Evening Star Newspaper, September 30, 1923, Page 71

Part 5—8 Pages . MAGAZINE SECTION he Sundy Star. MORNING, SEPTEMBER 30, 1923. WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY FEATU RES Washingtonians From Many Distant Lands Worship In Native Way S 'Il(I"S\NDS of Washingtonians Sunday worship in where services sermons preach- each churches are conduated, ed, in native languages of many eign lands. B More than 3,500 Jews, in nine syna- gogues, render devotion to God in Hebrew. Several hundred use Yid- dish. Three thousand Gree two Greek orthodox temples to hear *mass sung in their native tongue. ‘Wooden walls of a little Syrian or- thodox church echo the mass as it is said in old Arabie. In four Lutheran churches German is preached to 1,400 souls. Swedigh Is two congregations, one Bap- other Lutheran. There is a Norwegian’ and Danish “Lutheran church on New Jersey-avenue. Meth- and Baptist groups worship in - A modern Babel of confused tongues it seems as one lists them. ut enter one of ‘Washing- ton's twenty-one foreign-language churches. Listen to words that are strange. Witness forms that are ut- terly urfamiliar. plexity of it all falls away. The dis- sonant tones become a harmonious sion of old beliefs that con- living and dying, “You must ep God's commandments,” priests all creeds chant. Dividing the altar from the rest of the Greek Orthodox Church at 6th 1d C streets tition of caming ‘ikonost is made brilliant by many holy ikons, pictures of the gaints, which hang close. These ikons are colored One depicts George spearing the dragon. Thee saint has a gold halo, garnet and blue clothes, and a pranc- ing white charger. The dragon green, dripping red blood upon brown face is brightened w from the red lamp hang- the ikon. the central door in the ared the priest. In wock he stood, holding h his book; more like a life: ikon than a member of the outside the partition, he seemed. semble in adtalian. white named an ing abov Through “ikonostasis’ I wide ¢ a deep voice. Re- men at reading He chanted in sponses came from desks on cach side of a pewless nave. Their v alternately soft and strong as they intoned the serv- jce. The desks were swung about to br now one book, now another, ' before the readers’ eves. At one of the was a ljttle boy, just being taught to participate in the reading. He responded '}usul,\'. espe- cially after each pat of encourage- ment from his proud father. * X ¥ ces were one the congregation en- tered, obtained tall vellow can- from a table in the rear, lighted ed them in the candelabra. lad brought his own candle, a wax shaft taller than its He went to the front of the nd, assisted by his mother placed the candle in po- the holy ikon of St. John the Baptist, the youth's patron gaint. After lighting his tribute he pressed his lips to the feet of the pic- {ured saint and retired to the rear of the Be <ing places worshipers passed by the beautifully carved wooden canopy and base which holds the pleture of Sts. Constantine and Helen, for whom the church A mother, wearing a black veil, bent to kiss the shrine. Another touched her baby's f to the picture and, with her free arm, lifted a second child to kiss the sacred reproduction of the church’s patrons. The men placed themselves One giant beare church and fathe sition before room incon- A | «gpicuously on the right or in the rear of the room. The women went to the left or climbed to the galler; The ceiling of the church is a sky + blue, with clouds, stars and six white Greek crosses. High on the left wall, win a large glass case, is Greece's blue and white flag, woven from chains of blue and white paper flowers. Next 1o it is a tali cross, made of red, yel- low and white paper roses. Below these emblems are three ele- vated seats, reserved for thg Commis- sioners of the District of Columbia or other state officials, when they at- tend service, there. Opposite these s, on the right side of the room, is the throne for visiting archbishops. + Suddenly the largest of the holy ‘jkons, dedicated to Jesus Christ, was drawn across the doorway before the altar and the volce of the priest be- | came o far-away sound. Presently the large ikon was rolled back. The black-clad figure reap- peared, now resplendent in a white yobe, stiff with gold embroidery and adorned with purple girdle and cuffs and a gold-fringed red velvet panel falling from neck to feet. A purple shield bearing a gold cross hung at his side. The priest's entire attitude had changed. A regal figure of old By- zantium now faced the audience. He raised the sacred gold-hinged Bible and the congregation bowed. He de- \ scended a step and passed down the center of the church. Crossing them- selves, the worshipers left thelr places and kissed the sacred’ book and the hand which brought it to them. The priest walked slowly, turning from side to side, so that none would be disappointed. The mother with the black veil lifted her baby. The priest lowered the book so that the second child might reach it. Little % girls in plak dresses, men in blue suits, the fralt vender, the restaurant keeper, the confectioner, the rich Greek, dark men with long mustaches +—all bent to kiss the sacred emblem. The priest