USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2 > Part 75
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September of the following year in time for the first session of the new Art Academy of Cin- cinnati, which succeeded the Art School of Cin- cinnati. This was the successor to the McMicken School of Design, which was established in ac- cordance with the request of Charles MeMicken, who died in 1858 and opened originally on Jan- uary 4, 1869, in charge of Thomas S. Noble. The School of' Design was a part of the McMicken University of Cincinnati. In 1876 Joseph Long- worth presented the Art Department of the Uni- versity with $59,500 upon condition that the University should add $10,000, which it promptly did, and the School of Design was thus placed upon a liberal and permanent pecuniary founda- tion. At the time of the incorporation of the Art Museum Association, Mr. Longworth, who had given the main support to the School of De- sign, became anxious to place that school in the hands of the trustees of the latter association and it was his expectation that if he was suc- cessful in the accomplishment of this desire to give to the association a larger fund for the endowment of a thoroughly equipped art school. Joseph Longworth died however before he was able to carry out his purpose but in 1884 his son, the late Judge Nicholas Longworth, upon the completion of an arrangement by which the city transferred the School of Design from the University to the Museum Association, placed in the hands of the trustees in pursuance of the unfulfilled intention of his father investments and ground rents of the value of $371,631. The name of the school was then changed to the Art School of Cincinnati. Reuben R. Springer and David Sinton were considering the erection of an adequate building for the school near the Museum in Eden Park just previous to Mr. Springer's death: Mr. Springer left by his will the sum of $20,000 to the school and thereupon Mr. Sinton gave $75,944 towards the construc- tion of a building to which was added $14,081 from the. Springer endowment. At the dedica- tion of the building in November, 1887, the school was named the "Art Academy of Cincin- nati" and since that time has continued as a department under the management of the Cin- cinnati Museum Association. The building is rectangular, 82 by 140 feet with over 38,000 square feet of floor space divided among three stories. It contains large and small class rooms and studios and lecture room, dining room and kitchen and its location in Eden Park 350 feet above the river level insures to it light and air and an opportunity for outdoor work. The
school is well equipped with casts, still life and furniture and employs six to seven life models daily for students drawing and painting the head or figure. In addition to the building, which cost $97,175.58, the endowment includes the Long- worth fund $371,631, Springer fund $11,371.40 and the Louise Ingalls memorial fund created in 1899 which gives financial aid to deserving students. The chairman of the faculty is Prof. Thomas S. Noble. Other members are Vincent Nowotny, L. H. Meakin, William H. Fry, Cle- ment J. Barnhorn and Frank Duveneck. The director is J. H. Gest.
THE ROOK WOOD POTTERY.
Not far from the Art Museum upon the brink of Mount Adams is the Rookwood Pottery, one of the most prominent institutions of the city and the one probably that is best known through- out the world. In 1874 and 1875 a number of women in the city were led to experiment in the decoration of ceramics and some of their work in overglaze porcelain decoration was ex- hibited at the Centennial Exposition in Phila- delphia. Afterwards they tried other processes of decoration under the glaze, tested all sorts of native clay and made experiments in the appli- cation of color to the wet clay body with the idea of producing a new pottery by applying colored decoration in the material itself before firing and then protecting and enriching this biscuit with the glaze. Prominent among these artists was Mrs. Maria Longworth Storer, who in 1880 opened a pottery on Eastern Avenue which she called "Rookwood" from the name of her father's place. Here the first kiln was drawn on Thanks- giving Day and here developed an art industry that has grown to marvelous proportions whose output vies with the most beautiful products of the potter. By 1889 the works had become self- supporting : Mrs. Storer withdrew and Rookwood passed to a company under the control of Will- iam Watts. Taylor, who had cooperated in the institution since 1883. In 1892 the old build- ing spreading out in all directions outgrew the possibilities of its site on Eastern avenue and a new piece of ground was purchased on the bluff of Mount Adams. Here was erected a pictur- esque building, which can be seen from all parts of the lower plain of the city, which in itself is one of the most striking architectural features in Cincinnati. An enlargement was made in 1899 and at present ( 1904) additional buildings are in process of erection. The decorators who have worked in the pottery have comprised both men
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and women and have been drawn mainly from the Art Academy. There has been no imitation of other wares and the constant effort has been to produce individual pieces each an ideal in form and color. Mechanical repetition is avoid- ed and each piece is a fresh and independ- ent rendering of its motive. Experiments are constantly carried on in the effort to broaden the character of the work. At first the native clay inclined the color quality towards vellows, browns and reds and these types are re- garded as the standard Rookwood. Other glaze effects are known as the "Tiger Eye," first made in 1884, the earliest "of the class of crystalline glazes since so extensively made at Sevres, Co- penhagen and Berlin." "Gold Stone," another crystalline glaze, is more limpid in quality ; "Sea Green," an exquisite variety in which a limpid, opalescent sea-green effect is obtained; "Iris" a lighter color scheme of more delicate body. In the so-called "flowing glaze" somewhat resem- bling the old Chinese ware, the decoration is painted upon the piece in slight relief. The de- velopment of the "mat glaze" began in 1896 as an outgrowth of efforts at a dull finish or smear
glaze. A later feature of Rookwood is the ap- plication of metals which are used very success- fully, in designs for lamps and electroliers. Faience panels, flat and in relief, are used for mantels, wall panels. fountains and architectural reliefs. The celebrated Indian heads of the de- sign so frequent in Rookwood ware are abso- lutely correct portraits of Indian chiefs. A fine exhibition of Rookwood is to be given at the St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
In the second volume of this work a sketch of the Rookwood Pottery Company is given that supplements the foregoing article.
