THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

PAGE FOUR ,

Dr. Franklin Honored by Leaders of Life and Thought Far and Near.

l Cow ,
my ideas and but to the great big genera
munity.
An appreciating public of all faiths of joy and in time of trouble lie has conceived to be right, has always been has so influenced
It is difficult for us to fully express
are offering their hand in congratu• endeared himself to every member a dominating and distinguishing char- ideals.
Coining under his tutelage . when
acteristic. He has sought to apply
lation for the splendid unselfish serv- of The
his fold.
—
coming to Detroit of Rabbi principles which are broad and just eight years old, I found in him rare our appreciation of his work.
To my mind, the highest / praise we ice Dr. I.eo Al.Franklin has ren- Franklin and his devoted wife marked and never narrow or sectarian. As a qualities of heart and Inind. With
can give a man is to say citizen
that he
a dered to the city of Detroit.
the beginning of a new Jewish coin- consequence, he has justly earned and the passing years this admiration and
is is
one
the respect and confidence of love have been intensified. I regard
good citizen, for a good
mural life. His broad interest flour- retained t
r
who not only discharges the duties
orae and the members of his congregation and Dr. Franklin as one of the teal)' big
ished by a peculiarly fortu
to
his
country,
state,
city
men of the city-as an outsta nding Monsignor and Pastor of Our Lady 4
he owes
---- :
congenial home atniosishefe, encour- the community at large.
factor in American Jewish life.
the Rosary Roman Catholic Church.
and family honestly and faithfully,
Philanthropist and Civic Leader.
aged by a happy co-operation of a
Young in spirit and in viewpoint,
but one who respects the rights of
-- -
joining hi,
is idolized by the children and
/. hear" ill He- community only too ready to drop
I take much pleasure in join
his neighbors as well.
During his "edit
dissension and work together, in-
ig people of Temple Beth El, many friends in offering congratula•
I know of no man in Detroit who
Zeller deserves the name "good citi. emit, Doctor Franklin has served no
pie, spired by that prince of Judah, Louis President Detroit Board of Commerce. who
c found in him a sympathetic Mons to Rabbi Franklin on the e
who
El tu . o
sion of his twentieth . anniversas
zen" than Rabbi Leo M. Franklin; he only his own Temple lt,aft
friend and a hearty companion.
has been at all times a powerful in- but the entire city. 'Flue burdens and Blitz, and surrounded by a group of
Ile has made his presence felt in service with his congregation of 1
sorrows of the whole community high-grade liberal Christian clergy-
On the 26111 of this month Rabbi
a
fluence in the community oil the side have touched hi nt, and to alleviate men, has been no small element in Leo NI. Franklin celebrates twenty many walks of life-meeting all men pie firth El.
His broad-minded courtesy tow ard,
years of service with Temple Beth El. on terms of friendship and of under-
of right and justice. He has ren. these burdens he has lifted hard and the growth of a better Detroit.
dered service, not only to his people
I cannot recall any important event standing. A keen student of human those of other faiths than his own,
in that length of time that Dr. Frank- nature he has influenced many move- and his keen interest in every c
but to the entire city, and I ant glad Well.
Doctor Franklin belongs not mere-
tin's voice was not raised in behalf Tonnes-always for the good of the movement for the betterment of
to join with those of his other friends
in extending sincere good wishes on ly to a part, but to the whole of us.
fruit, commends hint to the has
of the right side of every question. greatest number.
Circuit
Court.
Judge of the Wayne
the occasion of his twentieth anni. and as one of the latter and as a fel-
I have observed him at large meet- friends he has made during his n
Whether the matter had to do with
—
low-worker with him, I am deeply
Strait.
hr history of Detroit for the past civic righteousness or national patri- lugs swaying great audiences at will; deuce in our fair City of the
versary.
grateful that we have had him with
