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•  ,f«p&    - 


To  the  Reform  Advocate  Subscribers 


I  call  your  attention  to  my  line  ot  special  decora* 
tions,  with  few  flowers  and  a  gorgeous  display, 
It  takes  original  artists,  which  I  have,  and  the 
best  that  money  can  secure.  1  handle  (he  largest 
quantity  and  choicest  quality  of  cut  flowers  in 
Chicago,  and  do  the  business,  Never  do  I  per* 
mit  myself  to  be  undersold  by  my  competitors 
in  the  same  line  of  goods.  I  will  pie  ass  you,  and 
you  will  be  pleased  by  giving  me  a  trial  order, 
I  know  I  can  always  save  you  25  per  cent.  This 
is  my  motto  of  doing  business. 


Northeast  Corner  Slate 
Opp.  Palmer  Hguse 


A,  LANGE,,,,,FLORIST 


TELEPHONE  2522  CENTRAL. 


51  Monroe  Street 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


241 


Nothing  Succeeds  Like  Success 

Federal  Lite  insurance  Gonanu 


OF    CHICAGO 


The  success  of  the  FEDERAL  LIFE  has  been  phenomenal.  It  is  an  Illinois  legal  reserve 
company  with  a  cash  capital  of  $150,000.00  fully  paid.  It  is  an  institution  organized  on  BEST 
PRINCIPLES  and  conducted  in  accordance  with  MODERN  METHODS.  Its  policies  are 
actuarially  sound.  Its  methods  are  progressive  and  aggressive.  Its  rates  are  as  low,  and  its 
policy  conditions  are  as  liberal  as  consistent  with  safety  and  prudence. 


Best   Is    None   Too    Good. 


The  FederaJ  [offers  only  the  best,  writes  all  standard  forms 
of  policies,  participating  and  non-participating,  Optional  Life, 
Endowment,  Annuity,  and  Bond;  also  Provident  policies  with  premiums  payable  monthly.  Ita 
Continuous  Life  Endowment  Policy,  copyrighted  and  written  bv  no  other  company,  is  the  most 
modern  and  attractive  policy  ever  written.  Literature  furnished  on  application. 

Capable    Agents   Wanted   £t    following   State   Agencies:       Marquette    Bldg      Chicago; 

-  «-  -  —  -   Mack  Block,  Milwaukee;  Carew  Bldg.,    Cincinnati;  Hammond 
Bldg.,  Detroit. 


ISAAC  MILLER.  HAMILTON.  President. 
D.  B.  AINGER,  Vice-Pres.  and  Treas. 

Home    Offices:     MARQUETTE  BUILDING.   CHICAGO 


J.  C.  DENISON,   Secretary. 
R.  M.  WILBUR..  Asst-Sec. 


FRED  L  MECKEL 


Manufacturer   of 


High  Grade 

|  Business 
j  Waggons 


PaJrvtmg 

Repairing 


j  67-71  E.  13th  St. 

j     Between  State  St.  and    Wabaslt  Ave. 
|    Telephone  So.          Chicago,   111. 

i»»»»»»»»m»»«»»»» 


242 


T  HE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


Kabo 
Corsets 

102  Models  of 
Marvelous  Merit 


including  48  straight-front  and  box 
effects.  All  creations  of  fascinating 
grace  and  surpassing  excellence. 


Foremost  in 
Design,  Accomplishment 

and   Finish. 
Retailing  at  from  $1.00  to  $5.00 


The  Form  R.ed\icing 

KABO 


that  Gibraltar  among  Corsets,  is  yet  the  only 
Corset  in  all  the  world  that  reduces  a  too 
high  abdomen  without  harm  or  discomfort, 
and  makes  a  straight  front  effect  possible,  so 
that  it  is  surely  best  for  large  figures. 

Price  of   Form-Reducing  (superb 
English  Coutil)  $2.50 


Bvist    Perfectors 


weakly  imitated,    remain  the  only    garments  that    infallibly 
create  a  faultless  form,  and  mask  every  deficiency. 

FO*R  SALE  A  T  ALL  LEADING  'D'Ry  GOODS  STOKES 
CHICAGO  CORSET  COMPANY 

CHICAGO:     200  Monroe  Street  NEW  YORK:     388  Broa.dwa.y 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


243 


WHEELER  &  WILSON 

Dewing     PlacHines 

ex-re  the  best  for  factory  and  family  use 


Th«  New 

Hi$n  speed  Vertical  Hook 

is  a  power  machine  un- 
equaled  for  Durability, 
Range  of  Work.  Qual- 
ity of  Stitch. 


Special       Machines 

a.nd 
Special  Attachments 

for  all  classes  of  cloth 
and  leather  work. 

Estimates    given     on 
power  plants  complete. 


THE  NEW  NO.  9 

for  household  use  is 
twenty  years  in  advance 
of  all  others. 

It  ij  tb*  only  locK.  flitch 
machine  tvithout  aj  huttle 

It  sews  one  -  third 
faster  and  one-third 
easier  than  any  vibrat- 
ing shuttle  machine.  It 
makes  a  perfect,  elastic 
stitch  on  all  materials. 
Try  one  and  be  con- 
vinced. 


Wheeler  &  Wilson  M'f'g  Co. 

72  and  74  Wabash  Avenue 

Chicago 


DAYLIGHT  PRISMS 

They  Light  Your  Dark  Rooms. 
Make  Them  Bright  and  Cheerful. 
Prices  Made  So  You  Can  Afford  to  Buy  Them. 


Head  What  One  of  Many  Thousands  Say: 


OFFICE  OF 

MAURICE  R08ENFELD 
76  Fifth  Avenue 

Chicago,  June  9, 1899. 
Daylight  Prism  Company, 

Chicago,  111. 

Gentlemenn : — I  enclose  you  check  for  bill  rendered, 
which  please  receipt  and  return  to  me. 

The  Daylight  Prisms  which  you  installed  in  my 
building.  76  to  82  Fifth  Avenue,  for  the  offices  occupied 
by  the  County  Assessor's  office,  are  a  success  in  every 
sense  of  the  word,  and  particularly  unique  in  design,  and 
I  cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  results  obtained,  as  they 
far  exceed  anything  which  your  president  claimed  for 
the  Daylight  Prisms. 

I  congratulate  you  upon  your   success,  and  your 
business  methods  are  to  be  approved  most  highly. 
Very  truly  yours, 

MAURICE  ROSENFBLD. 


You  are  invited  to  ca.ll  or  write  for  information 
SEND  FOR  CATALOGUE: 


Daylight     Prism     Co. 

1114    Chamber  of  Commerce,  Chicago 


Electricity 

•the  Light  ^Problem 


Keep  abreast  of  the  times  and  use  elec- 
tricity to  light  your  home  and  the  office. 
Electric  Fa.ns,  a  summer  luxury  at 
small  expense.  New  and  novel  effects  in 
ornamental  and  decorative  lighting-. 
Absolutely  safe,  no  danger  of  its  explod- 
ing, igniting  costly  curtains  or  draperies, 
or  asphyxiating  any  member  of  the  family. 
We  supply  the  current  for  lighting  or 
power.  A  postal  card  to  this  office  and 
our  representative  will  call. 


CHICAGO     EDISON     CO. 

EDI30N  BUILDING 
Phone  Main  1280          139  Adams  St.,  CHICAGO 


Established  1885 


.  C.  Loomi'j 


Tel.  Harrison  1957 


Commercial  and  Architectural 

¥3hotographer 


Pioneer  of 
Commercial 

Glace 
PKotog  r  a.  p  Ks 


331-333 

Wa.ba.sh  Ave. 

Corner 
Congress    Street 


Mammoth  14  Foot  Freight  Elevator 

f lease  send  postal  and  oar  Agent   tviil  call 
WE    WAJVT  y  OVR   5 


•24-i 


REFORM  ADVOCATE.. 


"Safe  as  1he   'BanK.  of  England" 

No  money  proposition  can  be  safer.  The  security  is  absolute.  But  suppose  you  add 
the  Bank  of  France,  and  the  Imperial  Bank  of  Germany  and  the  Bank  of  Russia. 
There  you  have  the  four  great  banks  of  the  World.  Security  heaped  on  security. 
Yet  the  united  ca.pita.ls  of  all  of  them  is  but  little  more  than  half  the 
•urn  held  for  the  payment  of  its  policies  by  the 

MutuaJ  Life 
Insurance   Company 

of  New  York 

RICHARD  A.  McCURDY.  President 


Bank  of  England, 
Bank  of  France, 
Imperial  Bank  of  Germany, 
Bank  of  Russia, 


Total, 


$  86,047,935 
36,500,000 
28,560,000 
25,714,920 

$176,822,855 


Assets  of  the  Mutual 
Life,  $325,753,152. 


On  the  31st  of  December,  1900,  the  cash  assets  of  the  United  States  government,  including  the 
$150,000,000  of  gold  reserve,  were  $290,107,072,  or  $35,646,080  less  than  the  assets  of  the  flutual  Life 
at  the  same  time. 


The  Mutual  Life  is  the  largest,  strongest,  and  most  progressive  Life  Insurance  Company  in  the  world. 

Its  policies  are  without  technicalities,  their  provisions  are  liberal,  their  variety  meets  every  requirement  of 
investment  or  protection,  they  provide  insurance  at  the  lowest  possible  cost  consistent  with  security  and  mutual 
interest.  The  vast  business  of  the  company  is  conducted  solely  for  the  benefit  of  policy  holders.  Every  cent 
of  the  profits  is  theirs. 


Income  for  1900,  $60.582.802.31 

PaJd  Policy  Holders  in  1900,  $26.361.863.83 

Insurance  e^nd  Annuities  in  force,  $1,141.497,888.02 

During  the  57  yea rs  of  its  existence  The  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Co.  of  New   York  has  returned  to 

policy  holders  the  enormous  sum  of 


$540,497,810.44 


No  more  profitable  field 
can  be  found  by  the  man 
of  energy  and  intelligence 
than  to  represent  the 
Mutual  Life  as  an  agent. 


B.  Carlisle* 


Tacoma  Bldg. 


Chicago 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


245 


Any  man  choosing  the  Northwestern 
may  feel  confident  of  three  things:  first, 
that  his  money  is  safely  and  honestly  in- 
vested; second,  that  he  will  receive  fair  and 
honorable  treatment;  and  third,  that  no 
Life  Company  can  do  so  much  in  reducing 
the  cost  of  life  insurance  or  making  large 
returns  on  money  invested  as  the  North- 
western. Sincerely  yours, 

PHILIP  D.  ABMOUB. 


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Old 
Life 


Age 
Irvsura.nce 


po«<,  orator  or  tage  may  tan  of  it. 
Old  age  it  ttill  old  age."  — Longfellow, 

Yes,  but  how  it  mitigates  the  asperities  if  you  have  been  wise, 
and  In  earlier  years  provided  yourself  an  annual  income  during 
old  age;  thus  saving  yourself  from  being  dependent  on  anyone. 


Refrains  from  the  Poets 


WITHOT7T  SUCH  PROVISION 

"My  days  are  In  the  yellow  leaf: 
Toe  flowers  and  fruits  of  love  are 

gone: 

The  worm,  the  canker  and  the  grief 
Are  mine  alone '."  —.Byron. 


WITH  SUCH  PBOTIilOli 

"Bat  an  old  age  serene  and  bright. 
And  lovely  u  a  Lapland  night 
Shall  lead  thee  to  thy  grave." 

—  Wordsworth. 


"When  he  1«  forsaken. 

Withered  and  shaken,  "The  very  staff  of  my  age, 
What  can  an  old  man  do  but  Met"      My  very  prop:  and  I  will  MM." 
—Hooa.  —Shakespeare, 


Yes,  It  does  make  all  the  difference  In  the  world  whether  you  did 
or  did  not.  Shakespeare's  reference  to  his  annuity  is  touching. 
A  most  excellent  provision  and  the  best  thing  obtainable  in  those 
days.  It  takes  however  a  large  lump.some  cash  down  to  purchase 
an  annuity,  while  the  new  Policy  Contract  of  the 

Northtuestern  Life 

of  Milwaukee,  requires  an  annual  premium  equal  only  to  a  fair 
interest  on  the  principal  sum.  These  new  Contracts  may  be  se- 
cured in  amounts  from  Jl.ilOO  to  $100,000,  and  secured  by  Cash 
Assets  and  Surplus,  J133.00 1,003. 

The  one  single  contract  combines  in  itself  these  advantages: 

Life  Insurance  for  wife  If  you  die  1 
Endowment  Insurance  for  yourself  If  you  live  I 
Arvnual  Income  till  you  die  ! 
Then  Annua.1  Income  to  wife  till  she  dies  1 
Then  full  fa.ce  amount  to  children  1 

It  is  in  all  reRpects  a  flexible,  business-like,  comprehensive 
contract.  It  is  what  you  need  to-day,  and  twenty  years  from  to- 
day. Send  your  exact  nge  to  A.  W.  KIMBALL,  General 
Agent.  C.  'D.  NORTON,  Associate  General  Agent.  8th 
Floor  Chicago  Stock  Exchange. 


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I  have  been  a  trustee  of  the  Northwestern 
Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  for  twenty 
years.  I  have  several  times  made  an  examina- 
tion of  its  assets  and  investments,  and  know  the 
manner  in  which  the  company  transacts  its 
business.  There  is  not  a  more  careful,  conserva- 
tive or  safe  company  in  the  country  than  that. ' 
I  have  two  policies  in  it,  and  would  take  more 
if  I  could  afford  to  carry  them. 

Yours  very  truly, 

D.  J.  BREWER, 
Associate  Justice  U.  S.  Supreme  Court. 


Was  an  excellent  showing,  and  I  congratulate 
your  company  on  being  able  to  do  so  well  for  its 
customers.  No  other  company  has  done  so  well 

for  me. 

Yours  very  truly, 

E.  BUCKINGHAM, 
Prest.  N.  W.  National  Bank. 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


D  R.  IN  K 


-/IkALTINE 


OUR  TONIC  Strengthens  a^nd  Vivifies  the 

Entire  Organism 


A  Fine  Table  Beer,  Family  Trade  Supplied 

TKe    P.    SchoenKofen    Brg.    Co. 


•Phone  Canal  9 


18th    St.    and    CaLnaJport    Ave. 


Conraa  $eipp  Brewing  Co/ 


Celebrated 


Extra, 

Sa.lva.tor, 

Ba,va.ria,n 

a.nd 

Pa.tervt  Stopper 
Bottled 

.  Beers. 


Mail  and  Telephone  orders 
promptly  attended  to. 


Telephone  South  &69. 


Kjeeley 


Company 


Lager  Beer 


Fool  of  28th  St.  and  Gro-Ocland  farX. 


Telephone  South  3+9 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 

f.     H.     RICB     SVtAl-TING 


247 


INDEPENDENT  BREWING  ASS'N. 


586612 
North 

HalstedSt 


ERNST  BROTHERS,  managers. 


'  When  merit  talks  the  world  must  listen  ' 


It  is  conceded  on  all  sides  that  the  celebrated  and  popular 
"BEERS"  brewed  and  bottled  on  improved  and  hygienic 
principles  and  known  as 


"Prima"    and 
"Burg     Brau" 

are  unequaled  as  the  finest  table  beers 


PR.IMA  TONIC 

A  highly  concentrated  extract  of  Malt,  Sops  and  Honey.  In- 
valuable to  nursing  mothers;  gives  health  and  vigor  to  the 
sick  and  convalescent. 


Delivered  Free  to  a.11   parts  of  the  city. 


WWV^WVVWWWWVV 

THE   FINEST   PALE 
BEER    ON    EARTH 


YOU  SHOULD  TRY 
A  CASE  AT  YOUR 
HOME 

Telephone     Monroe     44- 


The  Wackcr   &  Birk 
Br'.g  and  M'lt'g  Co. 

•vx  v  -v  w  w  w  •wwww  w 


The  Largest  Malting  Concern  Now  In  the  World. 

The  P.  H.  Rice  Malting  Company  erected  a  magnificent  new 
malting-house  last  year,  which  in  capacity  placed  it  well  to  the 
front  among  the  great  mailing-houses  of  the  world.  This  fall  they 
have  by  the  stress  of  business  been  compelled  to  contract  for  the 
exact  duplication  of  their  plant,  thus  doubling  their  capacity. 
Bith  P.  H.  Rice  and  his  brother,  T.  J.  Rice,  are  veteran  malsters, 
having  been  in  the  business  all  their  lives.  They  are  most  ably 
seconded  by  William  P.  Rice,  son  of  Mr.  P.  H.  Rice,  who  has  charge 
of  the  entire  works.  Mr.  Rice,  jr.,  is  thoroughly  qualified  for  thii 
position,  having  been  carefully  trained  for  years.  He  possesses 
both  a  practical  and  a  scientific  knowledge  of  the  business,  being  a 
graduate  with  high  honors  of  the  Massachusetts  School  of  Tech- 
nology of  Boston. 

With  their  thorough  knowledge  of  the  business  and  their  floor 
capacity,  they  are  enabled  to  produce  the  best  malt  In  any  market. 
First-class  malt  must  be  bright,  sweet  and  light  colored.  These 
results  are  obtained  by  this  company,  first,  by  having  the  floor 
space  to  spread  the  barley  thinly  while  germinating  and,  second, 
by  drying  the  malt  by  fresh,  warm  air  instead  of  over-heated  air 
which  invariably  browns  the  product.  The  new  addition  to  their 
plant  will  be  finished  next  June.  They  will  then  have  a  capacity 
to  make  4,000,000  bushels  of  malt  per  annum.  The  elevators  will 
then  hold,  1,500,000  bushels  of  barley.  Even  this  will  not  be  suffi- 
cient, as  they  can  today  sell  more  malt  in  a  month  than  they  can 
manufacture  in  a  year. 


BOXES  BOUGHT  AND  SOLD 

P.  J.  Welsh  Box  Co. 

DEALER  IN  ALL  KINDS  OF 

Boxes,  Barrels,  Casks, 
Tierces,  Etc 

OPPI&E  and  YARD,  79-S1-83  Bast  12th   Street 

MAIL  ORDERS   PROMPTLY    ATTENDED  TO. 
1315  State  Street.  CHICAGO. 


ESTABLISHED  1884 

STAR  BARREL  AND  BOX  CO. 

...Dealers  in... 

Barrels  and 
Boxes . . . 

Wabash  Avenue 
and  Peck  Court 

W.  P.  HAPNBR,  Manager 
W.  B.CRAWFORD,  Salesman 


248 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


THE   SAHLIN 

Cultivates  naturally  ibe  fashionable  Straight  Front  Effect 
and  also  the  erect  Hgure  so  much  desired. 

Sahlin  Perfect  Form  and  Corset  combined 


Pat'd  July  26, 1898. 


and  Feb.  20,  1300. 


Is  Identified  by  having  NO  HOOKS.  NO  CLASPS,  xo  LACES,  NO  STRINGS,  NO  HEAVY 
STEELS.  Avoid  Imitations  and  accept  no  substitutes.  The  Sahlin  Perfect 
Form  ann  Corset  combined  retains  all  the  good  and  avoids  the  evil  of  tbe 
ordinary  corset.  Nothing  Is  lost  In  style  or  shape.  Bust  will  not  cave  In,  and 
therefore  padding  or  Interlining  Is  avoided.  The  effect  as  here  shown  Is  an  exact 
reproduction  of  a  perfect  form  obtained  only  by  wearing  "THE  SAHLIN;"  no 
corset  Is  necessary  as  It  Is  a  corset  and  form  combined.  Approved  and  endorsed 
DT  physicians  and  health  reformers.  Only  to  be  worn  to  be  appreciated.  Every 
garment  guaranteed.  Made  In  corset  coutll,  white  and  drab.  Also  white  sum- 
mer Netting.  Price  11.00  and  II  50.  ASk  your  dealer;  IF  he  cannot  supply  von 
order  direct,  adding  18  cents  for  postage.  Write  for  free  catalogue. 

SAHLIN  CORSET  COMPANY 


251  Franklin  Street 


CHICAGO.  U.L. 


atbograpbp 


PUTS  LIFE  INTO  YOUR 
ADVERTISEMENTS 

and  Is  the  ONLY  satisfactory  process  for  the  getting  of 
special  color  effects,  bringing  out  all  the  finer  details,  and 
absolutely  true  to  life.  Lithography  is  standard:  it  has 
none  of  the  uncertainty  of  experiment: 

It  Gives  the  Best  Results. 


We  are  specially  equipped  to  execute  your  Booklet  and  Cat- 
alogue Covers,  Show-Cards,  Posters,  Labels,  Calendars, 
Office  Stationery,  etc.  Our  prices  compare  favorably  with 
any.  We  would  like  to  show  you  samples  of  our  work. 

Send  for  our  representative  before  placing  your  next  or- 
der. Good  work  means  good  advertising,  that  will  make 
you  business. 


Edwards,  Deutsch  &  Heitmann 

..LITHOGRAPHERS... 


Telephone 
Harrison  472. 


194-202  South  Clinton  Street 
...CHICAGO... 


JOHN  V.  FARWELL 
...COMPANY... 

NOTIONS 

WHOLESALE 

DRY  GOODS 

CARPETS 

WOOLENS 

UPHOLSTERY 


Monroe  and  Market  Streets 
CHICAGO 


A  few  of  My  customers 


in  Chicago 

Warner  Bros.  Corset  Co. 
Gage-Downs  Corset  Co. 

Mandel  Bros. 
Carson,  Pirie  Scott  &  Co. 

Siegel-Cooper  &  Co. 
Schlesinger  &   Mayer, 

The  Hub 

John  T.  Shayne 

Chicago  Cloak  Co. 

D.  Lelewer  &  Sons 

Phillipsborn 

Anisfleld  Co. 

National  Clothing  Co. 

Chicago  Corset  Co. 

Detroit    References 

Newcomb  &  Endicott 

Hunter  &  Hunter 

Siegel  Bazaar 


Figures 

—  - 


Agent  for  the  best  manufac- 
turers  of  Wax  Figures  and  Paper 
Mache  Forms,  and  can  furnish  them  at  lowest  trade  prices. 

I  make  a  specialty  of  renting  figures 
for  opening  displays  of  Millinery,  Dress- 


making, Tailoring,  etc.,  etc. 


The  Dressing   of  Corset  and  Display  Figures  a  Specialty 
Special  Attention  Given  to  the  Repairing  and  • 

Cleaning  of  French  Dolls 
All  Work  Done  Under  My  Personal  Supervision  and  a 

Guarantee  That  My  Colors  Will  Not  Fade 
Estimates  on  all  Work  In  my  Line  Promptly  Submitted 


Mrs.  G.  Oberlander,  40  D?»°rbo! 

Telephone  8818  Central 


Rooms   303-305 

St..   Chicago 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATES. 


249 


A  STRONG  HOME  COMPANY 

THIRTY   YEARS   OF  PROSPERITY 


CAPITAL 
SURPLUS 


,     $50O,OOO.OO 
$  1 ,5 1  5,272.24 


OFFICERS 

E.   BUCKINGHAM,  President. 

J.  J.  MITCHELL,  Vice-President. 

S.  A.  ROTHEKMEL,  Secretary. 

S.  T.  COLLINS,  Ass't  Secretary. 
A.  D.  SMITH,  1.  W.  ROCKEY,  Sup'ts  of  Agencies. 
E.  S.  WHITTLESEY,  Cashier. 


Caterer 


Weddings   and   Receptions 

A  Specialty 

Pure  Ice  Creams 

Fancy  Cakes 

Fine  Table  Decorations,  Linen ,  Silvers 
•ware.  Etc,,  furnished, 


Telephone  Oakland  672 
579  E.  43d  Street,  722  E,  47th  Street. 


1845      RECORD      1901 

The  Mutual  Benefit 
Life  Insurance  Co. 

NEWARK,   N.  J. 
AMZl  DODD,  President. 

Premium  Receipts  to  January  I,  1901,  $215,271,971.95 

Of  this  sum  there  has  already  been  returned 
to  Policy  Holders: 

For  Policy  Claims 46.2  per  cent.,    $99,381,402.82 

For  Surrendered  Policies 12.8       "  27,598858.24 

ForDividends 25.8       "  55,528,928.99 

Total 84.8  per  cent.,  $182,509,190.05 

Leaving  still  in  the  Company's  possession $32,762,78 1 .90 

The  Company's  investments  have  yielded 
sufficient  returns  to  pay  all  Expenses  and 
Taxes,  and  still  to  add  to  the  Policy  Hold- 
ers' Fund  for  the  fulfillment  of  existing 
contracts $41,548,686.35 

Total  Assets,  Jan.  1,  1901,  Market  Values,  $74,311,468.25 

Strength.  The  Mutual  Benefit's  assets  are  over  Seventy-four 
Million  Dollars:  insurance  in  force  is  $278,171,436.  It  docs  nu 
foreign  business 

Earnings.  The  Mutual  Benefits  interest  receipts  during  1900 
paid  all  expenses  and  taxes  and  added  over  $1,355,000  to  its  assets. 

Mutuality.  The  Mutual  Benefit  paid  in  1900  in  dividends  to 
policy  holders,  over  SI  ,720,341  or  SEVENTEEN  PEB  CENT  of  its 
premium  income  for  the  year. 

For  Illustration  or  Agency  address 
Home  Office,  or 

R.  D.  BOKUM,  State  Agent 

Marquette  Building,  CHICAGO. 


The  effective  way  in  which  the 
Jews  care  for  their  poor  and  suffering, 
affords  to  other  religions  an  example 
worthy  of  emulation. 


Munger's  Laundry 


Applies  common  sense  to  the  busi- 
ness of  Laundering,  and  handles  the 
goods  of  its  patrons  in  a  careful, 
painstaking  manner,  which  is  effec- 
tive in  producing  good  work. 


LAUNDRIES! 

2408-10-12    INDIANA    AVENUE       . 

518-20    W.    MADISON   STR.EET 

5203-05    LAKE    AVENUE 

SEE   TELEPHONE   BOOK 
WAGONS    CALL   EVERYWHERE 


250 


THEI  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


<• 


Importers  and  Manufacturers 

WHOLESALE  &  RETAIL. 

S*     ESTABLISHED  1888. 


189  Wabash  Ave.,  Chicago,  111. 


M.  SCHOSBERG.  Manager. 

Seal,  Sa.ble,  Mink,  BrosvdtaLil  e^rvd  JPersia.n  La^mb  Garments 
Our  Specialty.  V  V  V  Best  Facilities  for  Fine  F\ir  R-emodeling  artd 
Repairing.  V  V  V  Fur  Storage.  NgsgNgNgsg^NgsgNgNgvgNgvgx 


Borden's    Pure    Wholesome    Milk 


Produced  from  HEALTHY 
COWS,  under  the  most  hy- 
gienic principles. 

DO  YOU  KNOW  that  your 
supply  is  free  from  Contamina- 
tion, both  in  the  country  and 
city? 


TRADE:  MARK. 


Milk: 


Food  for  the  In- 
fant; Nourishment 
for  the  Invalid.  Consumed 
Daily  by  every  member  of  your 
family. 


THF 
I  IIC 


Mild 
miLIX 


has  given  the  production  of  pure  milk  much  careful  study  during  the  past  forty- 
three  years,  inaugui  ating  and  enforcing  principles  at  its  dairies,  located  in  the 


wagon  passes  your  door  every  day  delivering. 

Burden's  (unsweetened  and  sterilized)  Condensed  Milk:  Burden's  Pure  Bottled  Milk:  Borden's  Rich  Cream;  Borden's  Pure  Fresh  Buttermilk. 
All  Bottled  and  Hermetically  Sealed  in  the  country  into  Steam  Cleaned  and  Sterilized  Jars  and  Bottles. 


627-633  EdSt  47th  St. 

•Phones  Oakland  5O3 


546-554  West  Van  Buren  SL 


1081-1095  W.  Ravenswood  Park. 


153  North  Park  Ave. 


Monroe  8S6 


Lake  View  581 


Austin  21 


REGISTERED 

These    tra.de    marks    sttvnd    for    Superiority.      "ELK 
BRAND"  and  "Longley"  Ha.ts  are  the  best 

LONGELY.  LOW  &  ALEXANDER 


TRADE   MARK 


CHICAGO. 


THE  RKFORM  ADVOCATE. 
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••A* 


251 


Removal  Notice 


TO  OUR  PATRONS: 

In  order  that  we  may  be  able  to  give  our  undivided 
attention  to  our  large  and  growing  family  trade,  we 
have  concluded  to  dispense  with  our  retail  establish- 
ment, (wine  room)  and  from  May  1st,  will  transact 
our  entire  business  in  our  building, 

222-224    E.   INDIANA   STREET 

between  N.  Clark  St.  and  Dearborn  Ave. ,  where  our 
spacious  cellars  will  be  constantly  stocked  with  the 
choicest  and  rarest  of  Hungarian  Wines  which  for 
medicinal  and  table  purposes  are  unsurpassed. 

Orders  by  telephone  or  mail  will  receive  the 
promptest  attention.  Soliciting  a  continuance  of  your 
past  favors,  we  remain  Very  respectfully  yours, 

H.  TALLERT  6.  SON 

P.  S. — In  addition  to  our  Hungarian  Wines  we  also 
carry  a  complete  stock  of  Ehines.  Ports  and 
Sherries  of  our  importation.  H.  T.  &  S. 


True    F\imit\ire 


The  existence  of  a  class  of  people  not  satisfied  with 
anything  less  than  the  best  that  can  be  made  ia  re- 
sponsible for  the  creation  of 


Tobey 


Ma.de 


Fxirnitvire 


Economical  men  and  women,  who  do  not  SPEND 
money  but  who  INVEST  it,  cannot  afford  to  buy 
any  other  kind,  because  nothing  else  in  furniture 
offers  such  real  value. 

To  all  men  the  ideas  of  beauty  and  service  appeal: 
Add  to  the  rarest  natural  grains  of  •wood  a  marvelous 
finish,  and  bu.ild  furniture  adjusted  to  every  demand 
of  climate  and  artificial  heat — constructed  to  last  a 
century — and  yon  have  the  Tobey  Hand  Made 
Furniture,  the  kind  which  is  true  economy  to  buy. 
To  see  our  great  store  is  worth  a  visit  to  Chicago. 
Send  for  our  free  booklet — it  tells  what  Tobey 
Hand  Made  means. 


Tobey   Fxirnitvire  Co. 


CHICAGO 


10.000  PeJrs  of  Shoes 

made    daily    in    our     factories 


Life  Means  Progress 

If  you  are  a  retailer,  you  appreciate 
the  necessity  of  keeping  abreast  of 
the  times.  We  are  exclusive  manu- 
facturers of  shoes  and  sell  only  to 
retailers.  You  save  the  jobbers' ex- 
penses and  profit  in  buying  directly 
from  us.  We  are  near  the  tanneries 
and  near  you.  The  saving  in  freight 
charges  is  yours.  Send  for  our  cat- 
alogue and  have  your  name  put  on 
our  "Helpful  Hints"  list.  :::::: 


C.  M.  Henderson  ^  Co. 

Cor.  Market   a.nd   Quincy    St..    Chicago 


CORSETS 


Can  be  had  in  all  of 
the  prevailing 
shapes  at  prices  from 

$1  upward 


Ask  your  dealer  for 
them.  If  he  cannot 
supply  your  de- 
mands  write  to  us 
for  catalogue. 


GAGE     DOWNS     CO. 

262-264  5th  Ave,  Chicago. 


252 


Turn  REIKORM  ADVOCATE. 


BioMGRen  BROS.*  co. 


Thomas  &  Smith 


Stea.m   and  Waiter 


Hearting 


Ve  t\  t  i  I 


Wrought  Iron   Pipe,  Fittings,  Valves,  etc. 
Heating  Specialties  or  all  kinds. 


16  North  Canal  Street 
CHICAGO 


The  only  Air  Washing  and  Purifying  Apparatus  invented 
that  successfully  cleans  and  purifies  the  air. 


Kravit 


Pra.cticaJ 

Cutlers... 


Importers  and  Dealers 
of  fine 


Cutlery 


202  S-  Clark  Street. 
CHICAGO.  ILL. 

Practical  Instruments  suit- 
able for  gifts,  high  grfvde  goods 
only. 


M.   Schimmeyer 


...Manufacturer  of 


HARPS 


And  Expert    fLep&lrirvg 
on    V    V    ^• 

Pipe  Orga.ns 

Pia.nos 

Violins 

Gviitatrs 

Zithers 

Mevndolins 

Music  Boxes 

Etc. 


220    WABASH   AVENUE 


4th  Floor 


Telephone  Harrison  1372 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


253 


The  crowning  glory  of  life  is  HEALTH  and  STRENGTH. 

Use  Your  Body 
to  Develop  Your 


No      Mechanical     Appliance 
Whatsoever  Used  or  Needed 


I  Increase  your  Shoulders, 
Biceps,  Chest.  Limbs. 
Reduce  svrvd  Increa.se  yoxir 
Flesh,  relieve  you  of  Nerv- 
ousness, Constipation.  Irx- 
somonia.  and  all  Stoma.cn 
troubles  arvd  give  you  Per- 
fect Form— Perfect  H.-;xlth. 


SIMON'S 

Natural 

Development 

System. 


For  Men 

For  Women 

Individual  Treatments  only. 

Send  for  Pamphlet. 
Correspondence  Solicited. 


S.  J.  SIMON,  Originator,  Suite  II07-II08-II09  Champlain  Bldg,,  126  State  St. 


Treatments  by  Mail  Also 


Taylor 


Market  and  Adams 

Chi  ctxgo 


Manufacturers     of 
tKe   celebrated 


"Kingsbury" 

"Taylor" 

"King" 

HATS 


•Send  _  for  catalogue 
•Apply  for  agency 


PLAITING 

ACCORDION  AND  KNIfE  TUCKING, 
CORDING,     HEMSTITCHING,     ETC. 


Having  modern  high  speed  machines 
and  a  corps  of  expert  operators,  we  are 
able  to  turn  out  your  work  promptly 
and  in  first  class  style. 


Special    attention    to    mail    orders 


Linden  &  Stevens 

Tel.  Central  935 

52  State  St.,  Chicago,  1.1. 

Reference,  Cbas.  A.  Stevens  &  Bros. 


HARNESS   SADDLES   PDLO  GOODS 
STABLE  REQUISITES 

CHAS.  MEURISSE  &  Co. 

f  •• '  * 

Telephone  Calumet  2882 
I7O4  Wabash  Ave.,  Chicago;  And  Lake  Forest,  III. 


PHOTO  JEWELRY  MFG.  CO. 

195-197-199   State   Street,    CHICAGO 

Manufacturers,    Jobbers,    Wholesalers 


Photo  Buttons  Photo  Jewelry 

Premium   Novelties 
Advertising    and    Campaign    Buttons 

Button    Machines 
-.     Findings.    Etc.,   'Etc. 


254 

THAT'S  IT! 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


The  Greet!  "Majestic" 
MeJIesyblo  Iron 

eknd  Steel  Range. 


Qires  entire  tatisfaction,  because  they  are  riveted,  not  bolted 
(as  others).  All  joints  are  tight.  Heat  water  more  quickly 
for  bath.  Bake  better.  Use  less  fuel  than  any  others. 
Call  and  interview  our  range  experts,  or  send  for  booklets. 

REFRIGERATORS 

To  the  "Majestic,"  add  the  Alaska.  R_efrigera.tor  to  your 
kitchen  equipment  and  you  will  be  happy.  The  warm  air 
from  the  provision  chamber  falls  directly  over  the  center  of 
the  ice,  making  the  driest,  coldest  and  most  p3rfect  circula- 
tion. It  is  the  vital  point  of  the  Alaska  Patent.  No  other 
refrigerator  has  it.  Prices  from  86.73  up.  Star  Refrigera- 
tors from  85.00  up.  We  build  to  order  portable  refrigerators 
and  cooling  rooms  for  private  residences,  clubs,  hotels,  hos- 
pitals, meat  markets,  etc.  With  over  twenty-five  years'  ex- 
perience, we  guarantee  results.  Send  for  catalogues. 
ORR  <St  LOCKETT  HARDWARE  CO. 

71-73  Randolph  St.  CHICAGO 


Ftirth  <<&  Co. 

\7Jf'DE'R  TAKJZ'RS 

Telephone  ~/~oat/>  962 

2931    COTTAGE,    G-ROVt.     AVEJVVE 


Elias  China  Repairing  Co. 

v    LOANING     v 

CHINA.    GLASS.    LINENS. 
SILVERWARE.  TABLES.  Etc. 

For  a.11  occasions  on  short  notice. 


NEVERTOO I  *TETb MEND* 


....2132    MICHIGAN    AVENUE.... 

Opposite   Lexington    Hotel 

TELEPHONE  478  SOUTH 


DAV/2)    H.     WEI*R, 

.<.  Caterer... 

Than*  South  1129 

If  you  want  to  borrow  China  and  Silverware 
get  my  prices. 

3O19  Michigan   A-Ce.        J»        J»          CHICAGO. 

TABLE  BY  WEIR— First  Prize  at  Chrysanthemum  Show,  1895. 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


255 


r 


The  J 


Instantaneous 
and  Portable 


Water  Heater 

Possesses  merits  never  before  attained  by 
any    water    heater,  as  you   will    discover 
by  reading  the  following: 

This  heater  will  heat  water  from  70  to  120  de- 
grees in  one  minute  and  keep  a  stream  of  water 
at  that  temperature  running  one  gallon  a  minute. 

Cooler  water,  if  wanted,  can  be  had  by  in* 
creasing  the  flow..  Itcanbensed  in  the  Bath- 

*  room,  Kitchen  or  Laundry  or  wherever  there  is 
gas,  and  can  be  moved  readily  from  room  to  room, 

•  as  all  connections  may  be  made  with  rubber  hose 
W  /  &s  shown  in  the  picture. 

The  Heater  is  hung  on  supports  fastened  to  the 
wall  by  four  screws;  with  each  heater  an  extra  pair 
of  supp'.rcs  is   furnished  free. 

Within  the  Heater  the  water  passes  through  a  40  foot  coil  of 
1  •  inch  brass  tubing  placed  in  a  steel  frame  above  a  powerful 
burner.    As  the  water  does  not  come  in  contact  with  the  products  of 
combustion  it  is  perfectly  wholesome  for  cooking  or  drinking. 
There  is  a  place  for  a  4  inch  flue  connection  at  the  top,  to  be  used  if  desired. 
The  burner  can  bo  pulled  out  to  heat 'the  room.    When  burning  under 
the  coil  the  water  absorbs  all  the  heat. 

The  Heater  is  small  and  com  part, about  one  foot  square,  and  just  one  foot  high. 
'    The  water  connections  can  be  made  at  either  end.    This  heater  will  burn  man- 
ufactured, natural  and  gasoline  machine  gas — in  ordering  state  the  kind  to  be 
used.    With  gas  at  $1.00  per  1000,  it  costs  but  2  cents  to  heat  enough  water  for  a  bath. 

In  addition  toils  adaptability  to  Bath-room,  Kitchen  and  Laundry  Uses,  it  is  invaluable  because  of  its  prompt- 
ness and  efficiency,  in  the  Sick  Hoom,  Hospital,  Barber  Shop,  Office,  Restaurant,  Drug  Store,  Buffet,  Laboratory, 
Luncli  Counter,  Surgeon's  office,  the  Nursery  and  for  Dentists'  use,  as  well  as  many  other  places. 

Three  six  foot  lengths  of  cloth  insertion  rubber  tubing  and  one  reducer  (to  attach  to  gas  fixture)  are  furnished 
with  each  heater.  Any  one  can  attach  it.  It  can  be  set  on  floor  or  stand  if  preferred.  Every  one  guaranteed. 
LOWEST  PRICED  WATER  HEATER  ON  THE  MARKET. 

our  dealer  doesn't  have  the  "Jewel"  send  to  us  and  we  will  see  that  you  are  supplied.    Illustrated 


The  Chicago  Chronicle 

The   best   "Daily  fletvs paper! 

Altvays  publishes  all  the  netets  ! 

Alterays  preserves  the  best  moral  tone  I 

Al&rays    the  favorite  family   netarspaper! 

Altvays  the  best  for  business  and  industrial  men  I 

Al&jays   shotvs    profitable    returns  to   advertisers! 

It  is  a   twentieth   century   netvspaper  for  all  the  people  ! 


HJDMS,  Grsrs, 

S;c. 


A  SPECIALTY 
Telephone  No.  2756  Main 


•' 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


Educators 


This  pa.ge  contains  a.dvertise- 
ments  of  some  of  Chicago's 
Leading  Educators  whom  the 
Reform  Advocate  recommends 
to  its  readers  a.s  reliable. 


Chicago  Auditorium  Conservatory 

THIS  institution  offers  unexcelled  advantages  for  the  study  of  Music  in 
all  its  branches,   Elocution,  Modern  Languages,  Oratory,  Physical 
Culture,  Delsarte   and   Stage   Training.      Private   and   professional 
courses.    Pupils  may  enter  at  any  time.     All  Concerts,  Lectures,  Recitals, 
and  Dramatic  Entertainments  free  to  students  of  the  Conservatory. 