THE CINCINNATI ART CLUB,
With its rooms on Fourth street and its member- ship comprising the principal artists of the city, as well as a number of enthusiasts on art mat- ters, is no small influence in art circles. It is a social organization which also gives a number of exhibitions each year of the work of its mem- bers. These are very popular and are largely at- tended by those fortunate enough to be invited to them.
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CHAPTER XLVIII.
THE JEWS OF CINCINNATI.
BY MAX B. MAY.
CHARACTER OF THE SETTLEMENT - THE FIRST CONGREGATION, BENE ISRAEL -THE PLUM STREET TEMPLE -ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUES - SABBATH SCHOOLS - THE HEBREW UNION COLLEGE - JOURNALISM -THE CHARITIES - HOSPITALS AND HOMES FOR THE AGED-THE JEWISH SOCIAL SETTLEMENT - PUBLIC SERVICE - COMMERCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE - SECRET SOCIETIES- THE SOCIAL LIFE.
[ Although as is apparent from an examination of this work, the topical treatment of special subjects has not been generally adopted, it was thought by the author that several subjects could receive more adequate treatment in this way, es- pecially in view of the kindly interest of writers especially qualified for the work. The subject discussed in this chapter has never so far as the author has been able to discover been adequately handled in any accessible publication. It seems a piece of good fortune that a writer so admirably adapted by temperament, heredity and training to do this work as is Mr. May has consented to prepare the following chapter on a people who have always been so intimately and honorably connected with the history of the city .- C. T. G.]
The author of this history of Cincinnati for some reason or other has thought that his work would be incomplete without a chapter devoted to the Jews of Cincinnati. When the writer of this chapter endeavored to point out to him that the Jews as such were no more entitled to a sep- arate chapter than the Catholics. Protestants, Episcopalians, Methodists and other sects, hic answered that in a work of this character the Jewish population like the German and Irish was entitled to have its story told. And this is
the only reason for this chapter, and it shall be my endeavor to tell the story of the Cincinnati Jews from the earliest day to the present, and it is a most creditable story. For view the Jew as you will, whether as pioneer, citizen, merchant or professional man, whether from his religious, political, economic or social side, he presents but one picture-that of an honest, upright, fearless, zealous, patriotic, charitable, religious and public spirited citizen. If the Cincinnati Jew can point with pride to any one virtue, it is that in all his history from 1817 to 1903, he has never allowed his brother to become a public charge, he has never asked his sectarian fellow citizens to con- tribute to his charities and organizations, nor re- fused to contribute to theirs, and in all positions of public trust, whether he served for honor only or for pay, his record has been without a blemish. In all his history he has had but one object,-to show himself not only a true son of Israel, but a loyal and patriotic citizen, a true lover of his adopted home, a faithful servant of the public.
CHARACTER OF THE SETTLEMENT.
