507
THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA
above a modillion cornice. This little biil(ling was dcsigneil by Peter Harrison, an arehitect whose work in Boston and Newporl is well l (ivn; it is treated in his eustoniary style, and isa typical The New- American synagogue of the earlier port Syn- times. The columns, cornices, pilasagogwe. tcrs, balustrades, all of which are painted white with some of the carving sparingly gilded, are good examples of the best work of the day; while the plan of the interinr is exactly adapted to the requirements of an Ortliodox .Jewish .synagogue. There was eveu an oveu enMneclcd with the building for the baking of unii-avened bread. In 1805 there were but live synagogues worthy of the name in the United States, but a little later they began to multiply in New York. Philadelphia, Charleston, Savannah, and other large cities. The rabbinic traditions regulating the position and nura-
JfSMI AT
Isn.VKI.
meuted with, but general preference seems to have been for the Moorish. This nas due, no doubt, partly some of the newer synagogues in Europi' had been designed in this style, and partly to a vagiK^ impression that the stj'le itself was Oiiental and couseiiuently appropriate. There were many exceptions to the prevailing synataste, and some of them most successful. gogue was built in Charleston, S, C, in the Greek style. It possessed some dignity, and was a fair copy of a Doric temjile. The interior was treated in tiie Ionic order; the .rk, placed in the east, w:i9 of mahogany handsomely carved and the details generally were well executed. The congregation Shearith Israel, New York, tlie owners of the original building in Mill street referred to above, built in IKCO a synagogue on strictlj' cla.ssie lines on West Nineteenth street. The facade to the fact that
A
SVNAOOOfK AT NF.WPORT, (From a
biTof windowsand doors, the levilof Ihemaiii floor, the site, and other similar points appear to have been entirely neglected. It was generally undcrsiddd that the Ark was to bi> at the easlirn end nf llic' buililing, the readinir cli'sk in the mi<ldlc', ami the seals in rows under the wiimen's galleries extending east and west. This was the usual arrangement, varied only in details or when existing conditions compelled .some .s the various deviation from established custom. congregations grew wealthicrandcoulil alTord hanilsomer biiildings. more attention was paid to their design; and attempts wire made t<> seiiirc individuality and expressiim wliieli should br typically .Jewish. Various styles of architecture were expiri-
America
II.
l.-C>il'm(al.
phoUiKr*|>h.)
was ornamentid by two orders, Ionic behiw and Corinthian above; and the ediliii- was crowned by an octagonal dome. The building, now ilitnolished, wasof unusual inliresl. The main entrance wason The entire ground tloor was lIuTeits south side. fore devoted to vestibulesan<l staircases, in order that the entrance to the synagogue propiT Later Syn- slionhl be at its western end, and the agogues. .rk placid at the <'ast. The geiiend elTect of till' inteiior was very imposing, the domed ceiling being of great height, ami the Corinthian colunnis sup.rk well proportioned. porl<il the gidleriis; and pilaslirs, eorniees, The windows were u-irades wer<' used.
and
bal-
arched,