restored the- Bible to the altar and next appeared garbed even more gorgeously in a red cape with gold crosses and wreaths. Thus gowned, he bestowed individual Dblessing upon all present by swing- ing his incense burner toward each bowed head. {hen he entered the altar chamber ném. chanting at the reading desks #Wetled until once more the' priest is! s named. | I ArTIMOS, Arcubishop of Brooklyn . who superintends the Sytian Osthodox Chutch in the/ | Uniled States, | wearing one of! | themanydowns whickh matlk [N | clerdy of bis # | sect Suddenly the per- | J s a high par- | vividly. | Xon splendid raiment. The great red-and-gold cape was drawn back, showing its bright yel- Tow lining. Across his shoulders lay a rich cloth, which repeated the pale Iblue and white of the ceiling and flag. In each hand he held a silver box, covered with smaller. blie-and-white Cloths, Accompanied by four altar gowned in white and blue, one carry- ing a tall candle, another the altar cross, another swinging the incense burner, the gorgeous figure moved to the center of the church. He came no nearer the congregation, but're- turned to the altar, and leaving the door open so all could see, knelt in his splendor and prayed. * % %k X boys ORSHIP in a Greek orthodox church would appear to kg stren- uous to many. The rites last from 9:30 a.m. until noon, and worshipers are expected to sit only during ‘a briet sermon in the last half hour of i the meeting. The chanters ‘must sing Imass the greater part of the time. Yet not once do their voices fajter. Men are favored throughout the service. Their section is nearest the archbishop's throne. . When the priest brings forth the gold-incased Bible women refrain from kissing it until all men have done so. Men endoy the same precedence when incense burner and communion elements are brought out. And the collectton plate, which in this church is passed twice, goes first to the men, . The priest, Father Thomas Daniels, 3035 15th street northwest, is' proud to officiate in the church, called for S88. Constantine and Helen, “Constantine was the first Christian king and Helen was his mother,” Father Daniels said. “Together they journeyed to Jerusalem in search of the cross on which Christ was cruci- fied. They found it and took it to Constantinople. 1 “Constantine saved early Chris- tians from Wersecution, and, in.325 A. D, started to build a new Rome, which, in honor of him, was called Constantinople.” Father ‘Daniels w: born in Mace- » ?\st@sis of Greek Osthodo Brilliant with colored pigtuzes o came forth, this time in even more |donia, educated at the University of | | Constantinople, and served as chap- | |lain in the Greek army during the | Balkan wars. Now he prays for a |league of churches to prevent future | wars. 2 | * ok K ok OUR | Orthodox Church SS. Constantine and ‘Helen is the St. Sofia Greek Or- tH®dox Church at Sth and L streets northwest. | “St. Sofia congregation intends to give to Washington a $200,000 ortho- dox cathedral, modeled, after Sancta Sofla in Constantinople. The edifice, with its turreted front; high dome, arched_doors and. windows and By- zantine interior, will be a unique con- tribution to Washington churcharchi- tecture,” the Rev. Nikiforos Paul, pastor of the congregation, promised. Already the basement of the cathe- dral {s completed, and the congrega- tion is worshiping there. “Though “the worshipers now miss the blue.sky, stars and Greek srosses in their basement ceiling, they see j bevond: it the high-vaulted dome of dellcate blue and white to which lThe congregation has had this vision ever since it first met in the hall at 6th and'G streets northwest, twenty- one years ago,” Father Paul said. Chanters in St. Sofla’s Church, when singing mass, do not follow elliptical- shaped notes in which: modern musie #1g -written. Instead, they read a series Lot “dots; dashes and curves, music riotes.used by. the earliest: of eastern : composers. ; i Priests of the Greek Orthodox Church_may be married, but both Fathers Daniels and Paul are single. Nor will they ever wed. | | “Upon entering priesthood we ivowed not to marry, so marriage now would be violation of a sacred ocath. Married men, however, may enter Greek Orthodox priesthood,” Father Daniels explained. * % ¥ 3 RABIC' words and songs come from the little yellow pine church at 1009 ‘Sth street northwest. This Syrian Orthodox Church is called for St. George, the dragon slayer. Some of {ts members formerly wor- ‘ sl times as old as the Greek | their mass in a few years will rise. | Twenty-one Foreign Language Temples Give Cépital Diversity of Rites, Church Architecture and Decoration and Cler- ical Garb—Oriental Priest Has Four Costumgs for Single Service—One Eastern Sect, Here Tweénty-one Years, Is Ready to Erect Cathedral—Model of Ark Described in Old Testament Found in Each of City’s Nine Synagogues—"Keep God’s Commandments.