The first Jew to arrive in Cincinnati was Jo- seph Jonas, a native of Plymouth, England, who, having heard in some way or other of the fertility and possibilities of the Ohio region, left his
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home to settle in Cincinnati, the very heart of the Chio settlement. He landed in New York in 1816, set out from Philadelphia in the carly part of 1817, and after a long journey arrived in Cincinnati at the close of the first week of March, 1817. Being a watchmaker by trade, he soon established himself and within a short time sent home word about the advantages of Cincinnati. Simultaneously with the arrival of Jonas in Cincinnati, one Phineas Johnson of Portsmouth, England, had settled near what is now Connersville, Indiana. The glowing re- ports that Johnson sent home to his folks soon induced his brother, David Israel Johnson, to emigrate to Western America. This new immi- grant, while passing through Cincinnati, met Jonas, who unsuccessfully endeavored to have him remain here. Johnson, however, joined his brother in Indiana, but returned to Cincinnati early in 1820, where he remained until his death in 1842, at the early age of 47 years. This David Israel Johnson was the father of the first Jewish child born in Cincinnati, the late Hon. Frederick A. Johnson, who was born June 2, 1821, and who for many years was a justice of the peace of this township. His son, Simeon M. Johnson, is an honored member of the Cincin- nati bar. D. 1. Johnson was also the father of Edgar M. Johnson, for many years the law part- ner of the late Governor George Hoadly. Other English Jews soon found their way to Cincin -. nati ; these were undoubtedly attracted on purely personal grounds ; among them may be men- tioned, -- Lewis Cohen of London, Barnet Levi of Liverpool, Jonas Levy of Exeter, Abraham Jonas, Morris Moses and wife, Morris Symonds and wife, who came from Plymouth, and Solo- mon and Phineas Moses from Portsmouth. In 1820, some Germans arrived,-Solomon Buck- ingham, Moses Nathan and Solomon Menkin. Between 1820 and 1830 many English friends and coreligionists of the pioneers came to Cin- cinnati. During the same period some Dutch Jews, among whom were the Workums, some French,-the Mayers,-arrived. About 1830, the Polish and German Jewish immigration began, and soon we find such family names as Moehring, Alexander, Malzer, Heidelbach, Sea- songood, Milius, Sessel, Assur, Wolf, Bloom, Simon, Levy, Friedman, Barbe, Fechheimer, Frenkel, Goodhart and the like. After 1840, the German immigration soon outnumbered the English, and thenceforth, until 1882, the main immigration was German. In 1882 occurred the first great Russian exodus, caused by the inhu-
man persecution of the Jews by the relentless policy of the Czar. Since 1882, there has been a steady stream of Russian Jews pouring into Cincinnati. In 1900 the Roumanian persecution caused thousands of Roumanian Jews to leave their native land, and within the past few years a mere handful of these have settled in Cincin- nati; this number is likely to increase if the Roumanian persecution continues.
'The ancestors of the present Jewish popula- tion of Cincinnati were therefore English, Polish, German, Dutch, French and Russian. There have been some intermarriages between the Eng- lish, Polish. German, Dutch, French and Ger- man Jews, between the Polish and Russian, but very few between the English and Russian or German and Russian. However, within the last few years the number of these is increasing.
THE FIRST CONGREGATION,-BENE ISRAEL.
The Jews all the world over have been noted for their devotion to Israel's God. They have an abiding faith in the Thorah, Israel's sacred book of law, and wherever a few are gathered to- gether, they assemble at least on the holy days of the year, the Rosh Hashonah ( New Year ) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement ), which come in the early fall, and worship God as their ancestors did of old. The new immigrants brought with them this abiding religious faith that has ever, and it is hoped will ever charac- terize the Jews. In the fall of 1819, Lewis Cohen, Barnet Levi, Jonas Levy, Joseph Jonas and David Israel Johnson, who came over from Brookville, held the first Jewish services in the West. On the 4th day of January, 1824, at a meeting of Jews held at the house of Morris Moses, the following resolution was adopted : "Whereas, It is the duty of every member of the Jewish persuasion, when separated from a con- gregation, to conform as near as possible to the worship and ceremonies of our holy relig- ion, and as soon as a sufficient number can be assembled to form ourselves into a congrega- tion for the purpose of glorifying our God and observing the fundamental principles of .our faith as developed in the Laws of Moses ; with these impressions the undernamed persons convened at the residence of Morris Moses in the City of Cincinnati on the fourth day of Janu- ary, 1824, corresponding to the fourth day of Shebat. 5584." And on the 18th day of January. 1824, at another meeting at the same place, the Congregation Bene Israel (Children of Israel) was organized with Joseph Jonas, president, and Phineas Moses and Jonas Levy, vestrymen. In
