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"Copy of a Circular addressed to the
officers and members of the various Congregations of the United
States."
The
undersigned have been appointed a committee to apprise you of the
formation of a Congregation and Hebrew Benevolent Society, in this city.
Having already purchased a burial-ground, they are now making
arrangements for the speedy erection of a place of worship, and ask at
your hands such assistance as you may be pleased to extend to them in
aid of that design. Whilst they deem it unnecessary to intrude upon your
attention any detailed statement of their present condition, they
conceive that it will be readily admitted that the infancy of all such
communities requires the fostering hand of protection and support, and
that they are excusable in soliciting from foreign sources assistance in
rendering less onerous the task which they have undertaken.
Requesting
your favourable consideration and early reply, we remain, with
sentiments of great respect,
Your obedient servants,
I. I. Jones, Prest.,
D. Salomon, V. P.,
Committee.
Mobile,
Adar 5604.
Mobile, Feb. 25th, 1844.
Rev.
Isaac Leeser,
Dear
Sir:—It had been my intention to have written you some time since; but
a multiplicity of mercantile and political engagements has prevented the
consummation of my designs. The recent organization of a Congregation
and Hebrew Benevolent Society, in this city, renders it, however, almost
imperative that I should at least communicate a few lines to you on that
subject. For some years past, in common with many others, I have felt a
very great solicitude in this matter, believing it our bounden duty
whenever in our wayward wanderings we should chance to mingle in one
spot in sufficient numbers, there to offer our worship in those ancient
forms that evidence so clearly our great descent. This with the
conviction of the other high duties incumbent upon us to perform, has
effected our objects, and we are now successfully executing our designs.
The first meeting was held at the residence of one of our members, at
which place the first steps of organization were consummated by uniting
ourselves together as a body. Over this meeting I had the honour to
preside, and I state with cheerfulness that I have seldom seen on behalf
of any undertaking more zeal evinced. Subsequent meetings have since
been held for the purpose of adopting codes of government, regulations,
&c., all of which have been passed with singular unanimity. We have
now something over fifty contributing members, and are receiving daily
accessions.
You
will perceive by the annexed circular that we are asking aid towards the
erection of a place of worship from the other congregations throughout
the Union, and hope that the appeal may not prove fruitless. If it were
not trespassing too much upon your time and space I would advocate this
holy cause in this place, and should it prove necessary I hope you will
allow me to do so hereafter; for the present I certainly hope better
things of our "holy people" than that they could disregard
claims so peculiarly pious.
With
assurances of my high personal regard and esteem,
Believe
me, very truly, your friend and servant,
D.
Salomon.
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