Letter from Moses N. Nathan to Isaac Leeser;January 09, 1853 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Moses N. Nathan to Isaac Leeser;January 09, 1853

Author

Moses N. Nathan

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

9 January 1853

Location(s)

New Orleans

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3rv0d54k/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3rv0d54k

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

content

New Orleans, Jany. 9Th 5613 (1853).
My dear Leeser.
At the end of this month, I shall be, like you, an ungowned parson, and therefore, I devote myself, before that time to the pleasing duty of writing you a few lines, while I can still, without opposition, claim the title of Revd. You are, no doubt, aware that applications have, until very recently, been made to me by parties in Savannah and Mobile, which were declined. Mr. Eckmann did not please the folks here; indeed I don't know who can. The are very willing to employ the best minister possible, but the truth is, they don't want to pay. They would like Mr. Touro to do that duty. It is quite honor sufficient that they have accepted his gift, and having secured that effectually, their obligations are ended. They have been playing a farce with me during the last fortnight. It ended as I foresaw, with a positive rejection of their overtures. When they made their proposals, they were, and are still, indebted to me for several months services; which there is no likelihood of getting paid, unless out of the old gentleman's pocket. He is heartily tired of these continued draws on his purse, and I will no longer submit to be the a pensioner on his bounty, when those who are able to satisfy my claims, lack the will and inclination. Since my engagement in Feby 50, he has paid nearly two thirds of my salary. Last May a great effort was made, and a list was subscribed by several, by which offerings were to be abolished tacitly, and a contribution, to cover and include seat rents and monthly dues, substituted. Many of the subscribers, in good circumstances too, have broken faith; and those who have kept it, now decline to keep to their engagement, because, they justly allege,

that the burthen of maintaining the synagogue ought not to devolve on them alone. What the upshot is to be, time only will reveal. But I can assure you, that however ardent my zeal to devote myself to Israel's cause, I should be a fool to remain here with the prospect of hard labor and no bread to eat. It is certainly harsh to characterize the greater part of the congregation as devoid of honor, principle, religion, and gratitude but it is nevertheless perfectly true. I can prove it to be so to you and any one's satisfaction. Mr. Touro has expressed himself satisfied with my action and conduct; not so with those of the congregation. Neither the decency and decorum of public worship, nor the advocacy and exposition of our faith, have suffered thro' me in this city. The synagogue has not lost a jot of its prestige from the night of the consecration until this moment. This my congregation are forced to admit, and, from the documents I send you, which you are at liberty to publish in the Occident, if you think fit, they are not willing to part with me. My object in forwarding them, is to prove, if necessary, to the Jewish public, under what circumstances I have taken leave of the ministry, and with what feelings. That you may understand the whole proceedings, I must confide to you, under the seal of secrecy, particulars, which you are not at liberty to divulge, except with my consent. In February 51, finding that there was no desire on the part of the Congregation to pay me my salary, them 3 months in arrear, and Mr. Touro having until then discharged the greater portion, I wrote to him, stating my painful position, urging him either to endow the ministry, or to guarantee the future payment of my stipend. The former he positively declined, the latter he consented to, for 2 years, but no longer.
This guarantee expires with this month, and he will not renew
1-9-1853

it. The congregation knows nothing of this arrangement, but I com-municate it to you, under the solemn request, that you will not name it to any one, for the purpose of explaining my real motives of retiring. Duty does not call on me to starve; and the congregation with their magnificent offer of $2000 a year, can, but will never pay me. I have no wish to be prejudiced by my people, nor yet of exposing my constituents; yet, unless I admit you behind the scenes, you will, I am certain, make some comments to my disadvantage. Having revealed the above, you will acquit me of any impropriety in sending in my letter of resignation in July last. It was unconditional, because I could not maintain myself here on less salary, and it enabled the congregation to engage another person at a lower figure. They saw this at a glance, and were glad that I cancelled a contract which tied me to them for life. Hence they made no effort to induce me to recal my resignation, but proceeded to act on it at once. Application was made to you, and on your declining, to Mr. Echman. On his accepting the situation at Mobile, Resolution No1 was passed at a General meeting. I received the committee most kindly, but declined to reengage myself until I was assured by a requisition, signed by a large majority of the congregation, that they were favourable to my reappointment. The committee admitted the justice of my resolve, reported it at the next General Meeting, but when one of them moved the appointment of a new committee to wait upon each individual member of the congregation, and ascertain the general feeling towards me, the motion was voted down by a large majority out of 20 members present, and the Resolution No 2 in the second committees letter was substituted. Do not lose sight of the fact, that when they passed this Resolution, they owed me over 4 months salary;
1-9-1853

which is not yet liquidated, altho' there is a large amount of arrearages due by persons in prosperous circumstances. My letter in reply is No 3; and you must concede that it is a most temperate and dignified one, considering the manner in with which they treated my proposal. I stated to Mr. Touro, that if he desired to retain me and engage my services I would remain; but that experience of 3 years had shown me that no dependence was to be placed in the good faith and honor of the congregation; and now, no circumstances, not even a requisition signed by every one of them, will induce me to forego my determination of leaving. I return to Jamaica in end this month, thence to Europe where I propose taking up my abode in future.
And now, my dear Leeser, as we may possibly not see each other again on earth, accept my most friendly and heartfelt wishes for your happiness and success. In whatever part of the world my future lot will may be cast, I shall be delighted to hear from you and rejoice to learn that you are more happy in the decline of life than you have been in the meridian. Your name will be esteemed and honored, and your worth acknowledged long after the grass has grown over your grave, whilst your detractors will be forgotten as tho' they had never been. My dear wife as usual sends her love, and we both request you to tender our regards to our old Philadelphia friends. That this may meet you in health and good spirits is the farewell greeting of
Your old friend & wellwisher
M N Nathan
P.S. I will hand to G. Kursheedt before my departure $9 for 3 yr subscription to the Occident up to May 1853.

Identifier

LSKAP0064

Date

1853-01-09