The Touro Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the United States, was dedicated yesterday as a national religious shrine, a designation conferred upon it by the Department of the Interior.
Terminating a three-day celebration which marked the consecration of the 184-year-old house of worship, the dedication ceremonies were attended by national, state, city and religious dignitaries, with Speaker of the House Joseph Martin, Jr., delivering the principal address. A message from President Truman (published last week) was also read during the ceremonies.
Mr. Martin declared: “Symbolic of our deep-rooted tradition of religious freedom, this long-revered house of worship now testifies to the spirit of mutual good-## and brotherhood that prevails among Americans of every faith.” Other speakers ##luded Governor John O. Pastore, of Rhode Island, Senator Theodore F. Greene, ##de Island, Mayor of Newport Edward G. Gladding, Dr. David de Sola Pool, of New York, and Carl Van Doren, historian.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