Frederic  Grant  Gleason,  Director       Roy  Arthur  Hunt.  Acting  Manager 


AUDITORIUM      BUILDING 
ILLUSTRATED   CATALOGUE   SENT   FREE 


Telephone  Harrison  1910 


RUSH 

MEDKAL  (OLLEfiE 

In  affiliation  with  the 
University  of  Chicago 

Organized  1837 

The  academic  year  of  the  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege Is  divided  Into  lour  quarters,  correspond- 
ing with  those  recognized  with  the  University 
of  Chicago.  They  are  designated  as  Summer, 
Autumn,  Winter  and  Spring  Quarters,  begin- 
ning respectively  the  first  of  July,  first  of  Octo- 
ber, first  of  January,  and  first  of  April,  each 
continuing  for  twelve  weeks.  A  recess  of  one 
week  occurs  between  the  end  of  each  Quarter 
and  the  beginning  of  the  neit  following.  In- 
struction in  all  departments  of  medcine  will  be 
riven  in  each  quarter. 

The  general  course  of  Instruction  requires 
four  years  of  study  in  residence,  with  a  mini- 
mum attendance  upon  three  Quarters  of  each 
year.  A  student  may  begin  his  college  work  on 
the  first  day  of  any  Quarter,  and  may  continue 
In  residence  for  as  many  successive  Quarters 
M  he  desires.  Credit  will  not  be  allowed,  how- 
ever, for  more  than  three  successive  Quarters. 
At  least  45  months  must  elapse  between  the 
date  of  a  first  matriculation  and  the  data  of 
graduation. 

For  further  information,  address  correspond- 
ence to 

Rush  fledical  College,  Chicago,  III. 


Watson's    Institute 

SHORTHAND  and 
TYPEWRITING 


648  Garfield  Boulevard 


(W.  55th  Street) 


CEO.   WATSON.    Prln. 


It  will  pay  you  to  attend  a  private  school 
where  you  will  get  individual  attention,  and 
more  thorough  instruction  than  in  crowded 
colleges.  Save  time  and  money.  Write  for 
catalogue.  ....... 

SARAH    SABOLSKY,    Ass't 


Telephone  Harrison  1736 

Mrs.    H.    Harshman 

Retouching  Studio 


Instructions  Given 


Auditorium  Building 
Room  91 


CHICAGO 


STANDARD 
TEXT-  BOOKS 


FOR  SCHOOLS.  ACADEMIES 
AND  COLLEGES  :  :  : 


TH«  LATEST  AND  BUST  TEXT-BOOKS  m  ALL 
BRANCHES  OF  INSTKUCTION.  :  :  :  :  : 
SEND  FOR  CATALOGUE  AND  CIRCULARS. 


NEW  YORK 
CINCINNATI 
CHICAGO 


AMERICAN  BOOK  COMPANY 

521-531  \V ABASH  AVB.,  CHICAGO 


American      Method      of      Singing 

MARY  M.  SHEDD 


Selrvway    Hall. 


CHICAGO 


This  method  develops  voices  into  tones 
the  same  with  which  Pattl,  DeEeszke, 
and  all  great  artists  were  born. 

Sand  for  Bookie; 

VOUNG  -MEN   AND   YOUNG   WOMEN 

Who  are  preparing  for  a  life  of  usefulness  and  look- 
Ing  forward  to  a  profession,  or  a  successful  business 
career,  will  find 

THE  WALLACE  J-»  J» 
COMMERCIAL  COLLEGE 

52  DEABHOKS  ST.,  CHICAGO,  a  stepping  stone  that 
they  cannot  well  afford  to  omit,  opening  tbe  way, 
as  It  does,  to  a  self-earned  course  In  law  or  medicine, 
or  to  lucrative  employment  In  the  business  world. 
Tbe  school  Is  prepared  to  do  all  that  It  claims. 


H  MSh  School  of  music. 
H  hi$h  School  of  Elocution. 

HAHMONr,  THEORY.  SCIENCE,  ART  AND  GENERAL  CULTURE. 
Sight  Singing,  Unite*!  Composition,  Iformtl  Training, 
Conducting  UMurn,  BteluU,  ConMrl*. 

DR.  HENRY  SOUTHWICK  PERKINS, 

DIRECTOR. 


An  /UuitrateJ  Catalan* 
Mailtd  (D). 


Number  11. 
MAY   4    1901. 


-'  HE 


REFORM 


ADVOCATE 


rrxicicifiLKX 


i  ic  A x  x  :r 


...WE  OWN  AND  OFFER... 

$485.000  United  States  of  Mexico 
Government  5  per  cent  Gold  Bonds 

SPECIALLY   SECURED  BY  EXPORT  AND   IMPORT  DUTIES.   AND  FREE 
FROM  ALL  MEXICAN  TAXES,  PRESENT  AND  FUTURE. 

The  bonds  are  in  coupon  form,  engraved  in  English,  Spanish, 
French  and  German,  and  are  payable — principal  and  quarterly 
interest  coupons — in  United  States  Gold  Dollars  at  our  office, 
or  at  the  office  of  J.  P.  Morgan  &  Co.,  New  York;  ^.Iso  in 
London,  Berlin,  Frankfort,  O.-M.,  and  Amsterdam.  They 
can  be  readily  converted  into  cash  in  this  country  or  abroad, 
and  we  recommend  them  as  a  safe  investment  and  as  the 
cheapest  bond  on  the  market. 

PRICE  100  AND  ACCRUED  INTEREST;  NET  5$, 

OTIS,  WILSON  *  Co., 

...BANKERS... 

182-84  La  Salle  Street— The  Temple— CHICAGO. 


258 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


LEONARD  MANDEL  DRY  GOODS  CO. 

218-226  THIRTY-FIRST  ST.,  near  Indiana  Ave. 


of  \7nderlzvear  and  Hosiery 
ts  complete  in  e^ery  de-fail.  An  inspec- 
tion Refill  convince  you  o_f  -this  _facl. 


Charge  Accounts  solicited. 


Tel.  2791  Calumet. 


Japanese  Curiosity. 


COMPRESSED  AIR  CARPET  CLEANER 

We  are  the  only  compressed  air  carpet  cleaners  in  this  city — the  only 
perfect  compressed  air  carpet  cleaners  in  the  world.  The  machinery  and 
equipment  of  our  Chicago  plant  will  cost  about  $30,000.  Our  Carpet  clean- 
ing machine  is  a  wonder.  They  go  in  one  side  dirty  and  come  out  on  the 
other  side  thoroughly  cleaned  and  aired  with 

NAP  RAISED,  COLORS  BRIGHTENED,  NOTHING  FRAYED  OR  TORN 

The  American  Pneumatic  Carpet  Gleaning  Go,, 

Telephone,  Monroe   14-96. 
Cor.  Lake  and  Carpenter  Sts.,  CKica go. 


£roy  Caundry  Jflacbincry 

OUR  LINE  IS  THE  LARGEST,  BEST  AND  MOST  COMPLETE. 

We  make  a  spec- 
ialty of  Steam  Dry- 
ing Closets  for 
apartment  houses 
and  flat  buildings. 
Catalogues  upon 
application.  j>  '  j* 

San  Trancisco 


Chicago 


new  York 


"A  characteristic  which  has  been  po- 
tent in  the  modernizing  of  Japan  is 
that   insatiable   curiosity,   an   intense 
desire  to  see  and  understand  anything 
new.    While  the  present  day  Chinese 
attitude  is  tnat  of  contempt  for  any 
beings  or  institutions  not  evolved  in 
China,  the  Japanese  are  eager  to  know 
of  everything  connected  with  our  form 
of  civilization,  and  to  adopt  it  if  -it  is 
good.     Sometimes  their  great  recept- 
iveness  and   power  of  imitation  and 
adoption,  lead  them  to  adopt  innova- 
tions which    they    afterward    find    it 
wiser  to  discard.    Hence  the  accusation 
of  fickleness.     A  perusal  of  Japanese 
history   shows   that   the    people    have 
ever   progressed   by   impulses,   by   ac- 
tion and  reaction,  and  that  in  the  end, 
good  judgment   seems  to  become   su- 
preme.     The    foreigner    traveling    in 
Japan  is  soon  made  aware  of  the  qual- 
ity  of  curiosity.     On   every     railroad 
platform  he  is  surrounded  by  a  crowd 
of  people  who,  with  their  mouths  as 
wide  open  as  their  eyes  in  their  effort 
to  lose  no  detail  of  interest,  regard  him 
slowly  from  head  to  foot,  and  comment 
upon    him    amongst    themselves    the 
while.     These  people  may  have  seen 
hundreds  of  foreigners — they  may  see 
them  every  day — but  they  continue  to 
act  as  if  they  had  never  seen  one  be- 
fore.    I   visited    some   Americans    in 
Tokio  who  had  lived  in  the  same  house 
with  the  same  Japanese  neighbors  for 
about  a  year.    Yet  each  time  that  we 
went  out  to  drive,  the  people  in  the 
little    Japanese    house    nearby    would 
rush  to  their  windows  and  stand  there 
watching  as  eagerly  as  a  small  Yankee 
at  the  circus.     This  happened   every 
day.    It  is  always  posible  to  tell  whe- 
ther a  foreigner  happens  to  be  in  his 
garden,  for  a  good-sized  crowd  of  Ja- 
panese gathered   about  the   gate   an- 
nounces the  important  fact.  I  gave  sev- 
eral talks  and  lectures  to  school  chil- 
dren and  young  men  and  women  in 
Japan.     They  were  interpreted,  I,  of 
course,   speaking  in   English,   so   that 
half  of  the  address  was  understood  by 
only  a  few.     Yet  I  have  never  seen 
audiences   more   absolutely   attentive. 
Not  a  word  was  lost,  and  the  same 
concentration  was  shown  while  I  was 
speaking  as  when  the  interpreter  was 
turning  it  into  Japanese.    Little  school 
children — boys  and  girls — sat  drinking 
everything  in,  with  their  eyes  popping 
out  of  their  heads  until  I  had  finished. 
I  never  nattered  myself  that  this  was 
due  to  the  fascination  of  my  discourse, 
but  merely  to  the  great  curiosity  of  my 
audience,  their  power  of  concentration 
and    their    receptiveness." — Anna    N. 
Benjamin  in  Ainslee's. 


THE  REFORM 


259 


Wickes'  Refrigerators 

Porcelain-lined  Inside  and  outside,  or  oak  exter- 
iors, are  now  for  the  first  time  offered  to  pri- 
vate families.  Can  be  had  In  all  wi/«>s.  Tncy 
easily  pay  for  themselves  In  the  Raving  of  ice. 
The  leading  packing  houses  every  where  reeogr- 
nlze  Wickes*  system  as  the  acme  of  perfection 
inrefrtgerators  and  all  their  refrigerator  cars. 
This  Is  the  best  test  of  their  merit. 


HONE  BILLIARD  TABLES 


We  make  Billiard  Tables  for  private  home  use  a 
specialty.  The  table  asillustrated  above  »86.  with 
our  guarantee  that  It  Is  equal  to  any  of  our  $200 
tables  for  playing  purposes.  A  smaller  size,  $65. 
adjusta 


By  means  of  the 
table  is  readi 
library  table. 


. 

table  top  which  we  supply,  this 
table  is  readily  converted  into  a  handsome  dining  or 


SOLD  ON  EASY  PAYMENTS. 

Catalogue  showing  different  size  tables  on  application  and 
we  will  mail  book  showing  100  new  "shots"  on  receipt  of  80 
cents.  Address 


Brunswick-Balke-Collender  Co.,  Dept.  D,  Chicago,  III.     Branch  oncost  Hew?ort,  Cincinnati. 

'  '  I  St.  Louie,  San  Francisco. 

ft  SflrFE  PLftGE,  /¥T  SM/YLL  COST 


TO  KEEP  YOUR 

BANK  BOOKS, 
TAX  RECEIPTS, 
DEEDS,  NOTES,  BONDS 

AND  OTHER  VALUABLE  PROPERTY  IS  THE 

Illinois  Trust  Safety  Deposit 
Co.'s  Vaults. 

j       La  Sillo  Ct.  4  Jackson  Blvd.         BOBEBT  EOVD,  Manager, 
STORAGE  FOR  TRUNKS  AND  SILVERWARE  AT  REASONABLE  RATES. 

HART    &    ^RANK, 
MORTGAGE   BANKERS 

I28-I3O  WASHINGTON  STREET. 

MONEY  LOANED  ON  CITY  REAL  ESTATE,  VACANT  OR  IMPROVED.    LOWEST  RATES. 

FIRST    COLD    MORTGAGES    FOR    SALE. 


Established  1871. 


First-Class  Work  Only. 


THE   PHILIPS  <&  OSBORINE 

Carpet  Cleaning  and  Upholstering  Works. 

MATTRESSES  RENOVATED  AND  MADE. 

2551  Wentworth  Avenue.  461  East  Forty-Seventh  Street, 

Telephone  South  300.  Telephone  Drexel  6142. 


Reception:  a  Socially 

Telephone 
Oakland  672. 

679  E.  48d  STREET* 
7B2  E.  47th  STREET. 


Pure  Ice  Creams. 
Fancy  Cakes. 


"IF  AT  FIRST  YOU    DON'T  SUCCEED,"  TRY 

SAPOLIO 


FOREIGN  NOTES. 


The  famous  Synagogue  of  Toledo, 
which  for  several  centuries  past  has 
been  used  as  a  church,  is  to  be  re- 
stored as  a  Jewish  house  of  prayer. 
The  Synagogue  was  erected  under  the 
government  of  Don  Pedros,  of  Castile, 
in  1357,  at  a  time  when  Jewish  schol- 
arship in  Spain  had  reached  its  high- 
est. After  the  expulsion  of  the  Jews 
the  building  was  converted  into  a 
church.  Recently  a  commission,  ap- 
pointed by  the  Spanish  Academy  of 
Science  and  Arts  in  Madrid,  has  re- 
ported in  favor  of  it  being  once  more 
transformed  into  its  original  purposes. 
The  Hebrew  inscriptions,  many  of 
which  are  still  in  excellent  condition, 
are  to  be  preserved,  and  excavations 
will  be  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of 
finding  the  Beth  Hamedrash  and  other 
rooms. — Ex. 

Although  Italy  is  a  Catholic  country 
the  Jews  in  Florence  enjoy  unrestrict- 
ed social  and  political  liberties.  Its 
synagogue  is  one  of  the  finest  in  Eu- 
rope, and  its  rabbi,  Dr.  Margulies,  is 
one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed  of 
Florentines.  Here  on  the  beautiful 
banks  of  the  Armoanti,  Semitism  is  a 
thing  wholly  unknown.  The  superin- 
tendent of  police  is  a  Jew,  and  many 
other  lucrative  and  honorable  offices 
are  held  by  Jews.  Florence  is  one  of 
the  most  progressive  cities  in  Italy, 
and  it  cannot  be  gainsaid  that  the  ab- 
sence of  anti-Semitism  has  had  much 
to  do  with  this  advancement. — Ex. 

About  two  years  ago  a  Jewish  ia- 
stitution  was  established  in  Paris  to 
assist  young  girls  in  finding  employ- 
ment as  teachers,  in  commerce  and  in- 
dustry, and  to  provide  with  a  home, 
until  they  obtain  employment,  such 
ladies  as  have  no  relatives  or  friends 
in  that  city.  The  institution  has 
proved  a  great  success,  400  persons 
having  been  assisted  to  procure  a 
livelihood.  The  temporary  home  has 
become  inadequate  for  the  den-.auds 
made  upon  it,  and  a  second  house  has 
been  rented.  Among  the  contributors 
toward  the  maintenance  of  the  borne 
fivhich  is  available  for  foreigners  as 
well  as  for  French  women)  are  Bar- 
oness Salomon  de  Rothschild,  Mm. 
Rothschild  brothers  and  the  Alliance 
Israelite  Universelle. 


FOR  OVER  FIFTY  YEARS 

An  Old  and  Well-Tried  Remedy.  Mrs 
Winslow'a  Soothing  Syrup  has  been 
used  for  over  Fifty  Years  by  millions  of 
mothers  for  their  children  while  Teeth- 
ing, with  perfect  success.  It  soothes 
the  Child,  softens  the  Gums,  allays  all 
Pain;  cures  Wind  Colic,  and  is  the  best 
remedy  for  Diarrhoea.  Sold  by  druggists 
in  every  part  of  the  world.  Be  sure  and 
ask  for  Mrs.  Winslow'e  Soothing  Syrup 
and  take  no  other  kind. 

Twenty-Five  Cent*  •  Belli*. 


260 


THIS  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


EDUCATIONAL. 


M.  SCHIMMEYER, 

.      Manufacturer  of 

..HARPS.. 

and  expert  repairing  on  Pipe  Or* 

ifan*i.    I 'latins,    Violins,     Guitars, 
Zithers.  Mandolins.  Music  Boxes, 

etc-  220  Wabash  Ave., 

4th  floor.  Ti.ephone  Hirrison  1372. 


The 

Gregg 

Shorthand 

School 


A  simple,  sensktlf 
modern  system;  no 
(hading  or  position 
writing.  v 

Write  or  call  for 
catalogue. 

Tuition- 

Day  or  Evening 


57  WASHINGTON  ST 


College  of  Caw 

LAW  Department  of  Lake  Foreit  University. 

Hon.  Thos,  A.  Moran,  LL,  D.,  Dean. 
Three  year  course  leading  to  degree  LL.  B. 
Sessions  each  week  day  evening.    For  further 
Information,  address  Secretary, 

ELMER  E.  BARRETT,  LL.  B., 
tf  01  Title  and  Trust  Bldg.,    CHICAGO 


P 


HOSPHATE-CALISAY 


A 


COMPOUND   TABLETS 

Efficacious  in  Nervous  troubles,  and 
affections  of  the  Liver.  In  constipation, 
flatulence,  gastric  irritation,  or  fer- 
mentation, it  will  be  found  to  go  to  the 
seat  of  the  trouble.  Unlike  other  prepara- 
tions it  is  not  a  palliative  or  corrective,  but 
arouses  the  dormant  juices  of  the  liver  so 
they  will  secrete,  thereby  causing  the  food  to 
be  properly  assimilated.  * 
A  FOOD  FOR  BRAIN  WORKERS. 

IN    ALL  FORMS  or  NCRVOU*  TROUBLES  IT  WILL  BC 
FOUND  TO  ALLAY  AND  CURC,  BUILDING   UP 

ALL   NERVE    CENTERS. 
Phosphate  Caltsaya  Co.  Chicago,  Aug.  12, 1900. 

Have  always  recommended  to  alt  my  friends  your  Phos- 
phate Caltsaya  Compound.  It  is  the  best  thin?  1  have  ever 
used  for  Liver  and  Nervous  troubles.  1,  A.  NEWSOME. 

with  White  Sewing  Mch.  Co. 

Price.. ..Small  size,  50c Large  size.  $1.00. 

ISend  your  address  and   we  will  send  you  sample    I 
package,   postpaid,   with  absolutely  no  expense.  | 

FOR   SALE    BY 
ALL  DRUGGISTS,  or  CAN  BE  MAILED 


Phosphate  Calisaya  Co,, 

362  Wabash  Ave.,  Chicago. 

M.  WALSH, 

Livery  and  Boarding  Stable 

I  30-1  22  TWENTY-FIFTH  ST. 

Bet.  Prairie  and  Indiana  Aves. 
The  l.atrNt  In  Rabb«r  Tire  Hansom  Cabi 

Carriage*  and  Broughams. 
Telephone  SOf.'TH  ISO. 

D.T.JOHNSON 

Express  Storage  and  Van  Co,, 

3505  Cottage  Grove  Ave. 

Storage  Warehouse,  17  Bryant  Ave. 

FURNITURE  MOVER 

Baggage  checked  to  all  depots, 
two-trips,  Daily  at  9  A.  M.  and  3 
P.  M. 

Telephone.  Oakland  717. 


MATTERS  MUSICAL. 


CONDUCTED    BV    MAURICE  ARONBON. 


D.  H.  S.  Perkins  gave  a  concert  in 
Medina  Temple  (A.  F.  and  A.  M.)  at 
Oak  Park  last  Saturday  evening  by 
six  juvenile  performers  from  the  Chi- 
cago National  College  of  Music.  Mas- 
ter Harry  Dushoff,  soprano,  thirteen 
years  of  age;  Master  William  McCon- 
nell,  fourteen  and  the  Mozart  String 
Quartette:  Hazel  G.  Welsh,  first  violin; 
Wayne  Osborn,  second  violin;  George 
Hall,  violin  and  Ralph  Hall,  cello,  as- 
sisted by  Miss  Ethel  Stillwell,  soprano 
and  accompanist  and  Miss  Maude  M. 
Campbell,  the  brilliant  piano  student 
of  the  college.  Master  Harry  and  Wil- 
liam sang  solos  and  the  duet  "Robin 
Ruff  and  Gaffer  Green."  These  young- 
sters have  fine  voices  and  are  well 
received  wherever  they  sing.  The 
string  quartette  plays  with  remarkable 
accuracy,  and  each  one  is  also  a  solo 
performer  of  considerable  merit.  It 
is  interesting  to  see  young  people  de- 
veloping their  musical  talent  so  early 
in  life.  The  Mozarts  are  pupils  of 

A  concert  of  far  more  than  passing 
interest  was  the  popular  four  o'clock 
concert  on  Sunday  afternoon  at  the 
Studebaker  by  an  orchestra  of  50  mu- 
sicians under  the  direction  of  Theodore 
Spiering,  assisted  by  David  Bispham, 
baritone.  Mr.  Spiering  has  been  known 
for  many  years  as  a  violinst  of  most 
excellent  attainments  and  as  the  leader 
of  the  popular  string  quartet  bearing 
his  name.  Of  late  Mr.  Spiering's  am- 
bition has  been  in  the  field  of  con- 
ducting, and  it  is  but  just  to  state,  that 
with  the  results  of  the  concert  of  Sun- 
day last  he  has  at  once  and  for  ever 
set  aside  any  doubt  as  to  his  ability  to 
conduct  a  large  orchestral  body.  If 
the  impressions  of  Sunday  last  and  his 
recent  appearance  in  Milwaukee  as  a 
conductor  do  not  deceive,  Spiering  is 
destined  to  wield  a  baton  in  the  near 
future  over  a  body  of  musicians  wor- 
thy of  his  talent  and  his  ambition. 
There  is  a  movement  on  foot  to  make 
the  Sunday  four  o'clock  popular  con- 
cert a  permanent  feature  of  the  next 
season  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
new  management  of  the  Studebaker, 
headed  by  the  able  and  popular  Louis 
Francis  Brown,  will  succeed  in  making 
these  concerts  a  lasting  success.  Mr. 
Spiering  is  the  right  man  and  the  only 
one  in  Chicago  who  has  a  right  to  as- 
pire to  the  position  of  conducting  these 
concerts. 


Herr  Ludwig  Gero  of  Grosswarden, 
an  important  town  in  Hungary,  has 
been  appointed  chief  of  police.  He  is 
the  only  Jew  who  holds  so  high  a  posi- 
tion in  that  district. 


EDUCATIONAL. 


Maurice  Aronson 

•>  ii  f  Auditorium  Bldg. 

rianiQt     \  (Tower.  140t 

•  IfllllMifrnisir.PPTSj 
Recitals :  musicales .-  Cccturw 

For  the  past  four  years  chief  asssistant  J| 
LEOPOLD  GODOWSKY  in  the  Chicago  COM 
servatory  of  Music.  Instruction  along  the  pear, 
gogical  ideas  and  methods  originated  by  the  k& 
ter.  Technic  and  interpretation.  —* 

Four  Competent  Assistants.          Wrltefor  Circul' 

DVORAK 

DRAMATIC  SCHOOL 

Klmball  Hall,  243  Wabash  Ave.,  Chicago 
Acting,  Elocution,  Physical  Cultu 
Oratory,  Fencing.  Catalogue  mailed 

Edward  Dvorak,  Director 

MRS.  LEOPOLD  WEIL'S 

Boarding  ?nd  Day  Sehoo) 

F"0a  OIIiL.3. 

109  and  III  West  77th  Street.  New  York 

Thorough  Preparation  for  Colleges 

School  Opens  Sept.  26,   1900. 


Chicago 
College  of 
Commerce, 


63d    STREET 
&  YALE  AVE. 

This  inst  itut  ion 
ranks  with  the  lead- 
injf  commercial  col- 
leges of  the  country. 
It  offers  courses  in 
Commerce,  Business, 
Finance,  Stenogra- 
phy, Typewriting, 
Penmanship. 

Young  people  seek- 
ing to  prepare  them* 
selves  in  a  short  time 
for  a  good  position  in 
business  will  find 
here  unsurpassed 
facilities.  Students 
may  enroll  at  any 
time  for  a  full  or  a 
partial  course. 
Send  for  catalogue  to 

GRANT  ORR, 

President. 


ROBERT  PELZ, 

VIOLIN  MAKER, 

301  STEINWAY  HALL, 
17  VAN    BUREN   STREET. 

Artistic    Repairing  a  Specialty 

ALL  WORK  GUARANTEED. 


DR.    H.     IN.    MEYERS 

SCIENTIFIC    OPTICIAN. 


Call  and  have  your  eyes  thoroughly  examined 
with  tae  latest  appliances.  Popular  Prices.  Ex- 
amination Free.  Dr.  H.  N.  Meyers,  feH  E.  Wash- 
inirton  St.,  with  Clapp  A  Cowl,  Jewelers. 


KINSLEY'S 


105-107 
Adams   St... 
Ladies'  Restaurant,  2d  floor. 

Newly  Decorated  and  Furnished. 

Schildkret'i  Orchestra,  6  to  12  p.  m. 
Special  attention  given  to  After-Theater  Suppers 

Table  d'Hote,  Cafe  5:30  to  8  p.  m  .  Ji.oo. 
German  Restaurant,  -  -  Hani's  frrcbestrs. 


REFORM 


261 


CELINE 


IMPORTED  MILLINERY 
4652  Grand  Blvd. 

CHICAGO. 

CARPET  CLEANING 

Fine  Carpets,  Rugrs.  etc.,  cleaned,  repaired,  re- 
laid,  etc.  Perfect  work;  colors  restored  and  will 
not  fade;  prompt  service,  lowest  prices.  Send  for 
estimates;  all  work  guaranteed,  and  all  gotxJs  in- 
sured while  in  our  possession.  Phone  Main  133. 

IMPERIAL  CARPET  CLEANING  CO, 

C.  K..  JVicholj.  Mgr. 

Main  Office,  I2OI  Stock  Exchange  Bldg., 
HO  La  Salle  St.,  Chicago. 


DO  YOU 


Most  Headaches  come  from  eye  strains.  1  give 

the  most  scientific  examination  of  eyes 

and    correct    all    defects 

CONSULTATION    FREE 

Dr.  C.  D.  Strow, 

Ophthalmologist. 
1516  MASONIC  TEMPLE. 


BRAUNSCHWEIGER 


'CAFE' 

H.  SPECKMANN,  Proprietoi. 

JE"  Braie  Delicatessen 

EVERYTHING  OF  THE  BEST. 
637     FORTY  -  THIRD     STREET, 

Bet.  Indiana  and  Prairie  Aves, 

Meals  at  all  Hours.  Telephone,  Oakand  480. 


A  Telephone 

In  the  House 

permits  instant  speech  with  all 
the  tradespeople  with  whom  you 
deal — enables  you  to  converse 
with  THEM  at  the  office  and  store 
at  pleasure. 

A  Modern  Convenience, 

A  necessity  in  everv  complete  home. 
Business  and  Residence 

Telephones  I6c  Per  Day  -"p1! 

The  new  measured  service  costs  only 
ior  outgoing  calls.  Ask  us  about  it. 

PKirarfn  Tolonhrmo  Cn     f<"*tr*rt  Prpjirimpnt, 

^.mcago  i  eiepnone  1,0.,  t»iaitJSSm»C 


Superstition  and  Folklore  of  the 
the  South. 


During  a  recent  visit  to  North  Caro- 
line, after  a  long  absence,  I  took  oc- 
casion to  inquire  into  the  latter-day 
prevalence  of  the  old-time  belief  in 
what  was  known  as  "conjuration"  or 
"goopher,"  my  childish  recollection  of 

which  I  have  elsewhere  embodied  into 

• 

a  number  of  stories.    The  derivation  of 

the  word  "goopher"  I  do  not  know,  nor 
whether  any  other  writer  than  myself 
has  recognized  its  existence,  though  it 
is  in  frequent  use  in  certain  parts  of 
the  South.  The  origin  of  this  curious 
superstition  itself  is  perhaps  more 
easily  traceable.  It  probably  grew,  in 
the  first  place,  out  of  African  fetichism, 
which  was  brought  over  from  the  dark 
continent  along  with  the  dark  people. 
Certain  features,  too,  suggest  a  dis- 
tant affinity  with  Voodooism,  or  snake 
worship,  a  cult  which  seems  to  have 
been  indigenous  to  tropical  America. 
These  beliefs,  which  in  the  place  of 
their  origin  had  all  the  sanctions  of  re- 
ligion and  social  custom,  became  in  the 
shadow  of  the  white  man's  civilization, 
a  pale  reflection  of  their  former  selves. 
In  time,  too,  they  were  mingled  and 
confused  with  the  witchcraft  and  ghost 
lore  of  the  white  man,  and  the  tricks 
and  delusions  of  the  Indian  conjurer. 
In  the  old  plantation  days  they  flour- 
ished vigorously,  though  discouraged 
by  the  "great  house,"  and  their  po- 
tency was  well  established  among  the 
blacks  and  the  poorer  whites.  Educa- 
tion, however,  has  thrown  the  ban  of 
disrepute  upon  witchcraft  and  conjur- 
ation. The  stern  frown  of  the  preacher, 
who  looks  upon  superstition  as  the  ally 
of  the  Evil  One;  the  scornful  sneer  of 
the  teacher,  who  sees  in  it  a  part  of 
the  livery  of  bondage,  have  driven  this 
quaint  combination  of  ancestral  tradi- 
tions to  the  remote  chimney  corners 
of  old  black  aunties,  from  which  it  is 
difficult  for  strangers  to  unearth  them. 
Mr.  Harris,  in  his  Uncle  Remus  stories, 
has,  with  fine  literary  discrimination, 
collected  and  put  into  pleasing  and  en- 
during form  the  plantation  stories 
which  dealt  with  animal  lore,  but  so 
little  attention  has  been  paid  to  those 
dealing  with  so-called  conjuration, 
that  they  seem  in  a  fair  way  to  dis- 
appear, without  leaving  a  trace  be- 
hind. The  loss  may  not  be  very  great, 
but  these  vanishing  traditions  might 
furnish  valuable  data  for  the  sociolo- 
gist, in  the  future  study  of  racial  de- 
velopment. In  writing,  a  few  years 
ago,  the  volume  entitled  "The  Conjure 
Woman,"  I  suspect  that  I  was  more  in- 
fluenced by  the  literary  value  of  the 
material  than  by  its  sociological  bear- 
ing, and  therefore  took,  or  thought 
I  did,  considerable  liberty  with  my 
subject.  Imagination,  however,  can 


A.  FLESHAM 

UNDERTAKER 


GRADUATE 

PHILA.  TRAINING  SCHOOL 
FOR 

EMBALMER 

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1118  Masonic  Temple.  CHICAGO.  ILL 

MitcKell  & 

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36  Monroe  Street,  Chicago. 
Palmer  House. 


IYIADOCQUE 

Imported   Millinery. 

574  East  43d  Street, 

S.  E.  Cor.  Calumet  Ave. 


Formerly  with  Mandel  Bros. 


We  furnish  everything 
complete  and  make  you 
a  stylish  costume  after 
the  latest  Parisiennes' 
modes,  strictly  man- 
tailored,  from 

$50  up. 

or  you  can  furnish  your 
own  (foods  and  we  will 
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Samples  and  selfmea- 
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Joseph  Husak 
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192-194  Madison  St., 
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Established  1875. 


The  Goold  Storage  House 

AND 

Safe  Deposit  Vaults, 


J.   E.  GOOLD  &  CO.,  Proprs. 


STORAGE 


FOR  FURNITURE, 
PIANOS,  ETC. 
Goods  Packed  for  Shipment. 

Fire  and  Burglar  Proof  Vaults  for  Silver- 
ware and  Valuable  Goods. 

2219-2221  Cottage  Grove  Ave. 

Tel.  1222  South. 

iim 


262 


REFORM  ADVOOATR. 


The  Best  Shoes  for  Women. 

SorosU  Shoes  have  ninny  Imitators— they  have  no  equals.  They  fit  and  wear  perfectly— are 
stylish  and  comfortable.  "A  perfect  shoe  at  a  popular  price,"  S3. 50  — never  more  — never 
less.  The  Sorosls  Shoes  are  distinctly  unrivaled,  and  are  sold  In  Chicago  exclusively  by 

SCHLESINOER  &  MAYER.  State  St.  Annex. 

P.  D.  MADIGAN  &  CO. 

Importers  and  Retailers  of  DRY  GOODS. 
183,  185,  187,  189  and  191  THIRTY-FIRST  STREET. 


THE   BOULEVARD    PRY    GOODS    STORE. 

DRY  GOODS  AND  GENTS'  >  WplfplH    & 

FURNISHINGS.  «  .  .  .  .        <         W  ClieiU  Ct 

558-558  EAST  FORTY-THIRD  STREET. 


157  STATE,  STREET. 

ON  DISPLAY  A  COMPLETE  LINE  OF 

STRAIGHT    FRONT     CORSETS. 

FOREIGN  AND  DOMESTIC  MODELS,  correct  in  every 
detail.  We  can  fit  any  figure.  All  corsets  purchased 
from  us  kept  in  repair  free  of  charge. 

MUNGER'S  LAUNDRY. 

TELEHONE,  SOUTH   1175. 

OFFICE  TOWEL  SUPPLY  DEPARTMENT 


St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
Des  Moines,  la- 

Fine  Hand  Work  a  Specialty. 

2410  Indiana  Ave.,    Chicago. 


Borden's 

UNSWEETENED,    STERILIZED, 

Condensed  Milk 


ABSOLUTELY  PURE  AND   CLEAN 

MILK  AND  CREAM 

Also  PEERLESS  BUTTERMILK. 

All  bottled  In  the  country  at  our  own  plants,  Elgin  and 
Belvldere,  111.,  Into  steam-cleaned  and  sterilized  bot- 
tles. Orders  by  mall  or  telephone  will  receive  prompt 
attention. 

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SAFE   DEPOSIT   COMPANY. 

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BOXES    $3    PER    YEAR    AND    UPWARDS. 

AB80HJTEH.TT     KlRB     AND     BUHOLAR     PROOF     SAFES. 

FOB   DEEDS,    BONDS,    SECURITIES,    JEWELRY,    SILVERWARE   AND    VALUABLES. 

SEPAHATB  VAULTS  FOK  STOKAGE  OP  LAKGE  PACKAGES  AND  TRUNKS. 

ALFREDiL.  GOLDSMITH,  Manager. 


only  act  upon  data — one  must  have 
somewhere  in  his  consciousness  the 
ideas  which  he  puts  together  to  form 
a  connected  whole.  Creative  talent,  of 
whatever  grade,  is,  in  the  last  analysis, 
only  the  power  of  rearrangement — 
there  is  nothing  new  under  the  sun. 
I  was  the  more  firmly  impressed  with 
this  thought  after  I  had  interviewed 
half  a  dozen  old  women,  and  a  genuine 
"conjure  doctor;"  for  I  discovered  that 
the  brilliant  touches,  due,  I  had 
thought,  to  my  own  imagination,  were 
after  all  but  dormant  ideas,  lodged 
in  my  childish  mind  by  old  Aunt  This 
and  old  Uncle  That,  and  awaiting  only 
the  spur  of  imagination  to  bring  them 
again  to  the  surface.  For  instance,  in 
the  story,  "Hot-foot  Hannibal,"  there 
figures  a  conjure  doll  with  pepper  feet. 
Those  pepper  feet  I  regarded  as  pecu- 
liarly my  own,  a  purely  original  cre- 
ation. I  heard,  only  the  other  day,  in 
North  Carolina,  of  the  consternation 
struck  to  the  heart  of  a  certain  dark 
individual,  upon  finding  upon  his  door- 
step a  rabbit's  foot — a  good  omen  in 
itself  perhaps — to  which  a  malign  In- 
fluence had  been  imparted  by  tying  to 
one  end  of  it,  in  the  form  of  a  cross, 
two  small  pods  of  red  pepper. 

Most  of  the  delusions  connected  with 
this  belief  in  conjuration  grow  out  of 
mere  lack  of  enlightenment.  As  prime- 
val men  saw  a  personality  behind  ev- 
ery natural  phenomenon,  and  found  a 
god  or  a  devil  in  wind,  rain,  and  hail, 
in  lightning,  and  in  storm,  so  the  un- 
taught man  or  woman  who  is  assailed 
by  an  unusual  ache  or  pain,  some 
strenuous  symptom  of  serious  physical 
disorder,  is  prompt  to  accept  the  sug- 
gestion, which  tradition  approves,  that 
some  evil  influence  is  behind  his  dis- 
comfort; and  what  more  natural  than 
to  conclude  that  some  rival  in  business 
or  in  love  has  set  this  force  in  mo- 
tion ?— Charles  W.  Chestnutt,  in  Mod- 
ern Culture  Magazine  for  May. 


The  Hebrew  Free  Loan  Association 
of  New  York  presents  a  brief  report  of 
its  activity  during  the  three  months 
since  its  last  annual  report.  During 
the  months  of  January,  February  and 
March  of  1901,  3610  new  applications 
for  loans  were  filed.  Out  of  these  719 
were  rejected,  2891  applications  were 
granted  with  loans  amounting  to  $58,- 
881  as  follows:  January,  1901,  803  per- 
sons borrowed  f  16,591;  February,  1901, 
972  persons  borrowed  $20,365;  March, 
1901,  1116  persons  borrowed  $21,915. 
These  figures  illustrate  how  much  good 
can  be  done  in  this  great  metropolis, 
helping  from  misery  and  poverty  with- 
out humiliation;  it  pictures  to  us  that 
there  is  a  respectable  class  of  people, 
who  can  be  helped  and  made  to  feel 
their  self-respect. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE, 


263 


TO  THE  MEN  AND  WOMEN  OF  AMERICA  WHO  HAVE  HEARTS: 
TO  ALL  WHO  ARE  INTERESTED  IN  CHARITY: 

I  am  not  ambitious  to  become  a  rich  man;  all  I  want  is  enough  for  a  rainy  day,  and  I 
have  almost  enough  now. 
On  the  first  day  of  May,  1901,  I  will  open  a  HAT  STORE,  and  I  propose  to  give  oneshaU 
the  net  profits  to  charity,  and  I  agree  not  to  draw  anything  for  my  services,  directly  or  indirectly. 
The  half  donated  to  charity  to  be  divided  between  the  Masonic,  Hebrew,  Catholic  and 
Protestant  needy  ones  in  equal  amounts. 
In  a  few  days  I  will  name  three  prominent  men  and  women  to  represent  their  respective 
charities,  they  to  appoint  an  expert  to  examine  my  books  on  the  first  day  of  April,  1902, 
and  they  (not  the  expert)  to  decide  to  what  charities  the  money  shall  be  paid. 
This  is  not  for  one  year  only,  but  to  be  continuous.     Examination  and  payments  to  be 
made  every  six  months  thereafter,  and  it  is  my  intention  to  give,  as  soon  as  possible,  one- 
half  of  the  profits  of  my  Furnishing  Goods  business  to  the  same  cause.     And  I  will  not  stop 
at  this.     As  the  business  grows  I  will  give  a  still  greater  percentage  to  charity. 
I  am  prompted  to  do  this  for  two  reasons: 
FIRST  —  I  hope  to  leave  behind  me  a  well  organized  business,  that  will  continue  after 
my  death  to  pay  the  greater  share  of  profits  to  the  suffering  and  poor. 
SECOND  —  I  trust  that  this  example  will  be  followed  by  others,  more   particularly,  some 
of  our  Chicago  millionaires  in  the  mercantile  business;  also  the  millionaires  of  other  cities 
in  our  great  and  glorious  America, 
/  always  do  as  I  agree. 
With  all  sincerity,  I  am,                                                             Yours  truly, 

March  8,  1901.                                                                                                    TOM  MURRAY. 
Jackson  Boulevard,  near  Board  of  Trade, 

! 

• 

THE  MAGAZINES. 


The  contents  of  the  May  issue  of 
Everybody's  Magazine  are  very  varied. 
They  range  from  a  superb  character 
study  of  Chief  Croker  of  the  Fire  De- 
partment, of  New  York,  contributed 
by  Lindsay  Denison,  to  a  compilation 
of  opinions  of  prominent  actors  and 
managers  on  "How  to  go  on  the 
Stage,"  gathered  by  Franklin  Fyles. 
An  admirable  story  of  deer's  life,  "Ter- 
ror," by  Maximilian  Foster,  "Making 
Rain  by  Electricity,"  a  study  of  Elmer 
Gates'  curious  experiments  in  Wash- 
ington; stories  of  the  newspaper  world, 
"Adventures  in  Newsgathering,"  by 
Allen  Sangree,  a  study  of  Mrs.  Piper, 
the  famous  medium,  by  Mary  C.  Blos- 
som. The  Novel  Bequests,  by  Eugene 
P.  Lyle,  Mrs.  Kasebier's  photographs, 
J.  P.  Mowbray's  "Making  of  a  Country 
Home" — all  will  be  found  readable,  en- 
tertaining and  informative. 

