The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-24
The SONNESCHEIN CASE.
HE RABBI TO ANSWER THE
CHARGES AGAINST HIN.
The Letters on Which His Alleged
Heresy Is Based-The Hostility
Growing More Violent.

81. Louis Republican, 22d Instant
The hostility between DR.. Some
schein aud his friends on the one hand
aud his enemies on the other con-
tinues to grow more and more violent.
His friends aver that no formal
charges have ever been made against
the rabbi, and that the proceedings in
the Gaze thus far have been had at the
instance OF the rabbi bimeelf, who is
not vii ing that cloud Of suspicion
should hang over Share Emeth pull
pit. The latter, on the other hand,
say that there is no disposition on the
part OF DR.. Sonneschein shown 10 sab.
NIT to al investigation unless the de-
cision Of the majority Of the invest-
eating committee is TO be final, which
they hold is contrary to the constitu-
tioDal provision for the investigation
OF charges against talaried officers
OF the church. The former
hold that the proposed investigation
is not iormal-not in accordance with
the constitutional provision in that
written charges have never been
brought against the rabbi, and conse-
quent it would be no great disTe-
gard OF the church constitution to
empower committee OF investiga.
ton to make final disposition OF the
matter.
When DIR. Sonneschein was seen
yesterday by a reporter of the Repub.
lcdn, he declined to speak on the &C.
ton of the Board oil Trustees He
will send the following reply to B.
Haa0, secretary Of the board, this
morning:
My DEAR SRI ana in receipt Of
your official communication Of today
containing copy Of the letters and
resolutions bearing on my visit TO
Boston during the first week in April.
and | take pleasure in stating that /
will appear on Wednesday next the
23d inst, before our Board Of Trustees
in special meeting assembled at the
temple. Respectfully,
DIR. sONNEsoHEIN.
The following are the letters re-
ferred to-:
THE EVIDENCE.
BosToS, June 8, 1856.
Ny DEAR SRI gladly state the
facts OF my two interviews with DR.. H.
Sonneschein:
have had some acquaintance with
him for several years, and my impress.
sions Of him have always been Of the
pleasantest
As understand it his position when
here was this: He was doubtful as to
whether he would be able, con
scientiously, to remsin in his position
as a Jewish rabbi. That lie, he felt it
a question as TO whether bis people
would go far indorse his views as to
make IL possible for him to do 30 as
an honest man. II not, then it be-
came pressing and practical question
as to what he would do. He seemed
to be in much the same position
which occupied when was able to
leave the orthodox church.
In his conversations with me he
wished to find out the positions and
tendencies OF Unjtariauism, SO that
il driven out OF the synagogue he
might know whether there would be
any other field left him as preacher.
He was also considering the posi-
biliiy OF leaving the ministry alto.
gether, but felt that he did not wish
to II he could help II, as both love
aud training were still that way.
There was nothing in his words and
manner that was not manly and
straightforward. Whatever he finally
does | can only wish him all prosperi-
ty. Sincerely, MI, SAVAGE.
RooMs OF THE AMERICAN UNITARIAN !
ASSOCIATION, No, 7 FREMONT PLACE,
BOsToE, MASS, June 3, 1886. }
DEAR SIR have been asked to
state what relations have had to DR..
s. H. Stnneschein. This / am very
ready to do. They have been the
simplest He was introduced to me
when he was in Boston by a letter, as
| remember, from Mr.. Elicit, but of
this last am not sure. | conversed
with him about an hour, possibly two,
on the views OF theological positions
Of modern Judaism, and also OF Amer
lean UnitArisnism got the idea that
he wished to ascertain whether, in
event that his views should be too lib
eral for his own people, he should feel
at home among U.S. But he made no
application then, and has not, to my
knowle 1ge, made any since, and | had
long since dropped the whole thing
from my mind as an interesting inter.
view which had, and probably was,
not expected to have any practical re
suits beyond better acquaintance with
our position and spiritual tendencies
Very truly, -
GRINDALL REYNOLDS,
Sec'y of the A. U. A,
81 am surorised to notice in the re
port in the Republican Of yesterday on
the Sonneschein affair."" said friend
Of DR.. Sonnesohein, yesterday, "that
reports had been given out concern
ing the meeting Of the Board o.
Trustees Sunday that were incorrect
and apparently given TO prejudice the
public. The board had no thought o.
removing the rabbi at that meeting
The statement about the resolutions
WAS correct, but the final paragraph o.
the report as to DR. Sonneschein be
ing Displaced is entirely uniounded
"Under the constitution the arc
4 2 - IL