The morning call., 1894-10-04
A CONGREGATIONS MISTAKE.
Thought He Could Be Handled
at Their Pleasure.
BUT FOUND HE WAS LOADED.
Still, Their Pastor, the Rabbi Re-
=: fuses to Expose His People,
:. but Hints That He Could.

a.: "They.. thought l was toy-pistol to be
handled as. they pleased, but they found
the. pistol was-loaded!i numbered Rabbi
Sonneschein: :.
= Nothing has for years so excited the
Jewish Community in this city as the resig-
fiatiQn: of the rabbi from the Ohabai
.Shalome congregation as published in yes
;;terdap's CALI.. The air of mystery, which
had been allowed 10 gather around the
widening breach between pastor and peo-
pie: had bred innumerable rumors and
>cross-ru m orS until perfect fever OF un-
Ger tainty was created. Among the rumors
there even arse hint that the rabbi had
received his congo, showing the harmful
effects Of undue reticence in matter of
such general interest.
In an interview yesterday Rabbi Son.
.neschein threw some interesting light
upen the situation.
~ am. Sill; pastor of Qhabai .Shalome
although one paper asserts that preached
.: my farewell: sermon yesterday. 1t Will
find cut its mistake next Sunday and per-
iaps i've Sundays from now. Being still
the pastor i d mot feel justified in expos
Ing. the weakness of the congregation. A
lawyer has the same feeling as regards his
:,elfents:- he must preserve their secrets.
=. s Bat ibis much | will saw. They wanted
: me as q tey:pistol just for show, and they
found that their toy-pistoi was loaded. ID
F.. - The. con gregation has been so long in
Rotten Row'-not the fashionable Hyde
Park quarter, but the limbo of conserva-
fis4n-that it did not understand progress.
..'E am a man, as perhaps you can see.
. some force of character" continued the
rabbi. drawing himself up to his full
:: Height. of six feet. throwing out his broad
.:chest and throwing back his massive
head II am builder and Regeneration.
=: l thought when | came here that would
revive and inspire the congrega ton, and
was working hard to that end. but find
that it refuses to be raised up, aud have
nothing for it but TO resign.
There was no trouble about the salary.
i am not rich man by any means, but |
have an independent fortune. Ali l
wanted was to work out my life work-to
, build up. l am not dead yet, and | wanted
i. to effect some good in my generation.
''If had liked l could have held on.
My contract with the congregation does
not expire until January l next, but have
decided that it will be better for both par
ties that | sever my connection without
unnecessary delay.
Possibly the rumoEs of my domestic in
felicity in ST. Louis have been used to cap
the climax. People may have been max
ing use Of my misfortunes as club, but l
am too much of gentleman, too much OF
an American citizen, to retaliate with any
: statement thatmight reflect upon my for
Iner wife. L have married again and have
=. some children. who are my pride, and l d 20
not wish. to stir up the mud of that St.
I1nbiss aft air at the expense of a woman.
: ':':::BUt all that SONY feathers weight
: In the: m after of nay resigns alton from the
CON gfegafion They expected me to act as
"a dqmmys..I titled, to elevate them and
they plaeed obstacles in my way, so l re-
signed: Itold them would remain fe W
weeks in order not to INCONVENIENCE them.
but: 7 St sever:my connection finally"
::Dr :Sonueschain said that he did not
wish 10 .stfgnarizs the. whole eongrega-
tomas hopelessly nnnr6gressive, but on
:. The con trary DECLARED There were some
;: VERY good: people": in it,. He had many
warm: ffiends::in> the<cengregatioa and at
. seast, ONE rabbi lin town, who knew the
lwhole~:ciIe uHs STANCES. supported him ia
the c0uIsg he rad: adopted. -:
: =. The .Gott or:said: his planS for the future
were lad efin ite. He would like to stay in
San Eranciseo IT, he can find con genial
field: of labor = -. =