The  mere  enumeration  of  the  articles 
and  writers  that  appear  in  the 
Woman's  Home  Companion  for  May  is 
sufficient  evidence  of  the  value  of  the 
number  without  any  word  of  comment. 
"Memorial  Day  in  the  South,"  by  Mrs. 
V.  Jefferson  Davis;  "The  Countess  von 
Waldersee,"  by  Mabel  Percy  Haskell; 
"Two  Meetings  with  Garfield,"  by 
Clara  Morris;  "A  vacation  Tour  in  an 
Old  Street-Car;"  "Woman's  Part  in 


the  Pan-American  Exposition;"  "Two 
Odd  Chicago  Clubs;"  fiction  by  Lillian 
Bell,  Leroy  Scott  and  Onoto  Watanna; 
household  articles  by  experts  in  every 
department,  and  the  usual  number  of 
reproductions  from  great  paintings. 
Published  by  the  Crowell  &  Kirkpat- 
rick  Co.,  Springfield,  Ohio;  one  dollar 
a  year;  ten  cents  a  copy;  sample  copy 
free. 

"Two  Bosses:  Platt  ana  Croker"  is 
the  leading  article  in  Ainslee's  for 
May.  The  name  of  the  author  is  not 
given,  but  whoever  he  is,  he  knows  his 
subject  well  and  handles  it  masterful- 
ly. "The  Men  that  Control  Our 
Railroads,"  by  Earl  D.  Berry,  is 
a  readable  and  important  study  of  the 
eight  men  that  control  the  two  hun- 
dred thousand  miles  of  railway  in  the 
United  States.  "The  Word  to  the  Water 
People,"  by  Bliss  Carmen,  is  an  origin- 
al poem,  describing  the  advent  of 
spring  in  the  depths  of  the  rivers  and 
of  the  sea.  "The  New  Japan,"  by 
Anna  Northend  Benjamin,  is  a  richly 
illustrated  study  of  Japanese  life  from 
the  viewpoint  of  a  woman.  "Rubber," 
by  H.  E.  Armstrong,  a  well-written  ac- 
count of  this  enormous  industry,  con- 
tains a  graphic  detail  of  tne  dramatic 
career  of  Charles  Goodyear,  that  pov- 
erty-stricken, ambitious  Yankee  to 
whom  all  rubber  millionaires  are  in 
eternal  debt.  "Topics  of  the  Theater" 


is  unusually  well  illustrated;  and  there 
is  a  batch  of  exceedingly  good  fiction. 
Of  these  stories  the  best  are  "Money 
Maze,''  by  O.  Henry;  "Laviny  Saun- 
ders,"  by  Mary  Sherburne;  "The 
Forged  Suicide,"  by  H.  T.  Gardner, 
and  "A  Wall  Tent  Bewitchment,"  by 
Gwendolen  Overton. 

Modern  Culture  for  May  is  a  maga- 
zine for  nature-lovers.  "An  Ohio  May 
Time"  by  Austin  Matlack  Courtenay 
is  a  dainty  bit  of  spring  poetry  full  of 
the  rhythmic  music  of  the  May.  "In 
the  Garden  with  Shakespeare"  by  Mrs. 
E.  A.  Matthews,  "Wood-Notes"  by 
Nora  Archibald  Smith  (the  sister  of 
Kate  Douglas  Wiggin),  and  "Birds  in 
Literature"  by  C.  A.  Urann  form  a  tri- 
ology  of  nature  articles  of  enticing 
interest  to  the  lover  of  birds  and  trees 
and  flowers.  A  Nature  Department  be- 
gins in  this  number  also,  and  Mr.  Or- 
lando J.  Stevenson  in  his  "Rambles 
Out  of  Doors"  will  take  the  reader 
with  him  into  the  depths  of  his  Cana- 
dian wilderness  through  all  his  sum- 
mer outing.  "Some  American  Sculp- 
tors" form  the  subject  of  N.  Hudson 
Moore's  art  article,  while  the  Muse  of 
History  is  cultivated  by  Jane  W.  Guth- 
rie  in  the  first  of  a  series  of  notable 
articles  on  "Chillicothe— the  Cradle  of 
a  Commonwealth"  and  by  David  Gar- 
dyne  in  a  sketch  of  "Daniel  Boone  in 
Missouri."  The  historic  Muse  inspires 


264 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


Established  1838 


120  WABASH  AVE. 

Table  China,  Earthenware, 
Hand  Polished  Cut  Glass,  Lamps, 
also  Art  Pottery. 

Bronzes  and  Lamps,  Quaint 
and  Odd  Decorative  Plates, 
Placques,  and  all  the  Latest  Nov- 
elties for  the  Breakfast,  Lunch- 
eon and  Dining  Table. 

Wedding  Gifts  —  the  most 
complete  assortment  in  the  north- 
west. Rookwood,  Royal  Copen- 
hagen, Hawkes  and  Libbey  Cut 
Glass. 


THE  RIENZI.    o    *• EM1L  GASCH- 

CONCERT  EVERY  EVENING   AND  SUNDAY  AFTERNOON. 
I  BOO  imrRB»FY.BOTTT,FT4RI>. Cornftr  Ewnsf-nn   \v».  n»"l  rio^v  c» * 

J.  M.  Ooodell,    Prescription  Druggist 


Cor,  45th  St,  and  St,  Lawrence  AVI, 

•'KSIJKIPTIONS  ACCCRATEIT  AND  CJ»  RKFCLI-Y  COMPOUNDED. 


Teiei:  & 

Oakland  H82. 


E.  HOBBS, 

GREENHOUSES,    3112-3114   INDIANA    AVE. 

A  choice  selection  of  Plants  and  Fresh  Cut  Flowers  con- 
stantly on  band.    Floral  designs  of  every   description. 


..FLORIST.. 

PLANT   DECORATION  A  SPECIALTY. 


. .  RUPTURE  . . 

Positive  cure  with  my  new  improved  Tiuss; 
also  all  Deformities  cured,  as  Spine  Curved, 
Bow  Legs,  Knock  Knee,  Weak  Ankles,  Round 
Shoulders,  etc..  We  keep  the  largest  stock  in 
Trusses,  Elastic  Stockings,  Abdominal  Sup- 
porters, Crutches,  Suspensory  Bandages,  De- 
formity Apparatus,  etc.  The  largest  establishment  of  its  kind  in  the 
West.  Wholesale  prices.  Competent  lady  assistant  in  attendance. 
Attention  given  to  crvjtomer  personal!^-  by 

DR.  ROB'T  WOtFERTZ,  Mfr.    and    Specialist  for   Rupture   and 
Deformity.  6O  Fifth  A  ve.,  near  Randolph  St..  Chicago 

AUG.  OBERDIECK.  .  .Caterer 

WEDDINGS,    RECEPTIONS,    DINNERS.    ETC. 


UNITY    CLUB  .  . . 


3140    INDIANA    AVENUE. 


TILZPHONE  SOTTTH  1129. 


IP  YOU   WANT  TO    BORROW 

CHINA  AND  SILVERWARE 

GET  HY  PRICES. 


301 9  Michigan  Ave.,  Chicago. 


also  Florence  Estelle  Little,  the  first 
installment  of  whose  illustrated  serial 
story  "The  Squire" — a  romance  of  the 
.Underground  Railway — appears  in  this 
number.  Vivid  description  and  a  dash 
of  scientific  interest  give  flavor  to  Cal- 
van  Gale  Home's  article  Pen  Pictures 
of  Three  Eclipses,"  and  a  familiar 
problem  of  science  suggests  the  short 
story  "A  Collection  of  Meteorites"  by 
the  Editor.  ,  jj-  J 

•  Paul  Laurence  Dunbar's  new  novel, 
"The  Sport  of  the  Gods,"  is  published 
entire  in  the  May  "New"  Lippincott 
Magazine.  This  is  by  far  the  strong- 
est and  best  fiction  from  a  pen  noted 
for  its  humor  and  pathos.  In  addition 
to  the  complete  novel  there  is  plenty 
of  good  short  fiction,  varied  in  theme, 
in  the  May  '"New"  Lippincott.  A 
story  of  Mexico,  by  Edwin  Knight 
Buttolph  called  "The  Slavery  of  Mo- 
ses," gives  a  glowing  instance  of  man's 
sacrifice  for  one  he  loves.  "The  Su- 
preme Court  of  Love,"  by  Julia  Mac- 
Nair  Wright,  is  an  amusing  prose  farce 
in  an  apartment  house.  Jesse  Van 
Zile  Belden's  little  story  called  "Tony" 
has  to  do  with  the  softer  side  of  a 
United  States  Senator.  In  this  some 
violets,  a  lovely  woman,  and  innocent 
little  "Tony"  are  important  factors. 
The  college  tale  this  month  is  in  hon- 
or of  Chicago.  It  is  called  "The  Head 
Marshal  of  the  University  of  Chicago," 
and  is  written  by  James  Weber  Linn, 
assistant  in  the  department  of  rhetoric 
at  Chicago.  He  has  written  other  tales 
of  undergraduate  life,  but  none  to  ex- 
cel this  lively  one.  Much  has  been 
told  about  China,  but  nothing  has  been 
written  at  once  so  dramatic  and  so 
convincing  in  regard  to  missionary  life 
as  the  two  incidents  given  under  the 
title  "In  the  Dragon's  Grip."  They 
are  recorded  by  Frederick  Poole,  for 
many  years  missionary,  to  whom  and 
his  wife  they  befell.  Mr.  Poole  is  now 
working  among  the  Chinese  in  this 
country.  His  signature  in  Chinese 
characters  at  the  close  of  the  article  is 
typical.  Poetry  takes  a  forward  place 
in  the  May  "New"  Lippincott:  "Can 
Such  Things  Be?"  a  sonnet  of  rare  fe- 
licity, is  by  Madison  Cawein;  "The 
Loss  of  the  First-Boru,"  by  Mabel 
Thornton  Whitmore.  Edith  M.  Thomas 
contributes  "Masts  in  Harbor,"  and  C. 
W.  Doyle,  M.  D.,  "The  Two  Brothers." 
Willa  Sibert  Gather  sings  of  "In  Media 
Vita,"  and  Edmund  Vance  Cooke,  "The 
Tomb  of  Shakespeare."  "The  Monu- 
ment" is  a  Memorial  Day  Poem  by  Dal- 
lett  Fuguet. 


Bound  volumes  19  and  20  of  the 
Reform  Advocate  are  now  ready  for 
delivery.  Two  vols.  bound  in  one,  $4. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


265 


Annual  Meetlng'orjAnshaf  Emeth 
Congregation  of  Peorla,  III. 


The  regular  annual  meeting  of  the 
congregation  of  Anshai  Emeth,  of 
Peorla,  III.,  was  held  Sunday  after- 
noon and  all  the  old  officers  were  re- 
elected  unanimously.  They  are  as  fol- 
lows: President,  Samuel  Woolner; 
vice-president,  David  Ullman;  secre- 
tary, A.  Raffman;  treasurer,  M.  Sal- 
zenstein. 

Rev.  Dr.  Levy,  who  has  been  the 
pastor  of  the  congregation  for  the 
past  three  years,  was  unanimously  re- 
elected  for  another  term  of  three  years, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he  sent 
in  his  resignation  several  days  ago. 
He  is  reported  as  still  insisting  on 
leaving  the  city  for  other  fields,  it  be- 
ing said  that  he  has  received  a  call 
that  is  very  hard  to  decline,  such  ac- 
tion upon  his  part  being  a  great  sacri- 
fice. 

At  the  meeting  it  was  decided  by  a 
unanimous  vote  of  the  congregation 
that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed 
to  use  their  best  efforts  to  obtain  the 
consent  of  Dr.  Levy  to  accept  the  re- 
election. The  chair  appointed  William 
F.  Wolfner,  David  Ullman  and  Henry 
Schwabacher,  and  this  committee  will 
wait  on  the  doctor  during  the  coming 
week  and  endeavor  to  have  him  stay 
'with  the  congregation  for  at  least 
three  years  longer. 

Great  stress  was  laid  upon  the  grand 
work  performed  by  Dr.  Levy  during 
his  stay  here.  The  model  Sunday 
school  under  his  care  and  direction  is 
second  to  none  in  the  United  States. 
His  wise  leadership  has  attracted  a 
large  number  of  new  members  to  the 
congregation  and  his  able  lectures 
have  edified  all  his  lesteners.  Peoria 
cannot  afford  to  lose  such  a  public 
spirited  minister  and  every  effort 
shoud  be  made  to  retain  him  in  Peoria. 

The  report  of  the  officers  of  the  con- 
gregation showed  that  the  finances 
were  in  good  shape  and  that  with  the 
aid  of  the  ladies  a  large  part  of  the 
indebtedness,  had  been  paid. 


The  firm  of  Sidney  'Wanzer  &  Sons, 
dealers  in  high-grade  milk,  cream  and 
butter,  305  and  307  Thirtieth  street, 


RACINE 

WJGOH  ft  CARRUGE  Co. 

365-361  W  ABASH  A?S.,  COBNEB 

SABBISON  mttT. 

Telephone  Main  3838 

The  Latest  Styles  High  Grade 
Carriages,  Buggies  and  Wagons. 


tlluntrnlf.it  Catalogue 


THE  WISE  SPEND  MONEY  FOR  RECREATION,  THE  FOOLISH  FOR  DISSIPATION. 


ARE  YOU  GOING  TO  WASTE**** 
YOUR  SUMMER  BY  NOT  BEING  PRE- 
PARED TO  MAKE  THE  MOST  OF  IT? 
YOUR  OUTING  WILL  BE  A  FAILURE 
IF  YOU  ARE  NOT  PROPERLY  **  **  ** 
EQUIPPED.  IT  IS  AS  IMPORTANT 
TO  BE  WELL  PREPARED  FOR  PLAY 
AS  FOR  WORK.  **************** 


GOOD  TOOLS  DO  NOT  MAKE**,*** 
******GOOD  WORKMEN,  BUT  YOU 
WOULD  NOT  GIVE  A  SOLDIERJTA 
LEADEN  GUN,  NOR  RIDE  ON  A  TIN 
BICYCLE  YOURSELF  IF  YOU  KNEW 
IT.  THERE  ARE  SOME  THINGS**** 
THAT  MUST  BE  PERFECT  TO  BE 
FIT  TO  USE.  ****************** 


A.  G.  SPALDING  AND  BROS. 


NEW  YORK. 


147-149  WABASH  AVENUE  CHICAGO. 


DENVER. 


NOTHING  LESS  THAN  A  FIRST-CLASS 
BICYCLE  IS  SAFE  OR  ENJOYABLE. 
IT'S  POOR  ECONOMY  TO  PAY  $35  FOR 
$10  WORTH  OF  WHEEL,  WHEN  $50 
WILL  BUY  THE  VERY  BEST,  AND  YOU 
WILL  NOT  BE  ASHAMED  TO  SHOW 
YOUR  FRIENDS  THE  NAMES  COLUM- 
BIA—SPALDING^C  LEVEL  AND— IMPE- 
RIAL. ************ 


WHEN  THE  LARGEST  HOUSE  IN  THE 
WORLD  IN  ANY  SPECIAL  LINE  PUTS 
ITS  NAME  ON  ITS  PRODUCT,  IT'S 
"RIGHT."  THE  NAME  "SPALDING" 
MEANS  PERFECTION  ON  SUPPLIES 
FOR  GOLF,  BASE  BALL,  TENNIS,  CRO- 
QUET AND  ALL  PARAPHERNALIA 
FOR  RECREATION  AND  SPORT. 


The  Automobile  Store 

Electric,  Steam.  Gasoline  Vehicles 

Stanhopes,   Drag*,    Runabout*,    Dondoj,    Park    Traps,   Doctors' 
Carriages,  Brakes,  Delivery  Wagons. 

Motor  Cycles  and  Bike  Wagons 

Manufacturers'  Supplies  and    Accessories  of  AH  Kinds  Furnished. 
Expert  Repair  Men  Constantly  on  Duty. 


RALPH  TEMPLE 


293-295  WABASH  AYE. 


Harlem  Jockey  Club 

HARLEM  RACE  TRACK., 

Commencing   June    1O. 

Six  or  More  Races  Daily. 

Stake,  Steeple  Chase  and  other  High-class  Events. 
ADMISSION,  ONE   DOLLAR. 

FOR  TIME  TABLE  AND  PARTICULARS  SEE  DAILY  PAPERS. 


SPECIAL    LOW    PRICES  AT 


On  \7p-to-date  Styles 
and  "Best  Quality 
of  Jackets,  S"u/tsr 


K^indly   Gt'-tte   u-r  a 
Urial    and   you 


STATE     STREET. 


J.^ffetvman^Jr. 


266 


THE 


ADVOCATE. 


35c  per 


Pound. 


Li    W.    HIMMEL,    Proprietor. 


$1:00 

Formerly 
Consumers  Tea  Co. 


Coffee  Roasted  and 
Delivered  Daily. 


46  Randolph  St. 


P.  J.  NORTON, 

CONTRACTOR  FOR         % 

Steam  and  Hot  Water  Heating: 


and  Ventilating. 


By  High  or  Low  Pressure  Steam  or  Hot  Water  Circulation. 


ENGINES,  BCHLERS,  PUMPS,  PIPE. 
FITTINGS,  BRASS  GOODS,  RADIATORS. 
ASBESTOS  MATERIALS,  PIPE  COVERING, 
ETC.  ALSO  REPAIR  WORK.  J*  <*  <*  J*  J*  4* 


Telephone  Central  2658.        g  N,  STATE  ST.,  CHICAGO. 


When  You 
Haven't  A 
Minute  to 
Spare  — • 


-She 

MONO 
ROUT 


BETWEEN 

CHICAGO 

IND1 
CINCINNATI 

HAVE 

4  TRAINS 
DAILY 

ctrv  TICKET  omee 
aaa  CLARK  ST 

DEPOT 

DEARBORN  STATION 
CHICAGO 


CHAS.  PRETSCHOLD 


Makers  of 


AWNINGS, 
TENTS, 

Horse  and  Wagon 
Covers. 

2963-65  STATE  STREET, 

Telephone  South  282. 

608  E.  63D  STREET, 

Telephone,  Oakland  1213. 


Chicago,  is  composed  of  Mr.  Sidney 
Wanzer,  Sr.,  and  his  two  sons.  The 
business  was  first  started  in  this  city 
in  1857  by  Mr.  S.  Wanzer,  Sr.,  and  his 
long  experience  makes  him  an  author- 
ity on  all  matters  pertaining  to  this 
business.  Their  trade  has  rapidly  in- 
creased, not  from  luck  or  chance,  but 
because  of  the  purity  and  high  quality 
of  their  goods.  Their  plant  is  always 
open  to  the  inspection  of  visitors,  and 
family  trade  is  especially  solicited. 
The  milk  is  delivered  to  customers 
right  off  the  ice.  They  are  now  serv- 
ing over  4,000  families  per  day.  A 
postal  card  will  bring  one  of  their 
wagons  to  your  door  before  breakfast 
every  morning. 


Substitutes  for  the  Saloon. 


Whatever  the  effects  of  prohibition 
may  be  on  political  agents,  experi- 
ence goes  to  show  that  a  law  aimed  at 
the  evils  of  drinking  generally  over- 
shoots the  mark  and  hits  feebly,  if  at 
all,  the  manufacturing  brewer.  To 
take  the  saloons  away  from  a  man 
who  wants  to  drink  does  not,  in  my 
opinion,  reform  his  views  or  make  it 
appreciably  harder  for  him  to  get 
what  he  wants  to  drink.  In  addition, 
it  does  not  take  into  account  the  man 
who  all  his  life  has  been  accustomed 
to  the  use  of  alcoholic  beverages  with- 
out any  visible  harm  to  himself,  his 
prospects,  or  his  family,  and  has  a 
tolerably  well-grounded  belief  that  it 
is  his  right  to  do  so  if  he  chooses, 
whether  it  is  in  the  back  room  of  a  sa- 
loon or  at  his  own  table. 

One  naturally  turns,  as  public  opin- 
ion seems  to  be  turning,  from  the 
theory  of  prohibition  to  the  question 
of  a  substitute  for  the  saloon,  which, 
shorn  of  its  bad  influences,  will  retain 
the  social  features  that  appeal  to 
workingmen  in  their  times  of  idleness 
and  relaxation.  Considerations  of  this 
sort,  assuming  that  the  saloon  is  the 
workingman's  club,  and  that  environ- 
ment and  a  desire  for  social  satisfac- 
tions drive  or  coax  men  to  their  drink- 
ing places,  is  somewhat  new,  but  al- 
ready thinking  men  of  the  human  sort 
are  discussing  it,  and  it  is  along  this 


E.W.SILSBY, 


Manufacturer  of  PLEATING,  PINKING,  TUCKING,  CORDING,  Etc 

BUTTONS  COVERED  (Cloth  and  Ivory  Rims). 

CHICA60 

uuiunuu 


OFFICES'  18 

III  I  IVLOi 


WESTERN  AVE 


Davenport: 


w-  ™"  *  st- 

Ryan's  Blcck. 


Sole  Manufacturer  of  Silsby's  Pleating  and  Button  Machines,  sold  in  all  parts  of  the  World. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOGATR,  ,267 

A   NEWS   SERVICE 

E 

WITHOUT 
PARALLEL 


/  I  A  HERE)  is  ample  justification  for  the  claim  made  by  THE 
1  CHICAGO  RECORD-HERALD  that  its  readers  enjoy  every 
day  in  the  week,  Sundays  included,  a  news  service  that  is  without 
parallel  in  range  and  completeness.  The  reason  is  obvious — the 
combination  of  the  varied  and  extensive  facilities  of  the  two  great 
dailies,  The,Chicago  Record  and  The  Chicago  Times-Hearld.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  independent  news  facilities  of  both  papers,  THE  REC- 
ORD-HERALD receives  the  complete  news  service  of  The  New  York 
Herald,  The  New  York  Tribune  and  The  Associated  Press;  and  when 
it  is  considered  that  its  news  columns  are  supplemented  by  all  the  spec- 
ial features  so  popular  in  The  Record  and  The  Times-Herald  it  will  be 
seen  that  THE  RECORD-HERALD  holds  a  unique  place  among  the 
great  newspapers  of  the  United  States.  In  the  Sunday  issues,  especially, 
the  great  advantages  of  the  combination  of  all  the  resources  and  world- 
wide facilities  of  the  two  papers  united  in  the  combination  are 
made  manifest.  The  world's  news  is  covered  with  unexampled 
fullness,  due  to  the  fact  that  never  before  in  the  history  of  jour- 
nalism did  an  American  newspaper  possess  news  facilities  so  varied 
and  extensive. 

The  circulation  of  THE  CHICAGO  RECORD-HERALD  is 
the  largest  —  very  much  the  largest — 2-cent  newspaper  circulation 
in  the  United  States. 


268 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE, 


Spring   Medicine 

There's  no  season  when  good 
medicine  is  so  much  needed  as  in 
Spring,  and  there's  no  medicine 
which  does  so  much  good  in  Spring 
as  Hood's  Sarsaparilla. 

Do  not  delay  taking  it. 

Don't  put  it  off  till  your  health 
tone  gets  too  low  to  be  lifted. 

Hood's  Sarsaparilla 

Will  give  you  a  good  appetite, 
purify  and  enrich  your  blood,  over- 
come that  tired  feeling,  give  you 
mental  and  digestive  strength  and 
steady  nerves. 

Be  sure  to  ask  for  HOOD'S,  the 
best  medicine  money  can  buy.  It  is 

Peculiar  to  Itself 

Bad  Feelings  In  Spring -"In   toe 

spring  I  was  feeling  very  badly.  My  blood 
was  very  poor.  I  began  taking  Hood's 
Sarsaparilla.  It  did  me  much  good.  I 
think  it  is  a  wonderful  spring  medicine  and 
recommend  it  to  all  sick  and  suffering." 
KTHP.  L.  Brui.  Baton  Center,  N.  H. 

line  that  we  may  expect  development, 
at  least  in  our  large  cities. 

But  one  does  not  get  very  far  in  his 
consideration  of  the  substitute  before 
he  encounters  difficulties  which  bid 
fair  to  create  violent  partisanship  and 
more  or  less  feeling.  You  can  substi- 
tute for  the  saloon  warm,  comfortable 
buildings,  reading  rooms,  billiards  and 
pool  games  ad  lib.,  but  will  your  sub- 
stitution of  coffee  or  tea  for  beer  at- 
tract the  men  you  want  to  reach  who 
insist  on  having  beer?  Are  you  com- 
promising with  the  devil  if  you  give 
them  beer? — From  "Saloons,"  by 
Robert  A.  Stevenson,  In  the  May 
"Scrlbner's." 


Why  Jesus  was  Mocked  as  King. 


Recently  some  data,  largely  from 
papyrus  finds,  have  come  to  light  that 
explains  why  it  was  that  the  soldiers, 
after  the  condemnation  of  Jesus  to 
crucifixion,  mockingly  derided  him  as 
king.  The  philologian  and  Philo-edi- 
tor,  Paul  Wendland,  in  Hermes  (Vol. 
XXXIII),  has  drawn  attention  to  the 
custom  of  celebrating  the  Saturnalia 
by  the  Roman  soldiers  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  mock  king,  who  was  then 
slain.  Every  year  the  festival  of 
Kronos,  or  Saturn,  was  celebrated,  es- 
pecially in  the  army.  One  of  the  num- 
ber was  selected  by  lot  to  act  as  king, 
and  upon  him  royal  robes  were  placed, 
and  for  a  certain  number  of  days  this 
king  directed  the  wildest  carousals  of 
his  subjects,  after  which  he  was  put 
to  the  sword.  Mock  imitations  of 
these  riotous  celebrations  of  the  Sat- 


'Brand  Food  'Products 

Each   -the   Finest   of  its   KJnd. 


Prepared  and  Fully  Guaranteed  by 

Steele-Wedeles  Company, 

Wholesale  Grocers,  Importers  and  Manufacturers. 

If  your  dealer  refuses  to  supply  them  ask  us  to  furnish  the 
name  of  another  in  your  neighborhood  who  will. 


urualia  king  were  evidently  a  favorite 
amusement  among  the  Roman  soldiers 
in  the  c;.se  of  culprits  who  had  been 
condemned,  and,  according  to  the  man- 
ner of  the  times,  were  handed  over  to 
the  executioner  as  objects  of  sport,  as 
also  in  the  case  of  other  persons  who 
had  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the 
soldiers. 

Philo  narrates  such  a  mock  celebra- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  soldiers  par- 
ticipating in  an  anti-Semitic  riot  in 
Alexandria,  directed  against  King 
Agrippa,  to  whom  the  Emperor  Cali- 
gula had  given  the  tetrarchy  of  Philip. 
A  dirty  Jewish  beggar  is  taken  from 
the  street  to  represent  King  Agrippa; 
he  is  dressed  up  as  a  king,  escorted 
by  soldiers,  is  the  recipient  of  royal 
salutations,  while  he,  with  a  crown  ou 
his  head,  carries  a  stick  picked  up 


from  the  street  as  a  scepter,  and  then 
is  cast  out.  The  description  is  almost 
verbally  the  same  as  that  of  the  mock- 
ery of  Jesus. 

In  the  light  of  these  facts,  it  is  evi- 
dent that  the  mockery  of  Jesus  by  the 
soldiers  of  the  cohort  in  the  barracks 
was  a  specimen  of  sport  which  they 
were  accustomed  to  engage  in  when- 
ever they  could.  For  them  it  was  a 
mock  celebration  of  a  festival  of  sport, 
and  Jesus  was  to  them  a  Saturnalia 
king.  That  just  this  was  the  favorite 
sport  in  the  case  of  one  condemned  to 
death  was  natural.  The  Saturnalia 
king  dies  as  the  earthly  reproduction 
of  Saturn,  who  dies  when  his  mission 
has  been  fulfilled.  Saturn  was  the  dy- 
ing god  among  the  heathens,  and  him 
who  was  the  dying  God  of  the  Chris- 
tians, the  heathen  mocked  by  imitat- 


SAUCE 


THE  ORIGINAL  AND  GENUINE  WORCESTERSHIRE. 

All  dishes,  such  as  soups, fish,  meats, 
gravy,  game,  salads  etc.  are  doubly 
appetising  and  digestible  when  fla- 
vored with — Lea  &Perrins' sauce.  « 


BEWARE  Of  IMITATIONS. 


StONATLrRr 

On  E.v«,ry  Bort  ~ 


JohnDuncan'sStms 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE, 


269 


tt 


The   Store   of  Quality, 


Scholle's  occupies  an   unique 
position  among  retail  stores, 

It  Is  the  Largest  Exclusive  Furniture  Store  in  this  country 

A  store  where  nothing  that  is 
not  worthy  in  furniture  mating 
can  hare  a  place,  and  a  most 
interesting  place  for  people  who 
demand  the  best  of  ererything  in 
furniture  making  as  in  all  else. 
It  will  interest  the  readers  of  this 
work,  many  of  whose  palatal  homes 
hare  been  furnished  with 


"Scholle's    Good  Furniture 

A  broad  welcome  awaits  visitors  who  come  to  Scholle's,  to  gire 
its  Good  Furniture  Exhibit,  leisurely  and  critical  inspection. 


H,  E.   SCHOLLE  &  COMPANY, 

222  Wabash  Ave.  Sr/S±SK  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


FREDERICK 
and  L.  M. 


PARKER, 

Accordion,  Side  or 
Knife  Plaitings. 

Fancy  Dress  Plaitings 
of  All  Kinds. 

1 55  STATE  ST,A  CHICAGO. 

FOR  RENT 

HOUSES 

AND 

FLATS 


ON 


CALUMET  AND  FOREST  AYES., 


Near  33d  Street. 


Strictly  Modern;  every  con- 
venience.   Apply  to 

V,  0,  SAN60RN, 

Room    99 

140  Dearborn  Street, 

Telephone  Central  1692. 


ing  the  cultus  of  their  dying  god. — 
Prof.  Geo.  H.  Schodde,  Ph.  D.,  in  Sun- 
day School  Times. 


Wood  carpet  and  parquet  flooring 
is  not,  as  many  people  suppose,  a 
temporary  floor  to  be  laid  down  and 
taken  up  at  pleasure,  but  is  a  perma- 
nent new  floor  on  top  of  the  old  one, 
carefully  fitted  and  firmly!  nailed  down 
with  small  brads,  and  when  finished 
has  the  appearance  of  a  thick  Euro- 
pean floor.  They  are  made  up  in  the 
various  colored  hard  woods  worked 
in  a  hundred  different  styles  and  pat- 
terns. The  Chicago  Floor  Co.,  155 
Wabash  avenue,  this  city,  manufacture 
their  own  goods,  employing  competent 
workmen,  and  are  pre-eminently  in  a 
position  to  lay  and  finish  new  floors 
and  repolish  old  ones.  A  visit  to  their 
show  rooms  will  delight  the  intending 
purchaser.  Should  any  of  our  readers 
be  in  need  of  any  work  of  this  kind, 
drop  them  a  line  and  they  will  send 
a  catalogue,  or  if  desired  an  experi- 
enced salesman. 


The  Acme  Parquet  Foor  Company 
are  prepared  to  show  special  designs 
in  hardwood  flooring  and  grilles.  Es- 
timates cheerfully  submitted.  They 
have  on  hand  a  large  supply  of  hard 
wax  and  floor  material.  They  will 
also  take  your  order  for  renovating  old 
floors.  Address  4703  Cottage  Grove 
avenue,  or  call  up  Oakland  1015. 


AS  LONG  AS  WE  ARE  ENGAGED  IN 


botoptapbE 


We  shall  continue  to  progress  in 

Artistic  Excellence. 

This  year  we  are  making  permaner  t 

PLATINUM  AND  CARBON  PHOTOS, 

Exquisite  MINIATURES,  beautifully  tinted,  on 
very.  We  also  carry  a  line  of  high  art  novelties 
in  frames  of  all  sizes.  OUR  PHOTOGRAPHS 
are  seen  in  the  homes  of  all  the  first  families  on 
the  South  Side. 


3937 

Drexel  Blvd 

'Phone— Drexel  8562; 


Varney 

l'/i«f  ojfraplier. 


JjjITITTlIJ  IIIITTTTTTTTTTTTV1 

DR.  ELKAN  W.  FISHELL,    = 

DENTIST 


•  *•«•   I'D 

mw«<>  tin 


J448  WABASH  AVE.        M 
CHICAOO 

:iiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiini\ 


We  might  advertise  It  as  a  tonic,  and  you'd 
pay  more  for  It  because  you  were  buying 
medicine.  Because  HOFBRAU  costs  only 
what  you'd  expect  to  pay  for  a  high  grade 
beer,  is  a.n  additional  reason  why  you  should 
have  It.  Delivered  to  your  door. 

SCHOENHOFEN  BREWING  COMPANY, 
Phone:  Ca.ua!  234.        Burllnfton  &  16th  Sts. 


270 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


$10,000 


to   be    given 
a.  w  a.  y    i  t\ 


PRIZES 


What  Will  *Be  the  Population  of  the 
Dominicn  of  Canada  April  1st,  1901? 

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VALUABLE    INFORMATION 

To  aid  subscribers  ID  forming  their  estimate  we  furnish  the 
following  data  of  Canadian  population; 

Total 
Year.  Population.    Increase.    Perot. 

1871 3,688,257  

1881 4,324.810  635,553  17.23 

1891 4,833,239  5'J8.429  11.19 

The  population  for  1901  at  an  increase  of  12  per  cent  over 
the  population  of  1891  would  be 6,413,227 

(An  increase  of  579.988.) 
At  an  increase  of  15  per  cent  it  would  be 6,558,224 

(An  increase  of  724,985.) 
At  an  increase  of  80  per  cent  it  would  be 6,799,836 

(An  Increase  of  966,647.) 
At  an  increase  of  26  per  cent  it  would  be 6,041.543 

(An  increase  of  1,208,309.) 


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To  the  nearest  correct  guess 85,000 

To  the  2d 200J 

TotheSd 700 

To  the  4th  300 

To  the  5th 100 

To  the  8th 50 

To  the  next  12  nearest  correct  guesses $1"  each,  nm't'g  to.. .  120 

To  the  next  42  nearest  correct  guesses  $5  each,  am't'g  to    ..  210 

To  the  next  100  nearest  eoi reel  guesses  J3  each,  am't'g  to...  80J 

To  the  next  380  nearest  correct  guesses  $2  each,  air.Vg  to. . .  760 

To  the  next  460  nearest  correct  guesses  $1  each,  am't'g  to ...  460 

Total,  1,000  prizes,  amounting  to J10.00J 

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THE  REFORM  ADYOCATE. 


CHICAGO  MAY  4,  1901. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 

PUBLISHED  EVERY  SATURDAY 
IN  THE  INTEREST  OF  REFORM  JUDAISM. 

"  EMIL  G.  HIRSCH,  EDITOR. 

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EDITORIAL  PREFACE. 


The  editor  in  ordinary  of  "The  Reform 
Advocate"  takes  great  pleasure  in  inviting  the 
readers  to  peruse  the  contents  of  this  week's 
issue.  The  work  of  gathering  the  data  and 
of  putting  them  into  shape  was  done  by 
Mr.  Eliassoff.  To  him  is  due  whatever  credit  at- 
taches to  the  labor,  as  he  is  responsible  for  the  ac- 
curacy of  the  statements  and  the  facts  collected. 
By  some  inadvertency  the  statement  was  permitted 
to  pass  the  scrutiny  of  the  proof-reader,  that  the  un- 
dersigned had  edited  Mr.  EliassofFs  paper.  This  is 
a  mistake.  Time  and  talent  were  both  wanting  to 
undertake  the  task.  On  the  surface  it  would  seem 
as  though  "The  Reform  Advocate,"  in  publishing  a 
detailed  account  of  the  trials  and  triumphs  of  the 
Jews  in  Illinois,  had  laid  itself  open  to  the  just 
criticism  of  inconsistency.  For  all  along  it  has  con- 
tended that  the  Jews,  their  religion  excepted,  consti- 
tute no  distinct  element  in  our  population.  They  are 
marked  by  the  same  traits  and  are  under  the  im- 
pulse of  the  same  helpful  or  hurtful  influences  as  are 
the  rest  of  humanity.  "The  Reform  Advocate"  does 
not  propose  to  abandon  this,  its  fundamental  con- 
tention, but  it  has  recognized  the  fact  that  as  yet  its 
opinion  is  not  generally  accepted.  Perhaps  under 
the  circumstances  now  unfortunately  prevailing  the 
round  world  over  it  is  not  a  work  of  supererogation 
to  demonstrate  the  correctness  of  our  thesis  by  in- 
voking certain  indisputable  facts.  Our  columns  to- 
day speak  most  eloquently  in  corroboration  of  our 
proposition.  One  who  will  read  this  issue  with  un- 
prejudiced eyes  cannot  but  come  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  Jews  are  not  peculiar  either  in  their  virtues 
or  their  vices.  The  experience  of  the  pioneers  of 
our-  Jewish  communities  has  been  none  other  than 
that  through  which  the  pathfinders  of  other  religious 
organizations  had  to  pass.  The  story  of  their  strug- 
gles or  their  gradual  rise  to  'comfortable  affluence 
can  easily  be  duplicated  by  the  records  preserving 
the  accounts  of  the  deeds,  the  failures  and  the  suc- 
cesses of  early  settlers  in  our  State,  whose  religious 
affinities  bound  them  to  the  church,  or  whose  opin- 
ions perhaps  led  them  to  form  no  connection  with 
any  creed  or  sect. 

The  Jews  of  Illinois  have  no  cause  to  blush  for 
their  record.  They  have  done  their  full  share  in  the 


development  of  our  beloved  State.  Many  of  them 
took  an  active  part,  even  if  it  was  in  a  restricted 
circle  of  influence,  in  the  debates  and  discussions  pre- 
ceding the  outbreak  of  "the  inevitable  conflict." 
Many  knew  personally  the  great  men  who  went  forth 
from  Illinois  to  guide  the  nation  and  to  fight  its  bat- 
tles, and  in  the  regiments  that  marched  out  in  obedi- 
ence to  Lincoln's,  Illinois'  greatest  son's,  call  there 
were  many  whose  ancestral  faith  quivered  with  the 
traditions  of  remote  Palestine.  And  as  during  this 
fateful  period,  so  in  every  crisis  of  our  political  life, 
affecting  the  nation  or  the  State,  the  Jews  of  Illinois 
have  been  found  at  their  post  of  duty.  Only  one 
deaf  to  the  truth  and  blind  to  its  light  may,  in  view 
of  these  incontrovertible  proofs,  maintain  that  the 
Jews  lack  in  patriotism  or  fail  to  act  in  response  to 
the  calls  of  a  delicate  and  active  civic  conscience. 

In  commerce  and  the  channels  of  industry  the 
Jews  of  Illinois  have  also  demonstrated  their  in- 
fluence. Many  business  houses  witness  to  their  en- 
terprise and  attest  their  integrity  in  the  management 
of  mercantile  ventures.  Theirs  has  been  a  moderate 
share  of  the  rewards  which  come  to  honest  and  de- 
voted labor.  On  the  whole  the  Jews  of  Illinois  have 
again  proven  that  the  influences  of  Judaism  make  for 
thrift,  economy,  temperance  and  independence. 

In  the  domain  of  philanthropy  the  Jewish  citizens 
of  Illinois  have  not  been  laggards.  While,  As  their 
co-religionists  always  and  everywhere,  contributing 
to  the  maintenance  of  public  institutions,  under  what- 
ever denominational  auspices,  they  have  never 
neglected  to  provide  for  the  nearer  needs  of  their 
own  dependent  classes.  In  certain  ways  the  Jews  of 
Chicago  may  claim  the  credit  of  having  been  among 
the  first  to  inaugurate  the  better  methods  according 
to  the  truer  standard  of  the  new  philanthropy  in  the 
dispensation  of  relief  or  the  provision  for  the  educa- 
tion of  the  young.  The  Michael  Reese  Hospital  de- 
servingly  has  come  to  be  known  as  a  model  institu- 
tion of  its  kind.  The  Jewish  Manual  Training  School 
is  on  an  altitude  attained  by  none  other  of  its  class. 
It  has  won  the  recognition  of  educators  throughout 
the  world,  and  the  prophecy  is  certainly  not  too  bold 
that  in  very  near  years  its  system  is  bound  to  be- 
come the  pattern  after  which  our  public  schools  will 
be  re-constituted.  The  Jews  of  this  city  can  proudly 
point  to  the  fact  that  they  were  the  first  to  bring 
about  systematic  co-operation  among  the  various 
agencies  for  the  administration  of  the  charities. 

While  writing  these  lines  the  report  reaches  us 
that  one,  who  for  many  years  was  prominently  as- 
sociated with  the  work  of  our  United  Hebrew  Chari- 
ties, has  passed  to  his  Heavenly  reward.  In  the  his- 
tory of  the  Jews  of  Chicago  Mr.  Francis  E.  Kiss 
will  always  hold  a  prominent  place.  In  his  hands 
was,  for  many  3ecades,  the  direction  of  public  assist- 
ance as  organized  under  the  Hebrew  Charities.  He 
brought  to  his  task  enthusiasm  and  capacity  of  a 


5:72 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


high  order.  Where  he  failed  the  blame  was  not  his. 
Laboring  under  peculiar  difficulties,  incidental  to 
those  early  days,  and  always  more  or  less  hampered 
by  limited  resources,  he  did  his  utmost  to  mitigate 
the  evils  which  could  not  be  remedied.  None  other 
could  have  done  better ;  most  would  have  done  worse. 
To  his  memory  posterity  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude 
which  cannot  be  paid  in  words. 