“ Priests of All Creeds Chant. : § ticipated in laying the corner stone of the bullding. Rabbi Simon read from the Torah |in Hebrew, but the rest of his serv- fce was almost entirely in English. This is because the Washington 4| Hebrew Congreglition belongs to the reformed, not orthodox, branch of Judaism, he explained. The rabbi concluded his Saturday morning service with brief rites in memory of members of the congre- |gatlon who recently have passed & |away. Close survivors rose and stood ftar i Washindton Hebrew congredation synagogue. Behind Rabbi Abram Simon and his confirmation class is the H.ol\!Atio, /above hangs. Ner’!bmid.gerpetua.fiq lighted lamp. x church £ &Le“ggiutr cArabid was the la St.Geotde Surian Tn which this gtou.f in rthodox church sang mass for Bresident Harding &~ e~ o~ This black robe is wotn by Rev. Job. Salloom Priest of the Syrian Orthodox chutch, only in opening the setvice, later he changes t0 more shiped with _the Greeks, but ‘in 1912 they organized a’congregation which could enjoy. services In its own lan- guage. The. Rev. Job' Salloom was called from Brooklyh. N:Y.,"and he toured the countsy fo cellect funds with which the site and building now occupied were purchased.” The’ con- gregation numbers 500. ° “Syrian parents want their children to understand the Arabic services, so I conduct a school, in a room above the church,” Father Salloom said: “The language class. meets. twice datly during the summer, and from 4 to 6 p.m. every week day the rest of the yea! Seated in his study, Father Salloom seemed almost in the orlent again. He sucked the long red tube from his Turkish water pipe between .sips of sweet Turkish coffee from & tiny cup. He rested his great.beard on btighbly colored costume his chest and stretched his feet to & white' sheep’s hair rug. “Please remember,” he asked, “that though we'Syrians cling to oriental language and rites, we are loyal to our adopted country. You will' see a large American flag in our church. We . lighted , sacred mourned * before holy ikons when President Harding died.” * X ¥ % ATURDAY morning in the Orthodox Jewish Synagogue of Ahove Sholom congregation, 5th and I streets north- west, the scene is set in black, white and blue. Before the ark, the Hebrew: holy of holies, stands the rabbl, black siik cap covering his head, white tallis with blue stripes and tassels thrown about his shoulders and falling al- most the full length of his black robe. * The ark 'is covered by a white {lighted perpetually, candles = and| curtain, bearing in blue the six- pointed star of David. A white rail- ing separates altar from congrega- tion. # Men fill the main floor. Women are in the gallefy. Black: hats or skull caps are left on the men’s héads— | to;worship-bareheaded is regarded as disrespectful. - Each has-unfolded his tallis, received either at confirmation or marriage. It is- & long scarf. of .rich white material, with stripes and fringe of blue. Married men wear a wider tallis ‘than their unmated brothers. The custom of wearing the tallis is prescribed; by the Scriptures, “Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture = Only sunlight and the reddish glow | from Ner Tomid, the lamp which hangs above the rabbi’s head and is brighten _this black, white and blue altar, black, white and blue robéd rabbl, and rows of men in black garb, white arfd blue tallis. The rabbi faces the east as he makes an_opening prayer. Choir and congregation chant’ and ‘respond 'in a ‘sing-fong fashion. ! Suddenly ‘the peak of the devotion is reached.. 'The choir's song swells to' a burst of praise, The congrega- tion rises. The rabbl and two elders draw back the curtain and reveal the holy ark. In it are fourteen huge.sheepskin scrolls, each a Torah, the law of Moses. of %gold. = A bright silver crown, a memorial to one of the synagogue's sons who gave his life in_the world war, is atop the scrolls. Above the holy ark.is a reproduction of the two stone tablets upon which Moses re- celved the ten commandments. An elder lifts one of hte Toroth from the ark and places it upon the They rest against a cloth; rabbi’s reading desk. Careful not to viojate the rule that the parchment must not-be touched, the rabbi grasps the left handle, an elder tlie right handle, and they unroll ‘the .sacred scrofl. = Toroths are handwritten. Some Jews devote their entire’lives to’in- seribing - the' square - Hebrew char- acters upon ‘the cleanest of sheep- skins. h The rabbi calls to-the pulpit-a-wor- shiper. - The * man ' sumnioned, ‘ by making agift to_tlie synagogue’ re- cently, has earned the' privilege: of having thé Scripture read -in. his honor. Six others recéive'a similar distinction each Sabbath. ° In, 'this manner the rabbi reads the entire Torah every year. The scroll is replaced, the holy ark covered, and the congregatioft sit again. ° : Many times' Dr.’ Julius T.