The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-31
CUPID WAS SUCCESSFUL.
THE BARRIER OF A CHURCH NO
OBSTACLE TO LOVERS.

Barnard Gelatr Becomes a Jew and
Marries Ada Reefer-Story of the
Groom's Love Ceremony Per-
formed-A Rabbrs Statement.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Aug. 25.-Cupid's
arrow, when obstacles impede its fight, can
prove itself as powerful as the hammer of
Norwegian Thor. Roland Bernard Gelatt
and Miss Ada Refer We're united in mar
riage by Rabbi Berkowitz last evening at
the home of the brides parents. No. 2.O6O
Holmes street. The marriage is the termina-
ton of a love affair in which love conquered
IN as hard fight as he ever drew his bow
In. 1t is also an historical event, and per-
haps the beginning of a new era in the his
tor Y Of Judaism.
Mr. Gelatt Is a well-known young news
paper man. He mas filled with credit to
himself responsible places on different
Western newspapers. and, although young
man, has earned a reputation in his profess
sion: The bride is a dark-haired. black
eyed Jewess, with much of the beauty of
her race More than two years ago. while
Mr. Gelatt was managing editor of
a Kansas City morning paper, he
met and fell In love with Miss
Refer. How much in love events have
shown. His love was returned Miss
Refer Is JeweSs who has been reared
and always lived in the orthodoxy of her
peoples faith. Mr.. Gelatt was not jew,
and all thoughts of marriage were put aside
by the woman who is now Mrs Gelatt
She could not consent to marry a man not
OF her faith. Had she done 50 she would
have been dead to her people and Grape
would have hung upon her fathers door.
10 Gelatt's mind there appeared but one
thing to do-he must become a Jew-and
this he determined to do. He consulted
Rabbi BerkOwitZ about the matter and
made his plea so strong that the rabbi, who
is one of the leaders in the progressive
movement in Judaism, determined to aid
him. Gelatt explained that the religious
Identical with that of the Church of Israel,
50 that with sincerity he could enter into
the fold of the synagogue.
Being unwilling to act in the matter him.
self, Rabbi Berko WITT put Gelatt on Gig teen
months probation, and devoted himself
very assiduOusly to an exhaustive study of
all the laws, traditions and precedents gov
erning the admission of male adult to the
Jewish church. He issued a circular letter
to the leading rab0is all over the country
asking their opinions, and received many
favorable responses to support his course in
admitting into his church a proselyte with
out having complied with all the rites of the
church, which, however, Gelatt, was will
ing to do.
Having received the desired support in
his course, the rabbi decided to make Jew
of Gelatt. In the presence of quorum of
the congregation of the B'nai Jehudap syn
agogue Gelatt made confession of his
faith in Judaism, and signed a paper bind
ing himself to live the remainder of his life
under the laws of Moses and the guidance
of the synagogue, and to raise any children
he might have as Jews. His name was
then changed to Benjamin and he was given
papers from Rabbi Bernowitz that will ad'
NIT him to the membership of any congre-
cation of the Reformed Jewish church.
The acceptance of Mr.. Gelatt into the fold
Of Israel under the circumstances is almost
without precedent in the history of the
church, and the matter is one that is being
widely discussed by Jewish churchmen all
over the world and in the Jewish press.
The procedure finds bitter opponents
among the members of the old orthodox
church, and will be perhaps the chief sub
ject of discussion at the rabbinical confer
ence at Boston next November.
Rabbi Berkowitz is preparing pamphlet
that will be an exhaustive discussion of the
whole question.
"The Jews as church." said Rabbi Der
kowitZ, look with adherence upon prose
lyting. They have saying that the faith
full of all faiths are saved. and discourag,
rather than favor any conversions. There
are, however, more conversions to the Jew
ish faith than the public supposes. Rabb
Wise of Cincinnati writes me that within
the range of his experience he has known Of
100 cases. In the half dozen years of my
ministry 1 have known of six cases
but these have been those Of women
There have been, since there has beer
a Jewish church. very few admis-
sions of male adults to Judaism. In thi.
case | could not bring myself to believe
other wise than l did in this matter. A mar
comes to me, big. brutal looking. He says
1 am jew Iwant you 10 marry me-
The match seems ill-advised to me, but
am not to throw obstacles in his way.
perform the cermony. Then this man, in
telligent, educated, loving SO that he in
tends to marry anyway in some way, anC
believing in our faith, comes to me, and
am TO throw obstacles in the way of {
happy union.
THE real object in this matter is to keeI
the children in the faith. | believe Mr.
Gelatt is sincere, and 1 would rather trust
his word as gentleman than to trust rites
and customs"
The marriage last evening was attended
by the families of both bride aud groom.
After the ceremony a bridal supper was
served. Mr.. and Mrs. Gelatt left last even.
ing for Bay City, Mica, where the groom
&c atN tLn,