Perhaps  in  the  domain  of  Jewish  religious  thought 
the  Jews  of  Illinois  occupy  a  position  peculiarly  their 
own ;  but  this  very  fact  demonstrates  again  the  truth 
of  the  proposition  that  Jewish  life  is,  after  all,  only 
a  reproduction  of  the  life  of  those  with  whom  the 
Jews  come  in  daily  contact.  It  is  not  merely  in  the 
Synagogues  that  Chicago  has  wielded  an  influence 
for  greater  religious  liberalism.  Our  city  is  the 
home  of  many  so-called  independent  churches. 
Professor  Swing  of  blessed  memory  wasi  a  Chicagoan. 
Doctor  Thomas  could  nowhere  else  have  found  con- 
ditions as  favorable  for  his  new  development  as  he 
did  in  our  own  city  by  the  lake.  Sinai  Congregation 
and  the  radical  tendency  pervading  the  Judaism  of 
Illinois  generally  is  the  effect  in  the  same  manner 
of  the  telling  influence  of  a  broad  and  liberaliz- 
ing spirit  undoubtedly  cradled  in  the  broad 
prairies  of  our  State.  Chicago  is  a  cosrrio- 
politan  center.  It  extends  hospitality  to  every 
opinion  honestly  held  and  candidly  stated.  It 


is  hostile  to  bigotry,  unhospitable  merely  to  fanat- 
icism. The  Jewish  community  is  characteristically 
Chicagoan  in  this  also,  that  whatever  the  opposition 
and  the  bickerings,  the  distrusts  and  the  denuncia- 
tions which  have  assailed  the  positions  of  one  or  the 
other  teacher  among  us  elsewhere,  within  this  State, 
and  more  particularly  within  our  city,  men  of  all 
shades  of  religious  opinions  agree  to  disagree,  allow- 
ing each  one  to  seek  his  own  salvation  as  knowledge 
or  conscience  suggests,  but  co-operating  in  all  things 
making  for  the  better  and  the  nobler  life. 

Fifty  years  is  but  a  small  measure  of  time.  What 
has  been  accomplished  during  this  limited  period  is 
an  earnest  of  what  the  next  century  asks 
us  to  bring  about.  If  the  spirit  that  inspired  the 
pioneers  and  the  founders  of  our  Jewish  institutions 
in  this  State  will  be  transmitted  to  their  sons  and 
successors,  no  doubt  will  ever  lodge  in  open  minds 
that  the  unborn  future  will  not  be  true  to  the  achieve- 
ments of  the  remembered  past.  With  grateful  recog- 
nition of  the  debt  which  the  living  owe  to  those  that 
have  passed  beyond,  in  the  joy  that  many  of  the 
veterans  are  still  among  us  to  cheer  us  on  while  tell- 
ing us  of  their  trials  and  their  triumphs,  let  us,  hav- 
ing learned  of  the  past,  turn  our  faces  to  the  future, 
determined  to  do  our  share  as  conscientiously  as  did 
they  who  prepared  the  way  for  us,  theirs. 

EMIL  G.  HIRSCH. 


A  Card  from  the  Publishers! 


publication  of  this  number  of  the  REFORM 
ADVOCATE,  containing-  the  history  of  "The 
Jews  of  Illinois"  was  unavoidably  delayed  for 
a  few  days.  We  therefore  beg  the  indulgence 
of  our  friends  and  readers,  and  hope  that  the 
contents  of  this  edition  will  amply  repay  for  the 
disappointment  caused  by  its  non-appearance 
on  time. 

BLOCH  &  NEWMAN. 


Their  Religious  and  Civic  Life,  their  Cha.rity  and   Industry,  their  Patriotism  and 

LoyaJty  to  American  Institutions,  from  their  earliest  settlement 

in  the  State  xinto  the  present  time. 


By  Hermann  EUassof . 
Edited  by  Dr.  Emil  G.  Hlrsoh. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  marvelous  progress  of  the 
American  people  and  its  rapid  rise  to 
national  importance  and  political  power 
have  surely  surpassed  the  most  san- 
guine expectations  of  the  founders  of 
the  independence  of  the  colonies.  The 
ethnological  and  historical  develop- 
ment of  nations  is  generally  a  very 
slow  process.  The  fathers  of  the  Amer- 
ican nation  could  only  have  measured 
institutions  and  events  according  to 
the  standards  established  by  time  and 
history,  and  the  infant  nation,  the 
child  of  the  revolution  of  the  colonies, 
broke  all  the  records  of  history  and 
the  confines  of  time.  The  main  cause 
of  these  unforeseen  attainments  was, 
without  doubt,  the  constant  influx  of 
a  heterogeneous  immigration,  which 
the  young  nation  assimilated  during 
the  years  of  its  growth.  The  rare  ad- 
vantage of  adding  to  the  population  a 
continual  current  of  mature  elements 
enabled  the  American  people  to  speed 
on  eagle  wings  in  achievements  of 
civilization,  in  national  development 
and  in  the  attainment  of  political  pow- 
er. Each  of  the  component  parts  of 
the  assimilated  mass  of  immigrants 
contributed  its  share  of  valuable 
building  material  for  the  construction 
of  a  vigorous  national  character,  for 
the  rearing  of  ramparts  in  protection 
of  liberty  and  for  the  strengthening 
of  the  edifice  of  equality.  Each  com- 
ponent part  helped  to  hasten  the  prog- 
ress of  the  young  American  nation. 

To  the  Jews  of  America  must  be  as- 
signed a  place  among  the  very  best 
and  most  desirable  immigrants.  The 
Jew  possesses  the  capability  of  assim- 
ilation in  a  higher  degree  than  many 
other  people.  His  appreciation  of  lib- 
erty is  keener  and  deeper,  for  his  love 
of  freedom  was  born  In  the  flames  of 
the  auto-da-fe;  his  thirst  for  right  and 
his  hunger  for  justice  took  firm  roots 
In  the  depths  of  his  soul,  in  the  dark- 


ness of  dungeons,  during  centuries  of 
cruel  persecutions.  Indeed,  the  Jew 
fitted  well  in  the  new  conditions  of  the 
new  world,  and  he  quickly  fell  in  line 
with  the  builders  of  the  free  American 
institutions,  American  civilization  and 
commercial  and  industrial  power. 
Peddlers  though  many  of  them 
were,  in  the  first  years  of  their 
settlement  in  America,  the  Jews  at 
once  upon  their  arrival  rendered  val- 
uable service  to  the  undeveloped  coun- 
try. As  the  Jew  trudged  along  on  the 
highways  and  by-ways  of  the  new 
world,  with  his  heavy  peddler's  pack, 
he  carried  civilization  and  commerce 
from  the  large  cities,  the  market  cen- 
ters, across  the  vast  prairies,  over  the. 
steep  mountains  and  through  the  wild 
woods,  to  the  rural  towns,  to  the  ham- 
lets and  villages,  to  the  isolated  log 
cabins  and  to  the  lonely  farm  houses. 
Wherever  he  passed,  the  Jewish  pio- 
neer left  a  message  of  the  new  life 
which  was  unfolding  itself  in  the 
cities;  of  the  new  industries  which 
were  established  in  the  land  and  of 
the  general  progress  of  the  nation.  He 
brought  hope  and  encouragement  to 
the  lonely  laborer  on  the  outskirts  of 
civilization,  and  the  recluse  toiler 
worked  with  a  new-born  ambition  and 
brighter  prospects.  So  the  Jew  helped, 
often  perhaps  unconsciously,  to  widen 
the  clearings  in  the  forest  primeval 
of  the  new  life,  to  spread  the  bright 
light  of  the  broader  thought  until  it 
penetrated  into  the  narrow  sphere  of 
the  children  of  nature  in  field  and  for- 
est, on  the  high  hill  top  and  in  the 
deep  valley. 

But  they  were  not  all  peddlers.  The 
American  Jew  has  made  his  mark  in 
the  history  of  the  country  of  his 
adoption.  The  history  of  the  revolu- 
tion, the  civil  and  the  Mexican  wars, 
and  later  of  the  Spanish  war,  tells  the 
story  of  the  patriotism,  the  loyalty 
and  the  'bravery  of  the  American  Jew. 
On  the  battlefields  of  the  American 
nation,  wherever  Old  Glory  floated  in 


the  breeze,  leading  the  American  sol- 
dier to  victory  or  to  a  patriot's  death, 
were  heard  the  footsteps  of  the  Amer- 
ican Jew,  as  he  marched  along  side 
by  side  with  his  American  brothers, 
in  the  ranks,  or  as  officer  and  leader, 
and  like  all  the  rest  he  willingly  shed 
his  blood  and  gave  his  life  for  the  life 
of  his  country.  Nearly  8,000  Jews 
served  in  the  civil  war  and  4,000 
fought  against  Spain. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  the  advent 
of  the  Jews  in  noted  numbers  in  the 
new  Republic  was  a  severe  test  of  the 
value  of  the  American  constitution 
and  the  sincerity  of  the  young  nation 
in  its  promise  of  liberty  and  equality 
before  the  law  to  all  comers.  Before 
the  arrival  of  the  Jews  in  large  num- 
bers, the  young  American  people,  the 
austere  principles  and  the  stubborn  re- 
ligious convictions  of  the  pioneer  Purl- 
tans  still  fresh  in  its  midst,  had  to  deal 
almost  entirely  with  an  immigration 
consisting  of  members  of  a  kindred 
race  and  of  sects  and  factions  of  a 
common  church.  The  Jew  came  as 
the  scion  of  an  alien  race  and  as  an 
adherent  of  a  religion  considered  by 
the  world  as  a  living  protest  against 
Christianity,  the  religion  of  nearly  all 
the  inhabitants  of  the  young  Repub- 
lic. The  American  constitution  was 
only  a  few  years  old,  while  the  preju- 
dices against  the  Jew,  social  and  re- 
ligious, were  hoary  with  the  age  of 
centuries.  But  the  constitution  tri- 
umphed, the  young  American  nation 
established  'before  the  world  its  faith- 
fulness to  the  teachings  of  true  liber- 
ty and  the  life  of  the  American  Jew 
demonstrates  more  convincingly  every 
day  that  the  bitter  accusations  of  his 
enemies  have  absolutely  no  foundation 
in  truth. 

When  the  history  of  the  Jews  of  the 
United  States  of  America  will  be  writ- 
ten, it  will  positively  prove  that  the 
Jewish  genius  asserted  itself  to  the 
benefit  of  the  country  of  his  adoption 
wherever  and  whenever  it  found  fav- 


284 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


orable  opportunity.  For  many  decades 
the  Jews  arrived  in  the  new  world  In 
very  small  numbers.  There  may  have 
been  a  few  secret  Jews,  Spanish  Ma- 
ranos,  with  Columbus.  Dr.  Kayserling, 
the  noted  writer  on  the  history  of  the 
Spanish  and  Portuguese  Jews,  claims 
that  there  were  five  Jews  in  Colum- 
bus' fleet.  The  entire  register  of  the 
men  who  sailed  with  Columbus  has 
been  lost,  but  a  great  many  of  the 
names  of  the  men  who  sailed  with  him 
have  been  recovered  and  among  them 
are  undoubtedly  five  Jews.  The  inter- 
preter whom  Columbus  took  with  him, 
Luis  de  Torres,  was  a  Jew.  A  nephew 
of  the  Treasurer-General  of  Aragon, 
Sanchez,  was  delegated  to  go  with  Co- 
lumbus by  the  special  request  of  Queen 
Isabella.  The  surgeon  of  the  ship  was 
a  Jew  and  there  were  two  other  Jews 
upon  the  ship.  Some  few  Jews  may 
have  arrived,  from  time  to  time,  from 
Brazil,  Barbadoes,  Jamaica,  Spain  and 
Portugal,  who  settled  in  New  Amster- 
dam (New  York),  in  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  the  Roger  Williams  Colony 
and  in  Charleston,  S.  C.*  But  the  in- 
flux of  Jewish  immigration  from 
Germany  in  large  numbers  did  not  be- 
gin until  about  the  middle  of  the  XIX. 
Century.  Most  of  them  hailed  from 
the  Rhenish  Palatinate  and  from  Ba- 
varia. Still  almost  in  every  state  of 
the  Union  the  Jews  are  today  not  be- 
hind their  American  fellow  citizens, 
not  only  in  commerce  and  industry, 
but  also  in  their  religious  and  social 
life.  Their  distinctive  institutions  and 
organizations  are  models  of  economic 
management  and  useful  administra- 
tion. Led  by  the  Jewish  genius  they 
have  succeeded  in  a  comparatively 
shorter  time  than  many  other  denomi- 
nations, to  reach  the  true  American 
standard  of  excellence.  The  American 
spirit  dwells  in  their  hearts  and  their 
homes,  and  united  with  the  Jewish  gen- 
ius It  helped  to  build  up  their  congre- 
gations, their  religious  schools,  their 
benevolent  institutions  and  social  or- 
ganizations on  a  grand  and  magnifi- 
cent scale. 

The  first  attempt  to  gather  statis- 
tics of  the  Jews  of  the  United  States, 
was  made  by  a  committee  representing 
the  Board  of  Delegates  of  American 
Israelites  and  the  Union  of  American 
Hebrew  congregations.  The  chairma'n 
of  that  committee  was  Mr.  William  B. 
Hackenburg,  a  prominent  Jewish  citi- 
zen of  Philadelphia.  The  result  of  the 
labors  of  this  committee  was  pub- 
lished in  September,  1880,  by  the  Union 
of  American  Hebrew  congregations,  In 
a  pamphlet  of  59  pages  entitled  "Sta- 
tistics of  the  Jews  of  the  United 
States."  According  to  this  pamphlet 
the  Jewish  population  of  Illinois  In 

•!">••.  B.  Felsenthal,  in  a  letter  to  Judge 
Duly,  of  New  York,  calls  the  attention  of 
Jewish  historians  to  the  fact,  .that  while 
the  Jews  In  the  colonies  were  admitted 
to  full  citizenship  already  In  1740.  yet  In 
some  of  "the  states"  they  were  excluded 
from  the  enjoyment  of  the  rights  of  cltl- 
xenshlp  by  constitutional  provisions.  He 
names  Maryland  and  North  Carolina. 
Vide  Appendix  II  to  The  Settlement  of  the 
Jews  In  North  America,  by  Judge  Charles 
P.  Daly,  p.  1B6. 


1SSO  was  12,625,  ten  thousand  of  whom 
lived  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  Jewish 
congregations  were  in  the  following 
five  cities:  Chicago,  Rock  Island,  Peo- 
rta,  Qulncy  and  Springfield.  The  total 
nurrfber  of  Jewish  congregations  in  the 
state  was  ten,  and  their  entire  mem- 
bership 567;  number  of  Jewish  chil- 
dren attending  religious  schools  675. 
Two  years  ago  the  Jewish  Publication 
Society  of  America  undertook  to  con- 
tinue the  work  of  collecting  statistics 
of  the  Jews  of  the  United  States.  The 
Publication  Society  has  issued  two  vol- 
umes of  The  American  Jewish  Year 
Book,  one  each  year.  The  "Year 
Books"  are  edited  by  Prof.  Cyrus  Ad- 
ler  of  Washington,  President  of  the 
American  Jewish  Historical  Society, 
and  contain  much  valuable  informa- 
tion. We  thankfully  acknowledge  that 
the  "Year  Book"  of  1900-1901  was  of 
great  help  to  us  in  compiling  the  data 
for  this  history. 

We  do  not  claim  that  in  this  work 
we  have  furnished  a  complete  history 
of  the  Jews  of  Illinois.  The  Jewish 
communities,  their  organizations  and 
institutions  in  the  state,  are  all  yet 
too  young  for  such  an  undertaking. 
Not  even  seventy  years,  the  allotted 
span  of  life  for  one  individual  man, 
has  passed  since  Jews  first  settled  in 
Illinois,  and  this  is,  indeed,  too  short 
a  period  of  which  to  write  a  complete 
history,  with  philosophical  research  of 
cause  and  effect  and  historical  analysis 
of  character.  Events  have  not  had 
time  to  clarify  and  to  reach  historical 
strata,  and  character  had  as  yet  no 
chance  to  become  purified  in  the  cru- 
cible of  time  to  reflect  historical  light 
and  luster.  We  have  simply  sketched 
a  certain  number  of  events,  often  in 
mere  outline,  venturing  here  and  there 
also  to  depict  the  life  of  some  leaders, 
in  their  relation  to  the  development 
of  communal  and  Institutional  life, 
in  a  superficial  biographical  form, 
endeavoring  in  the  main,  to  collect 
material  for  the  future  historian  of 
the  American  Jews. 

Our  aim  has  been  to  give  accurate 
statements  of  facts  and  to  be  just  and 
impartial  to  individuals  and  institu- 
tions. If  we  have  erred  In  any  of  our 
estimates  and  representations,  we 
must  solicit  the  indulgence  of  our 
readers  and  critics,  and  request  them 
to  take  into  consideration  the  facts, 
that  in  many  instances  we  had  to  rely 
entirely  for  our  information  upon  the 
contradictory  statements  of  a  few  old, 
very  old,  people,  whose  memory  is  suc- 
cumbing to  the  feebleness  of  old  age. 
Especially  in  regard  to  the  history  of 
the  Jews  of  Chicago  prior  to  the  great 
fire,  it  was  a  very  difficult  matter  to 
obtain  authentic  information,  as  all 
the  documents  bearing  upon  the  sub- 
ject were  consumed  in  the  terrible 
conflagration  of  1871. 

We  cheerfully  invite  impartial  crit- 
icism and  convincing  correction,  for 
the  sake  of  truth,  -syh  pan  na«  net? 

"The  lip  of  truth  shall  be  established 
forever."  H.  Bliassof. 

Chicago,  March  15,  1901. 


General   Review. 

The  history  of  the  Jews  of  Illinois 
furnishes  ample  evidence  in  substan- 
tiation of  the  facts,  that  wherever  the 
Jew  finds  a  welcome  reception  and 
rightful  treatment,  he  quickly  rises  to 
the  full  understanding  of  his  environ- 
ment and  readily  fulfills  his  full  duty 
to  his  surroundings;  that  he  works 
out  his  destiny  to  his  benefit  and  to 
the  profit  of  his  neighbors. 

Not  quite  a  century  has  passed 
since  a  part  of  the  northwest  territory 
was  organized  into  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois. It  was  in  the  year  1818,  and  to- 
day the  progress  of  her  people  and  the 
development  of  her  institutions  are  In- 
deed the  great  wonder  of  the  world. 
The  vast  stretch  of  prairie  land  which 
but  a  few  decades  ago  was  carpeted 
only  with  wild  grass,  where  the 
deer  and  the  bear  roamed  and  played 
hide  and  seek,  is  now  dotted  with  fer- 
tile farms,  bearing  a  rich  harvest  of 
golden  grain,  and  is  studded  with 
cities,  like  precious  gems,  teeming  with 
a  population  of  nearly  five  millions. 
The  plowshare  has  furrowed  millions 
of  miles  of  the  rich  soil  and  God  has 
blessed  the  toils  of  his  children  with 
the  "dew  of  heaven  and  the  fatness  of 
the  earth."  The  western  spirit  has 
imbued  the  sturdy  inhabitants  of  Illi- 
nois with  tireless  activity  and  the  till- 
ers of  the  soil  and  the  builders  of  the 
cities  have  produced  untold  wealth. 
Commerce  and  industry  have  flour- 
ished beyond  description;  palatial 
homes  have  been  erected  in  many  parts 
of  the  state,  where  art  brings  Its  ben- 
ediction and  institutions  established 
where  learning  leads  and  lofty 
thoughts  hold  sway  as  unrivaled  rul- 
ers, where  civilization  points  the  way 
to  man's  higher  destiny,  where  benev- 
olence beckons  to  the  heart  and  illu- 
mines the  soul  with  lessons  of  love, 
teaching  to  aid  and  assist,  to  encour- 
age and  to  redeem. 

"Wer  kennt  die  Voelker,  nennt     die 

Namen, 

Die  gastlich  hier  zusammenkamen?" 
Who  knows  the  nationalities,  who 
can  tell  the  names  of  all  the  different 
denominations  who  came  to  seek 
homes  and  happiness  in  the  hospitable 
boundaries  of  this  great  and  glorious 
commonwealth?  For  nearly  a  quarter 
of  a  century  the  Jew  was  missing.  But 
he,  too,  was  at  last  attracted  by  the 
new  country  and  the  new  promise.  He 
came  from  the  east  and  from  the  north 
to  join  hands  with  the  sturdy  sons  of 
the  western  prairies;  he  came  to  help 
and  to  hope,  to  plan  and  progress,  and 
although  he  arrived  several  decades 
later,  and  at  first  in  very  small  num- 
bers, he  did  not  lag  in  the  rear.  Work- 
ing with  extra  energy  he  soon  pushed 
ahead  until  he  gained  a  place  in  the 
front  ranks  of  the  advancing  hosts. 
Today  the  Jews  of  Illinois  are  factors 
in  the  commerce  and  manufacture  of 
the  state  and  their  financial  Influence 
and  power  manifest  themselves  in 
many  directions.  Political  life  is  the 
only  field  where  the  Jew  gained  less 
prominence  than  the  Germans  or  the 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


285 


Irish  people.  Political  ambition  was 
not  to  his  taste.  The  Jew  shunned 
politics.  The  bitter  experiences  which 
fell  to  his  lot  in  the  old  country  were 
yet  too  fresh  and  too  vivid  in  his 
mind.  But  in  this  direction,  too,  the 
Jews  of  Illinois  are  gradually  emerg- 
ing from  their  wanted  retirement. 
Their  courage  and  ambition  are  grow- 
ing with  their  numbers  and  they  have 
lately  been  recognized  by  both  of  the 
leading  political  parties  of  the  coun- 
try. Mr.  Samuel  Alschuler  of  Aurora, 
Illinois,  was  nominated  for  Governor 
of  the  State  by  the  Democratic  party 
in  the  campaign  of  1900,  and  although 
he  failed  of  election,  the  extraordinary 
large  vote  of  518,966  which  he  received, 
is  highly  complimentary.  Dr.  Emil  G. 
Hirsch  was  chosen  Republican  elec- 
tor at  large  for  the  state  by  a 
popular  vote  some  years  previous. 
Judge  Philip  Stein  is  now 
serving  a  second  term  ou  the  bench  of 
the  Superior  Court  of  Cook  County 
and  Governor  Yates  has  lately  ap- 
pointed Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch  a  member  of 
the  State  Board  of  Charities.  The  rev- 
erend gentleman  has  also  filled  sev- 
eral other  posts  of  honor,  such  as  a 
member  of  the  Library  Board  and 
Board  of  Education  of  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago. A  number  of  Jews  held  the  of- 
fice of  mayor  in  smaller  towns  of  the 
state.  At  one  time  the  city  of  Quincy 
had  a  Jewish  chief  of  police.  The 
present  city  clerk  of  Chicago,  William 
Loeffler,  under  the  Democratic  mayor, 
is  a  Jew,  and  the  late  Mr.  Joseph  Pol- 
lack, who  was  very  prominent  in  Jew- 
ish congregational  and  charity  circles 
of  Chicago,  was  once  clerk  of  Cook 
County  and  afterwards  justice  of  the 
peace.  Since  his  time  several  Jews 
held,  and  some  are  still  holding,  office 
as  county  commissioners  and  alder- 
men in  several  counties  and  cities  of 
the  state.  In  1892  Abram  E.  Frankland 
was  superintendent  of  compulsory 
education  of  the  city  of  Chicago.  Even 
as  far  back  as  the  fifties  Abraham 
Kohn  was  city  clerk  of  Chicago.  Gen- 
eral Edward  S.  Salomon,  of  Chicago, 
was  clerk  of  Cook  County  and  governor 
of  Washington  Territory.  In  1883  Pres- 
ident Arthur  appointed  Mr.  Max  Pola- 
chek,  a  Jewish  citizen  of  Chicago,  as 
Consul  General  at  Ghent,  Belgium. 
The  United  States  paid  him  the  high 
compliment  of  confirming  his  nomina- 
tion, without  reference  to  the  proper 
committee,  as  is  usually  done  in  such 
cases.  Mr.  Berthold  Loewenthal,  now 
living  in  Chicago,  was  alderman  of 
Rock  Island,  111.,  from  1855  to  1857; 
supervisor  of  the  South  Town  of  Chi- 
cago from  1871  to  1873,  and  a  member 
of  the  Public  Library  Board  from  1875 
to  1882. 

Mr.  Leopold  Mayer  was  supervisor 
of  the  Second  Ward  in  Chicago  from 
1868  to  1S69.  Herman  Felsenthal  was 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and 
many  others  held  public  offices  of  hon- 
or and  trust.  Chas.  Kozminski,  Frank- 
cnthal  and  Edward  Rose  were  a'so 
members  of  the  Board  of  Education, 
and  Dr.  Joseph  Stolz  is  now  a  very  ac- 


tive member  of  the  same  board.  In 
1867  Henry  Greenebaum  was  appointed 
by  Gov.  Oglesby  a  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  Equalization. 

Julius  Rosenthal  was  Public  Admin- 
istrator for  many  years.  Adolph  Kraus 
was  president  of  the  Chicago  School 
Board  and  corporation  counsel  under 
the  old  Mayor  Harrison. 

In  1818  there  were  only  3,000  Jews 
all  told  in  the  United  States*  and 
hardly  any  Jews  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghany  mountains.  Today  the  Jewish 
population  of  the  United  States  is  es- 
timated at  1,058,135  and  in  the  state 
of  Illinois  it  surely  reaches  the  100,- 
000  mark,  of  which  Chicago  takes  the 
lion's  share.  There  are  at  present  in 
Chicago  not  less  than  75,000  Jews,  20,- 
000  German,  50,000  Russo-Polish  and 
5,000  Jews  from  Austro-Hungary  and 
other  countries,  the  rest  of  the  Jewish 
population  is  scattered  through  the  102 
counties  of  the  state.  Peoria  and 
Quincy  have  the  largest  Jewish  popu- 
lation outside,  of  Chicago,  the  former 
city  close  on  2,000  and  the  latter  not 
less  than  600.  In  commerce  and  in- 
dustry, in  charitable,  religious  and  so- 
cial institutions,  in  attainments  of 
wealth  and  in  professional  life  the 
Jews  of  Illinois  rank  next  to  the 
Jews  of  New  York.  More  than  $150,- 
000  is  annually  collected  by  the  Jews 
for  non-sectarian  institutions  in  the 
state  of  Illinois.  Hardly  any  Jews 
ever  become  a  burden  upon  the  state 
and  the  state  alymosinary  institutions 
have  hardly  ever  contained  Jewish  in- 
mates. The  Jews  of  the  state  have  al- 
ways taken  care  of  their  own  poor, 
even  before  they  entered  the  period  of 
communal  organization.  The  Asso- 
ciated Jewish  Charities  of  Chicago 
alone  collect  over  $100,000  annually 
for  the  support  of  the  five  main  Jew- 
ish charity  institutions  of  the  city,  the 
United  Hebrew  Relief  Association, 
Michael  -Reese  Hospital,  Home  for 
Aged  Jews,  Jewish  Orphans'  Home  and 
Jewish  Training  School.  This  is  done 
without  resort  to  charity  balls,  fairs 
and  such  like  means  for  raising  money. 
The  Jewish  residents  of  Illinois  carry 
more  than  $75,000,000  life  insurance, 
the  Jews  of  Cook  County  alone  are 
holding  policies  amounting  to  more 
than  $58,000,000.  Nearly  $1,000,000 
were  donated  and  bequeathed  to  Jewish 
charities  within  the  last  twenty  years 
by  Chicago  Jews,  besides  their  regu- 
lar annual  contributions.  '  Mr.  Leon 
Mandel  gave  $75,000  to  the  Chicago 
University,  the  Standard  Club  collect- 
ed from  Jews  $27,000  for  the  same  in- 
stitution and  Sinai  congregation 
collected  from  some  of  its  members 
$5,000  more  for  a  Semitic  Library, 
making  a  total  of  $107,000.  The  sums 
of  money  expended  by  the  Jews  in  the 
main  cities  of  Illinois,  for  cemeteries, 
synagogues,  temples,  homes,  asylums 
and  social  clubs  reach  away  up  into 
the  millions  of  dollars.  The  Jew  con- 
tributes liberally  to  all  charities,  Jew- 
ish and  non-Jewish,  and  receives  very 
little  from  outsiders,  he  seems  to  take 

•  As  estimated  by  Mordecai  Noah. 


it  as  a  settled  matter  and  does  not 
expect  it  to  be  different.  His  Chris- 
tian friends  and  neighbors  rarely 
think  of  offering  a  contribution  to  a 
Jewish  institution.  They,  too,  seem 
to  take  it  for  granted  that  the  Jew  is 
able  to  carry  a  double  burden  with 
ease  and  comfort. 

There  are  today  in  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois 78  Jewish  congregations,  45  be- 
nevolent associations,  25  ladies'  soci- 
eties, for  charity  and  social  purposes, 
10  social  clubs  and  25  cemeteries,  most 
of  these  institutions  and  organizations 
are  located  in  the  city  of  Chicago  and 
many  of  them  are  only  a  few  years 
old  and  small  in  membership.  Most 
of  the  congregations  were  established 
by  the  immigrants  from  Russia,  Po- 
land, Roumanla  and  Austro-Hungary. 
A  commendable  feature  of  these  con- 
gregations, especially  of  the  Russian 
Jews  of  Chicago,  are  the  loan  associa- 
tions, which  are  connected  with  the 
older  and  richer  of  these  religious  in- 
stitutions. These  loan  associations 
are  doing  much  good,  they  save  many 
a  family  from  ruin  and  from  becom- 
ing paupers  in  consequence  of  reverses 
in  their  small 'trade  ventures. 

The  Jews  of  Illinois  are  well  rep- 
resented in  the.  professions.  The  law- 
yers, physicians,  architects,  engineers, 
pharmacists,  professors,  teachers,  den- 
tists and  journalists  will  add  up  into 
many  hundreds  and  a  number  of  them 
have  been  successful  and  stand  very 
high  in  their  respective  lines.  We  will 
only  mention  a  few  names  to  prove  our 
statement.  Lawyers:  Julius  Rosen- 
thai,  Adolph  Moses,  Adolph  Kraus, 
Samuel  Alschuler,  Levy  Mayer,  Jacob 
Newman,  Simeon  Straus,  Max  Pam 
and  Sigmund  Zeisler.  Physicians: 
Drs.  Edwin  J.  Kuh,  Joseph  Zeisler,'  J. 
L.  Abt,  Hy.  Gradle,  L.  Frankenthal. 
Dr.  Meyerowich,  who  is  a  member  of 
the  State  "Board  of  Health,  and  of  the 
younger  ones  we  mention  Drs.  Greens- 
felder  and  Daniel  N.  Eisendrath, 
and  some  of  those  who  passed  into 
eternity,  but  whose  names  are  still 
mentioned  with  honor  by  all  and  with 
gratitude  by  many,  like  Drs.  M.  Man- 
heimer  and  S.  D.  Jacobson.  Archi- 
tects: Dankmar  Adler,  whose  death 
was  mourned  by  the  entire  city  of  Chi- 
cago and  who  left  enduring  monu- 
ments to  his  great  talents  in  many  of 
the  public  buildings  of  Chicago  and 
other  cities.  Of  the  living  architects 
we  mention  Simeon  Eisendrath,  the 
ex-building  commissioner  of  Chicago, 
and  H.  L.  Ottenheimer,  the  dainty  de- 
signer of  beautiful  homes.  There  are 
in  Chicago  also  a  number  of  Jewish 
designers  and  engravers  for  plate 
printing  and  lithographing,  who  are 
very  skillful  and  artistic  in  their  work. 
The  best  results  in  the  new  three- 
color  process  printing  have  been  at- 
tained by  a  Jewish  firm  in  this  city, 
consisting  of  several  brothers.  Their 
exact  copies  from  nature  and  their 
wonderful  reproductions  of  articles  in 
their  natural  colors,  havs  won  for  them 
high  admiration  in  Europe  as  well  as 
in  America. 


286 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOGATB.. 


There  are  in  Chicago  at  present 
three  Jewish  justices  of  the  peace,  E. 
C.  Hamburgher,  on  the  north  side; 
Adolph  J.  Sabath,  on  the  west  side, 
and  L.  Wolf,  on  the  south  side.  Ham- 
burgher  and  Sabath  have  also  served 
an  police  justices. 

Jews  have  worked  on  the  streets  as 
day  laborers  in  Illinois,  and  some  of 
the  very  same  Jews  rose  to  honored 
and  important  positions  by  their  own 
merit  of  thrift,  integrity  and  energy. 
We  have  had  quite  a  number  of  Jew- 
ish bankers,  whose  business  transac- 
tions amounted  to  many  millions  an- 
nually and  who  reflected  credit  on  the 
Jews  by  their  honesty  and  integrity. 

The  number  of  Jewish  bankers  in 
the  state  has  decreased  in  the  last 
twenty  years,  but  the  number  of  arti- 
sans, of  skillful  mechanics  and  of 
hardy  handicraftsmen  has  greatly  in- 
creased. There  are  even  some  black- 
smiths among  the  Russo-Polish  Jews, 
in  the  Ghetto  of  Chicago,  who  are 
good,  honest  workmen,  and  of  whom 
we  may  be  proud  indeed. 

But  it  is  mainly  in  the  commercial 
life  of  the  state  where  the  Jew  gained 
the  greatest  prominence.  In  Chicago, 
Peoria,  Quincy,  Bloomington  and  other 
cities  in  the  state  Jewish  brains  and 
Jewish  capital  have-  accomplished 
wonders  in  creating  commercial  and 
manufacturing  establishments  of  great 
magnitude  and  immense  proportions, 
giving  employment  to  many  thou- 
sands of  salesmen,  saleswomen,  ac- 
countants, mechanics  and  laborers. 
Jewish  business  ability  helped  and  is 
still  aiding  in  the  management  of  the 
"Fair,"  the  giant  department  store  of 
Chicago  and  the  oldest  emporium  of 
its  kind.  From  the  first  jabbing  dry 
goods  business  of  Rosenfeld  &  Rosen- 
berg, established  in  Chicago  in  1842, 
to  the  present  magnificent  retail  dry 
goods  stores  of  Mandel  Brothers, 
Schlesinger  &  Mayer  and  A.  M.  Roths- 
child, there  was  a  gradual  develop- 
ment which  'has  kept  pace  with  the 
city's  growth.  Many  were  and  still 
are  the  firms  and  houses  which  have 
grown  up  in  the  intervening  time  and 
have  gained  name  and  fame  in  the 
commercial  world  of  the  country.  We 
can  only  mention  a  few  of  them  here. 
In  Chicago,  for  instance,  the  following 
names  will  sound  familiar  and  com- 
mand great  respect:  Kohn  Brothers, 
Rosenbaum  Brothers,  Joseph  Beifeld, 
Selz,  Schwab  &  Co.,  Cahn,  Wampold 
&  Co.,  Bach,  Becker  &  Co.,  Sllberman 
Brothers,  Foreman  Brothers  Banking 
Co.,  Greenebaum  Sons,  Adolph  Loeb 
&  Son,  M.  Born  &  Co.,  Eisenstaedt 
Brothers,  Hart.  Schaffner  &  Marx, 
Hasterlik  Brothers,  Stein  Brothers  & 
Baumgartl,  Hart  Brothers,  W.  N.  Ei- 
sendrath  &  Co.,  Stein  &  Ellbogen  Co., 
Hyman,  Berg  &  Co.,  J.  L.  Gatzert  & 
Co.,  Stein,  Hirsch  &  Co.,  Strouss,  Ei- 
sendrath  &  Co.,  Kozmlnski  &  Yondorf, 
B.  Kuppenheimer  and  N.  A. 
Mayer.  In  Peoria  there  are  the 
Woolners,  Schwabacher,  and  Greenhut. 
The  Lesems  in  Quincy  and  the  Liv- 
ingstones in  Bloomington.  These 


firms  represent  an  aggregate  capital 
of  many  millions  of  dollars,  they 
command  the  highest  confidence  and 
respect  in  the  business  circles  of  the 
entire  country.  There  are  many  more 
such  well-known  mercantile  establish- 
ments in  the  state  and  were  we  to 
name  them  all  they  would  fill  an  entire 
volume. 

We  close  our  "General  Review"  with 
extracts  from  a  paper  entitled  "Jews 
and  Judaism  of  Early  Chicago  Days," 
published  in  the  Chicago  Journal  of 
Nov.  14,  1899.  This  paper  was  pre- 
pared and  read  by  Mr.  Leopold  Mayer, 
the  well-known  banker  and  old  set- 
tler of  Chicago,  before  the  Chicago 
Council  of  Jewish  Women,  on  Nov.  13, 
1899.  Mr.  Mayer  was  an  eye-witness 
to  many  of  the  events  of  tho  early 
days  and  his  vivid  description  of  the 
beginnings  and  progress  of  the  Jew- 
ish community  of  Chicago  will  >be  read 
with  absorbing  interest  not  only  by 
the  old,  but  also  by  the  young  gener- 
ation. 

Mr.  Mayer  said,  in  passing:  "I  re- 
.  late  what  I  remember,  and  offer  my 
reminiscences  as  a  slight  but  perhaps 
not  entirely  valueless  contribution  to 
the  history  of  the  beginnings  and 
progress  of  our  people  in  Chicago. 

"Fifty  years  ago,  on  the  19th  day  of 
this  month,  on  a  cold,  rainy  morning, 
at  about  5  a.  m.,  with  my  sister  and 
sainted  father,  I  boarded  a  Rhine 
steamer.  After  some  delay  I  reached 
Antwerp,  and  here,  I  saw  for  the  first 
time,  a  Jewish  burial  from  the  syn- 
agogue, instead  of  from  the  home.  The 
funeral  was  that  of  the  president  of 
the  congregation,  chief  of  the  branch 
house  of  the  Rothschild;  otherwise, 
the  rites  would  have  been  of  the  same 
character  as  in  my  home,  a  small  town 
in  the  interior  of  Germany. 

"Finally,  after  a  stormy  voyage  of 
65  days,  I  arrived  on  Friday,  Feb.  15, 
1850,  in  New  York.  I  gave  my  first 
exhibition  of  'greenness'  during  the 
ride  in  an  omnibus  to  see  so  much 
twist  bread,  used  in  Germany,  only 
for  the  Sabbath,  and  I  remarked  that 
Jews  must  be  numerous,  as  Sabbath 
bread  was  so  in  evidence. 

"How  happy  I  was  when  I  reached 
the  promised  land  of  freedom,  where 
the  laws,  at  least,  are  the  same  for 
Jews  as  for  non-Jews. 

"At  that  time,  the  stigma  of  ine- 
quality burned  in  me  like  a  fiery  coal, 
because  I  felt  its  sting  and  suffered 
its  pangs.  In  New  York,  my  best 
friend  and  former  teacher,  known  to 
many  of  you,  Moses  Spiegel,  took  me 
to  the  first  Jewish  Reform  temple  I 
had  ever  visited;  situated  in  Christie 
street,  Dr.  Mezbacher  was  Us  rabbi. 
There  I  found  the  male  attendants  di- 
vided, one  class  composed  of  those 
with  hats,  the  other  of  those  with 
caps.  The  women  were  then  still  in 
a  separate  part  of  the  temple,  but 
whether  they,  also,  were  classified  as 
to  headgear,  I  can  not  say.  From  the 
observations  of  later  years,  I  might 
say  'yes.'  Reform  Judaism  deserves 
credit  for  the  redemption  of  the  wom- 


en from  separation  during  the  divine 
service.  In  Chicago,  Sinai  congrega- 
tion granted  equality  to  the  women 
from  its  inception. 

"April  23,  1850,  when  I  came  to  Chi- 
cago, the  Jews  numbered  possibly  200. 
The  congregation  had  28  contributing 
members,  and  on  the  very  first  day  I 
was  introduced  to  most  of  them,  in- 
cluding the  president  and  minister. 
The  congregation  provided  for  a  read- 
er, a  chasen,  and  a  shochet — a  man 
able  to  kill  cattle  and  fowl  according 
to  Jewish  rites.  The  German  arrange- 
ment of  prayers  was  in  vogue,  but  it 
was  so  diversified  that  it  dften  de- 
pended on  the  reader  what  prayer  was 
read,  although  the  addition  or  omission 
of  a  prayer  was  an  infringement  upon 
•the  religion,  and  so  I  remember  that 
as  late  as  1858  the  omission  of  a  certain 
prayer  created  a  row  in  the  synagogue. 

"The  duties  of  a  minister  were 
manifold.  He  was  the  reader,  he  had 
to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony,  he 
had  to  be  present  at  funerals  and  read 
the  prayer  there  as  well  as  in  the 
'house  of  mourning,  and  he  had  to  act 
as  shochet. 

"Instruction  in  both  the  tenets  and 
the  morals  of  Judaism  were  lacking. 
Every  Jew  was  his  own  teacher  and 
rabbi.  A  religious  school  for  chil- 
dren was  not  necessary,  as  there  were 
but  few  children  of  school  age  here. 

