K. K. SHERITH ISRAEL.
Congregation Sherith Israel was organized September 3, 1855, in Gerson's hotel, then on Walnut street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. Following is a list of the original members:
The officers were: President, Leopold Melius; vice president, P. Bamberger; treasurer, M. Weiler; secretary, Nathan Moses; warden, Hyman Moses. Members, Cerf Lehman, L. Uhlfelder, S. Statthagen, Jonas Hirsh, A. Wertheimer, Jacob I. Samuels, Eph Levy, Henry Hart, Bernard Michael, A. Klein, Wolf Lublin, Jos. Steinauer, Simon Flohr, Isaac Cohen, Gabriel Beitman, Levy Spel- man, Hess Kaufman, Simon Weiler, Solomon Loewenthal, Mayer Hoffman, Eph. Bloch, Simon Cohen, Sam Bruel, Nathan Malzer, Hyman Moses, Leopold Melius, Michael Daniels, Nathan Moses, Gerson Landsberg, Philip Bamberger, Michael Weiler, P. Potsdam, M. A. Cohen, Lipman Marks, Simon Bamberger, Isaac Jacobs, Nathan Bing. Jacob Hirschberg, M. Isaacs, Felix Hirsch, H. Bloch, Alex. Straus, Dr. J. Mayer, Jacob Hilp, M. Bloom. Jos. Goldberg, S. Bing. Wolf Gerson, Moses Hirsch, Solomon Wechsler, H. Hess, M. A. Wartcki, Joseph Holzman.
On January 13, 1856, the hall at the corner of Seventh and Walnut streets was leased for four years at an annual rental of $400 per annum, and on February 2pth it was duly consecrated as a synagog. M. Lasker was at this time elected cantor of the congregation.
Almost immediately plans were made for a proper place of worship, but it was not until September, 1860, that the new synagog on Lodge street, between Sixth and Seventh, was dedicated.
September 3, 1865, Dr. Illoway was elected rabbi for a term of five years, and continued in that capacity until his death, caused by an accident to the buggy in which he was driving to his home.
On December 2, 1882, the building in Lodge street was sold for $13,500, and on April 15, 1883, the lot on the corner of Richmond and Mound streets was purchased, and on March 27, 1885, the handsome new temple of stone was dedicated.
In the same year Dr. David Davidson, of the Hebrew Union college, was elected rabbi, and on April 27, 1890, Dr. Grodsky was elected cantor. The latter holds the same position in the consolidated congregations.
On April 12, 1905, the Richmond street temple was sold to congregation Ohave Sholem (Orthodox).