1-
twenty years upon its religious, ethi- otic endeavor his force was potent 1 have seen him in committee ses-
us these twenty years.
sinus, meeting and parrying the
Doctor Franklin is a true successor cal, social, and yes, its economic sides in bringing about concerted action.
of those men of ancient times, yet fur cannot be written without encounter- May his years of usefulness be long mental thrusts of keen-witted men of
o
ing in many ways Rabbi Franklin and continued and particularly so nw the world; in the slums of the east
Vice•President Temple Bath-El.
Philanthropist, Dinsetor General Michi. all tune world leaders, who wrote
n side, studying at first hand the dire
were called
prophets,
but who and
were the results of his truly rabbinical as the future calls for clear visio
portions
of the
Old Testament
gam Patriotic Fund, Etc.
conditions among the city's poor; in
and unquestioned patriotism.
Twenty years - ha ve passed sine
work.
his own home, ever thoughtful, kind. Leo NI. Franklin began his duties as
Judaism has been vocal in him and
I suppose the best test of a man is in reality reformers and preachers of
considerate and generous.
his work. Just as Judaism meets and
L
to live with hint and next to that is righteousness.
Temple
Beth to E his
to me, the notable feature of Rabbi
Since of that
time, due
untiring
answers life in its varied phases, so
to work with him.
Dr. Franklin's many-sided life, is energy, his loyal devotion to the
has
Rabbi
Franklin
not
only
preached
Ever since Dr. Franklin's coming
this: That in meeting people of all cause of Judaism and his broad.
his religion, but has brought the prat-
to Detroit, I have been close to hint in
egation Shaarey Zedek. types and conditions he is not re- minded liberality as to things both
tied of it into the fields of civic and President Congr_
all the capacities in which he fume• Philanthropist, President National Assts•
ductal to their level; they are ele- religious and secular, Congregation
secular life in which he has labored
lions in this community, for be it
elation of Jewish Charities.
The advent of Rabbi Franklin twen- vated to his. That was a character Beth El has risen to a place of einin
and
understood that Ur. Franklin is more
i ,ii coil ty years ago marked the beginning of istic of Moses, of David, of Socrates, elite in our religious world that was
t ra,,,,,,,,, to
in:
l t , led.
Rabbi Franklin found the Detr oit
ds.ss s....... to his . s ':
than Rabbi, more than preacher to
sus
life of the Jewish of Spinoza, of Lincoln.
never dreamed of b y the founders of
the citizenship of the city in which Jewish community practically stag- gregation and to his own people have, a new epoch in the
ommu nity o f D e t ro it,
mane and divided into small factions.
negf r o er e g a t ilo n
the
Ire labors.
)lad
lie
done
nothing
else
than
to
It has been my privilege to work The matter of the progress of the I Ifsiovi•, secured
a m grateful for the
less their
true affection
is,k that c
he l ic i o r t: .
No him
sari -
the gratitude.
informed of this communiT rev- bring about a federation of the
opportunity of expressing my apart
with and for a great many men from Temple seemed bound up with the and
rganizations, the Jew-
o
ffis
lofty
character and of
dation of
time to time, but I know of no man housing of that organization in the ognize the city and its people as his ous charitable
.would be deep-
Temple Beth El. fart of the lasting debtors. Ile has been a spit- ish people of Detroit
his sterling worth as man, Rabbi and
in this community who functions with old
friend.
more enthusiasm, with more energy, community regarded the business al-
Sup erintendent of Schools.
As the spiritual
with more executive ability than does fairs of the congregation as pare- itual force constantly exerted upon ly indebted
to him. leader of Temple
Beth
El
he
not
only
brought
his
own
It matters not mount and the real estate speculative the His
practical
of a
the
cdiumunity.
has not life
been
religion
for the
I eery' much appreciate an oppor-
Leo M. Franklin.
a position of highest limits. to express my very high esti-
when he is called upon, or what the value of our Temple site as the main
cause,
it night,
be early
in the
asset