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1826, the congregation used a frame building on the west side of Main street, between Third and Fourth. On January 30, 1830, the General As- sembly of the State of Ohio constituted Morris Symonds, Joseph Jonas, D. 1. Johnson, Phineas Moses, and others, and their successors a body corporate and politic under the name "K'hilah Kodesh Bene h Israel" ( Holy Congregation of Children of Israel), "according to the form and mode of worship of the Polish and German Jews of Cineinnati." In 1830, the congregation wor- shiped on Fourth street between Sycamore and Broadway. In 1835, the corner-stone of a new synagogue on Broadway between Fifth and Sixth was laid, and in 1836 the structure was dedicated. At this time Rev. Henry Harris was the reader. In 1851, the congregation having purchased adjoining property moved temporarily to Vine street, and on September 14, 1852, the new synagogue, thenceforth known as the "Broadway Synagogue," was dedicated. In
1855, the congregation elceted Rev. Dr. Max Lilienthal of New York, "the first preacher to officiate regularly for the Bene Israel Congrega- tion." The congregation grew in numbers and in- fluence under the wise leadership of Dr. Lilien- thal. He was a most lovable man, handsome, tall, and of great intelleet, a peaee loving person -"the Prince of Peace" was the sobriquet given him. He soon renewed his friendship with his colleague, Rev. Dr. Isaac M. Wise, of the younger sister congregation, and from 1855 to 1882, the year of his death, he was a faithful collaborator of Dr. Wise in all reform and edu- eational matters ; he zealously introduced into his congregation every reform inaugurated by Dr. Wise in the latter's congregation.
In 1863, the board of trustees of the Broadway Synagogue resolved to build a new house of worship, and in 1865 the present site of the new temple at Eighth and Mound streets was pur- chased. Slow progress was made in building and in 1868 Dr. Lilienthal resigned to accept a call to Temple Emanu-El, New York. Through the efforts of influential eitizens among whom was the late Judge Bellamy Storer, Dr. Lilienthal withdrew his resignation. Soon thereafter work on the new temple was pushed and on April 27, 1869, the new structure was dedicated. Dr. Max Lilienthal, with whose coming began a new era in the history of the Mound Street Temple, continned to be the spiritual head until April 5, 1882, when he died mourned by the whole community. In October, 1882, Rev. Raphael Benjamin, M. A., was elected Dr. Lilienthal's successor. He in turn was succeeded in 1888 by
the present able Rabbi David Philipson, D. D. Dr. Philipson is a graduate of the first class of the Hebrew Union College, and of the class of 1883 of the University of Cincinnati. He was the 1870 gold medal pupil of Hughes High School. After his graduation in 1883, he was elected rabbi of a large Baltimore congregation. Since taking up his work here, he has contin- ued the good labors of Dr. Lilienthal. He is a member of the Cineinnati Literary Club, the Folk Lore Society, and the Phi Beta Kappa of the University of Cincinnati. In addition to his rabbinical duties, he is a member of the faculty of the Hebrew Union College, president of the Sabbath School Union, and a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. His voice and his pen are ever ready in behalf of Israel's cause.
During his service, the Mound Street Temple has inereased in numbers. The board of trus- tees, which is at present composed of Solomon Fox, president, Lewis Seasongood, vice-president, Alfred M. Cohen, seeretary, Abraham Freiberg. treasurer, Jacob Schottenfels, warden, and Vic- tor Abraham, J. Walter Freiberg, Joseph Joseph, David M. Levy, A. G. Schwab, Julius Freiberg, Simon Greenebaum, James Lowman, Jacob Kronacher, Samuel W. Trost and Isaae Wink- ler, trustees. is contemplating the building of a new and more beautiful temple in AAvondale. Dr. Philipson is assisted in the service by the cantor, Rev. M. Goldstein. The choir under the leadership of Sidney C. Durst furnishes excellent music. The last annual report shows a membership of 370; receipts of $16,867.43, and expenditures of $16,160.34.
THIE PLUM STREET TEMPLE.
