The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-27
RABBI THORNER
 HANDICAPPED BY
 PASTORS ASSN
After Exhaustive Inquiry Full Approval Given His
 Course.
MIR. THORNER SENDS
 STATEMENT TO "FARMER''
Tells Of An Offensive Reply He Received To Letter He Sent To President Of
 The Temple.

The subjoined communication from Rev. Maurice Thorner who has been the rabbi of Congregation B'naf Israel IS sell explanatory concerning the dif- 1erences which existed between Mir Ihorner and some members of the congregation much has been said fin a portion Of the local press. MT. Thorn CT has declined to allow himself to De dragged into a newspaper con troVersy preferring that the whole subject matter should be reviewed bv a tribunal with which he has been connected since he assumed charge of the spiritual affairs of the CongreEa- tlon B'n mai Israel. This tribunal is the Pastors Association of Bridgeport. and after an inquiry, which we are as- sured was both thorough and fnnpar- t1al the association approves the course of Rev. Thorner
 The text of MT. Thorner's comuun- icatIon to The Farmer Follows:
 ITO the Editor of The Farmer.
 Dear Sir:-In an articles in ths Bridgeport Telegram on July 18th. and in subsequent articles in the local press, statements are made in reEard to the severance of my connection with Park Avenue Temple as it's rabbi. which, to say the least, are likely to give an erroneous impression.
 T made it clear months ago thGE-rE would not continue to serve assrs of Congregation B'nai Israel CParSi Avenue Temple) after the expiration of my term of office unless there were a change in the administration Uu- der the peculiar circumstances that existed, deemed it my duty to finish my term.
 There is an attempt being made to confuse the issue. The matter is too serious for religion and for every re- hgious institution to allow this at tempt to go unchaIIenged.
 A situation existed in the Temple during the year concerning which mem bers spoke to me, and fnsisted that 1t was my duty as minister to act in the matter.
 "On January 9th last, I wrote to the president of the Temple, in re- sponse to his letter to me, that if he wished I would state my views as to the situation in the Temple, it's causes and remedies. I offered to submit a written report to be read at meeting of the Board of Trustees or of the Congregation.
 T received an offensive reply.
 "On January 9th last, sent print ed notices to the members of the Con gregation requesting their attendance at the services the following evening as matters of vital importance tO Jews and Judaism in Bridgeport, and problems concerning the future well fare of our Congregation will be dis cuSS6Q 1u the sermon.
 T referred in the course of the sermon. to the letter had received, and also spoke of the resentment that had been expressed to me by members of the Congregation in regard to an election to an office on the board because of it's moral implications.
 '~The following night, the president of the Congregation circulated "a lengthy typewriter statement accus- ing me of being guilty of islander. com pairing me with the fighting parson Of Ivanhoe,' and saying, If the preacher does not tell the truth from the pull pit, and instead of peace and har- mony promotes dissension. he is a poor guide for disturbed flock.
 Since these charges of falsehood and islander would, if true. affect my as a member of the Bridge port Pastors association, that associa- Lfou investigated the matter and on May 26th last adopted the following report:
 C TO Whom It May Concern:-
 '' Tt has been brought to the Enowl- edge of the Bridgeport Pastors assO- ,iation that charges of falsehood ana slander have been made by certain persons against pr. Maurice Thorners Rabbi of the Congregation Bnai Is- 'ael and a member of this association.
 |" This association has therefore inc Iuired into the facts, in order to de- errnine whether Dr. Thorner's char Lcter is such as 10 entlLIe nm 10 con- inued membership in this body.
 " Having heard and examined with are statements made by Dr. Thor ler's accusers, Dr. Thorner himself. md other Jewish gentlemen cognizant if the facts, this association hereby ecords it's judgment that the charges f falsehood and sIander are not sus- aimed by facts, and affirms it's conf ence in Dr. Thorner's moral integrity nd in his devotion to the great in-
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