Letter from 1825-1893 A. P. (Abraham Pereira) Mendes to Isaac Leeser;April 21, 1857
- Title
- Letter from 1825-1893 A. P. (Abraham Pereira) Mendes to Isaac Leeser;April 21, 1857
- Contributor
- Isaac Leeser
- Date Created
- 21 April 1857
- Format
- Letter. 3 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).
- Letter
- Type
- Letter
- Language(s)
- English
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3ks6jq6d/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3ks6jq6d
- Physical Characteristics
- Unlined Paper
- Wax Seal
- Manuscript
- content
-
? Bay 21st April 1857
Rev Isaac Leeser. &c.
Rev Sir
I hope you will pardon the liberty I take in this trespassing upon your valuable time and attention to claim regard for the affairs of an individual who has not the honor to be known to you. Your prominent position among our Brethren in America, & your reputed zeal in Jewish affairs generally have emboldened me to address you & made me confident that you will forgive my pardon in consideration of the nature of my communication.
I have had the honor to preside over the congregation Beth Ya? of this place for several years & during that time of ministry, it has been my good fortune to possess the respect & esteem of all classes of my constituents. Unhappily, the depression of affairs in the island generally, has extend-ed its influence into our holy institution & its diminished resources have forced the rulers to retrench its expenditure commensurately with the times. I have thus with an increasing family been subjected to a diminution of a stipend never more than adequate to a respectable living. Unfortu--nately this is too limited a sphere & furnishes no opportunity to improve my circumstances by any employment reconcilable with the dis--tinguished profession, of which I am an humble member. The Jewish children of the community do not amount to six—all attempts at book making & class teaching &c have proved ?
& then it is that although I otherwise enjoy an enviable lot in the possession of a prize in the usually poor lottery of Jewish ministry, I am forced to sacrifice it, for the welfare of my family.
In my search after some advantageous change, I direct myself to you, with? the promises that my desires are limited within the boundaries of a respectable living, I respectfully solicit any information you may possess concerning those congregations in America who may be in need of ministers. If to this, you will be good enough to add a few words of counsel, the favor will be considerably enhanced. It might be as well to state that I have received what is termed a liberal education—am accustomed frequently to disperse instruction from the pulpit & possess professional credentials from the Revd Dr Meldola Hazan De Sola &c &c.
In conclusion, I beg to refer you to the Revd M N Nathan of New Orleans & the Revd Abm DeSola of Montreal, who will as-suredly vouch for my principle & convince you that your good-ness will not be un? ? up.
Your very obliged servant
A P Mendes
PS.
The congregation of Richmond Va
has been especially pointed out to me.
May I solicit your advice?
APM.
Revd Isaac Leeser
371 Walnut Street
Philadelphia
via New York
pr Packet
7th May - Identifier
- LSDCBx2FF4_30
- Date
- 1857-04-21
Part of Letter from 1825-1893 A. P. (Abraham Pereira) Mendes to Isaac Leeser;April 21, 1857
A. P. (Abraham Pereira) Mendes, “Letter from 1825-1893 A. P. (Abraham Pereira) Mendes to Isaac Leeser;April 21, 1857”, 1857-04-21, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/69199