The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-07

America was built on South
4 William street nearly two CEN
turtles ago. At that time South
William street was known as Mill street,
or Sluyk Steegies. as the Dutch called
II, because OF a spring at the end Of
the street which turned IL into n mirs.
1t was a narrow street in a corner Of a
more or less quiet town. But 1t suited
the Jews. Religious intolerance had
been too strong against the Jewish
faith to risk further trouble by attract
ing adverse attention to their house OF
worship. The happenings at Bahia,
Brazil, during the middle OF the previous
century had taught them caution in
such matters. During the control "
the West India Company over the
Brazilian seaport the Jews were given
the privilege OF exercising their re-
llgious rites. So overjoyed were they
that their celebrations attracted notice
and the liberty OF worship was deprived
them.
Previous to the Mil street synagogue
there was a synagogue on the south
side OF Beaver street, then Prince street
between Broadway and Broad street
one OF the bun colored old buildings
back OF the Maritime Exchange now
covers the site of this Jewish h9use OF
prayer. II was a dwelling. and small
one at that. Twenty families would
crowd into the little house on the
Sabbath and listen to Saul Brown.
merchant who q dozen years before had
come to New York from the Jewish
colony at Rhode Island He vas both
minister and reader Before this house
OF prayer the Jews worshpped behind
closed blinds In their homes. For
Jew to worship in public would mean
his arrest and Imprisonment. Not
even n burying ground was allowed
them for many years. Gov. Stuyvesant
was q severe man and an enemy OF the
Jew. From the day the first Hebrew
landed in this city in 1854 Stuyvesant
was against them.
In that year twenty-seven Jewish
men, women and children arrived from
Bahia in the bark st. Catarine. The
Governors hostility had reached the
point OF writing to the directors OF the
West india Company in Amsterdam
asking tina, none OF the Jewish nation
be permitted to infest New Neither
lands He went further the follow
ing year when he ordered all Jews in
the colony to prepare to leave. Many
obeyed and went TO Rhode Island.
That same year he refused to permit a
Jewish burying ground, saying there
was no need for one yet. Death forced
him to change his stand a year later
when one OF the Jewish community
died. A Jewish cemetery was then per-
mitted outside OF the c-ty limits. Part
Of this cemetery In stlll to be seen on
the east side of New Bowery Just south
Of Oliver street. Il 10 the Oldest Jewish
cemetery In the coun,ry.
When the English came the Jews OF
Now York thought that religious free
dom would be extended to them. but
they were mistaken. The English,
though not a. arrogant ~ Stuyvesant
and his burgess, did nothing to improve
the lot OF the Hebrews. Gov. Dongan
was asked shortly after he became ruler
of the colony to extend 10 Jews the
same privileges enjoyed by other creeds
OF New York, but he referred the re-
quest to the Council. which refused X.
The British did not object Ike S,uyve-
SAINT to the Jew observing his faith.
but they let II he known that religious
exercises would have to be in the pri-
vacy OF their own houses or In q hous.
not having the outward appearance
OF q religious ed!fice.
great ray OF hope came to the Jews
With the passage OF the Charter OF
..oertles and Privileges for residents
II the colony IN 1888 This charter
provided that no one should be
''molested. punished. disquieted for his
religious opinions or profession OF faith
in God by Jesus Christ" The Jews
overlooked the latter part OF the
measure apparently. for two years later
they asked to be permitted the liberties
the charter gave residents OF the city.
1t was during this time that the Beaver
street synagogue was established
Private records that have come down