of the
congregation.
I.argely
pulpit
merely, only.
nor His
for is
his a own
con-
to the Reform Congre- illation of the invaluable services ren-
morning whether
or late at
there
is the
through
the
influence of Rabbi
Frank-
gregation
religion
of congregation
standing among
President Hebrew Union College. Cis-
he
niversal service, in is hatever field of gations of the l'ilited States, but
tiered by Rabbi Leo M. Franklin of
Former Rabbi of
inn
u
enthusiastic his the moral value of a good center
same receptive, willing,
Rabbi Franklin's influence extende d
for meeting. Sunday School teaching, Il e has, indeed, sometimes foreseen action and self-sacrificing personal congregation, but to the entire city
response.
of Detroit. Dr. Franklin has always over the whole community, even ha
Working with him in any capacity as well as the inspiration of a licauti-
is a constant source of joy-whether MI building in an accessible part of needs
the community
recog-
to the
move
'sized before
them. And
seeing, he has
chat- service
moots for
the many
benefit important
of all Jewry,
He of
possessed unusual ability to recog- yand the limits of Jewish life. H
,
mitinity, its conscience has done much to prevent misunder- nize the needs of this rapidly grosving made Judaism a recognized pawn
it be in his chosen c calling or whether die city, wa s realized and C
the
lead-
longed
t1'
book,
to
meet
them.
standings,
intolerance
and
duplication
again resumed ongrega-
community and has never failed to at- far beyond the city. He rallied the
it be some civic or patriotic activity lion Beth El
labored to make real, of effort among the Jewish people of tack the consideration of our munici- Jewish youth at the University ■ s
it had previously ha , '
his is the cheery greeting and the ing place which
Detroit.
pal and social problems with intelli- Michigan around hint by his fervor
Ringdoin
of
God.
••
helpful word; clouds of discourage. in the community and ben
Congratulation is due both Rabbi gence and fearlessness which corn- religious appeals and created there ,
his has values that
melt rarely if ever emanate from his center of inspiration
w ere associate d
ro by any material Franklin and Temple Beth El oil the i bitted with a rare breadth of vision centre of Jewish life and thought
countenance.
- vt permeate beyond completion of twenty years of . such renders him an unusually
Raiff,: •
ll valuable and supported by many men of p proem
Twenty years of service in one toot
: 'main beyond the splendid service as the Rabbi has indeed, indispensable citizen.
nence in his endeavor to popularin•
munity, during which period he has I • ' •
gvien.
and
it
is
sincerely
tendered.
I have been personally indebted the ideas for which Judaism stand ,
now sees.
participated in the building tin r
—_____
Thus working assiduously and faith:
him at many times for sympathy
. express my personal in-
to hi
of the greatest congrec ••• • -
and encouragement which makes me fully for )lie best and highest ideal.
...tiness to him? It has been my
country and at t•
feel proud to be able to consider Dr. of American Judaism, he accost,.
.siar- privilege not only to know him as
the reso ■ -•! •••
' '
Franklin as a personal friend. It is plished much which men older
v1 „,
, reached its a leader in Israel but to be the bent-
illy earnest wish and prayer that De- years and experience failed to attain
ficiary of a deeply cherished friend-
Army Chaplain, Pastor of North Wood- troit may for many, many years be and well may he and his congregation
him. ,,
,
ship
ward Congregational Church.
.anklin was one of the small
permitted the benefit of the presence look back with just pride upon thee
may
song ove to give his people
\r
ay he
, long
_—
...sap
of liberal
who helped and his city his counsel, his zeal, his
of Dr. Franklin and that the com- . years of harmonious co-operation.
to
institute,
the clergymen
union Thanksgiving
He is a distinct figure among the munity may continue to profit by is
as
religious leaders of this city; a man wisdom, his self-sacrifice and his un- i
. to a Cath- service and for a time at least brought leadership.
of creative mind; of broad human failing enthusiasm and confidence in i
—
...i Protestant grotto. liberal religious thought and prac-