"The  two  previous  years,  1848-9,  had 
been  trying  for  the  Jewish  colony,  on 
account  of  the  cholera,  which  not  only 
bore  away  several  of  its  members,  'but 
left  the  survivors  in  constant  dread 
of  its  return.  A  burial  ground  had 
been  purchased  from  the  city  as  early 
as  1846.  It  is  remarkable  how  anxious 
the  Jews  are  to  provide  a  resting 
place  for  their  dead,  when,  as  yet,  they 
have  scarcely  a  foothold  for  the  liv- 
ing; this  is  noticeable  through  all  their 
history.  To  the  praise  of  the  Jews 
then  here,  I  must  say,  that  they  clung 
together  in  sorrow  and  in  joy.  The 
good  fortune  of  one  was  the  happiness 
of  the  other,  while  the  gloom  of  one 
cast  a  shadow  over  all.  Thus,  on  my 
first  Friday  night  in  Chicago,  I 
watched,  with  one  of  my  brothers,  at 
the  bedside  of  the  sick  child  of  a 
friend. 

"The  place  of  worship  was  then  lo- 
cated on  the  southwest  corner  of  Lake 
street  and  what  is  now  Fifth  avenue, 
on  the  third  floor.  The  narrow,  unin- 
viting entrance  was  unpleasantly  ob- 
structed by  the  goods  of  an  auctioneer, 
who  occupied  the  store  floor  below. 
Already  at  this  period  the  Sabbath  was 
more  or  less  violated.  It  is  true  that 
most  of  the  women  and  many  of  the 
men  were  regular  attendants,  but  the 
latter,  as  a  usual  thing,  left  hurriedly 
for  their  places  of  business.  Many 
stores  were  already  open,  and  the 
younger  men,  engaged  as  clerks,  were 
invisible  In  the  synagogue.  The  young- 
er women,  likewise,  were  few,  and  of 
children  under  15  there  were  scarcely 
any. 

"When  I  left  Europe,  my  intention 
was  to  seek  another  occupation  than 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


287 


that  of  a  teacher,  out  necessity  com- 
pelled me  to  return  to  my  first  love 
among  life's  vocations.  Encouraged  by 
my  friends,  Messrs.  Elias  and  Henry 
Greenebaum,  who  introduced  me  to 
the  several  private  schools,  I  began  to 
teach  German,  privately.  But,  alas,  I 
had  no  means  of  communication!  I 
could  neither  speak  or  understand 
English,  and  were  I  to  tell  you  of  my 
attempts  at  correct  pronunciation,  you 
would  laugh  just  as  heartily  as  did  the 
young  ladies  that  listened  to  them. 

"During  the  fall  of  1850  I  tried  to 
organize  a  religious  school  from  the 
few  scholars  I  already  had  and  the 
few  more  I  might  gather  round  me.  To 
show  the  necessity  for  this,  one  In- 
cident will  suffice.  To  make  known 
my  purpose,  I  went  to  the  president  of 
the  congregation  to  ask  leave  to  post 
on  the  door  of  the  synagogue  a  notice 
to  the  effect  that  I  would  open  a 
school  to  teach  religion.  In  all  se- 
riousness he,  the  president,  asked  me 
what  I  intended  to  teach,  and  I  found 
that  my  first  lesson  must  be  given  to 
the  head  of  the  congregatfon. 

"The  year  1851  was  important  in 
the  religious  development  of  Jewish 
•life.  In  June  the  first  Chicago  syn- 
agogue, on  Clark  street,  between 
Adams  and  Quincy,  was  dedicated  by 
Mr.  Isaacs  of  New  York.  The  exer- 
cises were  well  described  by  Mr.  Elias- 
of  in  -his  history  of  K.  A.  M.  Mr. 
Isaacs,  in  his  Saturday  morning  ser- 
mon, charged  the  congregation  with 
neglect  of  the  purity  laws,  and  then 
declared  that  the  punishment  of  God 
was  visible  in  the  death  of  young  mar- 
ried women,  several  of  whom  had  re- 
cently died.  To  the  credit  of  the  pres- 
ident be  it  said  that  he  at  once  left 
the  synagogue. 

"A  second  important  movement  was 
the  organization  of  the  young  men  into 
a  benevolent  society.  The  first  at- 
tempts at  organization  had  failed  be- 
cause of  the  wish  of  some,  to  incor- 
porate in  the  Constitution,  clauses  ex- 
cluding those  who  married  Non-Jews 
and  those  who  would  violate  the  sanc- 
tity of  the  day  of  Atonement.  But 
among  some  of  the  young  men  there 
was  no  abandonment  of  purpose,  and 
some  months  later,  ten  or  twelve  of 
them  organized  the  Hebrew  Benevolent 
Society,  with  those  exclusive  laws  in 
the  Constitution.  Severe,  was  the 
struggle  before  the  society  gained  in- 
fluence over  Jewish  Life,  but  under  the 
prudent  guidance  of  its  President,  the 
sainted  Michael  Greenebaum,  it  soon 
became  a  power  in  both  religious  and 
social  life.  Ladies,  to  this  organiza- 
tion, we  can  trace  the  beginnings  of 
Sinai  Congregation.  There,  were  united 
the  youths  who  strove  to  follow  the 
precepts  learned  in  the  old  German 
home.  But  soon  they  observed,  that  to 
follow,  to  the  letter,  the  Jewish  law, 
meant  a  return  to  the  ghetto  of  the 
middle  ages.  They  quickly  learned  tti»* 
religion  is  for  the  living  and  not  for 
the  dead,  and  recognized  the  fact  that 
in  order  to  live  a  religious  life  they 
must  first  lighten  the  ship  of  its  bal- 
last. More-over,  some  had  imbibed  the 


progressive  ideas  then  spreading  in 
Germany  and  had  read  the  minutes  of 
the  Convention  of  Rabbis  in  Braun- 
schweig, Frankfort  and  Breslau.  The 
earliest  serious  question  arose  when 
candidates  were  proposed  who  were 
known  to  violate  the  sanctity  of  Yom 
Kippur.  After  a  long  and  hard  strug- 
gle the  question  was  decided  in  favor 
of  progress. 

"Let  us  now  turn  to  the  social  and 
political  life.  Our  people  were  far 
from  being  a  political  unit.  Some 
were  hard-shell  Democrats  and  some 
were  ardent  Whigs;  Free-soilers,  there 
were  hardly  any.  My  first  political 
knowledge  came  from  the  Free-soilers, 
and  I  readily  adopted  their  doctrines, 
as  they  coincided  closely  with  the 
ideas  of  liberty  I  had  imbibed  in  Ger- 
many during  the  stormy  times  of  '48. 

"The  relations  between  Jews  and 
non-Jews  were  cordial,  and  many  of 
the  former  not  only  belonged  to  the 
various  political  and  fraternal  organ- 
izations, but  also  held  offices  therein. 
Numbers  belonged  to  the  volunteer 
fire  department,  and  Henry  Greene- 
baum was  captain  of  engine  company 
No.  6,  when  he  was  scarcely  21  years 
old.  The  balls  and  festivities  given 
by  the  non-Jews  were  often  attended 
by  the  Jews,  who  were  never  in  the 
least  looked  upon  as  undesirable.  The 
Germans,  Jews  and  non-Jews,  were 
one,  and  the  prejudices  from  the  fath- 
erland, if  not  dead,  were  at  least  hid- 
den. For  myself,  I  must  say  that  I 
was  made  welcome  in  every  American 
household  in  which  I  had  scholars  or 
where  I  had  been  introduced.  I  was 
invited  to  all  the  parties  given  by  the 
young  people  of  my  acquaintance,  and 
it  was  to  an  American  lady  that  I 
owed  my  success. 

"Among  the  Jews  themselves  social 
entertainments  gradually  increased  in 
number  as  the  number  of  young  men 
and  women  grew.  Engagements  were 
still  few,  but  the  young  folks  longed 
for  diversion.  In  summer,  carriage 
rides  and  joint  walks  in  the  fields,  and 
in  winter,  sleigh-rides  were  in  order; 
sometimes  there  were  even  theater 
parties  given. 

"The  visiting  day  was  Sunday,  and 
it  was  always  prearranged  at  whose 
house  the  following  Sunday  should  'be 
spent.  There  were  no  whist  nor  poker 
parties — as  yet,  the  ladies  did  not  play 
cards.  Dances,  today  called  balls, 
were  difficult  to  arrange;  but  we  had 
them. 

"The  first  affair  which  might  be  com- 
pared to  our  present  entertainments 
was  arranged  by  the  Hebrew  Benevo- 
lent Society,  and  was  held  during  the 
Fall  Festivals  of  1853.  It  took  place 
in  the  State  Street  Market  Hall,  and 
was  a  failure  owing  to  the  death  of  one 
of  our  members  on  that  very  night. 

"Now  a  word  to  the  commercial  and 
financial  condition  of  the  Jews.  La- 
dies, please  remember,  that  most  were 
German  immigrants  and  that  rich  peo- 
ple seldom  emigrate.  Hence,  in  com- 
parison with  their  standing  in  the 
fatherland,  the  Jews  in  Chicago  were 


fairly  well  situated.  They  were  already 
engaged  in  the  various  branches  of 
commerce.  Some  had  dry  goods,  others 
clothing  stores;  many  were  engaged 
in  the  cigar  and  tobacco  business,  and 
there  were  already  a  plumber  and 
joiner,  and  even  a  carpenter,  here. 
Some — loading  their  goods  upon  a 
wagon,  others  upon  their  shoulders — 
followed  the  honorable  vocation  of 
peddling.  Honor  to  them!  They  were 
respected  and  liked  by  their  custom- 
ers, who  every  season  awaited  their  ar- 
rival before  laying  in  a  stock  of  nec- 
essary goods.  Whether  or  not  to  com- 
pare them  to  the  renowned  Yankee  ped- 
dler, I  leave  to  you.  At  all  events, 
they  made  a  good  living  for  their  fam- 
ilies, and  while  gathering  money,  at 
the  same  time  established  a  business 
that  grew  with  the  country.  At  that 
time  there  were  no  millionaires  among 
the  Jews,  but  all  felt  independent.  The 
words  and  acts  of  the  charity  of  to- 
day were  not  then  in  vogue,  for  each 
lived  by  his  'own  exertion. 

"Far  be  it  from  me  to  convey  the  Idea 
that  the  Jews  then  were  uncharitable. 
They  were  always  ready  to  help  the 
needy  and  when  in  1855  the  Yellow 
Fever  was  raging  in  Norfolk,  Va.,  the 
Chicago  Jews  within  a  few  days  raised 
in  answer  to  Mayor  Bloome's  appeal, 
almost  $400. 

"In  order  to  give  my  picture  tone 
and  color,  I  must  take  up  one  more 
subject,  the  last  but  not  the  least— 
the  home.  What  had  the  Jews  pre- 
served of  the  old  home  traditions  of 
the  fatherland,  so  often  lauded  and 
cited  as  the  greatest  cause  of  the  pre- 
servation of  the  Jews  in  spite  of  cen- 
turies of  persecution?  The  home  was 
the  cement  which  bound  child  to  par- 
ent and  parent  to  child.  The  bond 
between  brother  and  sister.  We  might 
call  It  a  three-stranded  thread  which 
could  not  be  torn  asunder.  If  the 
Englishman  called  his  house  his  cas- 
tle, the  Jew  could  with  justice  call  his 
home  his  religion,  his  comfort,  and 
his  delight. 

"To  give  you  an  idea  of  the  Jewish 
home  in  Germany,  let  me  lead  you 
into  one.  We  will  make  our  visit  on 
neither  a  festive  day  nor  a  Friday  eve- 
ning, for  of  these  you  have  doubtless 
heard  or  read  very  often. 

"Let  us  step  over  the  threshold  si- 
lently, lest  we  disturb  the  inmates. 
We  enter  a  gloomy  room  with  but  one 
light  on  the  so-called  Sabbath  lamp, 
just  bright  enough  to  bring  out  the 
darkness. 

"Our  first  glance  discloses  a  man  of 
about  45  years,  sitting  at  the  table  and 
surrounded  by  his  children.  His  face 
and  the  silence  and  tears  of  the  chil- 
dren, all  express  dismal  grief  and  sor- 
row. A  closer  inspection  reveals  the 
cause  of  the  gloom.  On  the  bed  lies 
a  sick  woman,  emaciated  by  the  dread 
disease,  consumption.  The  body  is 
nothing  but  skin  and  bones.  Disturbed 
by  our  entrance,  she  turns  to  the  light, 
her  eyes  still  -bright.  In  a  hushed 
voice,  scarcely  audible,  she  asks  for 
her  boy;  he  is  not  only  her  nurse,  but 


iiss 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


her  angel,  and  in  her  suffering  her 
comfort.  She  desires  him  to  com- 
mence his  usual  vocation  during  the 
long,  dreary  nights,  to  read  to  her. 
There,  my  friends,  you  see  a  Jewish 
home  in  distress.  The  oldest  child, 
the  staff  and  support  of  his  sick  moth- 
er, reading  to  her  night  after  night  to 
while  away  the  dreary,  dreary  hours, 
when  sleep  does  not  come  to  relieve 
the  patient  sufferer  whom  the  angel 
of  death  has  already  marked  for  its 
victim.  Such  devotion,  such  filial  love, 
you  found  among  the  Jews  of  the  fath- 
erland, and  it  is  not  remarkable  that 
with  such  memories  to  spur  them  on 
the  Jewish  pioneers  in  America,  to 
some  degree,  at  least,  emulated  their 
parents. 

"The  houses  in  which  we  lived  in 
those  days  in  Chicago  were  modest 
one  or  two  story  frame  dwellings. 
Samuel  Cole  was  the  only  one  occupy- 
ing a  brick  home,  though  Mr.  Schu- 
bert lived  over  his  brick  store.  The 
dietary  laws  were  strictly  observed 
and  the  Sabbath  and  festivals  were 
celebrated  with  Jewish  rites.  Business 
houses  were  at  no  great  distance  from 
the  homes  and  the  men  were  generally 
to  be  found  with  their  families  after 
business  hours.  The  women  occupied 
themselves  with  needlework,  house- 
hold duties,  and  reading.  The  chil- 
dren were  reared  to  honor  and  obey 
their  parents.  The  father  had  not  yet 
attained  to  the  dignity  of  'governor,' 
nor  was  the  mother  mentioned  as  the 
'old  woman.'  If  the  Jewish  home  was 
not  quite  what  it  was  in  Germany,  it 
was  still  founded  on  filial  love  and  re- 
spect. 

"Now,  members  of  the  Council,  allow 
me  to  make  but  one  suggestion:  You, 
as  mothers  of  Israel,  should  include 
among  your  aims,  the  resurrection  of 
the  Jewish  home.  Let  us  return  once 
more  to  the  good  old  times  and  enjoy 
once  more  the  home  life  of  the  last 
generation!  Write  in  capitals  in  the 
second  article  of  your  Constitution: 
"OUR  PURPOSE  IS  TO  BRING  TO 
LIFE,  ONCE  MORE  THE  IDEAL 
JEWISH  HOME."  If  you  have.at  hand, 
no  method  of  producing  this  end, 
search  for  one.  It  is  worthy  of  a  des- 
perate effort!  Rekindle,  if  you  can,  the 
love  of  the  daughter  and  the  respect 
of  the  son,  for  the  parent.  If  you  ac- 
complish this,  then,  indeed,  will  future 
generations  bless  you  and  your  organ- 
ization." 

II. 

FIRST  JEWISH  SETTLERS. 

Prior  to  1838  there  were  hardly  any 
Jews  in  Illinois,  at  least  no  records 
can  be  found  of  their  presence  in  the 
state.  The  first  Jewish  settlement  was 
in  the  city  of  Chicago.  The  first  Jew 
who  settled  here  was  J.  Gottlieb.  He 
came  to  Chicago  in  1838.  He  was  fol- 
lowed in  1840  by  Isaac  Ziegler,  the 
brothers  Benedict  and  Jacob  Schu- 
bert and  Phillip  Newberg.  The  follow- 
ing settled  in  Chicago'  between  the 
years  1840  and  1844:  H.  Fuller,  Jacob 
Fuller,  Marx  L.  Mayer,  Rosbach,  Isaac 


Engle,  B.  Stern,  A.  Frank,  Marcus 
Peisser,  Levi  Rosenfeld,  Jacob  Rosen- 
berg, Morris  Einstein,  the  brothers 
Julius,  Abraham  and  Moses  Kohn, 
James  Marks,  two  brothers  Benjamin, 
.  H.  Meyer,  and  Mayer  Klein.  Isaac 
Ziegler  peddled  for  many  years  in  and 
around  Chicago.  Benedict  Schubert 
was  the  first  Jewish  merchant  tailor 
and  he  built  the  first  brick  house  in 
Chicago.  Ph.  Newberg  was  the  first 
Jewish  tobacco  dealer  in  the  state.  H. 
Meyer  was  the  first  Jewish  real  estate 
dealer.  Mr.  Meyer  'bought  of  the  gov- 
ernment 160  acres,  situated  in  the 
town  of  Schaumburg,  Cook  County, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  ad- 
vanced in  years,  when  he  removed  to 
Chicago.  His  brother-in-law,  M.  Kling, 
who  lived  near  him,  in  Shaumburg, 
stayed  there  some  years  longer. 
Mayer  had  sold  his  farm  and 
invested  all  his  funds  in  Chicago  real 
estate.  The  following  arrived  here  in 
1845  and  1846:  Morris  Kohn,  B.  Weig- 
selbaum,  Samuel  Cole,  M.  Braunschield, 
M.  Leopold,  Louis  Leopold,  Martin 
Clayburg,  Henry  Leopold,  Michael 
Greenebaum,  Louis  Mayer,  Ben 
Schlossman  and  wife,  Joseph  Schloss- 
man  and  wife,  Simon  Schlossman, 
Samuel  Schlossman  and  wife,  Levi 
Cline  and  wife,  Hirsch  Kohn,  Mrs. 
Dilah  Kohn  and  Miss  Clara  Kohn,  her 
daughter.  Mrs.  Dilah  Kohn  was  the 
mother  of  the  five  Kohn  brothers,  who 
then  lived  in  Chicago.  A  sixth  broth- 
er, Joseph,  came  in  1847.  In  the  same 
year  arrived  Elias  Greenebaum,  the 
Rubel  family,  consisting  of  the  father, 
four  daughters  and  five  sons,  Gabriel, 
Abraham,  Isaac,  Ruben  and  Moses; 
Isaac  Luckey  and  wife,  Isaac  Wolf  and 
sisters,  Henry  Homer,  Louis  and 
Samuel  Haas,  Jacob  Friedman,  Isaac 
Louis  and  Simon  Wormser,  Mr.  Greene- 
baum with  his  sons,  Leon,  Abraham, 
Herman,  Jacob  and  Moses,  with  three 
sisters,  and  their  cousins  Leon  Greene- 
baum and  Abraham  Becker.  The  last 
two  went  to  California,  where  they  lost 
their  lives  in  the  big  fire  of  1851  at 
San  Francisco.  Mr.  B.  Barbe  and  family 
came  about  this  time  (1847).  The 
main  Jewish  boarding  house  where,  in 
later  years,  nearly  all  the  unmarried 
Jews  made  their  home,  was  kept  by 
Mr.  B.  Brunemann,  who  died  in 
New  York  a  few  years  ago 
at  a  very  old  age.  M.  M. 
Gerstley,  E.  Frankenthal  and  Max 
Weineman  came  in  1848.  Of  the  very 
first  settlers  only  six  are  still  living  in 
Chicago  and  they  are:  Marx  L.  Mayer, 
Isaac  Wolf,  Mayer  Klein,  Morris  Kohn, 
Elias  and  Henry  Greensbaum.  M. 
L.  Mayer  is  a  brother  of  Leopold 
Mayer,  the  well-known  teacher  and 
banker  of  Chicago.  Mr.  M.  L.  Mayer 
came  to  Chicago  in  1843.  He  was  born 
Aug.  7,  1817,  in'Abenheim,  near  Worms. 
Germany.  On  April  20,  1897,  he  cele- 
brated his  golden  wedding  surrounded 
by  children  and  grandchildren.  Isaac 
Wolf  came  to  Chicago  in  1847.  Before 
that  he  lived  in  Jollet,  111.,  for  one 
year.  He  came  to  America  in  1845, 
"hen  the  Mexican  war  was  in  prog- 


ress. He  was  the  first  to  peddle  with 
a  horse  and  wagon  around  Chicago, 
and  was  the  first  Jew  to  join  the  Free 
Masons  in  Joliet.  He  married  a  sis- 
ter of  the  Rubel  brothers,  and  they 
raised  a  numerous  family  of  good  chil- 
dren, who  are  making  life  easy  for 
them  in  their  old  age.  Mayer  Klein 
landed  in  New  York  on  Sept.  1,  1840. 
Mr.  William  Renau,  a  cousin  of  his, 
who  was  very  popular  at  that  time 
among  the  Jews  of  New  York  city, 
took  him  into  his  house  and  treated 
him  very  kindly.  Mr.  Renau  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Order  of  B'nai 
Brith  in  the  east  and  his  pet  scheme 
was  to  establish  a  Jewish  colonization 
society  for  the  purpose  of  settling  the 
Jewish  immigrants  on  farms,  and  so 
establish  agricultural  pursuits  among 
the  Jews.  He  called  meetings  of  prom- 


MARX  L.  MAYER. 

inent  co-religionists  and  traveled 
through  the  country  lecturing,  en- 
deavoring to  interest  the  American 
Jews  in  his  plans  and  projects.  He  at 
last  succeeded,  the  colonization  soci- 
ety was  organized  and  Mr.  Henry  May- 
er was  sent  to  Chicago  to  find  a  suit- 
able location  for  a  Jewish  colony.  Mr. 
Mayer  wrote  to  New  York  to  send 
some  families;  that  the  land  which  he 
bought  at  Schaumburg,  Cook  County, 
Illinois,  was  good  and  promising.  A 
number  of  Jews  came  to  Chicago  in 
consequence  of  Mr.  Mayer's  report, 
but  only  two  settled  in  the  vicinity  of 
Shaumburg,  the  rest  scattered  through- 
out the  state  and  drifted  back  into 
their  old  occupation  of  trading. 

Mr.  Mayer  Klein  came  to  Chicago  in 
1S43.  Chicago  was  then  such  an  in- 
significant place  that  he  did  not  think 
he  would  be  able  to  earn  a  living 
there,  and  he  soon  removed  to  Troy 
Grove  in  La  Salle  County,  Illinois.  In 
Grundy  County  of  this  state,  the 
brothers,  Benjamin,  formerly  known 
under  the  name  of  Bentleben,  and  a 
Mr.  Vogel  kept  general  stores.  They 
all  moved  to  Chicago  a  short  time 
after  he  left.  A  daughter  of  this  Mr. 
Vogel  married  Mr.  Nelson  Morris,  who 
became  one  of  the  richest  men  of  Chi- 
cago. Mr.  Klein  was  the  first  baal- 
tephilla,  cantor,  in  Illinois.  He  re- 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


289 


lates  that  in  1846  he  came  from  Troy 
Grove  to  Chicago  for  the  fall  holidays, 
Rosh  Hashanah  and  Yom  Kippur.  The 
few  Jews  living  in  Chicago  had  no 
place  of  worship  of  their  own,  but  they 
rented  a.  room  where  services  were 
•held.  The  brothers  Kohn  'brought 
along  a  Sepher  Torah  and  Mr.  Klein 
officiated  as  reader.  As  just  enough 


MAYER   KLEIN. 

men  were  present  to  constitute  a 
Minyan  (ten  male  adults,  the  requis- 
ite number  for  public  worship),  the 
services  had  to  be  discontinued  when- 
ever one  of  the  congregation  left  the 
room,  and  the  assembly  had  to  wait 
until  the  absent  member  returned.  Mr. 
Klein  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Ph.  New- 
berg  at  these  services.  Mr.  Newberg 
shortly  after  moved  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  Mr.  Klein  married  a  sister  of 
the  Rubel  brothers  and  on  the  12th 
of  December,  1899,  they  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding.  They  live  with 
their  children  and  the  days  of  their 
old  age  pass  quietly  and  peacefully. 

Morris  Kohn  is  the  only  one  living 
of  the  six  brothers  who  came  to  Chi- 
cago in  the  early  days  of  Jewish  set- 
tlement. He  was  born,  as  were  all  his 
brothers,  in  Moenichsroth,  Bavaria. 
His  brothers  were  in  the  dry  goods 
business.  No.  85  Lake  street,  in  the 
Tremont  House  building,  Chicago. 


MORRIS  KOHN. 


When  he  arrived  he  joined  his  broth- 
ers in  the  business  which  became  very 
popular.  He  relates  that  he  took  a 
ride  on  the  first  boat  which  com- 
menced to  run  from  Chicago  to  Joliet 
in  1848,  after  the  Illinois  and  Michi- 
gan canal  was  completed.  Drinking 
water  had  to  be  brought  from  the  lake 
and  was  sold  at  Z5  cents  per  barrel. 
Only  a  few  blocks  were  supplied  with 
water  from  a  hydraulic  mill,  corner 
Lake  street  and  Michigan  avenue, 
through  wooden  pipes.  The  country 
roads  were,  so  bad  that  very  few 
farmers  were  able  to  come  to  the  city. 
The  prices  of  produce  were  very  small. 
Wheat  sold  at  37%  cents  per  bushel 
and  corn  was  worth  10  cents,  half 
cash  and  half  in  store  goods.  It  fre- 
quently happened  that  a  farmer  who 
brought  a  load  of  farm  produce  from 
some  distance  did  not  have  money 
enough  after  he  sold  his  goods  to  pay 
his  expenses  to  return  home  and  he 
had  to  borrow  money  for  that  purpose. 
The  Jewish  merchants  generally 
loaned  the  money  to  these  farmers  and 
gained  their  confidence  and  their  trade. 
Mr.  Kohn  has  retired  from  business 
and  himself  and  wife  are  living  with 
their  children,  enjoying  their  old  age 
in  rest  and  peace.  Some  old  settlers 
state  that  about  that  time  a  Jewish 
farmer  used  to  come  into  the  city  with 
kitchen  vegetables  which  he  raised  on 
a  farm  near  Chicago. 

The  first  Jewish  auction  store  in 
the  state  was  kept  by  Edward  A. 
Jessel  under  the  firm  name  of  Jessel 
&  Co.  His  son-in-law,  I.  Jones,  was 
his  partner.  He  came  here  in  1855, 
opened  his  'business  in  1856  and  con- 
tinued it  to  1874. 

Mr.  Edward  Jessel  was  born  in  Lon- 
don, 89  years  old,  and  today,  being 
nearly  90  years  old,  he  is  a  fine  look- 
ing old  man.  He  is  an  inmate  of  the 
Old  People's  Home  of  Chicago  and 
seems  to,  enjoy  life  there.  He  is  hale 
and  hearty  and  satisfied  with  his  lot. 
He  claims  to  be  a  'brother  of  Sir  Geo. 
Jessel  of  London,  who  was  knighted 
by  the  late  Queen  Victoria. 

There  were  two  other  Jews  in  the 
auction  business  in  the  early  days  of 
the  Chicago  Jewish  settlement.  They 
were  the  Levi  Brothers.  The  auction 
store  of  Levi  Brothers  was  well  known 
in  the  city  and  vicinity.  One  of  the 
brothers  was  stricken  with  total 
Kindness  and  they  had  to  give  up 
their  business. 

The  first  Jewish  importer  of  fancy 
goods  was  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Abrahams.  He  imported  his  stock,  es- 
pecially albums,  direct  from  Europe 
and  was  very  prosperous  in  his  un- 
dertaking. 

The  first  Jewish  printers  to  estab- 
lish printing  offices  in  Chicago  were 
M.  Hoffman  and  Max  Stern,  and  the 
first  binders  were  Kiss  &  Ringer.  Both 
the  bindery  and  Stern's  office  is  still 
in  existence  but  Mr.  Kiss  has  long 
ago  retired.  Mr.  Ph.  Ringer  is  an  artist 
in  his  line. 

In  the  neighboring  states,  Indiana, 
Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  Jews  settled 


at  an  earlier  date  than  In  Illinois.  In 
Indiana  there  lived  several  Jews  even 
as  far  back  as  1820.  A  Jew  by  the 
name  of  Samuel  Judah  lived  at  Vin- 
cennes,  Indiana,  about  1830,  and  he 
was  then  already  known  as  a  success- 
ful lawyer  and  as  a  prominent  poli- 
tician. General  Usher  F.  Linder  in 
his  "Reminiscences  of  the  Early  Bench 
and  Bar  of  Illinois"  devotes  a  chapter 
to  "Mr.  Samuel  Judah,  a  Jewish  Law- 
yer of  Indiana."  General  Linder 
writes:  "Samuel  Judah  of  Vincennes, 
Indiana,  one  of  the  oldest  lawyers  of 
Indiana.  I  don't  know  where  he  was 
born,  but  I  know  that  his  father  was 
a  Jew,  and  that  he,  himself,  was  a 
Jew.  This  was  in  the  summer  of 
1835.  As  a  land  lawyer  I  don't  know 
that  I  ever  knew  his  equal.  Judah 
was  once  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  in  the  legislature  of 
Indiana  and  I  have  understood  made 
a  good  one.  He  died  at  a  very  ad- 
vanced age  and  I  revere  his  memory 
as  one  of  the  greatest  lawyers  of  the 
northwest." 

We  mention  this  because  we  have 
-been  informed  that  this  Mr.  Samuel 
Judah  of  Vincennes,  Indiana,  was  the 
father  of  a  prominent  lawyer  and  poli- 
tician now  living  in  Chicago.  Both, 
father  and  son,  married  outside  of  the 
synagogue,  and  the  son  takes  no  part 
in  the  life  of  the  Chicago  Jewish 
community.* 

III. 

FIRST  COMMUNAL  ORGANIZATION 

With  the  year  1846  closes  the  primi- 
tive period  in  the  history  of  the  Jews 
of  Illinois.  Chicago  was  still  the  only 
city  in  the  state  where  Jews  lived  in 
numbers  sufficient  to  be  called  a  Jew- 
ish settlement.  There  were  a  few 
Jews  in  the  state  outside  of  Chicago, 
but  they  were  scattered  in  different 
towns  and  isolated  in  various  country 
villages.  Even  in  Chicago  there  were 
not  enough  Jews  to  make  communal 
organization  possible  until  the  yea» 
1847. 

Religious  services  were  held  for  the 
first  time  in  the  Jewish  settlement  of 
Chicago,  on  the  day  of  Atonement, 
1845.  The  temporary  congregation  ~st 
in  a  private  room  above  a  store  on 
Wells  street,  now  Fifth  avenue.  The 
following  persons  were  present  and 
constituted  just  the  requisite  number 
of  adults  for  public  worship,  the  so- 
called  Mlnyan:  Benedict  Shubert, 
Jacob  Rosenberg,  S.  Friedheim,  who 
lived  at  Pigeon  Woods,  west  of  Elgin, 
111.,  the  brothers  Julius,  Abraham, 
Morris  and  Mayer  Kohn,  Harry  Benja- 
min, Philip  Newberg  and  Mayer  Klein. 
The  last  two  officiated  as  readers. 

The  Judah  family  Is  of  Knglish  origin, 
very  old  and  prominent.  It  was  well  rep- 
resented In  Canada  and  the  United  States. 
One  of  the  first  Jews  who  entered  Canada 
with  General  Amherst  In  1759,  as  commis- 
sary officer,  was  Aaron  Hart,  who  after- 
wards settled  at  Three  Rivers,  Canada. 
He  was  born  In  London  In  1724.  Dorothea 
Judah  was  his  wife.  When  Edward, 
Duke  of  Kent,  father  of  the  late  Queen 
Victoria,  visited  Three  Rivers,  he  was 
entertained  there  in  sumptuous  style  by 
Monsieur  Hart. 


290 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


The  second  public  services  were  held 
on  Torn  Kippur,  1846,  also  in  a  pri- 
vate room,  above  the  store  of  Messrs. 
Rosenfeld  &  Rosenberg,  155  Lake 
street  The  cantors  this  time  were 
Philip  Newberg  and  Abraham  Kohn. 
Not  many  more  persons  were  present 
at  this  service  than  at  the  first. 

In  the  same  year  the  Jews  of  Chi- 
cago formed  an  organization  under 
the  name  of  "Jewish  Burial  Ground 
Society,"  of  which  Isaac  Wormser  was 
President.  This  was  the  first  public  act 
by  which  the  Jews  of  Illinois  demon- 
strated their  existence  in  the  state  as 
a  body  corporate.  This  society  pur- 
chased from  the  city  one  acre  of 
ground  for  a  cemetery,  for  which  it 
paid  $46.00.  This  parcel  of  ground  was 
located  east  of  the  then  city  limits, 
along  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan  and 
now  part  of  Lincoln  Park.  This  so- 
ciety existed  but  a  short  time  as  an 
Independent  organization,  when  it  be- 
came merged  In  the  first  congregation, 
which  was  organized  soon  after. 

FIRST     JEWISH     CONGREGATION. 

The  population  of  Chicago  was 
growing  rapidly  and  the  Jewish  set- 
tlement, too,  increased  in  numbers. 
The  desire  and  necessity  to  establish 
a  congregation  strongly  manifested  it- 
self. The  leaders  of  the  Jewish  com- 
munity met  to  discuss  the  question, 
and  they  decided  that  the  number  of 
Jewish  families  was  as  yet  too  limited 
to  support  two  institutions,  a  Burial 
Ground  Society  and  a  congregation. 
The  members  of  the  Burial  Ground  So- 
ciety, who  were  anxious  to  have  a  con- 
gregation established  then  offered  to 
donate  their  burial  ground  to  the  con- 
gregation to  be  established  and  the 
leaders  again  took  up  their  delibera- 


tions and  resolved  to  organize  a  con- 
gregation. 

On  the  3d  day  of  November,  1847, 
about  twenty  co-religionists  assembled 
in  the  dry  goods  store  of  Rosenfeld  & 
Rosenberg,  155  Lake  street,  and 
formed  a  congregation  under  the  name 
of 

"KEHILATH  ANSHE  MAYRIV. 

This  is  the  first  Jewish  congregation 
in  the  entire  northwest.  The  Burial 
Ground  Society  turned  over  its  prop- 
erty to  the  new  congregation  and 
finally  ceased  to  exist.  On  Nov.  4, 
1847,  a  constitution  was  adopted  and 
signed  by  the  following  fourteen  mem- 
bers: Abraham  Kahn,  Jacob  Rosen- 
berg, Samuel  Cole,  Morris  L.  Leopold, 
Philip  Newberg,  Benedict  Schubert, 
Leon  Greenebaum,  Lev!  Rosenfeld,  Ja- 
cob Fuller,  M.  Becker,  Isaac  Worm- 
ser, B.  Stern,  M.  Braunschild,  Judah 
Kohn. 

The  following  oflicers  were  elected: 
President,  Morris  L.  Leopold;  vice- 
president  and  treasurer,  Abraham 
Kohn;  secretary,  Philip  Newberg; 
trustees,  Benedict  Schubert,  Lev!  Ros- 
enfeld and  Leon  Greenebaum. 

The  president  was  at  the  time  of  his 
election  a  young  man  of  26  years.  He 
was  born  in  Laubenheim,  Wurtem- 
berg,  April  10,  1821,  and  came  to 
America  in  1839,  being  then  in  his 

*"In  transcribing  the  Hebrew  n^np 
'tWM  21JJD  the  mistake  was  made  of  ren- 
dering in  the  English  wording  "Kehilath 
Anshe  Mayriv,"  instead  of  "Kehillath 
Anshe  Maarabh,"  meaning  "Congregation 
of  the  Men  of  the  West."  The  charter  was 
obtained  for  the  misspelled  name,  which 
is  the  legal  title  of  Congregation  K.  A. 
M.  to  the  present  day.  We  use  the  in- 
corporated name  wherever  It  is  unavoid- 
able, otherwise  we  render  the  correct 
paraphrase. 


19th  year.  In  1845  he  married  Rose 
Goodheart  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  in 
the  same  year  he  moved  to  Chicago. 
In  1851  he  returned  to  Cincinnati, 
where  he  remained  until  1867,  and 
then  moved  to  New  York,  where  he 
died  October  22,  1889.  His  widow  still 
resides  in  New  York.  He  was  a  man 
of  tact,  of  good  administrative  ability 
and  he  managed  affairs  of  the  young 
congregation  with  wisdom  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  members.  This  was 
no  light  task,  for  the  members  were 
not  all  united  in  regard  to  the  tenden- 
cies of  the  congregation.  Each  mem- 
ber had  ideas  of  his  own  and  was 
eager  to  see  his  opinions  followed  and 
carried  out. 


TEMPLE  K.  A.  M., 
Indiana  Ave.  and  33d  Street,  First  Congregation    Organized    in    the    State. 


MORRIS  L.  LEOPOLD, 
First  President  K.  A.  M. 

From  the  start  Minhag  •  Ashkenas, 
the  ritual  of  the  German  Jews,  was 
adopted,  'but  it  did  not  take  long  be- 
fore demands  were  made  for  a  more 
reformed  ritual  and  more  modern  serv- 
ices for  the  synagogue.  The  leaders 
of  the  congregation  yielded  gradually, 
granting  few  concessions  from  time  to 
time.  The  Piyutim  and  Selichoth  were 
first  abolished,  then  the  hymns  were 
sung  in  the  vernacular  of  the  country, 
the  organ  was  introduced  in  the  syn- 
agogue and  then  a  few  more  such 
slight  reforms  were  adopted.  The  die- 
tary laws  were  still  strictly  adhered  to 
by  most  of  the  members  of  the  con- 
gregation and  they  were  in  need  of  a 
schochet,  a  slaughterer  according  to 
the  Jewish  ritual.  The  vice-president, 
Abraham  Kohn,  went  to  New  York, 
and  there  he  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Rev.  Ignatz  Kunreuther,  whom  he 
recommended  to  the  Chicago  congre- 
gation. Rev.  Kunreuther  was  elected 
its  rabbi,  shochet  and  reader  on  Nov. 
5,  1847,  and  remained  with  this  con- 
gregation for  six  years.  He  was  ultra- 
orthodox  in  his  views,  and  although 
he  was  not  fanatically  intolerant,  when 
he  noticed  that  the  congregation  was 
leaning  towards  liberal  views  of  re- 
ligion, he  resigned  his  position 
and  retired  to  private  life.  He  en-  • 
gaged  later  in  the  real  estate  and  loan 
business,  and  was  quite  successful.  He 
died  in  Chicago  June  27,  1884,  73  years 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


291 


old,  and  is  still  remembered  by  many 
as  an  unassuming  and  quiet  old 
gentleman.  His  widow  died  a  few 
years  ago.  Their  two  married  daugh- 
ters are  still  living  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Godfrey  Snydacker  was  then 
engaged  by  the  congregation  as  reader 
and  teacher.  Mr.  Snydacker  was  a 
man  of  modern  education  and  pro- 
gressive ideas.  It  was  to  be  expected 
that  he  would  teach  the  children  in 
his  new  way  and  imbue  them  with  his 
new  thoughts  of  Judaism,  and  his  en- 
gagement was  quite  a  step  in  advance 
for  a  congregation  which  was  then  still 
strictly  orthodox.  Prom  Kunreuther 
to  Snydacker  was  a  long  stride  in  the 
direction  of  reform;  it  opened  new 
possibilities  in  the  way  of  more  mod- 
ern tendencies,  of  breaking  away  from 
old  traditions  and  established  customs 
and  ceremonies,  which  were  entirely 
out  of  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  the 
times  and  the  life  of  the  new  world. 
What  influence  Induced  the  congrega- 
tion to  take  such  a  far-reaching  step? 
It  was  the  influence  of  a  man  who  was 
a  graduate  of  a  German  teachers'  sem- 
inary and  who  brought  with  him  and 
within  him  from  the  mother  country 
the  force  and  power  of  a  modern  edu- 
cation and  a  systematic  training. 

In  1850  there  arrived  in  Chicago  a 
gifted  young  Jewish  teacher  by  the 
name  of  Leopold  Mayer.  He  was  born 
in  Abenheim,  Germany,  a  village  in 
the  Grand  duchy  of  Hesse,  on  March 
3,  1827.  He  was  educated  in  the  teach- 
ers' seminary  at  Bensheim,  and  for 
four  years  he  taught  in  his  native 
country.  His  first  work  in  Chicago 
was  as  a  teacher  of  German  and  He- 
brew in  private  families.  In  1853  the 
Garden  City  Institute  was  opened,  and 
Mr.  Mayer  was  taken  into  the  faculty 
as  teacher  of  these  languages.  In  the 
Jewish  community  Mr.  Mayer  at  once 
became  a  power,  and  he  used  his  influ- 


form  Judaism  in  Chicago  made  it  pos- 
sible for  later  friends  of  reform  to 
establish  the  "Reform  Verein,"  in 
which  society  Mr.  Mayer  was  one  of 
the  main  moving  spirits,  and  which 
subsequently  culminated  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Sinai  Congregation,  the 
strong  bulwark  of  reform  Judaism  in 
America  today.  It  was  this  Mr.  Mayer's 
influence  which  induced  Congregation 
Anshe  Maarabh  to  entrust  the  instruc- 
tion of  its  children  to  a  progressive 
man  like  Mr.  Snydacker. 

