The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-28
mUsrA HURCH MEMBER BEMoRAL,
How tho Question Is Viewed by tho beth
Israel Bikur Cholim-ites.


How tho Question IL Viewed by the Beth
Israel Bikur Cholim-ites.
The Congregation Beth Israel Beth Bikur
Chollm contests the demand Of Abraham Green
thai that he shall be recognized one OF its
members, and he, having applied for an injunc-
ton against being restrained OF his rights as
member, has had his temporary claim denied,
and the demand for a permanent order to that
effect IL to DO argued within twenty days. Tho
question at issue Is the rather novel one, who
ther notorious and confessed immortality Is dis
qualifying for a member OF n religious body.
Mr.. 3. NJ. Roeder, secretary OF the congregation
and attorney Of record in the case, says:
"Money from polluted sources should not
enter the congregation. Greenthal was a MEM
Der, and some four years ago there appeared In
TIE SUS an article about some pockct-picking
that he had done here and in Europe. That ar
tlcle called the attention OF the Board Of Trus-
tees Of the congregation TO the man and his
proceedings, and, upon making inquiry we
learned that he had been found guilty by jury
in the Court Of General Sessions Of grand lar
ceny. Upon that we expelled him. | believe
that that verdict was reverted on some technical
ground. anew trial was granted him, and, on the
new trial. he pleaded guilty, and WAS sentenced
10 one year and six months In state prison. |
then searched the records Of the Court OF GEN
eral Sessions. and learned that In 1859 he was
found guilty of grand larceny, and sentenced IT,
sing sing Tor three years. when he got out OF
Sing sing, about two years ago, he came back
aud desired TO get his ticket of admission
and pay his money as before In the church. He
was told that he had been expelled. Then he
wrote letter to the cOngrcg CATION, begging to
he readmitted, and threatening, II refused, TO
force his rcsdmisslOn by law. told him he was
proceeding wrongly that II he would behave
right Tor Two or three years he would, DOUBTLESS,
II lac went 60 law the congregation would nave
TO oppose MIN.
1--WE offered" Secretary Roedcr continued,
fn nd ktif In Ntnr Ia Ina "a In
synagOgue on such seats as the Board of Trustees
would assign To them; and. In case of de tn,
the SINE nights Of burial In our cemetery AZ Cy-
press Illus rs would have belongei % him II he
were member yet, 80 that he should not suner
any material damage; but we positively refused
70 accept MN "a member or 10 take any money
from him flr the present, until he showed that
ne had become a better man. Ihen' ABOUT
fused his money on the ground that It Is proha-
bly, received from wrongful sources, and should
not, from its pollution, enter into the house OF
the Lord. religious org .nization should have
basis OF morality, aud II a person commits
such grievous errors he Is not III to be mem
Der, particularly among us, who have to be extra
careful, because If man COMMITS any crime
the community does not think simply Of hun as
an individual, nut, IL he happens to be OF
race. Of the jew Judge j. +. DAILY, In ren,
deflnT ms oees'1I, saia tnst Mr. Sreen,aS
render It doubtful IL the congregation had the
right to expel HIM. We think, however, that as
| the certificates OF mbership make the hold
| ing Of seats subject to the resolutions of the
Board OF Trustees there can be no DOUBT about
/
our congregation would leave 1t at once If "a man
Ike Mr. Greenthsl were permitted to retain his
| membership in It,"
| Mr.. Gree nthal is absent from the city, but his
daughter Rachel said: My father was one OF
| the charter members ofthe congregation Of Israel
| Bkur Chom. OF the charter memoe who
| united with him in 1855 In It's organization In
1855. only three out Of twenty nye, believe, are
| still living. He has never been behind hand ia
| any due or voluntary Offering Tor charity IN the
| congregation. lie Is "A very religious man..
| know he has been In trouble. out when they
| talk OF his repentance ana uNtug n better lie.
| they had better turn the church right around
| and have everybody Ia 1t do "A great deal OF re-
| pentauce. | know OF members who are
fences plenty q them here Is Mr. -:
and Mr, = IT, sci ruhlg, mem KING smoke
| up old Mrs. Greerthal from her bed, " du musst
die namen nicht sachen."l well, all right,
bat they must not attack my father. Ny Para
| lac got up a congregation there. aud they ceie-
brated the Jewish New Years. Tney pray ed
every one gave something for the poor.
| Papa gave two dollars, othets do lar,
some nfiy cents and some ten cents, Just what
everybody could. Then the question came.
| VINO was the pOOry No Jew present would ad-
init being poor, because each had given some-
thing. aud each felt that a long as he mad some
| thing to give away there was somebody else
poorer than he was. 50 they gave IT all to the
| Major. who keut door for them. IL Is not only
| our rgnt TO our place in the synagogue, for
| which papa contends. To be deprived OF that
would oe a sreat hardship, for we have gone
| ways 20 there until die. 1 cannot 90 any
| where else than there, where have worshippe d
| SO long lit Is true they offer US another
| place, a less valuable one, that they may sell our
| old seat, but then all would point TO " and say,
| Mt. GIcenthal was turned cut OF his seat be
| cause he has been In Sins sing. But, we could
stand even that, n II We're not that 10 SWING NV
| our right to our place IN the synagogue we would
at The same time give ~ our place In thc iuti Ia
! ground OF tue congregation, where my little
| brother and my grand mother are lail.' Nrs.
Grecnthal-oh, cannot give ~ my right e. lie
| where my dead lie Duried.l Why, If they ind
! SO much fault with papa now, did they not tX
| pel nm when he was IN trouble IN 1897 Ihen
they did not say word. Even when he was IN
! sing sing, they took money from us-thi, last
| ume-anI never toll Us they had expelled HIN
| until he came back aud wanted his old seat ia
| the synagogue. which they mad been letting to
| Others during all the time of his abs nee
Mr.. stuart. Greenthafs counsel eSeibits his
/ client G. rtlLcate OF membership, IN NnlCu the
! phrase qiut y uy Mr.. lpcicr appears, ." As long
| - TINS synagogue Will be the property ~ the
clugre!ation; aud subject further t. tue con IL
tons ui the resolution, passed by tie cOnsrert-
| tlJu, OF such agreement a. may have been ca
| tered into with the trustees ot sad cOnsrega-