sympathies; of world-wide interest. the ultimate realization of all those :
.. salking to the members of flee to a very high grade. One bv
•
—
He is always seeking to men
bless find
the min
city things which combined produce "a I Dean of Philosophy, University of
one the other members of this group
lives.
All
in
winch
iii,
Michigan.
own congregation.
One of the Outstanding Figures of the
city with a soul."
It is this democracy, this ability have left the city of Detroit and Rabbi
1
Michigan Bar.
friendly. Some of us have him for
his part to throw off the garb of Franklin remains almost the only ex-
In Temple Beth El flue people rails
.—
on
Rabbi
Franklin
has,
throughout
his
friend,
and
count
his
friendship
a
joy.
preacher and become the ordinary ponent of religious liberalism of that
round their leader and their lurk .
M ay he serve his city and his . pea-
rises to the height of his opportunilf
of period of service, met and discharged,
man, that has brought him close to original group.
With the tremendous expansi on ex- conscientiously. honorably and with plc for another twenty years. f es
1 with vsmnderful resilience.
the men and women of, this city with
President Temple Beth El.
the city of Detroit, it was to he
I cannot speak of Rabbi Franklin
whom
he has
come
into contuct.
I
1 know
of no
greater
compliment petted that ,the number of Reform dignity, every important Iroblem of could
be fuller
of good
works, •
than hardly
have these
last years
been.
Franklin for I in his intimate personal relations wino
I have known Rabbi Fran
wears Jews would increase corresponding- his ministry. In his professional obli-
.
1 his folk,
although I have hail frequent
that I can pay to any man who
er, for gations tow arils his friendsassociates
more than twenty years. It would be 1
Had it not been. howev
a ministerial garb, than to say of him ly.
very difficult-for me to compress into I occasion to sense their feeling of re
that Ile knows men as they are, that the popularity of Rabbi Franklin and and the community in general, he as
say devotion. But I can
a short paragraph all the many good gard, I might
he works with them under conditions his splendid pastoral qualities, un- never consulted his own conveniences -
, speak of the Rabbi as a man and t
ex Chairman of Edulational Committee qualities that I know he possesses.
of today, that he inspires in them the doubtedly new congregations would or preferences, but has, without
United Jewish Charities, and of
have grown up and the strength of ception, sought to follow that course I
He is an indefatigable worker and I citizen.
Anti.Defamation League.
He has won a placCpecilliarly II,
ideals of tomorrow.
when public duty calls, the word "no" I
—
The twenty years that lie has been the movement would have been tor- which would be most comforting and I
e -away
satisfying to those needing his friend-1
lips, no matter how I own in Detroit. as every wid
his
on
is
never
express
Detroit is sot 0
It is a great p rivilege to
with us has been the most eventful resoundingly dissipated.
ly advices and aid; but never at a I
cal energy or physical r person knows. And
physi
and
much
kl
Rabbi Franklin's relations with the
my appreciation f o Dr. Fianin
1 the most puzzling t minnunities in on.
period in flue history of our city, and
while his work has little to do with children and the young people of the sacrifice of his independence or cour- I 1 his work. Perhaps I may be par- strain the task demands.
land for the public man. It tries h itt
He has been a power for good in
community arc almost ideal; as a man age.
Detroit,
In social contact, he has been the I dotted if I refer . to the important part
the upbuilding of industry in
•
I
every
and
all
directions,
not
alone
to-
it
breaks a religious leader, when I
is always' at home,
he has play(' in my ow l i fe . .
yet lie has played no small part in among men, he
in himself
at ease
in miaking
others
at I true
and cultured
gentleman.
ease,
and
finally
as
a
friend
in
time
1
Adherence
to
a
principle
which
he
I
confess
that
no
other
man,
perhaps,
wards
our
community
in
particular,
is
unable to prove himself. In hi
city
guiding the growth of this
an intelligent and sane manner,