In  1851  Mr.  Mayer  established  in 
Chicago  a  religious  private  school,  and 
for  the  first  time  in  Illinois  he  publicly 
conferred  the  right  of  confirmation 
upon  a  Jewish  boy,  one  of  his  pupils, 
in  the  Anshe  Maarabh  synagogue.  The 
confirmant  spoke  his  part  in  English, 
and  the  teacher  addressed  the  con- 
gregation in  German.  The  confirma- 
tion ceremony  found  great  favor  with 
the  congregation,  and  Mr.  Mayer  was 


REV.  IGNATZ  KUNREUTHER. 

ence  to  bring  about  more  enlightened 
and  progressive  conditions.  To  him 
must  be  awarded  the  laurel  wreath  for 
having  paved  the  way  for  reform 
Judaism  in  Chicago  and  in  the  state 
of  Illinois.  His  early,  energetic  and 
sincere  agitation  in  the  interest  of  re- 


LEOPOLD  MAYER. 

invited  in  1852  to  deliver  a  sermon  on 
the  first  day  of  the  Passover  and  he 
accepted.  In  his  sermon  he  strongly 
advocated  the  necessity  of  systematic 
religious  instruction,  which  is  of  great- 
er consequence  than  a  prayer  meeting. 
He  spoke  in  favor  of  introducing  Ger- 
man prayers  and  he  recommended  the 
engagement  of  a  trained  rabbi.  The 
first  day  of  Passover,  1852,  fell  on  a 
Sunday  and  the  synagogue  was  crowd- 
ed, while  on  the  previous  day,  the  Sab- 
bath, it  was  deplorably  empty.  Mr. 
Mayer  raised  his  voice  in  his 
sermon  against  the  neglect  of 
the  Sabbath,  and  his  words 
made  a  deep  impression  on  the 
congregation.  A  religious  school  was 
established  without  delay,  and  Mr. 
Snydacker  was  engaged  as  a  teacher 
and  reader.  The  last  two  offices  were 
separated  from  the  functions  of  the 
shokhet  and  a  new  spirit  en- 
tered into  the  life  of  the  congrega- 
tion. Of  course  we  must  not  deceive 
ourselves,  the  congregation  was  still 
adhering  to  the  tenets  of  the  regula- 
tion orthodoxy  of  that  day  and  was  far 
from  the  desire  to  enter  the  field  of 
reform  Judaism.  We  do  not  intend  to 
create  the  impression  that  with  the 
engagement  of  Mr.  Snydaoker,  con- 


gregation Kehilath  Anshe  Maara'bh  be- 
came at  once  a  reform  congregation. 
We  only  anticipated  somewhat  in  or- 
der to  point  out  the  very  first  attempt 
at  religious  freedom  and  to  designate 
the  men  who  gave  the  very  first  feeble 
impulse  to  religious  emancipation  in 
the  midst  of  the  Chicago  Jewish  com- 
munity. 

The  first  boy  who  was  publicly  con- 
firmed in  the  old  style  niVO  13  in 
the  state  of  Illinois  was  Julius  New- 
berg,  a  son  of  Philip  Newberg.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1851,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
duties  of  an  Israelite  during  the  Sab- 
bath services  in  the  Anshe  Maarabh 
Congregation  of  Chicago. 

The  first  regular  services  of  Con- 
gregation K.  A.  M.  were  held  on  the 
second  floor  of  a  'building  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Lake  and  Wells  streets, 
in  a  room  which  was  appropriately 
fitted  up  as  a  synagogue.  This  room 
was  soon  found  to  be  too  small,  and  in 
1849  the  congregation  leased  a  lot  for 
five  years  on  Clark  street,  between 
Adams  and  Quincy,  where  the  post- 
office  is  now  being  built.  Here  a  syna- 
gogue was  to  be  erected. 

This  first  synagogue  of  K.  A.  M.  and 
the  first  Jewish  house  of  worship  in 
the  state  of  Illinois,  was  dedicated  on 
Friday,  June  13,  1851.  The  auditorium 
was  crowded  to  excess.  The  most  in- 
fluential citizens  of  Chicago  were  pres- 
ent, and  several  co-religionists  traveled 
hundreds  of  miles  in  order  to  partici- 
pate in  the  consecration.  Rev.  S.  M. 
Isaacs  of  New  York  was  the  minister 
invited  to  deliver  the  dedicatory  ser- 
mon. All  the  city  papers  teemed  with 
paragraphs  laudatory  of  his  address. 
We  quote  from  the  Daily  Democrat's 
report  of  the  dedication: 

"No  person  that  has  made  up  his 
mind  to  be  prejudiced  against  the 
Jews  ought  to  have  heard  such  a  ser- 
mon preached.  It  was  very  captivat- 
ing, and  contained  as  much  of  real  re- 
ligion as  any'  sermon  we  have  ever 
heard  preached.  We  never  could  have 
believed  that  one  of  these  old  Jews 
we  have  heard  denounced  so  much 
could  have  taught  so  much  liberality 
towards  other  denominations.  The  ser- 
mon was  appropriate  and  eloquent, 
and  was  preached  from  the  text:  'They 
shall  make  unto  me  a  sanctuary,  so 
that  I  may  dwell  among  them.'  The 
Jewish  ladles  cannot  be  beaten  in 
decorating  a  place  of  worship.  The 
flowers,  leaves  and  bushes  were  woven 
into  the  most  beautiful  drapery  that 
Chicago  ever  saw  before." 

The  following  hymn  was  sung  at  the 
dedication  by  a  temporary  choir  to  the 
tune  of  Old  Hundred: 

HYMN. 

Be  thou,  0  God,  exalted  high, 
And  as  Thy  glory  fills  the  sky, 
So  let  it  be  on  earth  displayed, 
Till  here  on  earth,  as  there,  obeyed. 

This  temple  to  Thy  hallowed  name 
Is  raised,  Thy  glory  to  proclaim; 
Here  we  our  sins'  forgiveness  crave, 
Our  hearts  from  secret  pangs  to  save. 


292 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


Vouchsafe  this  house  Thy  kind  regard. 
Aud  to  our  prayers  incline  Thine  ear: 
0,  let  its  founders  meet  reward, 
And  blessings  its  supporters  cheer. 

O  grant  that  Israel  soon  may  see 

Jerusalem  to  its  site  restored; 

When  all  men's  hearts,  from  sin  set 
free, 

Shall  sound  Thy  praise  with  one  ac- 
cord. 

The  congregation  prospered,  the 
membership  increased  and  the  syn- 
agogue was  soon  too  small,  and  it  be- 
came necessary  to  have  a  larger  house 
of  worship.'  K.  A.  M.  then  purchased 
the  northeast  corner  of  Adams  and 
Wells  streets,  on  which  the  building 
from  Clark  street  was  moved  and  a 
basement  built  under  it  for  a  school 
and  meeting  rooms. 

THE  FIRST  JEWISH  SCHOOL. 

The  day  school  established  by  con- 
gregation K.  A.  M.  of  Chicago  in  1853 
was  the  first  Jewish  school  in  the 
state  of  Illinois.  The  building  was  of 
frame,  the  entrance  to  the  synagogue 
was  on  the  level  with  Wells  street, 
which  was  about  eight  feet  higher , 
than  Adams  street.  Adams  street  was 
not  filled  up  until  later,  and  the  en- 
trance to  the  school  was  on  the  level 
with  Adams  street.  The  school  was 
conducted  in  three  rooms,  or  rather 
in  two  rooms,  one  of  which  was  very 
large  and  was  divided  into  two  by 
folding  doors.  The  older  scholars 
were  In  the  east,  the  younger  in  the 
west  of  these  two  rooms,  while  the 
pupils  of  the  primary  class  were  in- 
structed in  a  small  room  to  the  west. 

This  day  school  of  congregation 
Anshe  Maarabh  existed  for  twenty 
years,  from  1853  to  1873.  A 
number  of  non-Jewish  teachers 
were  engaged  to  instruct  in 
the  common  English  school 
branches  and  Hebrew  and  German 
were  taught  by  the  reader  and  teach- 
er of  the  congregation.  Among  the 
non-Jewish  teachers  were  Mr.  Brews- 
ter  and  Mr.  Gleason.  The  latter  taught 
In  this  school  for  many  years  and  is 
still  well  remembered  by  the  younger 
Jewish  generation  of  Chicago. 

In  1854  Rev.  Isidor  Lebrecht  was  en- 
gaged by  the  congregation  as  reader, 
and  shochet  and  he  succeeded  Mr.  Sny- 
dacker.  Mr.  Lebrecht  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  Marx  Moses,  from  Alsheim,  Rhen- 
ish Hessia,  who  'had  charge  of  the 
school  under  Dr.  Mayer  Mensor,  who 
was  elected  Rabbi  of  the  Congregation 
in  1857.  Rev.  Marx  was  an  excellent 
teacher  and  good  Hazan.  Mr.  B. 
Schlossman,  the  President  of  the  Con- 
gregation induced  the  Trustees  to  con- 
sent to  female  singing,  and  a  new 
mixed  choir  was  engaged,  consisting  of 
Misses  Engal,  Alschuler  and  H.  Adler. 
Rev.  Marx  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Lip- 
man  Levi. 

Mr.  Levi  was  an  excellent 
teacher  and  under  his  instruction  the 
school  was  in  a  very  good  condition. 
Dr.  Mensor  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Sol- 
omon Priedlander.  He  was  first  elect- 


ed as  teacher  and  then  as  Ilabbi  of 
congregation  Anshe  Maariv.  He,  too, 
was  a  very  good  school  man  and  ac- 
complished very  much  in  the  school. 
He  met  with  a  sad  and  sudden  end 
which  cast  a  veil  of  gloom  on  the  en- 
tire Jewish  community. 

In  1861  Rev.  Liebman  Adler  came 
from  Detroit  to  Chicago  to  take  charge 
of  the  pulpit  and  the  school  of  K.  A. 
M.,  and  his  work  and  influence  will 
live  forever  in  the  midst  of  the  Chi- 
cago Jewish  community. 

Under  his  management  the  school 
attained  the  zenith  of  its  usefulness 
and  prosperity.  He  trained  the  older 
pupils  of  the  school  to  sing  in-  the 
choir  during  divine  service.  Teacher 
Gleason,  who  was  an  Irishman,  be-- 
came  the  choirmaster.  For  weeks  be- 
fore Rash  Hashanah  and  Yom  Kippur 
Rabbi  Adler  and  Mr.  Gleason  drilled 
the  children  of  the  school  choir  in  the 
Hebrew  responses.  The  choir  had  to 
attend  services  in  those  days  as  early 
as  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  It  must 
have  been  a  strange  sight  indeed  to 
behold  a  number  of  Jewish  boys  and 
girls  being  led  in  chanting  the  Hebrew 
responses  by  an  Irish-American. 

In  that  choir  were  among  others 
Ben  Goodkind,  brother  of  Dr.  Good- 
kind,  Jacob  and  Joseph  Bauland,  Wil- 
liam N.  Eisendrath,  Joseph  Bateman, 
Maurice  Rosenfield,  now  county  com- 
missioner; Moses  Rothschild,  Simon 
Wineman,  Joseph  Rosenberg,  Julius 
Rosenberg,  Simeon  Straus,  Max 
Frank,  Aaron  Shubert,  Joseph  Homer, 
Isaac  Horner,  Abe  Adler,  Charles  and 
Philip  Axman,  Solomon  Witkowski, 
Joe  and  Mark  \veigselbaum  and  Joe 
Schlossman." 

Among  the  girls  were:  Emma 
Frank,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Rosenbaum; 
Nannette  Frank,,  now  Mrs.  Eugene 
Arnstein;  Rosa  Fuller,  now  Mrs.  M. 
M.  Rothschild;  Ida  Leopold,  now  Mrs. 
Henry  N.  Hart;  Paulina  Wineman, 
now  Mrs.  Adolpli  Loewenthal,  Sarah 
Straus,  now  Mrs.  Samuel  Despres; 
Leah  Adler,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Weisel, 
and  Lena  Clayberg,  now  Mrs.  Asa  F. 
Leopold. 

In  1873  this  day  school  was  discon- 
tinued and  a  Sabbath  school  for  re- 
ligious instruction  exclusively  was  es- 
tablished. A  paid  choir,  consisting  of 
professional  non-Jewish  singers,  has 
displaced  the  children's  choir  some 
years  previous  and  such  a  choir  has 
been  in  charge  of  the  musical  part  of 
the  services  ever  since.  It  is  perhaps 
a  remarkable  fact  worth  mentioning 
that  since  a  number  of  years  the  leader 
of  the  K.  A.  M.  choir,  Mr.  Erst,  a  Bo- 
hemian, and  a  Roman  Catholic  has 
been  singing  the  Hebrew  responses  as 
impressively  as  any  old  Jewish  Haz- 
zan. 

IV. 

FIRST  REFORM  MOVEMENT. 

The  year  1857  marks  the  beginning 
of  very  Important  events  in  the  life 
of  Congregation  Anshe  Maarabh.  The 
consequences  of  these  agitations, 
movements  and  achievements  had 


much  to  do  with  the  shaping  of  the 
subsequent  religious  life  of  the  entire 
Jewish  community  of  Chicago  and 
even  of  the  Jewish  communities  of  the 
entire  state  of  Illinois. 

The  founders  of  Congregation  Anshe 
Maarabh  were  men  of  deeply  rooted 
religious  convictions.  They  organized 
the  congregation  upon  an  orthodox 
basis.  The  flood  of  new  ideas  with 
which  the  rushing  years  deluged  the 
advancing  world,  did  not  pass  over 
them  altogether  unheeded.  The  pow- 
erful force  of  progress  moved  them  a 
short  distance  in  the  onward  march 
of  humanity  and  at  the  end  of  the 
first  decade  of  the  life  of  the  con- 
gregation they  found  themselves 
standing  upon  the  platform  of  a  more 
rational  conservatism.  To  this  day 
held  on  with  main  and  might.  They 
reluctantly  made  concessions  to  the 
wishes  of  the  younger  and  more  pro- 
gressive members  of  the  congregation. 
The  order  of  worship  was  improved. 
An  organ  and  choir  were  introduced. 
The  prayers  were  recited  by  the  read- 
er in  the  vernacular  and  a  number  of 
other  reform  measures  were  adopted. 
But  as  men  of  prudence  and  circum- 
spection, they  advanced  slowly  and 
cautiously,  always  endeavoring  to  re- 
main within  the  lines  of  conservatism, 
never  losing  sight  of  their  main  aim 
and  their  original  intention,  to  perpet- 
uate Judaism,  Jewish  life  and  Jewish 
thought  and  to  leave  their  religion  to 
their  children  as  they  themselves  In- 
herited it  from  their  fathers.  From 
their  standpoint  they  were  perfectly 
right,  for  their  religious  ideas  and 
their  conception  of  Judaism  were 
formed  by  orthodox  training  and  the 
deep  impressions  of  their  childhood 
days  in  the  sdhools  and_  synagogues'  of 
the  German  Ghetto.  But  the  young- 
er members  of  the  congregation,  who 
had  thrown  themselves  with  the  ar 
dor  of  youth  into  the  rushing  waves 
of  the  new  life  in  the  new  world,  who 
drank  thirstily  and  eagerly  from  the 
fresh  waters  of  the  new  wells  dug  by 
the  hands  of  time  in  the  new  era  of 
emancipation  and  human  liberty,  were 
not  satisfied.  To  their  effervescent 
spirit  this  cautious  conservatism  was 
too  slow  and  inadequate.  They  want- 
ed to  ride  on  the  wings  of  tne  whirl- 
wind of  reform,  to  rush  onward  in  the 
chariot  race  of  innovation,  to  create 
a  new  Judaism  on  the  basis  of  the 
modern  dispensation  of  the  new  era 
of  progress.  The  two  elements  of  the 
congregation  could  not  agree  on  a 
compromise.  The  feeling  of  union  was 
constantly  disturbed,  opposition  par- 
ties formed  themselves  in  the  ranks 
of  the  members,  and  the  continued 
agitation  retarded  for  a  time  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  con- 
gregation. "Reform"  became  the 
slogan  of  the  day  with  a  number  of 
the  members  of  $he  Chicago  Jewish 
community.  Dr.  Einhorn's  burning 
eloquence,  which  he  used  with  full 
force  in  the  periodical  "Sinai,"  which 
he  published  at  that  time  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,setthesouls  of  the  Chicago  enthu- 


THE  REIKORM  ADVOCATE. 


293 


siasts  on  fire  and  "Light,  more  light!" 
was  the  cry  on  all  sides.  At  that  time 
Mr.  B.  Felsenthal,  a  German-Jewish 
teacher,  a  young  man  of  considerable 
Hebrew  knowledge  and  rabbinical 
learning,  published  ihis  "Kol  Kore 
Bammidbar"  (a  voice  calling  in  the 
wilderness),  and  his  strong  plea  for 
reform  aroused  the  progressive  ele- 
ment of  the  Chicago  Jewish  commu- 
nity to  feverish  activity.  A  new  con- 
gregation by  the  name  of  "Ohabe  Or" 
(Lovers  of  Light)  was  formed,  In 
which  the  brothers  Leon  and  Samuel 
Straus  were  the  leading  spirits.  They 
engaged  a  minister,  a  certain  Rev.  Dr. 
Cohen,  and  instituted  a  temporary  syn- 
agogue in  which  they  held  public  serv- 
ives.  This  congregation  existed  only 
a  few  months,  but  it  helped  to  influ- 
ence the  members  of  K.  A.  M.,  who 
were  now  divided  into  two  camps,  the 
conservative  and  reform  parties,  to 
stand  in  more  determined  antagonism 
to  each  other.  The  "Ohabe  Or"  con- 
gregation was  the  precurser  of  the 
"Reform  Verein"  and  the  "Reform 
Verein"  became  the  basis  upon  which 
"Sinai  congregation"  was  built  four 
years  later. 

The  election  of  officers  of  the  year 
185,7  was  a  very  stormy  one.  There 
were  two  candidates  for  president  in 
the  field.  The  conservative  party  nom- 
inated Samuel  Cole  for  re-election,  and 
the  candidate  of  the  reform  faction 
was  Ellas  Greenebaum.  The  election 
took  place  on  the  27th  of  September. 
The  fight  was  hard  and  bitter,  for  in 
those  days  the  Jews  took  a  warm  in- 
terest in  the  affairs  of  their  religious 
institutions.  Finally  the  reform  party 
won  the  day  by  electing  the  following: 

President,  Elias  Greenebaum;  vice- 
president,  Benedict  Schlossman;  sec- 
retary and  first  trustee,  Leopold  May- 
er; second  trustee,  Joseph  Lleben- 
stein;  third  trustee,  Bernhard  Barbe; 
fourth  trustee,  Jacob  Benjamin;  fifth 
trustee,  Henry  Foreman.  The  watch- 
word of  the  conservative  leader  was, 
"Peace,  Harmony  and  Moderate  Re- 
form." 

"Equality,  Reform  and  Education" 
was  the  motto  of  the  successful  can- 
didate. 

In  1859  a  Christian  gentleman,  hav- 
ing visited  the  synagogue  of  K.  A.  M., 
gives  the  following  account  in  the 
Daily  Democrat: 

"It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  in- 
form you  that  I  visited  last  Saturday, 
the  synagogue  of  the  Israelite  Congre- 
gation.'Kelilath  Anstoe  Maarabh.'on  the 
corner  of  Wells  and  Adams  Streets, 
Chicago,  and  that  I  have  'been  so  well 
satisfied  with  the  changes  Which  the 
mode  of  worship  in  the  synagogue  has 
undergone,  that  I  feel  obliged  to  com- 
municate this  to  you  and  the  readers 
of  your  valuable  paper. 

"The  said  congregation  was  happy 
In  engaging  the  services  of  Rev.  Marx 
Moses,  late  of  New  York,  as  minister 
and  reader,  who  is  a  great  musician, 
and  possesses  a  very  rich  voice,  and 
such  an  excellent  manner  of  reading 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  that  I  must  con- 


fess I  felt  amazed  about  his  perform- 
ance of  the  sacred  duties.  He  has  also 
introduced  a  choir  of  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen, who  sing  the  Psalms  of  David 
so  sweet  and  beautiful  that  one  believes 
ihimself  to  be  within  the  walls  of  the 
Temple  in  Jerusalem,  listening  to  the 
harp  of  the  pious  King.  When  I  en- 
tered the  ihall,  which  has  been  rebuilt 
and  enlarged,  a  gentleman  showed  me 
to  a  seat  and  let  me  have  his  prayer 
book,  which  is  in  the  Hebrew  lan- 
guage, translated  into  English.  He  was 
also  kind  enough  to  point  out  to  me 
the  several  prayers  which  were  offered 
by  the  minister  aid  choir.  These 
prayers  manifest  and  contain  the 
strongest  wish  for  the  welfare  of  man- 
kind, and  the  highest  praise  and  thanks 
unto  Him,  the  Maker  of  all.  I  can  hard- 
ly describe  how  much  I  was  moved 
when  the  reverend  gentleman,  aid-' 
by  the  president  and  vice  president, 
advanced  toward  the  Ark,  to  take  out 
the  scroll  of  parchment  upon  which 
the  'Torah,"  that  is,  the  Pentateuch,  is 
written.  The  sweet  songs  of  the  choir 
on  that  occasion,  and  afterwards,  when 
the  Torah  was  replaced,  made  such  an 
impression  upon  my  mind  that  I  would 
wish  my  Christian  friends  would  pay 
attention  to  the  worship  of  said  con- 
gregation, held  every  Saturday  morn- 
ing after  half-past  8  o'clock,  and  I  am 
sure  they  will  all  feel,  like  me,  well 
satisfied  and  pleased. 

"I  understand  tihat  the  new  Board  of 
Administration  has  caused  all  this 
change  in  the  mode  of  service;  when 
some  time  ago,  a  stranger,  who  visited 
their  synagogue  would  hardly  believe 
he  was  among  a  civilized  people.  The 
butcher  of  the  congregation,  who  killed 
the  cattle  for  the  Jews  according  to 
their  rites,  was  then  the  reader,  and 
of  course,  butchered  the  service  stil 
more.  But  now  everything  is  so  nice 
and  acting  harmoniously,  that  all 
prejudice  against  these,  our  fellow  cit- 
izens, must  give  way;  and  my  sincerest 
wish  for  them  is  that  they  will  con- 
tinue to  do  as  they  have  commenced, 
and  they  will  soon  fill  their  place  in 
public  society,  since  they  show  by  their 
worship  that  they  are  'better  men  than 
many  think  them  to  be.  The  hall  is 
fine  and  airy,  and  plenty  of  seats  are 
provided  for  visitors,  both  ladies  and 
gentlemen." 

The  year  1861  will  forever  remain  a 
memorable  one  in  the  annals  of  K.  A. 
M.  In  that  year  Mr.  M.  M.  Gerstley 
was  elected  president,  and  Rev.  Dr. 
Liebman  Adler  was  called  from  De- 
troit to  the  office  of  Rabbi  and  teach- 
er. These  two  men,  so  well  beloved 
and  so  highly  respected,  came  to  lead 
the  congregation  just  in  time,  when 
their  efficient  services  were  most 
needed. 

The  question  or  ritual  was  still  agi- 
tating the  minds  of  the  members.  Res- 
olutions were  adopted  in  one  meeting 
and  reconsidered  in  another.  Minhag 
Hamburg  was  proposed  by  one  group 
and  the  Merzbacher  prayer-book  by 
another.  As  a  compromise  Minhag 
Frankfort  was  re-introduced,  but 


shortly  afterwards  again  discarded. 
The  reform  party  of  the  congregation 
was  now  restless  and  dissatisfied,  and 
the  conservative  element  unyielding 
and  persistent.  Towards  the  close  of 
1861-  twenty-six  members  seceded  K. 
A.  M.  and  formed  a  new  organization 
under  the  name  of  "Sinai  Congrega- 
tion." Among  the  withdrawing  mem- 
bers were  some  of  the  brightest  and 
most  liberal  supporters  of  K.  A.  M., 
men  like  Henry  Greenebaum,  Elias 
Greenebaum,  Leopold  Mayer  and 
others.  But  Congregation  Anshe  Maar- 
abh  stood  the  shock  bravely.  Peace 
now  reigned  in  its  midst,  and  under 
the  guidance  of  President  Gerstley  and 
Rabbi  Adler,  K.  A.  M.  started  hope- 
fully on  the  road  to  new  triumphs. 
The  membership  kept  on  increasing  so 
that  the  synagogue  proved  inadequate 
to  accommodate  the  many  worshipers. 

In  November,  1868,  the  congregation 
purchased  the  northwest  corner  v  of 
Wabash  avenue  and  Peck  court,  with 
the  church  building  standing  upon  it, 
lor  the  sum  of  $50,000.  The  church 
was  remodeled  and  changed  into  a 
synagogue,  and  the  congregation  soon 
moved  into  the  new  edifice.  The  or- 
der of  worship  was  again  improved,  a 
new  organ,  an  excellent  choir  and 
other  reforms  were  introduced,  and 
the  congregation  was  once  more 
united. 

On  the  9th  day  of  October,  1871,  an 
ocean  of  fire  swept  over  the  Garden 
City.  Churches,  synagogues,  privatn 
dwellings  and  public  buildings  were 
laid  in  ashes.  Innumerable  documents, 
the  most  valuable  public  records  and 
registers  of  private  possession  were 
buried  in  the  smoking  ruins,  consumed 
by  the  unchained  element  and  irre- 
trievably lost.  Fortunately  the  Tem- 
ple of  K.  A.  M.,  corner  Peck  court 
and  Wabash  avenue,  was  untouched 
by  the  all-consuming  conflagration. 
But  all  its  books  and  documents  were 
irrecoverably  gone.  The  officers  of 
the  congregation  for  1871-1872  were: 
President,  M.  M.  Gerstley;  vice-presi- 
dent, Jacob  Rosenberg;  treasurer,  H. 
A.  Kohn;  secretary,  Joseph  Pollack. 
To  the  indomitable  energy,  liberality, 
circumspection  and  strict  business  tact 
of  these  men  it  is  due  that  the  con- 
gregation escaped  with  little  loss.  Jo- 
seph Pollack,  the  secretary  of 
the  congregation,  was  at  that  time 
clerk  of  Cook  County;  he  had  all  the 
papers,  books  and  refords  belonging 
to  the  congregation  in  a  vault  in  the 
Court  House,  and  there  they  were 
burned  with  all  the  registers  and  deeds 
of  the  county.  The  books,  which  were 
in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer,  H.  A. 
Kohn,  were  also  consumed  by  the 
great  fire,  and  the  congregation  found 
itself  without  any  proof  of  outstand- 
ing indebtedness,  even  without  a  pew 
register  indicating  the  ownership  of 
seats  in  the  temple.  In  spite  of  these, 
as  it  seemed,  unsurmountable  obsta- 
cles, order  was  soon  restored  without 
hardly  an  interruption  in  the  regular 
run  of  the  congregation's  affairs.  At 


29i 


REFORM  ADVOCATES. 


a  general  meeting  held  October  29, 
1871,  the  second  meeting  after  the  flre, 
the  members  showed  their  readiness 
to  stand  by  the  congregation,  to  assist 
with  might  and  main  to  bring  it  back 
to  the  usual  standard  of  financial  pros- 
perity. Mr.  Jacob  Rosenberg,  the  ven- 
erable vice-president,  with  his  usual 
liberality,  refused  to  accept  interest 
due  him  on  a  loan  which  he  had  ad- 
vanced to  the  congregation;  even  the 
Collector  of  the  Congregation,  Marks 
Jackson,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  the 
board  of  administration,  requested  to 
have  $200  deducted  from  the  annual" 
salary  voted  to  him  at  his  last  elec- 
tion. Of  course  this  was  declined, 
with  thanks,  but  it  indicates  the  spir- 
it prevailing  at  that  time  among  all 
those  who  were  connected  with 
K.  A.  M. 

The  question  of  a  change  in  the  rit- 
ual now  became  the  main  topic  for 
discussion.  At  a  meeting  of  the  board, 
December  18th,  on  motion  of  Samuel 
Cole,  it  was  resolved  to  recommend  the 
adoption  of  Dr.  Einhorn's  prayer-book 
in  the  English  translation.  At  a  meet- 
ing of  the  congregation  on  January 
9,  1872,  this  was  complied  with,  but 
action  was  postponed. 

On  March  21,  1872,  Dr.  M.  Machol  of 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  was  unani- 
mously elected  minister  of  the  con- 
gregation, to  take  the  place  of  Adler, 
who  was  released  from  preaching. 

On  April  4,  1872,  it  was  resolved 
that  the  congregation  again  open  a 
day  school.  This  school  was  discon- 
tinued in  April,  1875,  for  want  of 
scholars.  School  was  held  in  a  house 
on  Thirteenth  street,  between  Wabash 
and  Michigan  avenues,  belonging  to 
Lazarus  Silverman. 

The  Merzbacher  prayer-book  was 
adopted  in  January,  1873,  and  the 
same  is  still  in  use  today. 

A  motion  to  have  Friday  evening 
services,  with  choir  and  sermon,  was 
also  adopted  at  the  same  "meeting. 

The  congregation  joined  the  Union 
of  American  Hebrew  Congregation 
January  4,  1874. 

In  the  second  Chicago  fire  of  July, 
1874,  the  congregation  lost  its  syna- 
gogue, on  corner  Peck  court  and  Wa- 
bash avenue,  and  was  now  homeless. 
The  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  on  corner  Wabash  ave- 
nue and  Fourteenth  street,  generously 
granted  the  use  of  their  church  to 
K.  A.  M.,  and  j-egular  Sabbath  serv- 
ices were  held  there  until  the  congre- 
gation had  a  house  of  worship  of  its 
own.  In  December,  1874,  the  congre- 
gation purchased  the  lot  and  church 
building  from  Plymouth  Church,  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  Indiana  ave- 
aue  and  Twenty-sixth  street,  and 
changed  it  Into  a  synagogue.  This 
property,  with  all  furniture,  etc.,  was 
purchased  by  Nathan  Elsendrath  for 
K.  A.  M.  for  $20,000.  The  lot  on  the 
corner  of  Peck  court  and  Wabash  ave- 
nue was  sold  for  $32,000. 

The  synagogue,  corner  Twenty-sixth 
street  and  Indiana  avenue,  was  dedi- 
cated on  Friday,  February  5,  1875. 


On  Kol  Nidre  Eve  of  the  same  year, 
the  practice  of  collecting  in  the  syn- 
agogue contributions  for  the  support 
of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  vas, 
for  the  first  time,  introduced. 

In  a  meeting  of  the  congregation 
held  September  9th,  Henry  N.  Hart 
moved  that  the  gentleman  remove 
their  hats  during  worship,  and  his  mo- 
tion was  adopted  by  a  good  majority. 

Dr.  Samuel  Sale  of  Har  Sinai  Con- 
gregation, Baltimore,  Md.,  was  elected 
minister  of  the  congregation  August 
5,  1883.  He  assumed  charge  of  the 
pulpit  during  the  following  month  of 
September.  He  remained  with  the 
congregation  for  four  years.  He  was 
then  tendered  a  re-election,  which  he 
declined,  and  accepted  a  call  from 
Shaare  Emeth  congregation  of  St. 
Louis. 

Financially  the  congregation  was 
then  in  an  excellent  condition;  it  re- 
ceived more  revenue  in  that  year  than 
in  any  previous  one. 

In  the  month  of  April,  188S,  Rabbi 
Isaac  S.  Moses  of  Nashville,  Tenn., 
was  elected  minister  of  the  congre- 
gation, and  occupied  the  pulpit  of  K. 
A.  M.  for  eight  years  from  1888  to  1896. 

For  several  reasons  he  declined  a 
re-election,  and  in  September,  1896,  he 
organized  a  People's  Synagogue  in 
Chicago,  on  the  basis  of  minimum  con- 
tributions, thus  creating  for  himself 
an  independent  pulpit.  He  is  now  the 
minister  of  Congregation  Ahavath 
Chesed,  in  New  York. 

On  December  5,  1889,  the  southeast 
corner  of  Thirty-third  street  and  In- 
diana avenue,  was  bought  for  the  sum 
of  $36,000,  and  the  present  temple  was 
erected  thereon,  furnished  and 
equipped  at  a  cost  of  $110,000.  The 
synagogue,  on  corner  Twenty-sixth 
street  and  Indiana  avenue,  was  sold 
to  Congregation  B'nai  Shalom  on 
March  16,  1890. 

The  new  temple  was  planned  and 
erected  under  the  supervision  of 
Messrs.  Adler  &  Sullivan,  the  well- 
known  architects.  It  has  190  pews  in 
the  auditorium,  90  pews  in  the  gallery, 
and  a  seating  capacity  of  about  1,500 
persons. 

According  to  the  annual  report  of 
the  president,  submitted  in  1890,  the 
congregation  had  a  membership  of 
155,  and  30  widow  members,  a  total 
of  185. 

The  new  temple  was  dedicated  June 
11,  1891,  and  Drs.  Adler,  Felsenthal, 
Hirsch,  Stolz,  Austrian,  Messing  and 
Norden,  assisted  Dr.  Moses  in  the  ded- 
icatory ceremonies. 

The  congregation  then  had  a  total 
membership  of  194. 

In  December,  1896,  Rev.  M.  P.  Jacob- 
son  of  Youngstown,  Ohio,  was  elected 
to  fill  the  vacant  pulpit  of  K.  A.  M., 
dating  from  March  1st,  1897,  for  a 
term  of  three  years.  Before  his  term 
expired  he  sent  in  his  resignation  to 
the  board  of  directors  and  it  was  ac- 
cepted. 

In  April,  1896,  Mr.  A.  Sinks,  who 
was  teacher  of  the  K.  A.  M.  Sabbath 
Echool  for  over  twenty  years,  was  pen- 


sioned, with  full  salary,  for  life.  Mr. 
Sinks  removed  to  New  York,  where  he 
died  in  1900. 

During  the  absence  of  a  minister, 
from  July,  1896,  to  March,  1897,  Mr. 
H.  Eliassof,  for  many  years  teacher  in 
the  K.  A.  M.  Sabbath  school  and  then 
principal  of  the  same,  officiated  as 
reader. 

On  November  4,  1897,  Congregation 
Anshe  Maarabh  celebrated  its  golden 
jubilee.  In  the  afternoon  special  di- 
vine services  were  held  in  the  temple. 
An  elaborate  programme,  consisting  of 
excellent  vocal  and  instrumental 
music  and  eloquent  addresses  by  the 
president,  Mr.  Henry  N.  Hart,  Rabbi 
Jacobson,  Dr.  Samuel  Sale  of  St.  Louis, 
Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch  and  Rabbi  I.  S.  Moses. 
In  the  evening  the  members  of  K.  A. 
M.  and  their  honored  guests  assembled 
at  the  Lakeside  club  to  partake  of  a 
grand-  banquet,  arranged  by  the  con- 
gregation Among  the  guests  were: 
Judge  John  Barton  Payne,  Hon. 
Thomas  B.  Bryan,  Prof.  W.  R.  Har- 
per, president  of  the  Chicago  Univer- 
sity, and  others.  Mr.  H.  Elias- 
sof, with  the  assistance  of  the 
venerable  Dr.  B.  Felsenthal,  wrote 
and  published,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  congregation,  a  History  of  K.  A. 
M.  This  work  contains  a  complete 
record  of  the  organization  and  devel- 
opment of  Congregation  Anshe  Maar- 
abh. It  also  contains  an  ode,  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  golden  jubilee,  written 
in  classic  Hebrew,  and  an  English 
translation  of  the  same  by  the  author. 
Congregation  Anshe  Maarabh  Is  en- 
titled to  a  share  of  the  credit  for  this 
contribution  to  the  history  of  the  Jews 
and  Judaism  of  America. 

In  January  of  this  year  Dr.  Tobias 
Schanfarber  was  called  to  the  pulpit 
of  K.  A.  M.  and  on  the  15th  day  of 
last  March  he  delivered  his  inaugural 
address  before  a  large  and  apprecia- 
tive audience.  Dr.  Hirsch,  Dr.  Stolz 
and  a  number  of  other  rabbis  of  Chi- 
cago assisted  at  the  installation  of  the 
new  minister  of  K.  A.  M.  and  the  cor- 
dial reception  and  warm  welcome 


DR.   TOBIAS   SCHANFARBER. 

which  they  extended  to  their  honored 
colleague,  marked  a  new  epoch  in  the 
life  of  the  Chicago  rabbis. 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


295 


DR.  TOBIAS  SCHANFARBER. 
was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 20,  1863.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  that  city  and  graduated 
from  the  Cleveland  High  School  in 
1881.  He  pursued  a  course  of  study  in 
Hebrew  under  Rev.  Dr.  Aaron  Hahn, 
then  Rabbi  of  Tiffereth  Israel  Con- 
gregation, Cleveland.  In  1881  he  ma- 
triculated at  the  University  of  Cin- 
cinnati and  the  Hebrew  Union  College, 
being  admitted  to  the  highest  grade 
of  the  preparatory  department  of  the 
latter.  He  received  his  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts  from  the  Cincinnati 
University  in  1885  and  his  rabbinical 
degree  from  the  Hebrew  Union  Col- 
lege in  1886.  During  the  year  1885  the 
college  authorities  permitted  him  to 
assume  temporary  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Toledo,  Ohio,  he  having 
completed  his  course  at  the  university. 
This  is  the  only  instance  in  which  the 
college  authorities  allowed  a  ^tudent 
to  assume  charge  of  a  congregation 
before  he  had  finished  his  full  course 
at  the  college.  In  1886,  he  was  elected 
as  permanent  rabbi  of  the  Shomer 
Emoonim  congregation  of  Toledo, 
Ohio.  In  1887  he  received  a  call  to  the 
Achduth  Vesholom  congregation  of 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind.  After  remaining 
there  about  a  year  and  a  half,  Har 
Sinai  congregation  of  Baltimore  ten- 
dered him  a  call  to  its  pulpit.  He 
was  rabbi  of  Har  Sinai  Temple  for  ten 
years.  While  Rabbi  of  Har  Sinai  con- 
gregation he  introduced  Sunday  serv 
ices.  For  five  years  he  attended  a 
course  of  study  in  Semitics  under  Pro- 
fessor Paul  Haupt  of  the  Johns  Hop- 
kins University.  In  May,  1899,  he  was 
called  to  the  pulpit  of  Shaarai  Sho- 
mayim  congregation  of  Mobile,  Ala., 
having  been  elected  without  the  cus- 
tomary trial  sermon.  He  was  editor 
of  the  Jewish  Comment  of  Baltimore 
for  five  years  and  contributed  leading 
articles  to  the  Baltimore  Sun  and  Bal- 
timore American.  While  in  Mobile  he 
edited  and  published  the  Mobile  Jew- 
ish Chronicle. 

Dr.  Schanfarber  Is  a  scholar  and  a 
thinker.  He  is  a  fluent  and  pleasant 
speaker,  an  able,  earnest  and  conscien- 
tious teacher  in  Israel,  who  deserves 
the  full  support  and  encouragement 
of  the  entire  Jewish  community  of 
Chicago. 

V. 

LEADERS  OF  K.  A.  M. 

We  devote  a  little  more  space  than 
we  first  intended  to  the  history  of 
Congregation  Anshe  Maarabh,  because 
we  think  that  the  first  and  the  oldest 
congregation  of  the  state,  the  mother, 
so  to  say,  of  some  of  the  younger  con- 
gregations of  Chicago,  is  entitled  to 
some  extra  consideration.  In  'the  glor- 
ious record  of  the  proud  history  of 
the  mother,  the  children  will  read  the 
record  of  their  own  origin  and  the  rec- 
ognition of  some  of  their  own  achieve- 
ments. 

The  history  o"  Congregation  Anshe 
Maarabh  can  never  be  called  complete 
•without  th«  special  mention  of  some 


of  its  brave  and  blessed  leaders,  whose 
manly  characters  and  faithful  devotion 
to  Israel's  cause  have  forever  endeared 
them  to  the  hearts  of  their  brethren 
in  faith.  Nearly  all  of  them  are  slum- 
bering in  their  eternal  homes  these 
many  years,  but  their  memories  still 
linger  with  us  and  we  can  never  forget 


ABRAHAM  KOHN. 

them.     The  first    of    these     departed 
eons  of  K.  A.  M.  is 

ABRAHAM  KOHN. 

Mr.  Kohn  was  the  third  president 
of  K.  A.  Mk  He  was  born  in  1819,  in 
Moenichsroth,  Bavaria.  He  came  to 
America  with  his  brother  Moses.  For 
a  time  they  lived  in  New  York,  where 
they  were  joined  by  a  third  brother, 
Judas,  and  the  three  brothers  then 
peddled  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts. 
The  section  of  the  state  in  which  they 
peddled  was  mostly  inhabited  by  Mil- 
lerites,  a  religious  sect  founded  by 
William  Miller  of  Massachusetts,  hoH- 
ing  peculiar  millenial  views.  About 
1843  the  millenium  was  expected  by 
as  many  as  50,000  believers  in  the  doc- 
trines of  Miller.  Business  suffered 
very  much  in  that  section,  as  the  Mil- 
lerites  were  preparing  for  the  millen- 
ium and  bought  nothing.  The  three 
traveling  merchants  determined  to  go 
west.  They  read  in  the  papers  that 
far  in  the  western  country  there  was 
a  promising  town  of  the  name  of  Chi- 
cago, a  good  point  where  to  start  in 
business.  They  bought  a  stock  of 
dry  goods  and  notions,  and  went  to 
Chicago. 

