Evening star., 1949-04-20
DR.. Stephen 5. Wise,
Noted Jewish Liberal
Leader, Dies at IS
by the Asscciossd Press


will lie In state today at the Ere,
Synagogue which he founded 4:
years ago.
The noted, 75-year-old rabbi
who spent q lifetime preaching
for peace, freedom and tolerance
died late yesterday at Lenox Hos
pital.
He had undergone an operation
early this month for what thu
hospital called malignant
stomach ailment."
His body will remain in stat,
through tomorrow. Funeral serv.
ices will be Friday in Carnegie
Hall.
Thousands Message Grief.
Death of the crusading rabbi
who was president of both the
American Jewish Congress and ol
the World Jewish Congress, stirred
sorrow around the world.
Thousands-including those with
whose opinions DR.. Wise some
times had clashed-messaged
their grief and affections.
"A pioneer Of many progressive
movements, DR.. Wise was CEN
tral figure In the long battle for
abiishment of a Jewish home
land in Palestine.
From rostrums here and abroad
and in the hearing rooms Of law
makers, the blunt. outspoken rabbi
fought in behalf of civil rights,
labor welfare legislation, racial
equality and world unity.
Troubled by Foreign Relations.
In recent days, he had become
deeply troubled by the trend of
international relations.
He strongly criticized Soviet
policies, but sal dthe alternative
of war would be the tragedy Of
tragedies"
I am going to speak for peace, !"
he said on his 18th birthday a
month ago. until my dying
breath"
He told his Free Synagogue
Congregation that Government
and political leaders seem bent
upon war" and added In the
same speech that the Largest of
all Christian churches" was "un-
equivocably for war;"
This statement Immediately
drew upon him severe criticism
from 10 Catholic University pro-
'fessors, but DR.. Wise refused to
back down.
For so years in the pulpit" he
said, II have not retreated before
intimidation, nor shall I retreat
now"
. Defended Melish.
No apologist for the Soviet
Union, whose conduct he said was
"unendurably trying and unfor-
givably provocative" DR.. Wise
denounced the belief that war
with Russia was inevitable. .,s
He was quick to rise to the de-
fense of the Rev. William Howard
Melish, jr.. whose chairmanshir
Of the American-Soviet Friend
ship, Council led to an attempt to
oust his father as rector Of Holy
Trinity (EpiscopaD Church In
Brooklyn.
He sees or breads, as I do, that
we are marching on to war and
that 1t may not prove to be a far
cry from the present cold war to
the hottest of all wars" DR.. Wise
said from the pulpit.
: He was bluntly outspoken at
times on the Palestine question,
denouncing Great Britain several
times for its policies there.
DIR. Wise's humanitarian en-
deavors brought him the respect
and admiration of Jews and Chris
tians alike.
Established Synagogue In 1907.
Members of both faiths fiocked
to his Free Synagogue. at 40 West
Sixty-eighth street. where he held
services on Sunday as well as on
the Jewish Sabbath.
He established the synagogue in
1907, after refusing an offer to
become rabbi of the Temple
Emanuel. New York's wealthiest
Jewish CONGREGATION
DR.. Wise felt the proposed agree
ment would put him under con-
troll" Of the temples trustees.
A key figure in numerous Jewish
organizations, DR.. Wise helped
found the American Jewish Con-
gress 80 years ago, and In 1886 led
the campaign for organizing the
World Jewish Congress. Last
year, he was elected for the sew
enth consecutive term to head the
world group.
He also was a founder of the
Zionist Organization Of America,
from which he Withdrew in Janu-
ary, ,1947. His break with the or
ganization stemmed from a dis
pute over leadership and Palestine
policy.
Born in Budapest.
DR.. Wise helped establish the
Institute of Jewish Affairs, a re-
search body. and founded the
Jewish Institute of Religion. q
school for training Jewish min
listers and social service and edu-
cational leaders.
He was president of the school
up to his death.
Born In Budapest. Hungary. DR.
Wise was reared in New York City
He was educated at the City Col
lege of New York, Columbia Uni
versity, Syracuse University and
the University of Oregon.
His wife, Mrs. Louise Waterman
Wise, died December 10. 1947.
At his beside at his death were
his son, James Waterman Wise
writer and publisher; his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Justine Wise Polier. JUS
tice of the Domestic Relations
Court here; a sister, Mrs. Ella