Page:The Dalston Synagogue-an historical sketch.djvu/10

 The year 1878 saw a complete change in the personnel of the Executive, Mr. Freeman Cohen, Mr. M. Manus and Mr. M. Van Thai replacing Mr. Elias Cohen, Mr. S. Goldman and Mr. M. A, Roselaar as President, Vice-President and Treasurer respectively.

Mr. E. Cohen, who had been in failing health, died in August, 1879, and his incomparable services to the Congregation were duly recognized in a touching letter of condolence addressed to his widow.

Mr. Rozelaar's retirement from office was but temporary, for in 1881 he returned as Vice-President, Mr. P. Lewey becoming Treasurer in the same year in place of Mr. Van Thai. In 1883, on the resignation of Mr. Lewey, Mr. Marks Kruszinski was promoted to the Treasurership.

In the winter of 1880, the movement for securing a fitting house of prayer was once more revived, and negociations were entered into with the United Synagogue with the view of the Dalston Synagogue being admitted into the Union. The Jewish population of the district had been growing by leaps and bounds, and this time, when the Vice-President of the United Synagogue, the late Mr. Lionel L. Cohen, was approached by representatives of the Dalston Synagogue, he manifested a very favourable attitude towards their project, in earnest of which he presented the Congregation with two Scrolls of the Law. Encouraged by his powerful support, energetic efforts were once more made to acquire a place of worship more in keeping with the dignity and importance of the Congregation. On January 1st, 1882, a Building Committee, with Messrs. Alfred de Rothschild and S. Simons as Treasurers, was appointed to secure the erection of a suitable Synagogue. On March 16th, 1884, after much negociation, a plot of ground in Poet's Road, measuring 138 ft. by 102 ft., was purchased by the Building Committee, with the approval both of the Congregation and the United Synagogue, for the sum of £650 and a ground rental of £40 per annum. The lease was for 99 years, and the Congregation had the option to purchase, the freehold for the sum of £1,100 by December 25th, 1886. Mr. N. S. Joseph was engaged as architect, and rapid progress was made with the building. Exclusive of site, the whole cost of the structure when completed, with all its fittings, arrangements for heating, lighting and ventilation, and including residences for the minister and caretaker, amounted to less than £7,000.

At a general meeting of the seat-holders held on December 14th, 1884, it was decided to retain the services of the three salaried officers, the Revs. J. Lesser, M. H. Myers, and Mr. Altman, in the new Synagogue. Mr. Myers, however, whose lamented death took place shortly after, felt compelled to tender his resignation on March l0th, 1885. In recognition of his services a sum of 250 was unanimously voted for him by the Committee. The office of Preacher, Second Reader, and Secretary having become vacant, an advertisement was inserted in the Jewish papers inviting applications. Four candidates were adopted, the Revs. H. Gollancz, L. Canter, M. Hyainson, and Mr. B. Saul. The Rev. L. Canter and Mr. B. Saul having retired from the contest, an open field was left to Revs. H. Gollancz and M. Hyamson, then a very young man. On May 31st, 1885, at a general meeting specially convened for the purpose, Mr. Gollancz was elected by 52 votes to 24 cast for his friend and rival. Seven years later, after Mr. Gollancz had