Letter from John Bilton O'Neill to Isaac Leeser;August 08, 1848 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from John Bilton O'Neill to Isaac Leeser;August 08, 1848

Author

John Bilton O'Neill

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Location(s)

Springfield

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/p3t728740/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3t728740

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

content

To/ Mr. Isaac Leeser
Editor of the
Occident
Philadelphia
317 Walnut
Street.

Springfield, So. Ca.
Augt 8th 1848
To Mr. Isaac Leeser, Editor of the Occident.
Sir/ Two of the July numbers of your periodical have been sent to me, I suppose, that I might be apprized of the great courtesy and liberality of an American Jew. To him, I have no answer to make!
It seems however, that some of your people, the Jews, have taken offence, at an observation, in my opinion, in the case of the City Council vs Benjamin, that I know “no other standard of good morals” than Christianity. To them, I would say, that the thought of offending them, or depreciating their religion never entered my mind! The Bibleis a part, and a large part of Christianity. In asserting Christiani=ty to be the only standard of good morals, the Bible was of course, as much that standard, as the new Testament. To Gentiles, the Bible was made the standard of good morals, as well as a

message of salvation, by the mission and teaching of Jesus Christ! How, ? born a Jew, could say other-=wise, than that Christianity was the only standard known to me of good morals, is hard for me to conceive! I love, honor, and reverence the Bible too much, to do, or say aught, which would cause it to be supposedthat I did not regard it, as a standard of good morals”
Yrs John Bilton ONeill

Identifier

LSKAP0246

Date

1848-08-08