Towards the end of the "thirties." there were in and about Cincinnati a number of young. energetic German Jews, who although religious- ly inclined were not in sympathy with the Eng- lish congregation, Bene Israel. Some time in 18.10, they met and organized an independent congregation, which they named Bene Yeshurun (Children of Yeshurun). The first place of worship was on Third street between Sycamore and Broadway. The first general meeting of the congregation was held September 19, 1841, at which Alexander Colin was elected president. Previous to this meeting, the ritual used by Ger- man Jews had been adopted. The earnestness. sincerity and energy of the young congregation is easily discovered in the first constitution ; the young and enthusiastic German Jews were al-
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ready imbued with our glorious American insti- tutions. On February 28, 1842, the congregation was incorporated under the name " The Holy. Congregation of Children of Yeshurun." Of the original charter members, three are still liv- ing, J. H. Goodhart, Daniel Wolf and Levi Friedman. In 1844, the congregation resolved to build a synagogue and in 1845 a lot on Lodge street (now the site of the Columbia Theatre) was purchased, and on September 22, 1848, the new synagogue was dedicated. In 1847, Rev. James K. Gutheim was the minister of the con- gregation and under his regime some religious reforms were attempted, but the ultra-orthodox members were too strong for him and he soon resigned. He was succeeded by an Englishman, Rev. H. A. Henry, who in turn was succeeded by Rev. A. Rosenfeld. Gradually the anti-ultra-or- thodox party of the congregation gained in strength and in 1853, after accepting Rev. Mr. Rosenfeld's resignation, the congregation invited Rev. Dr. Isaac M. Wise of Beth-El Congregation, of Albany, New York, to name the conditions upon which he would accept an election. Dr. Wise named what he thought impossible conditions, viz : that he be elected unanimously and for life ; that he receive a salary which would make him independent and that he be permitted to enter upon his duties six months after his election. The congregation on October 27, 1853, accepted all the conditions. This action of the congrega- tion was a bold one for at this time Dr. Wise, who was personally known to few Cincinnatians, was being attacked fiercely and abusively in the denominational press; he was denounced as a heretic and accused of being a disturbing element in Judaism. This action on the part of the con- gregation certainly showed whither its tendencies were directed.
Dr. Wise arrived in Cincinnati, April 26, 1854; he had led a strenuous life at Albany since 1846, and by his reform movement had brought down upon him the abuse of strict orthodox Judaisin. In his "Reminiscences," he gives the following reasons for coming to Cincinnati: "The people there are young and aspiring and not yet cast in a fixed mold. Now, I understand that I have to do. I shall go to Cincinnati, start a new weekly journal, give Judaismi a new and power- ful impetus and avenge myself for the good of humanity on the narrow religious bigots so that they will think of me for a century."
With the advent of Dr. Isaac M. Wise, the Bene Yeshurun Congregation entered upon a new career; it now became the banner bearer
of Reform Judaism. Shortly after his arrival, he abolished certain useless customs and prayers and introduced a choir and an organ into the synagogue. His success was immediate, and in 1855 the older congregation, Bene Israel, elected Dr. Wise as its rabbi with the understanding that he should divide his time between the two synagogues, but Bene Yeshurun would not con- sent and upon Dr. Wise's recommendation Bene Israel elected Dr. Lilienthal. In 1863, the eongre- gation purchased a lot 132 by 100 on the southeast corner of Eighth and Plum streets, and erected a magnificent structure, now known as the Plum Street Temple, at the cost of $263,525. This temple was dedicated with appropriate cere- monies on August 24, 1866. This Alhambra temple with its slender pillars and 13 domes is one of the most handsome in the country. With the dedication of the new temple, the second period of the congregation's history ends. The actors in the great drama of quiet development were perhaps unaware of the grandeur of their work. The congregation had now abolished the strict orthodox practices, and was moving rapid- ly along the path of reform, with its light, its humanity, its enlightenment, and sympathy. Henceforth the congregation played the most prominent part in the affairs of that American Judaism that it had labored so sedulously to estab- iish. The influence of the congregation now became national and was felt in all questions of congregational reform. Its fame was spread abroad by the fearless, earnest, enthusiastic work of its indefatigable and conscientious rabbi. Dur- ing the years 1866-1900, he traveled in all parts of the country, dedicating new temples, deliver- ing popular leetures, attending conventions and conferences. In these assemblies, Dr. Wise was always the moving spirit and his personality and that of the congregation became inseparable. Aided and encouraged by the congregation, Dr. Wise established the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Hebrew Union College. In 1873, Dr. Wise received a call from the Con- gregation Ansche Chesed of New York, which elected him for life at $8,000 and house rent. But the Cincinnati congregation would not per- init him to leave. His salary was increased to $6,000 and he continued to serve at that salary until his death, March 26, 1900. In 1889, the cou- gregation dispensed with the services of the call- tor and elected, as assistant rabbi, Rev. Charles S. Levi, who served until 1898, when he was called to Peoria. In November. 1898, Dr. Wise selected one of his most favored and promising
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