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��NOTES BY THE WAY.
��The Manches- ter Synagogue sends a crown for a "Sepher Torah."
��The poor contribute their mite.
��1901, Aug. 24.
��All parties unite in the celebration.
��The rulers of the Manchester Synagogue for Spanish and Portu- guese Jews, anxious to have a part in the celebration, sent a massive ornament, consisting of a handsome silver crown for a " Sepher Torah." This weighs fifty ounces and is of the " Imperial " order, or shaped in Gothic style in the Decorative period. Upon the front are two tablets containing the Ten Commandments beneath an oblong shield bearing the following inscription : " Presented to the Bevis Marks Synagogue, London, by the Manchester Congrega- tion of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, in commemoration of its bicentenary. Tamuz 9, 5661." The whole is topped by a smaller crown, whilst its base is surmounted in repoussi with ovals, diamonds, and discs in gilt with frosted silver background relieved by orna- mental rope bordering.
In addition to this, the poorer members, desiring to share in the commemoration, had been for three years contributing their mite, and brought as their offering and tribute two silver crowns and a rich velvet covering for the scrolls of the Law.
The ' Encyclopaedia Britannica ' in its article on the Jews mentions that the archives of the synagogue contain a curious printed invitation from the King of Sweden, sent in the year 1746, in which wealthy Jews are invited to Sweden, while the poor are warned that their residence will be unwelcome.
A most impressive feature of the celebration was that all parties among the Jews united in it. No similar assembly had been seen since the installation of Dr. Adler as Chief Rabbi. The Jeivish World states that " it was an occasion to prove how much we all have in common, not how we may best magnify points of difference." The members of the West London Synagogue, partly an offspring of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation, joined heartily in the congratulations. In reference to this the Rev. Moses Joseph in his sermon on the event said : " The animosities which attended its birth were dead and buried, and the child unwelcomed and unloved, as it was at its birth, had in its manhood clasped hands with its parent in mutual esteem and goodwill." It was in 1692 that the German and Polish settlers increased so much in numbers that they decided to have a separate place of worship, and the first Ashkenazim Synagogue was begun. It was situated in Broad Street, Duke's Place, and the entire expense of the building was borne by Mr. Moses Hart.
The synagogue was consecrated with great solemnity in 1722. In 1767 it was repaired, enlarged, and again consecrated with imposing ceremonies ; and about this time the Jews became pos- sessed of two Hebrew printing presses, one under the auspices of the German congregation, and the other under that of the Spanish and Portuguese. In point of numbers the Ashkenazim now far exceeds the Sephardim ; it has more attractive services, and there
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