Abraham  Kohn  became  very  popu- 
lar in  the  Chicago  Jewish  communi- 
ty. He  was  a  man  of  excellent  qual- 
ities. He  was  a  truly  religious  man, 
endowed  with  a  fine  mind  and  admin- 
istrative ability,  which  he  cheerfully 
devoted  to  the  service  of  his  congre- 
gation. He  received  a  very  good  edu- 
cation in  his  native  town  and  was 
quite  a  Hebrew  scholar.  He  was  a 
diligent  reader,  and  ruickly  acquired 
knowledge  of  the  English  language. 
He  was  truly  public  spirited.  All  this 
fitted  him  admirably  to  be  a  leader 
among  men.  The  Chicago  citizens  rec- 
ognized his  superior  abilities  and  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  clerk 


in   1861,   under  Mayor     John     Went- 
worth. 

In  1861,  while  Abraham  Lincoln  waa 
on  his  way  to  Washington,  Mr.  Kohn 
presented  him  with  a  beautiful  flag 
inscribed  with  the  following  words 
from  Joshua  (verse  9,  chapter  I):  "Be 
strong  and  of  a  good  courage;  be  not 
afraid,  neither  be  thou  dismayed:  for 
the  Lord  thy  God  is  with  thee  whith- 
ersoever thou  goest."  Abraham  Lin- 
coln was  very  much  pleased  with  this 
flag,  and  acknowledged  the  receipt  of 
the  same  in  an  autograph  letter  to  Mr. 
Kohn. 

He  took  an  active  part  in  arousing 
his  American  co-religionists  to  pro- 
test against  the  Swiss  treaty,  which 
excluded  the  Jewish  citizens  from  the 
treaty  rights  accorded  to  citizens  of 
other  faiths.  He  was  also  an  enthu- 
siastic advocate  of  the  establishment 
of  a  rabbinical  college  in  this  country, 
and  wrote  several  spirited  articles  on 
4&e  subject. 

He  died  in  Chicago  in  March,  1871. 
deeply  mourned  by  the  entire  commu- 
nity. 

SAMUEL  STRAUS. 

Mr.  Straus  was  born  at  Kirchheim- 
bolanden,  in  the  RJhein-Pfalz,  on  Janu- 
ary 22,  1823.  He  graduated  from  the 
seminary  at  Kaiserslautern  and  was  a 
teacher  in  Germany  prior  to  his  leav- 
ing for  America.  He  came  to  Chicago 
in  July,  1852,  married  in  1853,  moved 
to  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  in  1855,  and  re- 
turned to  Chicago  in  1856.  He  joined 
K.  A.  M.  in  1854  and  was  often  re- 
quested by  the  board  of  administration 
to  assist  in  reading  the  prayers,  es- 
pecially on  New  Year's  day  and  Day 
of  Atonement.  In  August,  1853,  he 
was  one  of  the  collegium  of  three 
rabbis  who  officiated  at  the  conversion 
to  Judaism  of  Mrs.  C.  F.  Spiegel,  wife 


>    .  SAMUEL  STRAUS. 

of  Colonel  M.  Spiegel.  The  other  two 
rabbis  were  Rev.  Isidor  Kalish,  who 
came  to  Chicago  from  Cleveland  ex- 
pressly for  the  purpose  of  officiating 
at  this  ceremony  of  conversion,  and 
Rev.  I.  Kunrenther,  Rabbi  of  K.  A.  M. 
Mr.  Straus  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  some  years  later. 
He  died  in  Chicago  July  8,  1878.  He 


296 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


left  two  sons,  Simeon  and  Joseph 
Straus  and  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Sam- 
uel Despres. 

M.  M.  GERSTLEY. 

Mr.  M.  M.  Gerstley,  the  eighth  pres- 
ident of  K.  A.  M.,  was  born  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Fellheim,  Bavaria,  August  17, 
1812.  He  received  for  those  days  a 
good  education.  In  early  youth  he 
went  to  his  brother  In  Vienna,  Aus- 
tria. There  he  became  very  much  dis- 
satisfied with  the  laws  restricting  the 


M.  M.  GERSTLEY. 

Jews,  and  in  1839  he  came  to  America. 
After  living  for  several  years  in  Penn- 
sylvania, chance  led  him  to  Chicago 
In  1848,  and  he  made  this  city  his 
home.  He  gave  much  of  his  time  and 
attention  to  the  various  organizations 
with  which  he  was  connected.  Soon 
after  his  arrival  he  joined  Congrega- 


REV.  LIEBMAN  ADLER. 

tlon  K.  A.  M.,  in  1849.  In  1856  he 
was  secretary  of  the  congregation,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  he  was  chair- 
man of  the  school  board.  For  thirty 
years,  from  1861  to  1891,  he  held  the 
office  of  president,  and  his  strict  busi- 
ness methods,  his  great  tact,  prudence 
and  integrity  were  of  inestimable 
benefit  to  the  congregation.  He  took 
a  warm  interest  in  charitable  work, 
and  was  for  some  years  vice-president 
of  the  Hebrew  Relief  association,  and 
was  actively  Identified  vith  the  work 


of  that  Institution  until  old  age  and 
falling  health  forced  him  to  retire. 
In  1891  he  declined  to  be  re-elected 
president  of  the  K.  A.  M.  for  the  same 
reason. 

After  a  long  and  useful  life  he  was 
gathered  unto  his  fathers  Saturday, 
April  29,  1893. 

REV.  LIEBMAN  ADLER. 

Rev.  Liebman  Adler  was  born  on 
the  9th  of  January,  1812,  at  the  town 
of  Lengsfeld,  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of 
Saxe-Weimar.  His  father,  Judah  Ad- 
ler, was  also  a  teacher.  Until  his 
thirteenth  year  he  received  instruc- 
tion partly  at  his  father's  school  and 
partly  at  a  preparatory  school  in  the 
vicinity,  presided  over  by  a  clergy- 
man. He  also  received  Hebrew  In- 
struction from  Rabbi  Isaac  Hess,  then 
Rabbi  at  Lengsfeld.  His  later  studies 
in  Talmud  and  Rabbinica  he  continued 
under  Rev.  Kunreuther,  the  father  of 
Rev.  Ignatz  Kunreuther,  who  was 
Rab'bi  at  .Gelnhausen,  then  at  the  Jew- 
isn  high  school,  in  Frankfort-on-the- 
Main,  under  Rabbi  Solomon  Trier  and 
Rabbi  Aaron  Fuld,  and  later  in  the 
teachers'  seminary  at  Weimar.  After 
two  years'  study  here  he  graduated 
as  teacher  and  was  given  charge  of  the 
Jewish  congregational  school  of  his 
native  town,  Lengsfeld.  In  1849  this 
school  was  united  with  the  public 
school  at  Lengsfeld,  and .  Adler  was 
appointed  head  teacher  of  the  amal- 
gamated school. 

In  the  year  1854  he  left  his  native 
country  and  emigrated  to  America.  A 
few  months  after  his  arrival  in  this 
country  he  was  elected  preacher  In 
the  Detroit  congregation,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  spring  of  1861.  In 
that  year  he  was  called  to  Chicago  by 
Rehillath  Anshe  Maarabh,  and  here  he 
preached  and  taught  for  many  years, 
and  became  a  blessing  to  the  whole 
community.  His  entire  activity,  all 
the  rich  treasures  of  his  great  mind, 
his  golden  thoughts  and  his  vast 
knowledge,  he  devoted  to  his  congre- 
gation and  to  its  school.  He  held  the 
light  of  truth  aloft,  and  showed  the 
leaders  and  members  of  K.  A.  M., 
who  became  his  warm  admirers  and 
faithful  friends,  the  path  of  righteous- 
ness and  uprightness.  A  whole  gener- 
ation grew  up  to  manhood  and  wom- 
anhood under  his  guiding  love  and  in- 
struction, and  their  hearts  overflowed 
with  affection,  gratitude  and  venera- 
tion for  their  true-hearted  and  learned 
teacher  until  the  name  of  Adler  be- 
came a  household  word  in  the  entire 
Chicago  community.  He  possessed  the 
gift  of  endurance  and  patience  In  a 
very  high  degree,  and  was  kind  to 
every  one.  His  spirit  overflowed  with 
sparkling  humor,  yet  he  could  be  ear- 
nest, and  his  words  of  wisdom  made 
the  deepest  impression.  He  could  win 
the  most  hardened  heart  with  his  gen- 
tleness, and  soothe  the  weeping  soul 
with  the  magic  of  his  sympathetic  ut- 
terances of  consolation. 

Liebman  Adler  was  a  warm  patriot 
in  the  truest  sense  of  the  word.  Dur- 


ing the  year  of  doubt  and  suspense, 
when  the  fate  of  the  Union  hung  In 
the  balance,  and  the  stoutest  hearts 
failed  and  faltered,  he  flashed  rays 
of  hope  and  enthusiasm  into  the 
hearts  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  raised 
his  voice  against  shameful  slavery, 
and  spoke  most  earnestly  for  the 
cause  of  union  and  liberty.  He  in- 
spired the  souls  of  his  congregation 
from  the  pulpit  with  the  justice  of 
emancipation,  and  sustained  with 
hope  the  sympathies  he  aroused.  A 
pamphlet  containing  five  of  his  pa- 
triotic speeches,  delivered  in  the  pul- 
pit of  K.  A.  M.,  was  published  in  1866, 
and  these  speeches  give  evidence  of 
his  abhorrence  of  the  institution  of 
slavery  and  his  love  of  freedom.  The 
fact  that  he  sent  his  oldest,  at  that 
time  very  young,  son  to  enlist  in  the 
Union  army,  to  offer  his  life  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  is  the 
strongest  proof  of  the  sincerity  of  his 
utterances. 

As  a  religious  teacher  and  preacher 
he  was  consistently  conservative, 
clinging  to  old-time  customs  and 
usages,  but  he  never  was  an  obscur- 
ant. His  thoughts  were  clear  and  free 
from  bigotry;  he  fully  understood  the 
demands  of  modern  times,  and  was 
therefore  tolerant  to  the  opinions  and 
claims  of  the  young  generation.  He 
gathered  his  inimitable  sermons  and 
published  them  during  the  last  years 
of  his  life  In  a  work  consisting  of  two 
volumes,  which  he  called  fM'im  rtJ'KX 
after  the  name  of  a  well-known 
religious  book,  which,  during  the  last 
two  centuries,  had  been  very  popular 
among  the  Jews  of  Germany  and  ad- 
jacent countries.  The  press  through- 
out the  country  paid  him  a  just  trib- 
ute of  praise  for  this  monumental 
work. 

Rev.  Adler  was  a  frequent  contribu- 
tor to  the  Jewish  journals  of  this 
country.  He  wrote  many  scholarly  ar- 
ticles on  a  variety  of  subjects.  It  is 
especially  the  "Deborah"  of  Cincin- 
nati, to  which  he  was  a  steady  con- 
tributor for  many  years,  and  in  which 
some  of  his  very  best  efforts  were 
published. 

On  February  20,  1872,  Rev.  Adler 
was  released  by  the  congregation  from 
preaching,  and  elected  as  teacher  and 
reader.  This  was  done  in  order  to 
enable  the  congregation  to  engage  an 
English-speaking  minister,  as  Rev. 
Adler  preached  mostly  In  the  German 
language.  In  the  following  month  of 
March,  Dr.  M.  Machol  of  Leavenworth, 
Kansas,  was  elected  minister,  and  he 
occupied  the  pulpit  of  K.  A.  M.  until 
1876,  and  when  he  resigned,  Rev.  Adler 
was  again  elected  minister,  reader  and 
teacher,  which  position  he  held  until 
1883. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation 
held  November  5,  1882,  the  following 
resolution  was  unanimously  carried: 

Whereas,  This  congregation,  fully 
recognizing  the  long  and  faithful  serv- 
ices performed  by  .  Its  honored  and 
much  esteemed  minister,  Rev.  Lieb- 
man Adler;  be  it,  therefore, 


THE.  R&FORM  ADVOCATED 


297 


Resolved,  That  this  congregation,  in 
meeting  assembled,  hereby  pensions 
said  Rev.  Liebman  Adler  during  the 
balance  of  his  life. 

On  the  15th  of  January,  1882,  Dr. 
Adler  was  70  years  of  age,  and  the 
congregation  celebrated  his  seven- 
tieth birthday  in  a  befitting  manner. 

On  the  29th  of  January,  1892,  Rev. 
Liebman  Adler,  at  the  high  age  of  80 
years,  closed  forever  his  peaceful  and 
blessed  career  on  earth,  to  abide  with 
the  immortals  in  the  realms  of  bliss. 
As  he  lived  so  he  died,  patiently  en- 
during the  pangs  of  a  painful  illness, 
thinking  more  of  others  than  of  him- 
self and  uttering  with  his  last  breath 
words  of  submission  to  the  will  of 
God,  and  sentiments  of  love  and  ad- 
monition to  his  beloved  wife  and  dear 
children. 

During  the  week  preceding  his  de- 
mise and  at  a  time  when  he  was  in- 
tensely suffering  from  very  acute 
pains,  Rev.  Dr.  Liebman  Adler  wrote 
a  paper  which  he  headed  "Mein  letz- 
ter  Wille"  (My  last  Will).  The  docu- 
ment is  a  brief  one,  and  yet  rich  In  its 
contents.  On  reading  his  plain  but 
touching  words  one  cannot  help  being 
deeply  impressed  with  the  outpouring 
of  a  grand  soul  and  of  a  truly  pious 
heart.  We  deem  it  proper  to  publish 
here  an  English  translation  of  the 
same.  K  characterizes  the  man;  it  mir- 
rors clearly  his  inner  life;  it  reflects  his 
ideas  in  its  simplicity.  It  is  the  magic 
melody  of  a  dying  Paganini,  flooding 
the  soul  with  joy  and  the  eyes  with 
tears.  It  is  a  work  created  by  a  mas- 
ter favored  with  rare  inspiration,  an 
idealized  reality,  an  ideal  realized. 

Our  forefathers  in  former  times 
used  to  call  such  a  document  nxix 
(Tzava'ah),  modern  writers  name  it 
"Last  Will"  or  "Ethical  Testament." 
Truly,  Liebman  Adler's  Last  Will  is 
such  an  "Ethical  Testament,"  which 
deserves  to  be  printed  here, — as  a 
mark  of  honor  to  the  venerated  teach- 
er, as  a  grateful  remembrance  of  the 
departed  Rabbi  and  as  an  inspiring 
word  for  us  who  are  still  among  the 
living. 

Adler  and  Gerstley!  The  death  of 
these  two  illustrious  and  faithful 
friends,  leaders  and  benefactors  of  K. 
A.  M.,  closes  an  epoch  in  the  history 
of  the  congregation.  To  K.  A.  M. 
Gerstley  and  Adler  are  not  dead.  No, 
they  are  not  mere  shadows  that 
flitted  around  for.  a  while  and  then 
floated  away  into  the  darkness  to  be 
heeded  no  longer.  To  K.  A.  M.  they 
are  brilliant  rays  of  light  that  will 
forever  shine  on  its  path  to  lead  it  on- 
ward and  upward  to  God's  truth  and 
Israel's  duty. 

REV.     LIEBMAN     ADLER'S     LAST 

LETTER  TO  HIS  FAMILY. 

MY  LAST  WILL. 

I  desire  that  there  be  no  haste  in 
my  interment.  If  there  are  no  signs 
of  decomposition  sooner,  the  funeral 
should  not  be  until  forty-eight  hours 
after  my  death. 

If  the  physician     who     treated"    me 


should  find  it  desirable  in  the  interest 
of  science  to  hold  a  post-mortem  ex- 
amination, I  would  like  that  he  be  not 
interfered  with. 

My  coffin  shall  not  cost  more  than 
*7. 

No  flowers. 

My  funeral  to  be  directly  from  the 
place  of  demise  to  the  cemetery. 

No  funeral  oration. 

Dear  Hannah:  In  view  of  your  del- 
icate health,  I  desire  that  you  remain 
at  home  and  not  join  the  funeral  if  the 
weather  is  the  least  inclement. 

Not  more  than  three  days'  mourn- 
ing in  domestic  retirement. 

I  cherish  the  kaddisch — prayers  of 
mourning  in  the  synagogue — of  my 
sons  and  daughters  as  it  deserves,  but 
I  do  so  only  if  you,  after  the  expira- 
tion of  the  year  of  mourning,  do  not 
omit  attendance  at  the  synagogue 
without  necessity. 

If  financial  conditions  permit,  each 
of  my  married  children  should  join  a 
Jewish  congregation,  the  fittest  being 
the  K.  A.  M.— Kehillath  Anshe  Maar- 
aoh,  "Congregation  of  the  Men  of  the 
West,"  corner  of  Indiana  avenue  and 
Thirty-third  street. 

Those  children  who  do  not  live  too 
distant  should,  if  the  weather  permit, 
and  if  it  can  be  done  without  disturb- 
ing their  own  domestic  relations, 
gather  every  Friday  evening  around 
the  mother. 

My  children,  hold  together.  In  this 
let  no  sacrifice  be  too  great  to  assist 
each  other  and  to  uphold  brotherly 
and  sisterly  sentiment.  Each  deed  of 
love  you  do  to  one  another  would  he 
balm  to  my  soul.  The  example  of 
eleven  children  of  one  father  who 
stand  together  in  love  and  trust  would 
be  to  his  grave  a  better  decoration 
than  the  most  magnificent  wreath  of 
flowers,  which  I  willingly  decline,  but 
leave  to  your  judgment. 

The  small  savings  which  I  leave  will 
come  to  you  only  after  the  death  of 
the  mother.  I  know  you;  I  trust  that 
you  will  not  meet  in  an  unfilial  way 
about  possession  and  disposition.  The 
heritage  which  is  already  yours  is  a 
good  name  and  as  good  an  education 
as  I  could  afford  to  give.  It  does  not 
look  as  if  anyone  of  you  had  a  dis- 
position to  grow  rich.  Do  not  be  wor- 
ried by  it.  Remain  strictly  honest, 
truthful,  industrious  and  frugal.  Do 
not  speculate.  No  blessings  rests  upon 
it  even  if  it  be  successful.  Throw  your 
whole  energy  into  the  pursuance  of 
the  calling  you  have  chosen.  Serve 
the  Lord  and  keep  Him  always  before 
you;  toward  men  be  amiable,  accom- 
modating and  modest,  and  you  will 
fare  well  even  without  riches.  My 
last  word  to  you  is:  Honor  your 
mother.  Help  her  bear  her  dreary 
widowhood.  Leave  her  undisturbed  In 
the  use  of  the  small  estate,  and  assist 
if  there  should  be  want. 

Farewell,  wife  and  children! 

Another  point,  children.  I  know 
well  you  could  not,  if  you  would, 
practice  Judaism  according  to  my 
views  and  as  I  practiced  it.  But  re; 


main  Jews  and  live  as  Jews  in  the 
best  manner  of  your  time,  not  only 
for  yourself,  but  also  where  it  is  meet 
to  further  the  whole. 

JACOB  ROSENBERG. 

Mr.  Rosenberg  was  one  of  the  four- 
teen who,  in  1847,  signed  the  first  con- 
stitution of  Kehillath  Anshe  Maarabh, 
and  for  over  fifty  years  he  was  an  able 


JACOB  ROSENBERG. 

and  faithful  officer  of  the  congrega- 
tion. He  was  born  at  Altenmuhr,  Ba- 
varia, March  25,  1819,  and  came  to 
America  in  1837.  He  was  eighteen 
years  old  when  he  arrived  in  New 
York.  For  four  years  he  traded  through 
New  England  and  New  York  state, 
parts  of  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Indi- 
ana. In  1841  he  came  to  Chicago.  Here 
he  found  Lev!  Rosenfeld,  and  with  him 
formed  a  copartnership  under  the  firm 
name  of  Rcsenfeld  &  Rosenberg.  They 
were  very  successful,  and  in  1845,  they 
were  recognized  as  the  most  prosperous 
retail  and  wholesale  dry  goods  mer- 
chants in  the  West.  Mr.  Rosenfeld  had 
married  a  sister  of  Michael  Reese.  An- 
other sister,  Miss  Hannah  Reese,  came 
to  Chicago  to  visit  Mrs.  Rcsenfeld,  and 
in  1849,  she  became  Mrs.  Rosenberg. 
Theirs  wss  the  first  Jewish  wedding 
ever  known  in  Chicago.  For  ten  years 
Jacob  Rosenberg  was  a  volunteer  fire- 
man, mejnber  of  Company  I,  or  the 
Fire  King.  In  1876,  he  was  selected  by 
the  municipal  reformers  of  that  year  to 
stand  in  the  second  ward  for  alderman. 
He  was  elected  by  a  handsome  major- 
ity and  served  for  two  years  with  cred- 
it He  was  auditor  of  the  Chicago  In- 
dustrial Exposition  for  several  consec- 
utive years.  By  the  will  of  his  brother- 
in-law,  Michael  Reese  of  San  Francis- 
co, $200,000  were  given  in  trust  to  Mr. 
Rosenberg  and  Mrs.  Rosenfeld,  jointly, 
for  benevolent  objects  in  Chicago.  They 
determined  to  build  and  endow  a  hos- 
pital, to  be  called  Michael  Reese  Hos- 
pital. This  they  accomplished,  and  it 
If  now  very  justly  the  pride  of  the  Jew- 
ish community  of  Chicago. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  congre- 
gation, held  July  16,  1888,  Mr.  Rosen- 
berg offered  to  donate  to  K.  A.  M.  a 
tract  of  land  in  the  town  of  Jefferson, 


298 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


containing  twenty  acres,  for  a  burial 
ground,  and  his  generous  offer  was 
gratefully  accepted.  The  ground  was 
properly  inclosed  and  laid  out  in  family 
lots.  This  burial  ground  is  now  known 
as  "Mount  Maariv  Cemetery,"  In  Dun- 
ning station,  on  the  Northwestern  rail- 
road. 

Mr.  Rosenberg  died  March  31,  1900. 
In  his  will  he  bequeathed  nearly  $  10,000 
to  charity.  The  congregation  reserved  a 
large  plot  of  ground  in  the  center  of 
the  cemetery  for  the  Rosenberg  fami- 
ly. Here  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rosenberg,  his 
noble  wife,  who  was  a  true  mother  In 
Israel,  who  died  January  16,  1890,  are 
now  resting  side  by  side  In  eternal 
slumber.  A  beautiful  monument  of 
white  marble  stands  in  the  center  of 
the  lot  and  the  Hebrew  Inscriptions  en- 
graved on  the  stone  tell  the  story  of 
their  good  deeds  In  plain  but  earnest 
words  of  truth. 

Pour  children,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters,  survive  them.  They  are 
Julius,  Bernard,  Mrs.  Dr.  M.  Man- 
helmer  and  Mrs.  Maurice  Rosenfeld. 

HENRY  N.   HART. 

To  tell  the  story  of  the  past  good 
life  of  the  noble  dead~and  to  recount 
their  deeds  of  kindness  and  benevo- 
lence, is  the  duty  of  the  historian 
which  he  owes  to  their  sacred  memory. 
But  to  record  the  unselfish  devotion  of 
the  living  leaders  of  Israel  to  Judaism, 
to  Jewish  life  and  Jewish  thought,  is  a 


HENRY  N.  HART. 

privilege  and  a  pleasure  which  the 
reader  shares  with  the  writer,  for  the 
Interest  of  man  is  deeper  and  warmer 
in  the  achievements  of  the  living  than 
in  the  closed  account  of  the  once  ac- 
complished deeds  of  the  dead. 

Mr.  Henry  N.  Hart,  the  present  pres- 
ident of  Congregation  Anshe  Maarabh, 
has  always  taken  such  a  lively  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  the  congregation  that 
no  step  of  importance  was  ever  under- 
taken in  K.  A.  M.  since  he  became  a 
member,  without  his  wise  and  watchful 
co-operation.  In  fact,  many  of  the  best 
and  most  beneficial  measures  which  ths 
congregation  has  adopted  during  the 
last  twenty-five  years,  were  intro- 
duced or  instigated  by  Mr.  Hart.  While 


he  zealously  watched  with  his  fellow 
members  over  the  preservation  of  the 
congregation;  while  he  earnestly 
sought  with  them  to  retain  the  true 
Jewish  spirit  in  the  midst  of  K.  A.  M., 
he  at  the  same  time  endeavored  to 
place  his  beloved  congregation  within 
the  reach  of  the  rays  of  modern  life, 
of  progressive  decorum  and  decorous 
progress.  Truly  the  mantle  of  Elijah, 
(Gerstly),  has  fallen  upon  a  worthy 
Elisha! 

On  September  6,  1891,  Mr.  Hart  was 
unanimously  elected  president  of  K..  A. 
M.  During  the  nine  consecutive  years 
he  was  annually  re-elected  to  this  hon- 
orable office,  and  often  against  his  ex- 
pressed wish  to  retire. 

Henry  N.  Hart  was  born  in  Eppels- 
heim,  Rhenish  Hessia,  in  1838.  He 
came  to  America  in  1854  with  his  eld- 
er brother,  Abraham,  and  they  settled 
in  Chicago.  Twenty-seven  years  ago 
he  joined  K.  A.  M..  Since  a  number  of 
years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  United  He- 
brew Charities,  and  chairman  of  the 
Michael  Reese  Hospital  Committee. 
He  is  also  a  director  of  the  Humane 
Society  and  devotes  much  of  his  valu- 
able time  to  charitable  work. 

President  Hart  is  assisted  in  the 
management  of  the  affairs  of  the  con- 
gregation by  four  officers  and  ten  di- 
rectors, who,  with  the  president,  con- 
stitute the  Board  of  Administration. 
The  present  officers  are:  David  Worm- 
ser,  vice-president;  Henry  Gerstley, 
treasurer;  Israel  Cowen,  recording  sec- 
retary, and  Jacob  Newman,  Jr.,  finan- 
cial secretary.  The  directors  are:  Jo- 
seph M.  Schnadig,  J.  Aaron,  David 
Pfaelzer,  Leo  Polachek,  J.  N.  Strauss, 
Samuel  Spitz,  L.  H.  Freiberger,  Louis 
Benjamin,  Sig.  Silberman  and  A.  H. 
Kohn. 

V. 

NEW  ORGANIZATIONS. 

THE        HEBREW        BENEVOLENT 
SOCIETY. 

This  institution  was  organized  in 
Chicago  by  a  number  of  young  Jews 
in  1851.  The  aims  and  objects  of  the 
society  can  best  be  learned  from  the 
preamble  to  the  first  constitution  and 
by-laws  of  the  association.  The  title 
page  is  missing  in  the  printed  copy 
which  we  have  before  us,  and  we  are 
therefore  unable  to  give  the  year  of 
its  publication.  The  preamble  reads  as 
follows: 

PREAMBLE. 

"Whereas,  the  hand  of  Providence  Is 
held  over  us  we  are  prompted  by  a 
sense  of  duty  and  brotherly  love  to  pro- 
mote our  interest  and  mutual  assist- 
ance for  the-  welfare,  happiness  and 
protection  to  each  other;  and  as  the 
republican  laws  of  the  United  States, 
founded  on  equality  and  toleration  to 
all  men,  either  citizens  or  sojourners, 
grant  the  right  to  associate  for  lawful 
and  good  purposes;  therefore,  we 
signers,  do  associate  together  to  pro- 
vide in  time  of  health  for  each  other; 
for  times  of  need  and  sickness  to  which 


the  human  frame  is  liable;  and  also 
to  pay  the  last  duty  and  homage  in 
what  all  living  must  fall;  and  being 
anxious  while  we  are  able  to  do  good 
and  to  assist  our  brethren  and  fellow- 
men  while  life  Is  granted  to  us;  there- 
fore, we  have  formed  ourselves  into  a 
body  corporate  by  the  name  and  style 
of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society  of 
Chicago,  in  the  county  of  Cook,  state 
of  Illinois,  and  have  agreed,  and  by 
these  presents  do  agree,  that  the  fol- 
lowing shall  be  our  constitution  and 
by-laws  by  which  we  mutually  assent 
to  be  governed." 

Prom  this  document  we  learn  plainly 
that  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society 
was  organized  for  the  mutual  benefit 
of  its  members,  to  aid  each  other  In 
need,  to  nurse  the  sick  and  to  give 
proper  burial  to  the  dead.  Following 
are  the  names  of  the  organizers :  Moses 
Rubel,  Michael  Greenebaum,  Mayer  L. 
Klein,  Ellas  Greenebaum,  Levi  Klein, 
and  Isaac  Wolf. 

This  society  purchased  for  $600 
three  acres  of  ground  in  the  town  of 
Lake  View,  a  little  south  of  Graceland 
Cemetery  and  laid  it  out  as  a  burial 
ground.  The  society  was  about  to  dis- 
solve in  1852  for  want  of  support,  when 
new  members,  partly  of  those  who 
lived  here  for  some  time  and  partly 
new  arrivals,  among  whom  were: 
Ralph  Guthman,  J.  Liebenstein,  I. 
Greensfelder,  Henry  Greenebaum,  A. 
Hart,  B.  Schoeneman,  Moses  Shields. 
J.  M.  Stine,  Leopold  Mayer,  Lazarus 
Silberman,  Julius  Rosenthal,  Ben  and 
Aaron  Caihn,  L.  Wampold  and  Mar- 
cus M.  Spiegel. 

For  nearly  twenty  years  the  Hebrew 
Benevolent  Society  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  good  work.  It  was  an 
essential  factor  in  the  development  of 
the  Chicago  Jewish  community.  Mr. 
Michael  Greenebaum  was  the  first 
president  of  this  society.  The  mem- 
bers met  once  a  month  and  their  meet- 
ings were  well  attended  and  orderly, 
In  contrast  to  other  Jewish  meetings  of 
those  times.  The  members  were  ani- 
mated by  an  earnest  desire  to  do  good, 
to  learn  and  to  improve.  The  society 
became  a  strong  support  in  the  subse- 
quent organization  and  growth  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Relief  Association,  and 
as  a  promoter  of  Jewish  reform  In  the 
congregation. 

Mr.  Isaac  Greenefelder,  the  president 
of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  of  Chi- 
cago, relates  that  at  a  festival  cele- 
brated at  his  house  by  the  members 
of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society  In 
1861  one  of  the  members,  Anton  Her- 
zog,  bought  the  privilege  of  "Bensch- 
en,"  saying  grace  after  meal,  for  which 
he  paid  $25.00.  This  sum  was  the 
nucleus  of  a  fund  for  a  hospital. 

The  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society  still 
owns  the  burial  ground  near  Graceland 
and  exists  nominally.  It  meets  once 
a  year,  in  March,  to  elect  officers.  The 
present  officers  are:  President,  Simon 
Rubel,  son  of  the  first  member,  Moses 
Rubel;  vice-president,  Jos.  R.  Beiers- 
dorf;  treasurer,  L.  E.  Lebolt;  secr»- 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


tary,   L.    Sonnenschein.    The    society 
has  123  members. 

CONGREGATION  B'NAI  SHOLOM. 

Until  about  the  year  1850  the  Jewish 
community  of  Chicago  consisted  almost 
entirely  of  emigrants  from  southern 
Germany,  Bavaria  and  the  Rhenish 
Palatinate.  In  1850  a  number  of  Jews 
arrived,  who  hailed  from  the  Prussian 
province  of  Posen  and  adjacent  parts 
of  Germany.  Their  numbers  kept  on 
Increasing  from  year  to  year.  Among 
the  first  to  come  to  Chicago  were  the 
following:  Solomon  Harris,  J.  Lewis, 


the  Jewish  settlement  in  Chicago  there 
was  no  affiliation  between  the  Polish 
Jews  or  the  "Herzogthuemer,"  as  the 
Jews  coming  from  the  Prussian  prov- 
ince of  Posen  were  called,  and  the 
German  Jews  as  a  body,  neither  In 
charitable  matters  nor  otherwise,  and 
therefore  In  May,  1852,  the  Posner  Jews 
organized  a  congregation  for  them- 
selves under  the  name  of  "B'nal  Sho- 
lom." 

The  second  Jewish  congregation  was 
organized  by  eleven  members  on  a 
strictly  orthodox  basis.  The  first  ser- 
vices were  held  in  a  room  above  the 


TEMPLE  B'NAI   SHOLEM. 


C.  Sunrmerfield,  Jacob  Peiser,  M.  Mor- 
ris, S.  Marks,  Jonas  Moore,  David  Wit- 
kowski  and  Jacob  Frost.  A  little  later 
came:  Charles  Kozminski,  Charles 
Cohn,  J.  Gelder,  E.  Henoch,  the  Hefter 
brothers,  and  Isaac  Glogosky;  after- 
wards Livingston. 

The  entire  population  of  Chicago  at 
that  time  did  not  exceed  20,000,  and  the 
Jewish  community  consisted  of  about 
30  families  and  a  few  young  unmarried 
men.  Third  and  Fourth  avenues  were 
the  main  Jewish  residence  streets.  Sil- 
vester Hotel,  on  Randolph  near  Wells 
•treet,  was  the  only  Jewish  hotel  in  the 
City.  During  the  first  decade  or  so  of 


clothing  store  of  S.  Harris,  on  Clark 
street  between  Washington  and  Mad- 
ison streets.  Rev.  Alexander  officiated. 
The  congregation  adopted  Minhag  Po- 
len.  Mr.  S.  Harris  was  elected  first 
president.  Mr.  Henry  Greenebaum, 
who  was  a  member  of  Congregation 
Anshe  Maarabh,  became  also  a  member 
of  this  congregation  for  the  purpose  of 
filling  the  office  of  secretary.  He  never 
attended  the  services  of  Kehllla  B'nai 
Sholom.  In  1855  the  Anshe  Maarabh 
congregation  passed  a  law  forbidding 
its  members  from  holding  member- 
ship in  any  other  congregation,  and 
Mr.  Greenebaum  resigned  his  member- 


ship In  Congregation  B'nal  Sholom. 
In  1855  the  congregation  worshiped  in 
rooms  over  Kendall's  bakery,  corner 
Dearborn  and  Washington  streets; 
they  then  removed  to  the  building  cor- 
ner Clark  and  Jackson  streets,  where 
the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel  now  stands. 
In  1864  they  bought  75  feet  on  Harri- 
son street,  near  Fourth  avenue,  and 
there  they  built  and  dedicated  their 
first  synagogue  at  a  cost  of  $20,000. 
This  structure  was  in  its  time  the  most 
beautiful  synagogue  in  Chicago.  This 
house  of  worship  was  destroyed  In  the 
great  fire  of  1871.  The  congregation 
rented  a  church  on  Wabash  avenue, 
corner  Harmon  court.  The  congregation 
suffered  much  by  the  fire,  but  It  rallied 
again  and  through  the  efforts  of  Mr. 
Joseph  Peiser,  at  that  time  president 
of  the  congregation,  they  exchanged 
the  lot  on  Fourth  avenue  for  75  feet  on 
Michigan  avenue,  between  Fourteenth 
and  Fifteenth  streets,  and  erected  a 
synagogue  at  a  cost  of  $23,000.  In  1886 
they  sold  this  property  to  the  Russo- 
Jewlsh  congregation,  Beth  Hamedrash 
Hagodol  Ubnal  Yacob,  for  $31,000,  and 
bought  from  Congregation  Anshe 
Maarabh  the  frame  synagogue  and  lot 
corner  Twenty-sixth  street  and  In- 
diana avenue  for  $28,000.  This  syna- 
gogue they  still  occupy. 

The  following  Rabbis  officiated  In 
Congregation  B*nai  Sholom;  M.  Loe- 
venthal,  S.  Kohn,  N.  Havre,  A. 
J.  Messing,  Henry  Gersonl,  Kauf- 
man, and  again  A.  J.  Messing. 
In  1853  the  congregation  bought 
one  acre  of  ground  from  the  Hebrew 
Benevolent  Society  for  $400  for  a  ceme- 
tery, and  this  cemetery  Is  still  used  by 
them. 

The  progressive  spirit  of  the  last 
thirty  years  has  also  reached  this  Jew- 
ish institution  and  the  congregation 
was  forced  to  yield  to  the  reform 
movement  and  to  make  some  improve- 
ments in  their  worship.  In  1880  they 
discarded  Minhag  Polen  and  adopted 
Minhag  America.  A  mixed  choir  and 
family  pews  were  Introduced  some 
time  before.  The  congregation  con- 
sists of  about  100  members,  and 
they  maintain  a  Sabbath  school, 
where  about  125  children  receive 
instruction  in  Hebrew,  religion 
and  Jewish  history,  on  Saturdays  and 
Sundays.  The  present  officers  of  the 
congregation  are:  S.  Richter,  presi- 
dent; I.  Peiser,  vice  president;  Chas. 
Cohen,  recording  secretary;  L.  Living- 
ston, financial  secretary,  and  Chas. 
G.  Livingston,  treasurer.  Rev.  A.  J. 
Messing  is  the  present  minister  of  the 
congregation."  An  auxiliary  society 
was  organized  by  the  ladles  of  the  con- 
gregation in  1859  under  the  name  of 
"B'nal  Sholom  Ladles  Social  Society." 
This  society  is  still  In  existence  and 
Is  of  great  help  to  the  congregation. 
Mrs.  Chas.  Cohen  was  the  first  presi- 
dent of  this  society. 

Shortly  after  the  organization  of 
Congregation  B'nal  Sholom  and  in  con- 
nection with  it,  was  organized  a  La- 
dies' Relief  Society  and  Relief  Society 
No.  2. 


300 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


LEADERS  OF  KEHILLA  B'NAI  SHO- 
LOM. 

RABBI  A.  J.  MESSING. 
Toward  the  end  of  the  sixties  and  for 
some  time  during  the  seventies  Rabbi 
Messing  was  a  power  in  Chicago,  espe- 
cially with  his  countrymen  of  Prussian 
Poland.  At  that  time  German  was  the 
language  used  in  many  of  the  syna- 
gogues of  the  country  for  prayer  and 
for  sermon.  Even  in  New  York  city 
the  great  Dr.  Einhorn,  Dr.  Kohut  and 
many  other  of  the  bright  lights'  of  the 


REV.  A.  L.  MESSING. 

Jewish  ministry  in  other  large  cities, 
preached  their  eloquent  sermons  in  the 
German  language.  Dr.  Einhorn's  great 
prayer  book,  the  ritual  of  many  Jew- 
ish reform  temples,  which  has  touched 
and  stirred  thousands  of  Jewish  hearts 
to  their  very  depths  by  its  inimitable 
eloquence,  that  burns  like  celestial  fire 
and  inspires  like  the  outpourings  of 
the  undying  prophets  of  Israel,  this 
masterpiece  of  a  master  mind  was 
originally  written  by  Dr.  Einhorn  in 
the  German  language.  Many  of  the 
Jewish  school  books  of  that  time  were 
also  compiled  in  the  language  of  the 
Fatherland.  Most  of  the  rabbis  and 
preachers  of  the  Jewish- American  con- 
gregations were  imported  from  Ger- 
many and  the  Jewish  congregations  of 
the  United  States  were  nearly  all  Ger- 
manized to  the  core.  Rabbi  Messing 
could  preach  a  German  sermon  in  a 
manner  that  appealed  strongly  to  the 
sentiments  of  his  countrymen. 
Congregation  B'nai  Sholom  owes 
much  to  this  once  very 
popular  rabbi  and  it  has  shown 
its  appreciation  of  his  services  In  many 
ways.  He  left  the  B'nai  Sholom  con- 
gregation repeatedly  to  accept  other 
calls,  but  he  always  returned  to  his  old 
love  and  the  congregation  was  always 
happy  to  take  him  back.  He  is  now 
permanently  located  In  Chicago  as 
minister  of  Congregation  B'nai  Sho- 
lom, where  he  expects  to  remain  dur- 
ing the  rest  of  his  life. 
.  Rabbi  Messing  is  a  native  of  Ar- 
genau,  Germany,  and  was  born  on 
June  18,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of  the  well- 
known  Hebrew  author,  Rabbi  Joseph 


Messing,  who  died  in  London  in  1881, 
and  is  the  oldest  of  three  brothers, 
Rev.  M.  Messing,  rabbi  at  Indianapolis, 
Ind.;  Rev.  Henry  J.  Messing,  rabbi 
United  Hebrew  Congregation,  St.  Lou- 
is, and  Simon  J.  Messing,  a  well-known 
merchant  of  Pittsburgh.  From  his 
earliest  youth  Rabbi  A.  J.  Messing  was 
educated  for  the  ministry.  He  received 
his  Hebrew  education  under  Gutt- 
macher  and  Graetz,  and  studied  in  Ber- 
lin under  Ettlinger  and  Zunz.  When 
not  quite  twenty  years  of  age  he  be- 
came minister  of  the  congregation  in 
Militch,  Schlesien.  After  remaining  in 
this  position  three  years  he  was  called 
to  Mecklenburg  Schwerln,  where  he  re- 
mained for  five  years  and  left  that 
place  to  accept  a  call  from  the  Christy 
street  synagogue  In  New  York,  to 
which  position  Dr.  Zunz  had  recom- 
mended him. 