MAYOR AS.
J COUZENS •

RT. REV. F. J. VAN ANT.
WERP, D. D.

TRACY W. MCGREGOR

JOSEPH J. CROWLEY

HON. A. J. MURPHY

ISAAC GOLDBERG

DAVID A. BROWN

COUNCILMAN D. W.
COU
SIMONS

FRED M. BUTZEL

And

HON
HON. CHARLES E. CHAD- '
SEY, PH.D.

DR. KAUFMAN KOHLER

REV. CHESTER B. EMER-
SON, D. D.
__. . -

PROF. R. N. WENLEY

LEO M. BUTZEL

BERNARD GINSBURG

MILTON M. ALEXANDER

■

Leo Morris Franklin
•

(Continued From Page Three.)

up his religious work elsewhere.
No one person in the history of
the Jew's in this city has done so
much to bring his people and
those of differing faith into closer
association and better understand-
ing.
Before Rabbi Franklin's advent
the Jew in this city was to a
great extent an ostracized per-
son.
He was looked upon with sus-
picion and there was anything but
brotherly feeling for him. Rabbi
Franklin was quick to grasp the
situation and was equal to it.

not be in a position to consider the
matter before that time.
The Portland Committee returned
home with the suggestion that the
• Portland congregation would be
pleased to defray the expense of
Rabbi and Mrs. Franklin that they
might visit Portland before reaching
a final decision.
The Rabbi Stays.
Much to the joy of Congregation
Beth El, Rabbi Franklin decided that
In Other Churches.
he could like no community as he did
He went into Christian temples
Detroit and Ile would not) go. The
of worship and told the story of
congregation in appreciation of his
his race, and it was the manner
decision raised his salary and elected
of his telling it and the apparent
hit for ten years.
truth of it all that made friends
His Children.
out of enemies. To see this rab-
There are three children in Rabbi
binical teacher of a Christian-de-
Franklin's family.
spised race, fraternizing with
Ruth Lucille, the eldest, was horn
priest and prelates was something
in Omaha and is now a junior student
to marvel at a long while.
in Vassar. Leo I.. 15 years old, is a
When one goes forth and
pupil at the Northern High school,
spreads such gospel of peace and
and Margaret Helen, a dear little girl
goodwill for mankind as has Rab-
of ten, is, of course, still in the pri-
bi Franklin. then too much praise
mary schools. Leo and Margaret were
cannot be given him. We sincerely
both horn in Detroit.
hope that it can be so arranged
Through his years of service the
that Rabbi Franklin will remain
Press in Detroit has followed his ac-
with us many more years to come.
tivities very closely.
The "Detroit Journal" of Novem-
In that time reams of inters iews
ber 15, 1916, said about Rabbi Frank-
and reports have been carried in the
lin:
local papers and the Jewish papers of
There is much compliment to
national circulation. He has also been
the Rev. Dr. Leo M. Franklin that
the subject of editorials in all Detroit
Temple Beth El has elected hint
papers.
for a ten-year term after seven-
When there was a danger that
teen years of his ministry. There
Rabbi Franklin might accept the call
is also considerable service to the
to Portland, "The Detroit Courier"
city in 'pledging to us the con-
ran an editorial under the caption.
tinued citizenship and civic neigh-
"He Should Remain With Us," in
borliness of Rabbi Franklin.
which the editor said:
He came to Detroit as quite a
Jewish
It is not alone the
young man, when his congrega-
people, but tbe entire city that
tion was worshipping on the site
would suffer if Rabbi Leo M.
of the present Y. W. C. A. He
Franklin should decide to accept
has further ripened and matured

a recently proffered call to take

among us and has found fields
of useful labor where it is difficult
to labor with diligence and grace.
To mingle as the living repre-
sentative of an ancient faith with
many modern churches descended
front that mother church; to join
w ith all the worthy efforts of
practical Christianity without
either a pious aloofness or an im-
pious compromise, required not
merely a learned man. not merely
a Polite modernist. It required a
man able to use tact with force
and force with tact.
How well Dr. Franklin has suc-
ceeded can be judged by the
unique position he holds in the
comMunity, as one of the longest
settled ministers and almost the
longest settled of any Jewish con-
gregation.

CONGREGATI N BETH EL'S FUTURE HOME.

77—

All Call Him Rabbi.

lie is a part of our civic life,
an agent in every broad charity, a
co-operator in lal educational and
reform movements, a representa-
tive of an enlightened Judaism
and an Americanism enriched by
Hebrew ideals. In teaching faith-
fully his own people by his ex-
ample. he has also taught Gentiles
many things, and all Detroit calls
him Rabbi.
Rabbi Franklin is still a young man
-lie will always be a young man.
His prime has been reached only in
years. It will be years before the
zenith is reached in his activities, and
then there will be no descent.
He will still climb upward and on-
ward in the work to which he has ded-
icated his life. His ability and his per-
sonality will keep him strong and use-
ful as long as God grants him life.
The Chronicle, his congregation, his
friends, indeed all Detroit, wish him

TEMPLE BETH EL, WOODWARD AND GLADSTONE AYES.

This is a view of the New Temple Beth El as planned by Architect Albert Kahn. Work

a happy anniversary and pray for him new House of Worship will begin soon, in order to take care of the great and constantly
continued strength, happiness, health
and years of unabated zeal and vigor growth of the congregation.
for the great work he has proven so
worthy to do.

on

incres