Letter from C. D. Oliver to Isaac Leeser;October 20, 1852 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from C. D. Oliver to Isaac Leeser;October 20, 1852

Author

C. D. Oliver

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

20 October 1852

Location(s)

Montgomery

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 3 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).

Legal

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p33r0qd7z/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p33r0qd7z

Physical Characteristics

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries

content

Oct 20th 1852.
Dear Sir. Having recently gotten hold of the last issue of the “Occident” I was much surprised on finding in it an article from Mr E. Marcussohn denying his ever having abjured Judaism. Now it may be proposed to state what I know of this gentleman, as the Editor of the Occident seems to solicit information concerning him.
Mr Marcussohn was introduced to me at my house by Rev Mr Bonhomme (a gentleman long and favorably known.) He appeared a little awkward from his want of a ready use of the English language, for this he apologized, and expressed a desire to enter upon the study of it. Thereupon I proposed that he should instruct me in Hebrew and I would in turn teach him English. In order to carry out this arrangement he was to visit me at a certain period hour every morning (That is when his engagements or mine did not otherwise prevent). For several weeks he continued to come, when together we would read the Old and New Testaments frequently stoping while reading to comment upon some passage. He appeared greatly interested in the New Testament especially with those portions found in the first chapters of Mark, embracing the Savior's sermon on the Mount. He observed the most profound reverance in speaking of Christ. He acknowledged the importance of a Mediator in our approaches to the Father. Spoke of the ineficiency of the law to justify the sinner. Told me that he prayed to God to pardon his sins, and that he felt that he had received pardon. I spoke plainly with him touching the witness of the spirit, & the inward peace consequent upon the forgiveness of sins. He remarked that he felt that he had received this witness & this peace. I felt anxious for Mr M. to be placed beyond all doubt in regard to his spiritual change, & hence I often conversed with him upon the subject of the new birth—or scripture religion. He expressed great dissatisfaction with the duties laid upon him as Teacher of the Jewish faith, Complained of his brethren, their want of enlightenment & so on. Said he was receiving from them $500.00 a year as a salary, that they paid him at fixed times, said that one installment would be due him in a few weeks,

but that he felt that he could not remain with them up to that time as it would be acting the part of the hypocrite. This he mentioned more than once, Of course I could but sympathize with him, in what I conceived to be the honest struglings of conscience.
On the 5th July according to my best recollection, he made his appearance at my house, greatly agitated. Said that he had given up his church & had declared in favor of Christianity. He stated at the same time that he need money, & had no means of paying it, as the Jews whom he had been serving would no doubt withhold that portion of his salary which was due him. Seeing him in this unpleasant dilemma, I advanced him $70 which he said would be sufficient to pay him out of debt. He now left his boarding house, and moved his trunks to my house and lived with me. I noticed in him a perfect conformity to Gentile customs.
When he first visited me he would not take a drink of water except with his hat on, if it was not at hand, he would leave his seat and go in search of it. After he came to my house to live, he gave up this custom, indeed he gave it up before.
Again he sat at my table and ate whatever I did, and what without any apparent scruple I was a little surprised when he asked me the loan of my razor, and stated that he had never put a razor upon his face, but that he had been accustomed to clip his beard with a kind of scissors. He handled the razor very awkwardly but made out to sh?. Since then I think he has used this instrument altogether especially during his Conversion to Christianity
In regard to his church preferances, he said that they were with the Methodist, that he believed in their doctrines, & desired to unite with them. The time when I was to receive him by baptism into the church was appointed but owing to some circumstance it was defered. In the meantime Rev. Mr Davis & myself had an interview upon the subject of his uniting with the church, Our claims upon him were about equal, & we agreed that neither of us would receive him, or in any way influence him to become a member of our respective communions, but that we would leave him to make up deliberately his own mind & decide for himself.
After this I was compelled to be absent from my station for several days and consequently procured for Mr M. another home, which was at the house of one of my members, where he was well cared for and fed. He showed while here no anti-swine disposition but

ate this kind of flesh with a gusto. Since I disposed of Mr M. as alluded to, I have not seen him up to the present time. The particulars touching his history from thence to his setting out for Charleston S. C. Rev. Mr Davis can give you. (We both honestly endeavored to benefit a man who shewd himself in our way for instruction & guidance, if we have been deceived it is not any guilt of ours. We feel acquited before God and at the bar of our own consciences. The religion which we profess teaches us to forgive those who wrong us. So did our divine Master before us, & so do we. In conclusion I humbly recommend friend Marcussohn if he has never known Christ to seek him with all his heart, & when he has truly found him he will never disown him, but like his noble countryman & brother after the flesh Paul he can say “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of Jesus Christ” &c.
Yours truly, C. D. Oliver Pastor of M. E.
Church, Montgomery, Ala.

Identifier

LSDCBx9FF14_16

Date

1852-10-20