- Loeb, rabbi of Ahove'Sholom gongrégation, repeats the Hebrew service in’ Yid- dish for the benefit' of his parishion- ers who are more’' familiar® with ‘that language. * -V * * .k K, : HE oldest. froup:of Hebrew wor- shipers® here is « the! Washing- ton” Hebrew Congregation, ‘orghnized in 1852. It ‘mieets in the large temple on Bth street northivest bétween'H and I streets. “With double turret, two ' domes and high arches the building com- bines the characteristics of oriental churches,” Dr. Abrdm Simon, rabbi of this congregation, said. From his pulpit hangs a banner bearing a painting of the eagle of which Moses wrote. In the sky-blue ceiling -are reproduced. the shining tablets which bore the ten com- mandments. ‘One of.the. synagogue’s treasures, i8 the chair . in which President McKinley sat’when he par- . b : Sonat while the rabbi led the congregation in prayer. Few men attended the Saturday morning service. A salesman, carry- ing his display case to a pew, served |as a reminder that hundreds of He- | brews cannot leave Saturday busi- |ness. For their beneflt tho Washing- ton Hebrew Congregation has service Friday night, and it is well attended. Twelve hundréd persons attend the Ahove Sholom Synagogue, 600 go to the Washington Hebrew Congrega- tion Templo and the 1,700 other Jew- ish worshipers in the District are distributed among the seven congre- gations: Adath Israel, Ezras Israel Tifereth Israel, Kesher Israel, Tal- mud Torah Southeast, Talmud Torah Southwest and Hebrew: Home. * ok ko ® ‘VH 4th street and E street northwest meet -is & steepled church serving German Lutherans. “Five hundred zouls belong to this congregation,” said the Rev. Henoch Schroeder, pastor, himself son of German parents. “We sing the Apostles’ Creed In Teutonfc and - German 1s used throughout the service and sermon every first and third Sunday morn- ing and other Sunday evenings Other services are in English. “Many of my flock, were born in Germany, but the German tongue has other appeals besides belonging to the ‘old cosntry.’ It is the language which Ma#tin Luther spoke’ It is the langbage in which German Lutherans received their early re- ligious training. It conveys to these people religious lessons better than can English. I have been preaching both languages for twenty-seven years, and still prefer to hear the German in- church. “What hymn is a favorite German service?” “Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott.” Ong recognized Martin Luthers Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” “So strong has been the desire to hear German hymns and sermons that neither the world war nor secession ot factions desiring all-English serv- ices could weaken it.” Rev. Schroeder id. “Young as well as old folk attend the German services. Recent- 1y one of our boys went to theological seminary to prepare to preach in German in the United State Foreign language students from Washington's colleges and high schools attend Rev. Schroeder’s serv- ices for practice in understanding German. Every Sunday morning the Rev Richard Schmidt, pastor of Zion Evangelical Luthergn Church, 6th and P streets northwest, preaches in Ger- man. His congregation of 400 is aug- mented by members and attaches of the German embassy. German is used in two other local Lutheran churches: Concordia Evan- gelical, 20th and G streets northwest, and St. John's Evangelical, 320 41 street southwest. * X ¥ % OR twenty years Norwegians and Danes, who compose St. Olaf's Scandinavian Lutheran congregation have met in the auditorium of Christ Lutheran Church, New Jersey avenue northwest, between M and N streets. The Rev. J. C. Roseland of Phi delphia preaches to them every Sun- day evening. One week his discourse is in Norwegian, the next in English. The gongregation originally was composed entirely of natives of Nor- way and Denmark, but in the last five years young men and women, coming here from immigrant families in western states; have joined and increased the membership to 125, Martin Solem, executive secretary of the group, stated. The Italian Baptist Chiesa del Re- dentore (Church of the Redeemer) at gpyeseno., is located in the Scottish | Rite Cathedral, 3rd and E streets northwest, but next month plans to move into its own home, now under construction at New York avenue northwest and Kirby street. Over 130 worshipers come to Sun- |dly school and church servicgs which the Rev. M. C. Marseglia, a native of Italy, conducts. Some members of the congregation were bgptized in Italy, .but most of them were cen- verted in Washington. “My congregation would not be helped spiritually by a sermon preachedin any language other than Italian. They would not appreciate it. .Hymns are sung in Italian, too,” Rev. Marseglia said. “So anxious has the congregation been to acquire a home which it could decorate in keeping (with Italian cus- tom that it raised $35,000 for site and blillding, without ald from the rest of the denomination.” The North Capitol Methodist Epis- copal Church, North Capitol and K streets, sponsors an Italian mission. Deaconess Jessie Newland each Sun- day morning reads to about a score of Italian children the Sunday school lesson, first in Italian, then in Eng- lish, * Two Swedish congregations in Washington have passed their third birthday. Forty persons, mostly women, com- pose St. Erick's Swedish Lutheran Mission, which meets in the Lutheran Church at 11th and H streets north- west, every other Sunday at 3 p.m. Most 6f them can speak and under- stand English, but love of their moth- er tongue causes them to maintain the services. In the First Baptist Church, 16th and O streets northwest, the other Swedish congregation, about the same slze, meets every other Friday night and Sunday afternoon. The Rev. C. A. Chader comes from Wilmington, Del,, to conduct these prayer meetings and Sunday services. in the