The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-17
RENOUNCED HER FAITH.
Miss MOynnn washed of Christianity
to Wed a Hebrew,
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
Miss Grace S. Moynan renowned Chris
tianity that she might marry a Hebrew.
The remuneration was made with all the
peculiar ceremony of the Hebrew faith.
and the pretty bride is with her husband
on an extended bridal tour,
The bride is the daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. William II. Moynan Of l21 West One
Hundred and Twenty-seventh street. The
Moynans are wealthy. They own the
house in which they live, and have hand
some seaside home in Elbron, N. J., and
Mr. Moynan is one of the principal stock
holders and directors in Philadelphia
glass company. He was formerly a mem
Der of the firm of Tefft, Weller & Co. of
this city.
The bridegroom is Albert Lewis who is
in the street car advertising business at
IS Duane street, and who Is a son of
Samuel A. Lewis, editor and proprietor Of
a Hebrew newspaper and one of the prin-
cipal members of the Hebrew colony in
New York.
The marriage of Mr.. Lewis and Miss
Moynan. which was only announced
Wednesday evening, was the elimination
of d romance in which the pronunciation
of the girls religion was but one of the
features. AS a matter of fact, Mr.. Lewis
and his older brother, Joseph, were rivals
for the hand of the girl, and Joseph SEEM
ed to be getting the better of the rivalry.
Joseph was able to see Miss Moynan
oftener than mis- bother did, Alberts
business confined him closely, and a good
deal of his lovemaking had to be done
by letter
Mice NTo,ypan is q e-u1aat fa cod pirI Of
medium hight having dark blue eyes,
brown hair and a dimpled chin. She is
vivacious, and has for a year been proml-
nent in society. She is only II years
old, while her husband is q. The brother
in-law, who wanted her for his wife so
much, but who has accepted the sltua-
ton gracefully, is 40.
The girls mother declared two months
ago she should see neither of the men any
more, and, obtaining promise that she
would correspond with neither, sent her
off to friends in Asbury Park to spend the
remainder of the summer.
Albert Lewis followed her to Asbury
Park. and obtained there her promise to
become his wife.
Then came the struggle with the girls
family about religion. The Moynans ere
devout Episcopalians and the thought that
their daughter would leave that faith to
become a Hebrew was a bitter one 10
Mr.. and Mrs Moynan.
But the girl and her sweetheart finally
won Mrs Moynan's consent to the mar
rage. In Elberon the bride renounced her
religion and was then married.
This remuneration is of peculiar char-
acter. The young woman, accompanied by
two female attendants, went to the nome
of Rabbi Birkowitz, in Elberon, there TO
lake the bath which would wash out her
osd religious belief. The basin in which this
bath is given is ten feet long, fve feet
wide and about three feet deep. The young
woman, having disrobed, entered the bath'
the two female attendants standing close
at her side Then the rabbi and his as
sistants entered the room, demanding of
the girl if she had renounced all other re-
Ugion. and, being assured in the atfrma-
tive. asked her If she accepted the He
brew creed to be hers from now hence
forth to five abide and die In that faith.
Again she answered in the affirmative.
Then came prayers and finally the bestow-
al of Hebrew names upon the girl and her
| father and mother. Miss Moynan's name
was Grace The rabbi changed 1t to Re-
becca, Her mothers name was Sarah lt
is now Rachel, and the fathers Wliham'
was changed to Isaac The entire cere-
nonv lasted an hour. After the giving of
the names the rabbi left the room, and the
female attendants bathed Miss Moynan,
using all their strength, the idea being to
cleanse her from any faint Of Christian
ty.
After Miss Moynan had recovered from
the effects of her bath she went to the
home of her mother, and there the mar
riage ceremony was performed according
to the rites of the Jewish faith
The bride was graduated last June from
the public school in One Hundred and
Twentyteighth street, rear Lenox avenue.
Up to the day of her marriage she wore
short dresses and her hair hung down her
back.
Samuel Lewis, the father of the bride
groom was twice acting mayor of this
city, in 1875 and 1876, under Mayors Ely
and Wickham. AS president of the board
of aldermen in those years he became act
hg mayor while the mayor was on his
vacation. He was also a commissioner OF
the board Of education for many years.