worship in our midst.” The wording of this resolution
probably suggested to the men the name of the congregation,

Mishkan Yisrael—Temple of Israel.
Together the men and women worked zealously with the de-

sired end in view. Eventually they secured the lot on the south-
east corner of Fourth and Market Streets, just across from St.
James’s Cemetery, which shelters the ashes of the builders of
Wilmington and where also is the grave of the Samuel Adams
of North Carolina, Cornelius Harnett, and contracted with the
Abbotsburg Building Company, General Abbot, president, for
the erection of a $20,000 church edifice, according to plans
drawn in Philadelphia and altered and amended by our towns-
man, James Walker. Capt. R. S. Radcliffe was engaged to
superintend the work. Ground was broken in March, 1875, and
on the 15th day of June the cornerstone was laid. The Rev.
Dr. Jastrow, whose exhortations had given the first impetus to
the congregation, was present to bless the work; Hon. Alfred
Moore Waddell, in a splendid oration, delivered the greetings
of the city and of the Masonic Order, under whose auspices the

645

 

Peace Restored

cornerstone was laid, and with a beautiful benediction the rabbi
closed the ceremonies, which were participated in by representa-
tives of several churches.

In February, 1876, the congregation, looking forward to the
early completion of the building, called Rabbi Samuel Mendel-
sohn to assume the rabbinate. The call was accepted, and Rabbi
Mendelsohn came to Wilmington February 29, 1876, at once
assuming the duties which he is still discharging. He organized
Sabbath-school classes, inaugurated regular Sabbath (Saturday)
services, both of which were domiciled in the basement of the
building, and otherwise aided in arousing a spirit of congrega-
tional life among his parishioners.

On May 12, 187 6, Rabbi Mendelsohn, once a pupil of Dr.
Jastrow, solemnly dedicated the temple whose existence pri-
marily owed so much to the eloquent addresses of this great
teacher and famous scholar (1829-1903); and ever since the
temple has been open and the rabbi at his post for divine serv-
lees on the eve and morn of every Jewish Sabbath (Saturday)
and of every Jewish festival, and on every occasion that calls
for a solemn convocation.

The Ladies’ Concordia Society still continues its activities and
the Sabbath-school Aid Society, consisting of former and pres-
ent pupils, is doing good work in providing for the needs of an
Institution of this kind.

_ Connected with the congregation is a Hebrew Relief Associa-
tion, whose aim and object are to prevent an Israelite, resident
or transient, from becoming a burden on the community or its
charities ; and we are assured that throughout the years of the
existence of the Associated Charities only one Jewish applicant
has received aid from that beneficent source.

But while the congregation is pursuing the even tenor of a
J ewish institution and the Temple of Israel naturally resounds
with the worship of the God of Israel, the Scriptural word em-
ployed by Dr. Mendelsohn in the course of his dedicatory ser-
mon, “Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all
people,” was practically exemplified during the spring of 1886
and thereafter. On the 21st day of February the beautiful and
commodious edifice of the Front Street Methodist Episcopal
Church went down in ashes in a conflagration that destroyed
an appalling number of buildings, and the congregation became
homeless. The morning of February 23, however, brought relief
to that congregation in the form of a cordial invitation from