Letter from Joshua Lazarus to Sabato Morais;December 25, 1859

Title: Letter from Joshua Lazarus to Sabato Morais;December 25, 1859
Author: Joshua Lazarus
Contributor: Sabato Morais
Date Created: 25 December 1859
Location(s): Charleston; Philadelphia
Format: Letter. 2 page(s) on 1 sheet(s).; Letter
Type: Letter
Language(s): English
Has Format: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p32z1389t/manifest.json
Link to Colenda: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p32z1389t
Physical Characteristics: Lined Paper; Manuscript
Is Part Of: The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries
content: Charleston Dec 25/59
Reverd. S Morais
Cherry St. Synagogue Phila.
Dr Sir
Mr. Abraham Harris of your city having made application to our congregation for the situation of minister we have invited him here on a probationary visit. Since his arrival various rumors have sprung up prejudicial to his character as a man a minister or an Israelite, on being informed of them Mr. H very properly declined officiating until an oppy. was afforded for thorough investiga=tion, he has given your address with that of several other gentlemen with whom he is bid acquainted, he stands before us quite a stran=ger. Our object now is to do justice to the congregation as well as to Mr. H would therefore solicit your information on the following points which shall be held confidential if you so desire it.
Amongst other things he is charged with having preached or lec==tured in a christian pulpit or lecture room to Christian audiences That he made application to the Babtists or some other Chrisn. denomi=nation to take orders for missionary purposes to the south, there are other rumors of minor importance which I will not trouble you with but request you to give such information as you possess of Mr. Hs standing and character and of his qualifications for such appointment.
Your attention and early reply will be highly appreciated by our congregation as well as by
Yours very respectfully
Joshua Lazarus Chairman
Conc. of investigation

Dear Sir
In replying to your esteemed favor, which came to hand yesterday, I beg to state that my knowledge of Mr Harris is comparatively of a recent date, but during my short acquaintance with him, I never discovered aught prejudicial to his moral character. He visited me repeatedly and from the tenor of his conversation, I inferred that he has studied well both Hebrew & English. Regarding his capacity to fill the situation for which he has applied, I am utterly unable to pronounce an opinion, for I neither heard him recite the prayers, nor deliver a sermon. The two charges brought against Mr H would, if true, not alone militate against his election, but lower him also in the estimation of all his coreligionists; I trust therefore that they may be proved false. As to myself, I was ignorant of them, had I deem it my duty on the contrary to state, that a person, who had spoken disparagingly of his character in my presence, has, in a letter, which I received last week, retracted his accusation
Believe me etc.
Identifier: LSDCBx2FF6_46
Date: 1859-12-25

Part of Letter from Joshua Lazarus to Sabato Morais;December 25, 1859

Joshua Lazarus, “Letter from Joshua Lazarus to Sabato Morais;December 25, 1859”, 1859-12-25, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/67844