Letter from Julius Eckman to Isaac Leeser;February 25, 1851
- Title
- Letter from Julius Eckman to Isaac Leeser;February 25, 1851
- Author
- Julius Eckman
- Contributor
- Isaac Leeser
- Date Created
- 25 February 1851
- Format
- Letter. 4 page(s) on 4 sheet(s).
- Type
- Letter
- Language(s)
- English
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p31g0jf50/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p31g0jf50
- Physical Characteristics
- Unlined Paper
- Manuscript
- content
-
Charleston Febr 25. 5611
To the Revd I Leeser
Philadelphia
My dear Sir!
Accept my thanks for the note you favored me by the medium of Mrs Moise, again for the insertion of my communications (which, by the by, were two, one the opinion of Moses Mendelsohn extends to “Could the noble v: Dohn etc which is quite a different subject, belonging to the advancement of Toleration, I ought to have given a superscription, which I omitted thinking that it perhaps might have been sent before the public with some of your remarks, as I may well imagine what your views must be on the subject
The object of my communication of M's Opinions was to show the public that- what man of more learning genius et philos a? than our mader? Hebrew have thought on the subject. You apologized or at least mentioned twice in your valuable periodical the reason postponement, it surely the communication could not answer the expectation raised by such double notice before hand.
Perhaps the whole was only admitted into your paper as an ? too bad to be inserted & too good to be rejected. Believe me dear sir! my object is not to render myself conspicuous or even noticed. If therefore I in future should send any thing unworthy of your notice do not think it a humiliation for me—if disregarded I shall be proud to find that we have men that supersede my humble efforts. You are a plain honest man, (von ? Schrrot und Korin) you understand my feelings. My aim is & was, to do good, if other men do better, I am happy to see it, but feel not hurt, by no means. You know the field I have to labor in here—my task is an arduous and difficult one so that it takes up almost all my time, & would to Him who dwells on high, it would bear to Eternity.
My heart aches aches what I see, could I say with the Prophet Hebrew. I would have been satisfied, but I have worse than an Hebrew. But I hope the cause of justice truth & Holiness will come off victorious at last I labor hard, lecture every Sabbath in the Synag. & again Sunday evening in the tabernacle which latter are not just do just against Christianity as to the Confirmation of our holy Truth—besides this I have Hebrew school (numbering about 20 pupils fr the age of 10 upwards to adults, the latter chiefly ladies; apart of those I teach at the Sunday School. My congregation is (perhaps more than) satisfied, except Mr P: & some of his ultra attachés—whom he continually sets against me, but the fury is abating.
From the above you may suppose that I have enough to do, however I was so disgusted at the communications of the irreverent Reverend Millers insertion that I intend to write some articles to the following purport
Christianity founded on Prophecies which are not fulfilled in Jesus—the accommodation theory is of no avail with men of Reason, cannot sub? „Plain scripture.
The gospels flow fr: an obscure source, are not written by eye witness, wer consequently we see the forshaddowing (as they may call it) to be but a shadow without substance The system of Redemption & Justification by the blood of ?... is against reason, against scripture, & would have been an act of injustice & cruelty of G.d, of which Dionysius the tyrant did not render one self guilty (Damon & Pythias) now my dear sir if you think this subject not yet fully discussed in your
Periodical I am willing to send in communications, but if this is not done I will, though with reluctance try to do my duty. But before hand I beg for no indulgence if you should find my communications not relevant enough I shall esteem you as I have done till now & respect you more for you already approved honesty & candour. My arguments will be taken fr christian authorities or better Christian divines of Germany Engl & America I say divines for the whole system is acknowledg to be hollow even by man of piety of the other party, it is but infatuation that starts man like miller to appear in our age with absurdities long repudiated by a Herder, Reinhard Coffler? Rosenmuller & the host of even conservative divines If you think it worth the while you may just notice that in the last page 564 the superscription is omitted by inadvertancy & coming fr same hand you then took them as one.
Now I must apoligize for engrossing so much with my affairs. It would be an object of deep regret if you should discontinue your periodical, it is the only one bearing distinct mark of Judaism, of of character grave enough to discuss & to convey more serious information, the other has more an ephemeral character, nor seems the author to have the object of Religion so much at heart.
In reference to Millers insertions in the last he has become so turbulent that I think that they ought not to be admitted into the Jewish advocate
devoted to the diffusion of knowledge on Jewish Literature & Rely excuse my candor, he (Miller) can but claim an act of toleration in our exclusive periodicals, but never to speak, thus—what absurdity & pernicious poison is advanced on one page by blind infatuation may require more than 20 pages to be answered by sober reason & erudite knowed of the spirit of the Heb: Language & Post Idyle. We might as well allow then to come sled to our lecture rooms (as was done here in my tabernacle by a mad cap Bloch) & attack us there, and then refute them in answer ten times as lengthy. We ought not to submit to this. I wrote Mr Bloch he may come & hear & if he wishes to refute he may do it by the medium of the missionary press When again asked if I would not allow him to do so on the spot I wrote him As we have before us all the trash? that has been expectorated? by the hireling, of honest but duped men this 30 years, & all amounts to null, I could not expect that he could advance any thing new.
If you deign to answer this, I will tell you before hand as your time is precious do it very short, even in abrupt ? phrases—without ceremony.
Accept the assurance of the sincere regards to your character & labors fr the improvement of our people
from
J Eckman - Identifier
- LSTCAT_item67
- Date
- 1851-02-25
Part of Letter from Julius Eckman to Isaac Leeser;February 25, 1851
Julius Eckman, “Letter from Julius Eckman to Isaac Leeser;February 25, 1851”, 1851-02-25, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/65202