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.
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.
