Letter from Isaac Hart to Isaac Leeser;October 14, 1849
- Title
- Letter from Isaac Hart to Isaac Leeser;October 14, 1849
- Author
- Isaac Hart
- Contributor
- Isaac Leeser
- Date Created
- 14 October 1849
- Format
- Letter. 4 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).
- Type
- Letter
- Language(s)
- English
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3r49gf26/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3r49gf26
- Physical Characteristics
- Unlined Paper
- Manuscript
- content
-
New Orleans Oct 14 1849
Isaac Leeser Esq
Revd & Dear Sir
Yours of the 27 Ult. I duly recd & regret my not being enabled to answer sooner & even now I am Compeld to write in haste having to attend a Bris this morning. My Letter of the 14th Sept was before you
Regarding the Revd H A Henry I have read attentively all you say of that Gentleman and altho I would prefer defering to enter into any Immediate Correspondence with the Revd Gentleman as this moment still I should very much like to learn his popularity, exact capacity & what salary He would require I notice your having Inserted in this month Occident my Advertisement it is well & as we are now open to all aplicants would it not be as well to wait & see who may desire the office perhaps the Gentleman himself may think proper to address me altho I fully agree with yourself that $1.000 is but a small salary for a capable minister to live respectable with. On next Sunday I shall hold the
Election for officers to serve the ensuing year like many other Congregations we have many members who pay but little attention to their religion or who evince less Interest in the affairs of the Congregation For many years I have served in various capacities and although from a few ? now Number nearly 200 members still the same apathy exists now particularly on the part of those Engaged in extensive Commerce. I have generally found the whole Burden of the affairs of the Congregation devol? on myself I am very sensitive of want of Energy on the part of those who I consider should take that Interest required the whole Burden falling on me is too much for my weak Con-stitution justice to myself & family Compels me against the wishes of our members to accept no office at least for the present. Who they will Elect I know not Vanity aside they have not one amongst them that will work & use his every Endeavour as I have done to promote an Interest in our Holy Religion & to raise them in the Estimation of our Community In this hasty scrawl I cannot attempt to say half what I could wish but what I wish to convey to you is this: I should prefer no action in opening correspondence
10-14-1849E
with any minister until after the Election when that is past P. S. I will address you again. You can form no Idea of the duties of a Parnass in the City one half of my time is occupied with the Service of the Congregation I have now a list out for signatures to close our stores on Hebrew If I succeed I shall Indeed be happy I am sorry to say hardly an Isrealite Heb keep their Sabbath what a field for Comment is this on the part of the other denominations. after the Election I shall have more leisure (being determined not to accept offise again) & then I will address you more at length
The ship Milan is in port & tomorrow no doubt I shall be in receipt of your Books & will Cr? you accordingly Many of the Pourtigesee members & also DeSilva find fault with your Books. “Too lean” says one “not correct &c,” says another & yet they have no Preyer Books amongst them. Its strange. If none were here on sale all would want Here they are cheaper than they could send for them none will Buy.
Wishing you Long Life
Happiness & Prosperity
I have the Honor to
Subscribe myself your Obt Svt
Isaac Hart - Identifier
- LSKAP0062
- Date
- 1849-10-14
Part of Letter from Isaac Hart to Isaac Leeser;October 14, 1849
Isaac Hart, “Letter from Isaac Hart to Isaac Leeser;October 14, 1849”, 1849-10-14, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/65509