Letter from to Isaac Leeser;September 09, 1851 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from to Isaac Leeser;September 09, 1851

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

9 September 1851

Location(s)

Charleston

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s).

Letter

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

German

Hebrew

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3251g54p/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3251g54p

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries

content

Charleston September 9. 5611
Revd Isaac Leeser
Philadelphia
Honored Sir!
Your Occident for this month has come to hand (though I have not received my copy yet). Your note is excellent. It is no use to repeat what has been told again and again ( contra S.N.C. renders all publications useless. a) C knew that he had compromised himself. ? was proved to him by Mrs A Moise & Mr Valentine yet he allowed it to appear.
b) C walked went that afternoon when the proof sheet arrived here a long time in the street with Mr Posnansky, he could not but have told him or even shown him the sheet (C's communic are from P's date there is much art in the whole, which is but to mystify the public; and perhaps to have some document to prove his honesty some future day or for his children in a future generation, for this reason it would have been well not to give him the opportunity. This my supposit? I will substantiate below) now I say, as C A P had know that they again impose upon the public and you knew it before you sent the Occident abroad what has an Editor to do in such cases? We cannot refer to positive Law, we must refer to moral ?uling. It is true Mr S. N. C. has the opportunity given to reply and to substantiate his deposition more than before, but this is a poor chance.
c) My letter (of which I have no copy as I never take time to copy) may be unaltered, though I assure you that the word "airial„ does not appear genuine, nor the sentence about the Messiah. You have the version I thought I had written, I saw the original in the hand of the late Mr Otterling to whom I immediately ? that it is introduced to tell Mr P what to is good to disturb the peace of believer or congreg with what has no influence upon practical life. I miss "As„ in the begin The same was shown to me by Major L to whom I showed my inaugural Sermon where the same idea is ?
Mr. SN.C is desirous to have from my letter the remarks about "founders rescinded, please do so. As also my few Hebrew lines. I will not speak against the body at all. I will cultivate peace crush the serpent and save the ? you will oblige me to strike off 20 copies of the next and send them with the soonest

it is founded on the address of Moses Mendelsson to poen? later "S? of auf the das Thim und Lassan der menschen und last uns den glauben etc now I miss what gives the whole a different turn
d) The abusive language of C. disgraces the Press
1) C does not know me. An introductory visit at my first arrival, once a few words at meeting in the street; and an evening spent in a large very large circle at the house of Mr Seixas, where he might have been present. I do not recollect. And surely we had no conversation there. this man comes now, and abuses me
2) Neither Ac nor other 13 men out of opposition have heard me tell the state of affairs nor do I at all count them to belong to us (except 1 or two of them) they are no farther Jews then by Hebrew that is all of the whole only ten live by chance in Hebrew houses 14 never come to Hebrew, except on Hebrew for a few hours. If charities are collected they are never called on they are actually Hebrew, 3 or four I do not even know These men combine and censure a Teacher in Israel, are they Jews or Republicans if the former they ought to act accord to our laws if the latter, accord to Law of their country
They are complainants (against me) defendants (of themselves & Poz:) witness, party jury of judges, & executors at all about things which they do not care for which they do not understand and against a man whom they do not know. And all this is done of defense of a man who less than prophamation?, hypocrisy & fraud, he thus is proved he is not guilty= A man of whom we never hear no good against a man from we never heard any bad. A man who came here as hyper orthodox (they complain about inconsistency, they ought to be reconciled to suit if I even were guilty) had broke the congreg now 3 times seperating families & the Living & the dead. For separate they are now I called last week on Mr C M Mordecai? presenting to him as I am totally passive (I did not expose P. he to ruin me told all his shown of which I reproached him) and under continual persecution of unprivileged men, without anything like sufficient support on those who side with me, I would withdraw, so that they should not blame me of being in the way of a reconciliation.
To this I was answered my withdrawal would be of no use at all as I have made two distinct Congregation of them of different principle etc. and whoever comes now, cannot suit both parties. The whole sphere of their neglig notion ideas is a new one. C' complains my friend here been busy to raise my reputation my friends in the congregat have taken no part before the public except the petition that they sent me, and could they do less. It is Mr S N. C. yourself & Mr. N that have been instrumental in getting me out of the mire

