Volume #30, Issue #1, October, 1997
THE
CONFIRMATION CEREMONIES OF
CONGREGATION B'NAI B'RITH
[NOW WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
TEMPLE]
Los Angeles
Shavuot, June 10, 1870
To the Editor of The Hebrew
(San Francisco):
Last Sunday morning being the anniversary of Divine
revelation, the Teutonia hall was crowded to its utmost capacity by members and
a large number of our most eminent Christian citizens and their families, to
witness a ceremony which had as yet never taken place in this city. The service
began at half past 9 o'clock. After the usual morning prayers the confirmants,
consisting of five girls and four boys, were conducted to their places by the
President and Vice-President of the congregation, and afterwards formed a
semi-circle facing the ark.
The girls were gracefully attired in white and the boys
were dressed in suits of black. The whole class then sang the introductory song,
(composed expressly for this occasion). At the close of the song two of the
confirmants (girls) then ascended the pulpit and offered a most fervent prayer.
The confirmants were then welcomed by the Rev. A.W.
Edelman, instructor of the class, with a few pleasant remarks, who then called
upon two of the confirmants (boys) to perform the first act of Divine worship.
They ascended the steps, opened the ark, and took therefrom the scrolls to the
two remaining confirmants (boys), who in a like manner offered supplications to
the Almighty. The class then sang Shema Yisroel. The scrolls were then borne to
the altar, where the youths of our Hebrew congregation, consisting of Henry
Katz, Abe Norton, Isidor Fleishmann, and more particularly Isaac Benjamin, who
acquitted his masterpiece by reading the nineteenth and twentieth chapter of
Exodus with the highest credit to his teacher and honor to himself
After the reading of the Law and the Haphtorah, the scrolls
were replaced in the ark and the additional service read. The Rev. A. W. Edelman
then delivered a soul-stirring appeal to the Throne of Grace, followed by a
discourse. It was a most eloquent address and was listened to with marked
attention by all present. At the close he addressed his class and urged upon
them to cherish the cardinal principles of our holy religion in a manner they
were commanded without a fear of interruption, and to show by their good conduct
in a land of liberty that they were deserving of all the favors that can be
bestowed upon mortals, and never to falter, so that they might be an honor to
their parents and an ornament to the House of Jacob. Ever remembering the golden
rule of life, "To love their fellow creatures, who were like themselves a human
being and one of God's children."
Here followed an impressive part of the ceremony, in which
was exhibited the practice of the high priests of old in offering sacrifices to
God. Instead of the burnt offerings of those days our young confirmants offered
unto the Almighty their humble tribute of beautiful flowers.
An examination then took place, and the many questions
asked were readily answered in loud voice, showing that they had received a
thorough training and were strict and attentive to their arduous studies.
The three cardinal principles of our fate, the ten
commandments, the thirteen Creeds, the confessions and thanksgivings, were
recited by the entire class in a most effective manner, after which several
prayers were then offered by the remaining confirmants, and at the close they
were declared by the Reverend gentleman initiated into our holy religion. The
choir then sang the closing hymn of service, and the confirmants received the
following blessing: "The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord let His face shine
upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift upon thee the light of His
countenance and grant thee peace forever more.—Amen.
Parents and friends then came forward and congratulated
both the Reverend and his pupils. Thus closed one of the most solemn and
interesting ceremonies ever witnessed in this city. Every one was highly
impressed with the service and ceremonies, and the day will never be forgotten
by those who had the honor and pleasure of witnessing the same.
The following are the names of the confirmants: Misses
Rachel Edelman, Celia Katz, Sarah Solomon, Sarah Goldstein, Jennie Cohen;
Masters Isaac Benjamin, Isidor Fleishmann, Abe Norton, Henry Katz.
--Hebrew San Francisco, June 24, 1870
