The call of the North. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1923-1924, 1923-12-19
Nov. 3, 1928.

L .r-r. aass' NOV. ., 40ACs ~. 80 ~
Is it possible to Jail people
in the United States because OF
their religion? It is not only
possible, but has been done.
On the writer's desk lies the :
bound transcript of court case
inscribed-"Kings County Surro-
az gates Court. Matter of Guard
ianship of Harry Bucalstein.
This means, plainly, the Court of
Honorable George A. Wingate,
Surrogate, at Brooklyn, New
York. .s [,- = /
Harry uBucalstein, now nearly IL
! years old, was born in Russia. He at
tended Jewish school, an institu-
ton where the children go early II
the morning and remain until night
In the year 1918 his family came to
the United States, settling in Abing-
don, Illinois, removing. from that place
to New York in 1920. In Abingdon
disliking to associate with the Jews
whom he found there, the boy attend
ed the Rev. DR.. Bollinger's church
the first Methodist, where he heard
an exposition of Christian doctrine.
@. did your parents know about
your attending church," A. "They
aid and they encouraged it." @
"Who encouraged it," A. "My
father" @. "What did he say?"
A. Gle said it would do me good to
watch the various insane beliefs that
people had" -,.r
In New York the boy fell into
temptation. Sent out to- collect some
bills, he ran off with $17.sO. This act
made Harry Bucalstein an outlaw, in
his own conscience. It gnawed upon
his mind every day and night. On the
streets of New York one October
night in 1921 he heard voice shout
ing above the din, "Repent, repent,
and believe the Gospel" Moving to
the circle of people he saw a street
speaker, a Jew, who was preaching
the Christian Gospel. The speaker
was Rev. Charles .Wiesenberg, min
lister of the church known as the d.
ciples of Christ, and superintendent
of the Washington Heights Mission.
The Beginning of the Boys Trouble
That night began one of the strang-
est stories ever spread upon the re-
cords of an American court. The boy
went to DIR. Haldeman's church and
DR., Holloway's, attending the "John
3:16 Mission" the Washington
Heights Mission, and other religious
places. November was a month OF
uneasiness for him, new uneasiness
added to the mental discomfort caused
by his theft. In December, face to
face with the need of restitution II
he would start life anew, he confessed
his theft to Mr.. Wiesenberg. The man
from whom he had stolen was a Jew
The man to whom he confessed was a
Converted jew" called by the Jews
renegade" But forthwith the
Jewish Christian took the boy to the
Jewish employer, a Mr.. LeGlaire, who
proved to be a considerable, kindly
man. j He was ready to forget. he
refused to take the first payment Of
fered him by Mr.. Wiesenberg on the
boys behalf. Satisfactory arrange
ments were made for Harry to pay
back the debt at 81 week, and the
confidence placed in the boy was war
ranted. He continued to work ane
1pay until arrested and thrown intt
jail-for being Christian. ..,
For with his theft confessed ane
restitution arranged, Harry was bap'
tiled on January 8, 1922, by Rev
Edward S. Holloway, of the Wads'
worth Avenue Baptist Church, New
York City. = F..
What follawed for the boy, as tolt
on the witness stand, will not be re-
printed here, because it concerns hi
mother. The curses and fortunes ant
4 dark ecclesiastical objurgations ant
lamentations make a moving story
"She said all Jews who became Christ
ians should be killed." said the boy
"Their hands and feet shall be brok
en-. Then she ran toward me will
Ratchet appraised. She did not bring
the hatchet down. I stood perfectl!
still. Then I took my hat and wen
out. rode on the Subway all night.
! Now, under Jewish law, boy j.
free at the age Of thirteen. He j.
said to have reached the age of re
|ligious responsibility. It is his Bal
Mizwah. Harry Bucalstein was near
ly sixteen when he made his choice.
Arrested for Becoming a Christian
On January eight, next, he was ar
rested on the street. The charge wa
"disorderly child" brought undel
the statute Of New York City which
1provides that call children actuall!
or apparently under the, age of six
teen who desert their homes withou
good or sufficient cause shall b
deemed disorderly children" Harr.
had deserted" his mothers home t.
lgo to his sisters home.
/ Four weeks passed in custody
Justice Wilkins, Of the Children
Court was ready to let the boy hav
his chance, but not SO "The Jewisl
Big brothers Association Of Brook
lyn" which was now in the case. /
| might be impossible to prove Grim
against the boy, but maybe he coul'