e) You give me in the last line page 321 an indirect invitation to reply.
1) can I reply to so low a language 2) can I reply to a letter which I cannot Identify
3) can I reply with out reposing the whole party of betraying me, and of no more
belonging to a Jewish body and to be unworthy of being Republicans.
4) A minister must avoid offense he dare not quarrel fight or wrestle the irreligious world is delighted at such.
5) Have not I told in a letter that I must keep silence so long as my relation continues and shall I be roused by a man like C. He speaks of puliens? of vice. But this is Po's crafty manner he sends ? aspersion with ? exquisite finesse. To raise suspicion against my private character all this is done in his usual manner, so that after all he is untangible you may take it as you like like his "divine law delivered unto our fathers by Moses; what a Phrasology. What is divine, why the regime indirect,,
Now allow me to tell you a minister's character is, in such cases, like that of a lady. You are the Editor your sister is maligned, her character vilified, you in order to repose the malice of her ? knowing the necessity of crushing him give your sister the permission to appear before the ?, to plead her own cause before the public. What has she to do under such circumstances?
f) Mr P. knew that S N.C. will reply, but he has ?
1) He mystifies the public raising smoke and dust so that they do not distinguish the ? valor and standing
2) He is very systematic, his Character is blasted, by his tenants he is called "the Shylock, his own party know that they are deceived, now he gathers material a tort et a Trewers for his children in future in 20 or 30 years they will show with paper that his paper was that ? glory man, who was persecuted, who had such warm friend to defend him, his ? were man of no longer powers, the concentrated "malice at misrepresentation together (p 315); they aspired forth "low rent„ it "?„ they were "Jesuits„ if, their father had "too much refinement & good breeding" p 314 "purlien of vice„ is at the same time surely interspersed. "they" if they would harm him settled their own shame would here covered their shame p 316 &c
This number is carefully laid by to such documents as the following
Last year after he had told his story how I had told him of his profanation hypocrisy & infidelity„ he like a modest bashful girl that had been grossly offended, send would go crying or weeping to her mothers bosom, went to his beloved friends bitterly complaining and he wanted some satisfaction from me I should send him a letter ? that I ? refused doing so. He wants me to write about his "belief„

"I could write nothing against my convictions„ viz that he is what I know him to be. How he can feel himself so well, as not to be able to rest on his own reputation he then had been here 14 or 15 years I about 16 weeks If my paper is valid my word contrary to that paper is also valid to do one would invalidate my word at all. I gave the congregation by the Parnass the following advice you pass a resolution that all the members of the Cong V. B. E. as well as their ministers & all the officers & servant belonging to the establishment can only be admitted after a deposition of the test oath "that they believe in the Right Reverend Gustavis Poznanski„ else they have no Hebrew this oath or the Resolution you make the 14th art: of it Po creed. I of course as the minister before I am again admitted must must acknowledge my belief on mere 14 articles, but I do not and so I will ask Mr P. do you belief in ? even 13 articles? He of course would say no (for when first asked about them told me "I know that they are good for nothing, but I was ask to give a creed at another convers: he said He had hard work to graze by (Maimonid) and had he to do it now all would have been different but ten years ago to omit that one word ("The ? would have made leave 6 members & now as Mr P does not believe in his own 13 article, I do not believe in the fourteenth„
Upon this his party made up a paper expressive that as slanderous reports spread about Mr P'o not believing in, they have confidence and take his word etc This paper was signed by 26 men Old Mr Otter signed though he was then in the north several seat holders signed (now they complain about seat holders signing." Seat holders have a right to petition the constitution Art IV says All subscribers shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of a member, except the right to vote, as to attend the meetings of the congreg for the transation? of ? they then have a right to petition, and to ? a desire to have justice done to ? and to see that honest men keep true to their contract.
Now this cost an ?, is another ? document for a future day
See what a ?
1) 14 year minister comes to me for other satisfaction of character
2) When he cannot get it from me he goes to his ?: Wo unto the mother ? is obliged to go for a character to her children, particularly if they are not particularly famous for purity & modest
We see that Mrs P'o influence is in the ?, last petition could muster but 18:26 nearly a third part 6/? And I am certain did a petition circulate now he could desperate as the attacker are he could muster no. 18. My dear sir! I tell you plainly his last paper was far from aiding Mr

cause, may be you were in a dilemma, and could not allow me 2 appear, let us combine our efforts ?
1) What good have ? had from P. in life quarrels contention 3 rapture, disparagement in the eys of the public, in death not one ray of hope, "the wind pipe can give no consol & win. Now I bring him a Bible, a post of ? learned & pious men, on immense literature, the work of industry genius piety at ?

Identifier

LSDCBx1FF8_2

Date

1851-09-09