After  but  one  year's  connection  with 
this  last  mentioned  congregation,  he  re- 
turned to  Europe,  and  shortly  after  his 
return  he  received  a  call  from  the 
B'nai  Sholom  Congregation  of  Chicago, 
in  which  position  he  remained  for 
three  years  and  would  have  remained 
with  them  longer,  had  he  not  thought 
best  to  accept  a  call  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  went  June  2,  1870.  In  June, 
1873,  he  returned  to  Chicago  and  again 
resumed  his  position  as  minister  of  the 
B'nai  Sholom  Congregation.  When 
the  second  fire  broke  out  in  '76  and  left 
the  rabbi  and  his  congregation  without 
a  home  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Peoria 
Temple,  but  only  remained  there  a 
short  time,  when  he  responded  to  an- 
other call  from  San  Francisco  and  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  Congregation  Beth 
Israel  in  March,  1877.  While  on  the 
coast  he  founded  a  number  of  congre- 
gations and  established  religious 
schools  throughout  California,  and  in 
the  interest  of  this  mission  he  under- 
took a  journey  to  Australia,  which  was 
quite  successful.  Shortly  after  his  re- 
turn from  this  journey  he  left  San 
Francisco  and  returned  to  Chicago.  A 
son  of  Rabbi  Messing,  Abraham  J. 
Messing,  is  also  a  Jewish  minister,  a 
graduate  of  the  Hebrew  Union  College 
of  Cincinnati,  who  has  charge  of  the 
Jewish  Congregation  in  Montgomery, 
Alabama. 

RABBI  HENRY  GERSONI. 

If  any  Jewish  teacher  has  a  right  to 
be  called  "rabbi,"  Henry  Geraonl  cer- 
tainly was  entitled  to  It  He  was  a 
great  scholar,  a  linguist,  a  journalist 
and  especially  one  of  the  best.  If  not 
the  best,  Hebrew  writers  of  his  time  In 
this  country.  His  life,  alas,  was  a 
failure,  and  he  died  in  poverty,  unap- 
preciated and  unnoticed  by  the  very 
men  who  should  have  tried  their  ut- 
most to  help  and  to  encourage  a  man 
of  his  genius,  for  the  sake  of  his  vast 
erudition,  his  great  rabbinical  learning, 
his  journalistic  talent  and  his  various 
other  glorious  gifts  of  mind.  If  he 
was  a  misanthrope,  quarrelsome  and 
even  abusive  to  a  high  degree,  all 
these  faults,  grave  as  they  were,  were 


not  fundamental  in  his  nature,  they 
were  rather  the  effects  of  his  many 
bitter  disappointments,  the  total  lack 
of  appreciation  by  the  Jewish  leaders, 
the  Jewish  teachers,  the  popular  idols 
of  the  day,  for  whom  it  was  a  very 
easy  matter  to  crush,  to  humble  and  to 
humiliate,  a  deformed,  weak  and  fee- 
ble little  body  like  Gersonl. 

This  sensitive  little  man,  who  walked 
In  the  midst  of  his  people  under  the 
black  shadow  of  the  unfounded  accu- 
sation of  apostasy,  was  easily  goaded 
by  the  constant  call  of  "Meshumod," 
hurled  at  him  from  certain  directions, 
as  the  savage  hurls  the  poisoned  arrow 
on  its  mission  of  death,  into  writing 
the  uncalled-for  articles  like  "Wises" 
Heder"  and  "Jew  Against  Jew,"  in  the 
Jewish  Advance,  and  the  "Historical 
Sketch"  of  the  Russian  career  of  the 
sainted  Dr.Lilienthal,in  the  "Independ- 
ent." During  Gersoni's  stay  in  Chicago, 
the  writer  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
him  often  and  at  last  to  become  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  him.  Gersonl 
has  often  poured  out  his  aching  and 
breaking  heart  to  the  writer  and  laid 
bare  his  whole  past  before  him.  We 
can  testify  that  Gersoni  was  not  a 
"Meshumod,"  that  he  never  left  the 
faith  of  his  fathers  to  bend  before 
strange  gods. 

His  first  article,  onn>  anjn  rrnoi  pub- 
lished in  "Hameliz,"  of  St.  Petersburg, 
Russia,  while  he  was  yet  in  London, 
and  the  second  article,  pvh  ruya 
which  Gersoni  sent  from  New 
York  to  the  same  Hebrew  journal, 
do  not  contain  a  single  word  of 
confession  of  apostasy  on  his  part. 
If  anything,  every  word  of  these 
two  articles,  which  have  been  so  often 
used  against  him,  breathes  the  spirit 
of  true  love  for  and  of  unshaken  loy- 
alty to  Judaism  and  his  Jewish  breth- 
ren. It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  this 
misjudged  scholar  to  set  at  rest  the 
rankling  rumors  and  to  wash  out  the 
dark  stain  from  the  name  of  a  faith- 
ful son  of  Israel.  Professor  Marx  of 
London,  the  venerable  editor  of  the 
Jewish  World,  has  testified  once,  that 
Gersoni  came  to  London  as  a  political 
fugitive  from  Russia,  that  he  was 
helplessly  walking  the  streets  of  the 
British  Babylon  in  a  starving  condition 
and  was  picked  up  by  one  of  the  Chris- 
tian soul  catchers,  taken  to  the  Chris- 
tian Bible  House  and  given  some  food, 
which  the  hungry  young  man  greedily 
devoured.  He  was  set  to  work  first  In 
the  bindery  of  that  institution,  and 
then  at  translating  *he  bible  into  the 
several  languages  with  which  he  was 
familiar.  As  soon  as  Gersoni  found 
out  the  character  of  the  house  and  the 
nature  of  that  which  was  expected  of 
him,  he  at  once  appealed  to  Dr.  Marx, 
for  help,  to  be  rescued  from  the  snare 
of  the  fowlers.  Dr.  Marx  immediately 
released  him  and  helped  him  to  emi- 
grate to  America.  This  Is  all  there  is 
to  the  whole  "meshumod"  story,  and 
no  just  man  will  deny  that  Gersoni 
was  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as  good 
a  Jew  in  this  country  as  anyone  of  us. 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATE, 


301 


Perhaps  any  other  Jew,  living  among 
his  own  countfymen,  could  have  easily 
outlived  this  unwarranted  accusation. 
But  Gersoni  had  drafted  away  from  the 
narrow  confines  of  the  ghetto  and 
sought  to  gain  a  recognition  in  more 
refined  circles,  to  which  he  was  fully 
entitled  by  virtue  of  his  education,  his 
tastes  and  his  talents.  But  like  many 
other  educated  countrymen  of  his,  he 
lost  the  sympathy  of  his  own  country- 
men and  failed  to  attain  the  apprecia- 
tion of  those  Jews  who  pride  them- 
selves upon  the  fact  that  their  cradles 
stood  on  the  Main,  on  the  Rhein  or  in 
the  Grand  Duchy  of  Posen.  Yes,  the 
greatest  fault  of  Gersoni  was,  indeed, 
the  fact  that  he  was — a  Russian  Jew. 
Taking  his  high  education  and  his  bril- 
liant talents  into  consideration,  the 
fact  that  he  was  born  in  darkest  Rus- 
sia and  raised  in  the  gloomy  atmos- 
phere of  superstition  and  fanaticism 
of  the  Heder  and  Yeshi'ba,  sihould  have 
redounded  to  his  credit.  But  this  was 
not  the  case.  Only  one  great  and  good 
man  understood  him,  appreciated  him, 
in  Chicago  and  helped  him  while  he 
was  fighting  the  wolf  from  the  door  In 
New  York.  This  man  was  our  vener- 
able Dr.  B.  Felsenthal,  who  has  a  great 
mind  and  a  big,  warm  and  sympathetic 
heart. 

Henry  Gersoni  was  born  In  1844  in 
Wilna,  Russia,  he  being  the  youngest 
child  of  a  family  of  eleven  children — 
seven  sons  and  four  daughters.  Three 
of  his  brothers  are  rabbis  of  different 
towns  In  their  native  country.  At  the 
age  of  six  he  started  to  go  to  Heder, 
studied  Talmud  up  to  the  age  of  16 
years,  then  he  entered  the  Rabbinical 
Seminary  of  Wilna.  In  1864  he  went 
to  St.  Petersburg,  became  a  student  at 
the  university,  where  he  remained  for 
two  years.  He  was  then  appointed 
tutor  to  Count  Uvaroff's  only  daughter. 
For  political  reasons  he  left  St.  Peters- 
burg in  1866  and  went  to  England.  In 
1869  he  arrived  in  the  United  States 
and  became  teacher  in  Temple  Eman- 
uel  of  New  York,  holding  that  position 
to  1874.  He  was  elected  rabbi  of  the 
congregation  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  the 


same  year,  where  he  remained  two 
years.  In  1876  he  accepted  a  call  to 
the  pulpit  of  Congregation  B'nai  Sha- 
lom of  Chicago,  holding  this  position 
until  1880.  While  in  Chicago  he  edited 
a  weekly  paper  ia  English  and  Ger- 
man, called  "The  Jewish  Advance."  In 
1881  this  paper  was  discontinued  and 
Gersoni  published  and  edited  in  Chi- 
cago a  monthly  magazine  under  the 
name  of  "The  Maccabean."  In  1882  he 
returned  to  New  York,  where  he  sup- 
ported himself  by  literary  work. 

In  1873  he  published  a  volume  of 
stories,  "Gersoni's  Sketches  of  Jewish 
Life  and  History,"  mostly  from  Jewish 
life  in  Russia.  In  later  years  he  trans- 
lated into  English  some  of  the  best 
stories  of  Ivan  Turgenieff,  the  celebrat- 
ed Russian  writer,  who  was  called  the 
Russian  Auerbach.  Henry  Gersoni  die 
in  New  York  on  June  17th,  1897,  aged 
54  years.  He  left  a  widow  but  no  chil- 
dren. A  sister  and  two  nephews,  Henry 
M.  Shabad,  a  lawyer,  and  A.  M.  Sha- 
bad,  a  physician,  are  living  in  Chicago. 

SOLOMON  HARRIS. 

Mr.  Harris  was  the  first  president  of 
Congregation  B'nai  Sholom,  and  the 
services  which  he  rendered  to  the  con- 
gregation during  its  struggles  for  ex- 
istence, were  of  inestimable  value.  Mr. 
Harris  was  born  in  1825,  at  Felelhne, 
Grand  Duchy  of  Posen,  Germany. 

He  came  to  America  in  1844,  and 
lived  for  three  years  in  New  York  City. 
In  1847  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
where  he  married,  and  in  1851  he 
moved  to  Chicago. 

For  many  years  he  held  the  office 
of  president  in  the  congregation,  al- 
ways filling  some  office  after  that,  and 
his  interest  in  the  walfare  of  Congre- 
gation B'nai  Sholom  never  flagged.  He 
became  very  popular  in  Chicago,  made 
many  friends  and  was  always  esteemed 
by  young  and  old.  He  is  a  man  of  a 
very  pleasant  disposition  and  to  hear 
him  tell  his  reminiscences  of  men  and 
measures  of  the  old  days  of  the  Chi- 
cago Community,  is  indeed  a  treat.  He 
seems  to  have  known  personally  every 


prominent  Jewish  inhabitant  of  Chi- 
cago, from  the  time  he  came  here  up  to 
the  present  day.  On  April  5th.  1900, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding,  at  the  Auditorium, 
surrounded  by  six  children,  twelve 
grandchildren  and  a  host  of  relatives 
and  friends.  He  is  now  retired  from 
business  and  is  leading  a  tranquil  life, 
in  company  with  his  good  and  faithful 
helpmate,  finding  full  satisfaction  in 
looking  back  upon  a  past  of  many 
years  spent  in  the  interest  of  his  fellow 
men,  and  the  service  of  Judaism. 

SIMON  RICHTER. 

Mr.   Richter,  the  president  of  B'nai 
Sholom  Congregation,  is  a  son  of  Isi- 


SIMON  RICHTER. 
President  B'nai  Sholem  Congregation. 

dor  and  Hannah  Richter,  and  was  born 
Jan.  10,  1850.  He  came  to  America  as 
a  boy  of  ten  years,  and  has  since  been 
in  various  occupations,  such  as  clerk 
and  merchant.  He  has  been  actively 
identified  with  congregational  work 
and  has  been  president  of  the  B'nai 
Sholom  Congregation  for  eleven  years, 
prior  to  which  time  he  served  as  vice- 
president  and  trustee.  He  is  a  contri- 
butor to  the  Associated  Charities  and 
to  the  Altenheim.  •  Mr.  Richter  mar- 
ried Jennie  Rosenthal  and  they  have 
four  children  living.  ' 


Institutions  $  Q  raanizations 


VII. 
FRATERNAL  ORGANIZATIONS. 

INDEPENDENT  ORDER  B'NAI 

BRITH. 

The  influence  for  good  exerted  toy  the 
Order  of  B'nai  Brith  upon  tlhe  Jewish 
communities  of  Illinois,  was  certainly 
deep  and  far  reaching.  The  lodges  es- 
tablished by  the  order  in  the  state  be- 
£ame  schools  for  citizenship,  for  patri- 
otism, for  education  and  enlightenment. 
At  the  lodge  meetings  the  members 
learned  order  and  decorum,  parliamen- 
tary rules  and  regulations,  speaking 
and  debating,  and  they  were  imbued 
with  a  higher  conception  of  religion, 
charity  and  benevolence.  The  Jews  of 
Illinois,  as  well  as  all  the  Jews  of  this 
country,  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  to 
the  Order  of  B'nai  Brith,  which  can 
never  be  fully  paid;  for  the  benefits 
which  the  Jews  of  America  in  general 
have  derived  from  this  order  cannot 
be  limited  to  any  particular  line  or 
sphere.  They  were  universal  and  ex- 
erted their  influence  for  many  years 
over  the  home,  social  and  religious 
life  of  the  American  Jews.  The  mission 
of  the  order  was  from  its  incipency, 
a  lofty  and  ideal  one.  For  over  a  half 
century  the  noble  leaders  of  the  order 
worked  with  untiring  zeal  for  the  spir- 
itual union  and  material  benefit  of 
Israel  and  the  highest  interests  of  hu- 
manity, and  their  good  work  is  not  yet 
done.  The  order  has  not  yet  out- 
Hved  its  mission.  As  long  as  the  Czars 
of  Russia  and  the  tyranny  of  the  Rom- 
anoffs will  drive  away  thousands  of 
Jews,  to  seek  homes  in  this  land  of 
Liberty,  and  other  enlightened  coun- 
tries; as  long  as  Anti-Semitism  will 
brazenly  resurrect  the  dead  accusa- 
tions of  the  middle  ages  against  the 
Jewish  people;  as  long  as  the  barbari- 
ans of  Roumania  will  treat  the  native 
Jews  of  that  country  as  aliens;  as  long 
as  fanatics  will  defy  the  enlightenment 
of  the  twentieth  century  and  persecute 
our  Jewish  brethren,  there  will  be 
plenty  of  work  for  the  Order  of  B'nai 
Brith. 

RAMAH  LODGE,   NO.    33,  I.  J.  B.  B. 

The  first  lodge  of  the  Order  of  B'nai 
Brith  established  in  Chicago  was  Ra- 
man Lodge.  The  facts  concerning  the 
history  of  this  lodge  we  quote  from 
a  paper  written  by  Henry  Greenebaum 


and  read  by  him  before  the  Zion 
Literary  Society  of  Chicago  on 
Feb.  16th,  1883.  In  this  connec- 
tion we  improve  the  opportunity 
to  extend  our  thanks  to  Mr.  Greene- 
baum for  placing  at  our  dis- 
posal a  book  containing  a  collection  of 
documents  bearing  upon  the  history 
of  the  Chicago  Jewish  community.  This 
book  has  been  of  great  help  to  us  in 
our  work. 

In  regard  to  Raman  Lodge,  Mr. 
Greenebaum  states:  "Ramah  Lodge 
was  instituted  June  15th,  1857.  The  in- 
stalling officers  were  Rev.  Dr.  Lilien- 
thal,  Mr.  Renau,  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  order,  and  myself.  I  had  become 
a  member  of  the  order  two  years  be- 
fore that  time  by  joining  Solomon 
Lodge,  No.  16,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
where  I  went  to  be  initiated,  and  re- 
turning there  again  one  month  later, 
to  receive  all  the  degrees  under  dis- 
pensation. Immediately  after  the  in- 
stitution of  Ramah  Lodge,  I  applied 
for  a  card  of  withdrawal  from  Solomon 
Lodge,  and  joined  Ramah  Lodge, 
whose  first  president  and  vice  president 
were  respectively,  G.  M.  Cohen  and 
Rudolph  Rosenthal.  I  consider  the  in- 
stitution of  Ramah  Lodge  as  the  most 
important  factor  in  the  subsequent 
rapid  development  of  Judaism  in  Chi- 
cago, and  of  an  incalculable  influence 
upon  the  glorious  progress  since  at- 
tained by  the  order  at  large. 

Under  the  able  guidance  of  Brother 
B.  Felsenthal,  ways  and  means  to  pro- 
mote the  intellectual  and  moral  status 
of  the  members,  and  the  Jewish  So- 
ciety generally,  were  made  legitimate 
objects  of  inquiry,  at  weekly  meetings 
of  RamaJh  Lodge,  which  were  regularly 
attended  by  all  the  members,  and  an 
earnestness  prevailed,  akin  to  that 
which  animated  the  leading  spirits  of 
the  French  Revolution.  Here  some 
of  the  best  minds  of  German  and  Polish 
Jews  joined  hands  to  remove  the  mis- 
erable provincial  barriers  existing  in 
Chicago,  and  the  motto  of  the  order, 
"Benevolence,  Brotherly  Love  and  Har- 
mony," became  the  living  motive  of  all 
their  actions  in  the  outside  world.  The 
members  of  Ramah  Lodge  co-operated 
In  every  true  and  noble  movement 
that  was  urged,  either  in  the  Hebrew 
Benevolent  Society  or  in  the  existing 
congregations;  and  after  a  term  of  two 

302 


years  of  self-imposed  preparation,  Ra- 
mah Lodge  had  the  proud  satisfaction 
of  uniting  our  existing  Jewish  Organi- 
zations, Polish  and  German,  in  one 
common  organization.  Jewish  reform 
was  systematically  inculcated  in  Ra- 
mah Lodge,  literary  culture  stimulated 
and  refinement  of  manner  cultivated. 

The  idea  of  the  brotherhood  of  men 
was  rooted  deeply  in  the  souls  of  the 
members,  and  a  determination  acquired 
to  battle  honorably  for  the  elevation 
and  appreciation  of  Israel,  which  has 
left  indelible  marks  on  the  minds  of 
many  of  the  members  of  the  Chicago 
Jewish  Community. 

All  subsequent  "Jewish  Organiza- 
tions have  been  influenced  by  the  im- 
proved and  advanced  spirit,  that  hal- 
lowed the  sacred  precincts  of  Ramah 
Lodge.  This  same  spirit  has  been  felt 
ever  since  in  the  councils  of  the  order, 
state  and  national. 

Among  the  most  prominent  members 
of  Ramah  Lodge  were  the  following: 
B.  Felsenthal,  Herman  Felsenthal, 
Charles  Kozminski,  H.  Goldsmith,  A. 
Hart,  J.  L.  Gatzert  and  L.  Solomon. 
Many  of  the  older  members  have  since 
left  the  order,  and  some  have  left  the 
city,  some  have  died  and  ethers  have 
joined  other  lodges  in  the  city,  in  the 
interest  of  the  order. 

Ramah  Lodge  is  still  in  existence  in 
the  city  of  Chicago,  and  is  continuing 
in  the  good  work,  which  it  has  chosen 
for  its  aim  from  the  very  start.  The 
membership  has  considerably  increased 
and  so  has  its  general  fund  which 
amounts  today  to  many  thousand  dol- 
lars. Some  years  ago  it  had  created 
a  special  widows'  and  orphans'  fund, 
the  interest  of  which  is  devoted  to 
helping  poor  widows  of  members,  and 
to  the  education  of  their  orphaned 
children. 

Prior  to  1858,  efforts  were  made  in 
Chicago  to  establish  different  societies. 
There  was  also  organized  about  that 
time  a  society  which  flourished  a  few 
years  under  the  leadership  of  Ed  S. 
Solomon,  and  was  discontinued  after 
Mr.  Solomon  entered  the  United  States 
Army  of  Volunteers  in  1861.  The  name 
of  this  society  was  "Young  Men's  Fra- 
ternity." It  was  a  secret  organization, 
and  had  two  sister  lodges  outside  of 
Illinois,  one  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and 
one  .at  Detroit.  Mich. 

In  the  meantime  the  Jewish  popula* 


TXHK 


ADVOOATfie 


303 


tion  of  Chicago  (had  materially  in- 
creased by  immigration  from  Europe 
and  different  states  of  the  Union,  and 
the  constant  additions  of  new  comers 
Boon  enabled  the  Chicago  Jewish  Com- 
munity to  expand  in  all  directions, 
and  to  create  new  organizations  and 
institutions,  and  the  Order  of  B'nai 
Brith  found  ample  material  for  new 
lodges. 

HILLEL  LODGE,  NO.  72,  I.  O.  B.  B. 

The  second  lodge  of  the  Order 
B'nai  B'rith  in  the  State  of  Illinois  was 
Hillel  Lodge,  also  in  Chicago.  Dis- 
trict Grand  Lodge,  No.  2,  granted  the 
charter  for  this  lodge  on  January  28, 
1866.  The  following  were  its  charter 
members:  Henry  Greenebaum,  Isaac 
Greenebaum,  Abraham  Newberger, 
Mayer  Hirsch,  Gabriel  Rubel,  Moses 
Goodman,  Solomon  Rothschild,  Levi  J. 
Unna,  Dr.  Bernhard  Felsenthal  and 
Michael  Newgass.  The  first  President 
was  Henry  Greenebaum,  who  took  a 
withdrawal  card  from  Romah  Lodge 
for  the  purpose  of  organizing  Hillel 
Lodge.  It  was  installed  by  Lewis 
Abram,  Grand  Nassi  Ab.,  and  other 
officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 

Hillel  Lodge  readily  followed  in  the 
footsteps  of  its  older  sister,  Raman, 
and  had  soon  established'  for  itself  an 
enviable  reputation.  It  always  re- 
sponded liberally  to  an  appeal  for  any 
good  cause.  It  counts  among  its  mem- 
bers some  of  the  most  prominent  Jew- 
ish citizens  of  Chicago,  and  is  consid- 
ered the  banner  lodge  of  District  No.  6. 
The  membership  of  Hillel  Lodge  is 
now  117  and  quite  a  number  of  young 
applicants  are  awaiting  initiation. 

The  present  officers  are:  Wm.  S. 
Neuberger,  President;  Meyer  H.  Eich- 
engreen,  Vice-President;  David  A.  Fel- 
senthal Secretary,  and  Adolph  Loeb, 
Treasurer. 

As  the  Jewish  population  of  the 
state  kept  on  increasing  the  Order  of 
B'nai  B'rith  gained  a  stronger  foothold 
in  Illinois  and  lodge  after  lodge  was 
added  to  the  ranks.  It  soon  became 
necessary  to  establish  a  separate  dis- 
trist  for  the  western  states,  and  Dis- 
trict No.  6  was  consequently  called  into 
existence.  This  district  now  comprises 
the  following  states:  Illinois,  Michi- 
gan, Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Iowa  and 
Nebraska  with  the  following  lodges  at 
Chicago:  Ramah,  Hillel,  Maurice 
Mayer,  Jonathan,  Sovereignty,  Orien- 
tal, Chicago,  Northwestern,  Herder, 
Alexander  Hamilton,  and  Samuel 
Hirsch  Auxiliary  Lodge,  consisting  of 
Jewish  Youths.  In  the  state,  outside  of 
Chicago,  are  the  following  lodges: 
Ernes,  No.  67,  Springfield;  Zuleika,  No. 
99,  Quincy;  Quincy,  No.  151,  at  Quin- 
cy; Progress,  No.  113,  Peoria;  Island, 
No.  169,  Rock  Island;  Humboldt  No. 
180,  Ottawa;  Abraham  Lincoln,  No. 
190,  Bloomington;  Egypt,  No.  268, 
Cairo,  and  Liberty,  No.  294,  Lincoln. 
Altogether  there  are  twenty  lodges  in 
the  state. 

The  fraternal  organizations  are  not 
strictly  independent  Illinois  institu- 
tions. They  are  in  reality  branches  of 


a  main  body  belonging  to  different 
states.  We  therefore  do  not  feel  jus- 
tified to  devote  much  space  to  them 
in  this  history  of  the  Jews  of  Illinois. 
We  made  an  exception  with  the  first 
two  lodges  and  this  will  suffice  to  give 
the  character  of  the  fraternal  organiza- 
tions. We  only  mention  the  names  of 
some  of  the  other  Jewish  orders  and 
lodges  without  entering  into  details. 
I.  O.  FREE  SONS  OF  ISRAEL. 

This  order  entered  into  the  state  in 
the  beginning  of  the  seventies.  There 
are  nine  men's  lodges  in  Chicago  and 
one  ladies'  lodge,  called  Esther  Lodge. 
They  all  belong  to  District  No.  2.  H. 
M.  Shabad  is  the  present  Grand  Mas- 
ter of  this  district. 

I.  O.  KESHER  SHEL  BARZEL. 

This  order  has  but  two  lodges  in  the 
state,  one  in  Chicago  and  one  in  Otta- 
wa.    It  flourished  for  a  time,  but  of 
late  has  been  losing  ground  very  fast. 
SONS  OF  BENJAMIN. 

Eight  lodges  represent  this  order  in 
Chicago.  Two  are  ladies'  lodges. 

THE  ORDER  B'RITH  ABRAHAM  is 
very  strongly  represented  in  the  state. 
It  has  thirty-one  lodges  in  Chicago, 
three  of  which  are  ladies'  lodges,  and 
two  lodges  in  the  city  of  Peoria. 

THE  WESTERN   STAR  ORDER 
Is  also  well  represented  in  the  state 
by  a  number  of  lodges  in  Chicago  and 
other  places. 

ZIONISTS'  ORGANIZATIONS. 

There  are  three  Zionist  organizations 
in  Chicago  which  are  affliated  with  the 
Federation  of  American  Zionists.  • 
ORDER  KNIGHTS  OF  ZION. 

The  headquarters  of  this  order  are 
in  Chicago.  The  subordinate  lodges  are 
in  Chicago.  The  subordinate  lodges  are 
called  "gates."  There  are  six  such 
gates  in  Chicago. 

VIII. 

THE  ERA  OF  REFORM. 
THE  REFORM  VEREIN. 

The  year  1858  marks  the  beginning 
of  the  era  of  Jewish  Reform  in  the 
state  of  Illinois.  The  battlefield  was 
still  Chicago,  and  here  it  was,  in  that 
year,  when  the  persistent,  courageous 
,  and  valiant  endeavors  of  the  men  who 
did  pioneer  yeomen  services  in  the  re- 
form cause,  like  Leopold  Mayer,  God- 
frey Snydacker,  Henry  and  Elias 
Greenebaum,  Raphael  Guthmann,  the 
brothers  Samuel  and  Leon  Straus,  and 
others,  culminated  in  the  first  practi- 
cal organization.  This  first  reform  or- 
ganization was  called  the  "Reform 
Verein." 

In  1898,  Dr.  B.  Felsenthal,  who  was 
the  secretary  of  that  organization, 
wrote  a  pamphlet  "Beginnings  of  the 
Chicago  Sinai  Congregation,  a  Contri- 
bution to  the  Inner  History  of  Ameri- 
can Judaism."  This  pamphlet  which 
was  published  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Sinai  Congregation,  contains  the 
history  of  the  "Reform  Verein,"  and 
also  of  the  organization  of  Sinai  Con- 
gregation, which  was  the  consequence 
of  the  establishment  of  the  "Reform 
Verein."  As  the  esteemed  author  of 
this  pamphlet  was  closely  connected 


with  both  institutions,  we  deem  it 
best  to  quote,  as  much  as  possible, 
from  his  reports. 

Dr.  Felsenthal  writes:  "In  April, 
1858,  the  present  writer — or  let  us 
hereafter  call  him  by  his  proper  name, 
by  the  name  of  B.  Felsenthal — came  to 
Chicago  and  found  employment  in  a 
banking  house.  Said  Felsenthal  also 
entertained  reform  views.  Some  of  his 
countrymen  and  personal  friends  whom 
he  met  here  were  among  those  whose 
mental  life  was  not  entirely  absorbed 
by  their  business  pursuits,  but  who  had 
kept  and  nourished  within  themselves 
the  love  of  the  more  idealistic  tenden- 
cies of  life,  and  who  especially  wished 
another  state  of  things  in  Judaism.  It 
was  natural  that  they,  he  and  his 
friends,  in  their  private  conversations, 
often  came  to  speak  of  Jewish  affairs 
and  how  to  better  them,  and  in  one 
of  their  private  intercourses  it  was 
agreed  to  invite  a  number  of  friends 
to  come  together  and  found,  if  possible, 
a  society  for  the  purpose  of  fostering 
Jewish  reform. 

"Invitations  were  sent  out  and  '  in 
consequence  of  them  a  number  of 
friends  met  on  Sunday,  June  20th,  1858, 
at  3  p.  m.,  at  the  office  of  Greenebaum 
Bros.  (45  Clark  St.),  and  then  and 
there  the  'Juedische  Reformverein'  was 
instituted.  The  following  were  present 
in  the  memorable  meeting:  Gerhard 
Foreman,  Elias  Greenebaum,  Michael 
Greenebaum,  Raphael  Guthmann,  Isaac 
Greensfelder,  Leopold  Mayer,  Leopold 
Miller,  Samuel  Straus  and  Bernhard 
Felsenthal. 

"Mr.  Leopold  Mayer  was  elected  as 
chairman,  and  B.  Felsenthal  as  secre- 
tary. After  an  address  by  the  chair- 
man, the  secretary  submitted  a  paper 
containing  twenty-seven  theses.  The 
same  were  read  and  it  was  resolved  to 
accept  them  as  a  basis  for  further  con- 
sideration. 

"The  secretary's  theses,  together 
with  a  preamble,  read  as  follows: 

"  'We  are  deeply  convinced  that  Is- 
rael has  been  called  by  God  to  be  the 
Messiah  of  the  nations  and  to  spread 
truth  and  virtue  on  earth.  In  order  to 
fulfill  this  high  mission,  Israel  has  to 
undergo  a  process  of  purification  in  its 
own  midst.  This  abject  will  be  best 
accomplished  in  free  and  blessed  Amer- 
ica, where  no  material  forces  check 
spiritual  progress.  The  special  mis- 
sion of  American  Israel,  therefore,  is 
to  place  Judaism  before  the  world  pur- 
ified in  the  doctrine  and  conduct  and  so 
to  become  a  shining  example  for  Is- 
raelites the  world  over.  In  order  to 
do  our  share  in  this  work,  we  organize 
today  a  Jewish  Reform  Society  for 
which  we  draw  up  the  following  guid- 
ing principles: 

"  'I.    Object  of  the  Society. 

"  '1.  The  object  of  the  Jewish  Re- 
form Society  is  to  awaken  and  culti- 
vate a  truer  conception  of  Judaism  and 
a  higher  realization  of  Jewish  Relig- 
ious Life,  first  among  its  own  mem- 
bers, and,  if  possible,  also  in  wider 
circles. 

"'IT.  The  Religious  Basis  of  the 
Society. 


304 


THE.  RE.FORM  ADVOCATED 


"  '2.  The  Jewish  Reform  Society,  as 
its  name  indicates,  has  a  decidedly 
Jewish  as  well  as  a  decidedly  reforma- 
tory tendency.  In  order  to  explain  this 
more  fully  the  following  fundamental 
views  are  here  laid  down.'  " 

(Here  follow  a  number  of  paragraphs 
in  explanation  of  the  foregoing.) 

"In  a  meeting  held  Jan.  30th,  it  was 
resolved  to  appoint  a  committee,  whose 
duty  shall  be  to  submit  in  the  next 
meeting  a  report  on  the  religious  basis 
of  a  reform  congregation. 

"Many  of  those  who  have  joined  the 
Verein  and  who  favored  the  institut- 
ing of  a  new  congregation  were  mem- 
bers of  Kehillath  Anshe  Maarabh.  In 
fact,  the  majority  of  members  of  the 
Verein  were  still  members  of  said  con- 
gregation. In  order  to  receive  more 
light  on  the  questions  involved  from 
an  authority,  who,  as  such  was  ac- 
knowledged and  honored  by  many  of 
the  Chicago  friends  of  reform,  a  letter 
was  sent  to  Dr.  S.  Adler,  the  Rabbi  of 
the  Emanuel  Congregation  in  New 
York,  submitting  to  him  several  ques- 
tions and  requesting  his  answers  there- 
to. The  first  letter  dated  Nov.  24th, 

1858,  contained   the   following      four 
questions: 

"1.  Is  it  desirable  to  establish  a  new 
Reform  Congregation  here? 

"2.  What  do  you  think  of  Minhag 
America? 

"3.  What  ways  are  to  be  pursued  in 
a  mixed  congregation,  that  is,  a  con- 
gregation consisting  of  members  dif- 
fering in  their  religious  views,  In  or- 
der to  satisfy,  at  least  the  most  urgent 
demands  for  reform? 

"4.  Eventually,  what  ways  should  be 
pursued  by  a  pure  and  unmixed  reform 
congregation? 

"In  a  meeting  held  Jan.  30th,  it  was 

1859,  Dr.  Adler  answered  these  ques- 
tions. 

"On  Dec.  31st,  1858.  the  Chicago 
friends  of  reform,  sent  a  second  let- 
ter to  Dr.  Adler,  asking  his  opinion 
concerning  Einhorn's  Prayerbook.  On 
Jan.  18th,  1859,  he  wrote  his  answer, 
and  therein  he  recommended  most 
warmly  the  new  Prayerbook  of  Dr. 
Einhorn, — "No  Prayerbook  in  exist- 
ence can  stand  comparison  with  that 
of  Einhorn,"  he  said,  and  this,  his 
opinion,  is  supported  by  good  argu- 
ments. 

"In  1859,  B.  Felsenthal  issued  his 
pamphlet,  "Kol  Kore  Bamidbar,  Con- 
cerning Jewish  Reform."  This  pam- 
phlet was  a  factor  of  considerable  pow- 
er in  furthering  the  cause  of  reform  in 
Chicago,  and  in  making  the  plan  of 
founding  up  a  Reform  Congregation  in 
this  city  a  success. 

"The  little  book  was  stirring  ana 
made  a  great  sensation.  In  accordance 
with  a  resolution  passed,  immediately 
after  by  the  Reform  Verein,  a  public 
meeting  was  held,  April  17th,  1859, 
which  was  attended  by  hundreds  of 
Chicago  Jews.  At  that  meeting  Leo- 
pold Mayer  and  B.  Felsenthal  ad-, 
dressed  those  assembled.  It  was  al- 
most in  compliance  with  the  resolution 
of  the  Verein  that  a  second  mass  meet- 


ing took  place  on  Dec.  29th,  1859,  and 
Bern-hard  Felsenthal  addressed  on  this 
occasion,  hundreds  of  his  fellow  Is- 
raelites, who  had  come  to  that  meet- 
ing. 

"During  the  year  1860-61  very  little 
transpired  in  the  Verein.  The  political 
excitements  in  those  years  were  too 
intense,  civil  war  between  the  North 
and  South  was  threatening  and  rapidly 
approaching.  The  minds  of  all  were  al- 
most totally  occupied  by  the  ail-ab- 
sorbing political  question.  After  the  fall 
holidays  of  1860,  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  members  of  K.  A.  M.,  seeing 
that  their  endeavors  to  introduce  re- 
forms in  their  synagogue  was  fruitless, 
left  their  congregation  and  joined  the 
Verein.  In  numbers  and  in  means  the 
Verein  was  now  so  much  strengthened, 
that  successful  steps  could  be  taken 
for  establishing  the  congregation.  A 
committee  was  appointed  of  whom  B. 
Felsenthal  was  a  member,  to  draft  a 
constitution  for  the  congregation  about 
to  be  founded.  In  this  constitution  the 
name  "Sinai  Congregation,"  was  given 
to  the  new  congregation.  On  Feb.  17th, 
1861,  it  was  resolved  to  adopt  Ein- 
horn's Prayerbook  as  the  ritual  of  the 
new  Temple. 

"It  is  meet  and  proper  that,  as  a  mat- 
ter of  history,  we  should  record  here 
the  names  of  those  who  first  instituted 
this  Reform  Verein;  these  were:  Ellas 
Greenebaum,  Michael  Greenebaum,  Ja- 
cob Greenebaum,  Henry  Greenebaum, 
Gerhard  Foreman,  Leopold  Mayer,  Leo- 
pold Miller,  Raphael  Guthmann,  Isaac 
Greensfelder,  Samuel  Straus,  Leon 
Straus,  Bernhard  Felsenthal,  Nathan 
Mayer,  Moses  Rubel,  Samuel  Alschular, 
Isaac  Liebenstein,  Moses  Schields,  Laz. 
E.  Lebolt,  Simon  Haas,  Moses  Hirsch, 
Henry  Kaufman,  L.  Rubens,  and  Isaac 
Waixel." 

DR.  BERNHARD  FELSENTHAL. 

The  name  of  B.  Felsenthal  has  been 
mentioned  so  often  in  these  pages  and 
will  be  alluded  to  frequently  hereaft- 
er, especially  in  connection  with  the 
Sinai  and  Zion  Congregations  of  Chi- 
cago, that  it  is  time  we  should  in- 
form the  reader  more  particularly  In 
regard  to  the  antecedents,  life  and  la- 
bors of  this  teacher  in  Israel. 

Bernhard  Felsenthal  was  born  Jan. 
2nd,  1822,  at  Muenchweiler,  near  Kais- 
erslautern,  in  the  Rhenish  Palatinate. 
His  earliest  education  he  received  in 
the  Elementary  School  of  his  native 
village.  After  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  13  years  his  father  sent  him  to  the 
"Kreisgewerbschule,"  in  Kaiserlau- 
tern,  from  which  institution  he  grad- 
uated in  1838.  When  stijl  at  the  school 
at  Muenchweiler,  he  was  led  into  the 
field  of  Rabbinic  literature  'by  the  dis- 
trict Rabbi,  M.  Cohen,  who  then  re- 
sided at  Muenchweiler.  At  Kaiserslau- 
tern,  young  Felsenthal  continued  his 
Rabbinic  and  taltnudic  studies  under 
Rabbi  Moses  Cohen,  who,  in  1835,  had 
chosen  the  city  of  Kaiserslautern  as 
the  place  of  his  residence. 

In  the  fall  of  1838,  B.  Felsenthal  went 
to  Munich  to  continue  his  studies  at 


the  Polytechnic  High  School,  and  as  a 
"hospitant,"  he  heard  also  lectures  at 
University.  At  that  time  he  devoted 
himself  mostly  to  mathematical  stud- 
ies, and  he  had  formed  the  plan  of  en- 
tering into  tue  Civil  Service  of  Bavaria. 
But  soon  he  was  convinced  that  his 
hopes  in  this  regard  would  never  be 
realized.  Being  a  Jew,  he  could  not  ex- 
pect that  he  would  be  appointed  to 
some  office,  and  so  he  discontinued  his 
studies  in  Munich  in  the  fall  of  1840. 
The  question  now  was  what  to  do. 
Some  practical  course  had  to  be  taken. 


REV.  DR.  B.  FELSENTHAL. 

and  so  young  Felsenthal  made  up  his 
mind  to  become  a  teacher,  and  for  that 
purpose  he  entered  the  Teachers'  Semi- 
nary at  Kaiserslautern.  After  a  two 
years'  course  in  this  institution,  he 
graduated  in  1843,  and  soon  thereafter 
he  was  engaged  as  a  teacher  in  a  small 
Jewish  Congregation,  in  his  native 
Province,  the  Rhenish  Palatinate. 

In  1854  he  emigrated  to  America.  For 
the  first  two  years  of  his  American  life, 
he  was  employed  as  a  tutor  of  the  chil- 
dren of  a  befriended  family  in  Law- 
renceburg,  Ind.  In  March,  1856,  he  re- 
ceived a  call  from  the  Jewish  Congre- 
gation in  Madison,  Ind.,  to  be  their 
minister;  he  accepted  the  situation, 
and  remained  with  that  congregation 
for  two  years. 

Then  he  was  invited  by  some  friends 
to  come  to  Chicago  and  enter  into  a 
new  field  altogether.  He  did  so;  in  the 
month  of  April,  1858,  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago. He  found  employment  as  a  clerk 
in  a  banking  house.  He  led,  as  such,  a 
retired  life,  devoting  his  leisure  time 
mostly  to  talmudic  literature,  which 
always  had  been  very  attractive  for 
him. 

In  the  summer  of  1858,  a  number  of 
younger  Jewish  men  In  Chicago, 
formed  a  society  under  the  name  of 
"Juedischer  Reform verein;"  of  this  so- 
ciety Felsenthal  was  the  secretary  un- 
til it  dissolved  in  1861.  While  secretary 
of  the  Verein,  Felsenthal  published  his 
pamphlet  (in  1859),  "Kol  Kore  Bamid- 
bar; Ueber.  Juedische  Reform."  This 
pamphlet  did  very  much  in  promoting 
the  Jewish  Reform  movement  in  Chi- 
cago. In  the  spring  of  1861,  after  it 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


305 


had  been  resolved  by  the  Reform  Ver- 
ein  to  establish  a  'Reform  Congrega- 
tion, and  the  question  arose,  where  to 
find  a  Rabbi  for  their  spiritual  guide 
for  this  congregation.  The  members  al- 
most unanimously  asked  Mr.  Felsen- 
thal  to  become  their  Rabbi;  they  urged 
aim  to  accept  the  office,  and  in  addition 
to  these  urgent  requests,  letters  from 
the  late  Rabbi  Dr.  Einhorn  and  the 
late  Rabbi  Dr.  Samuel  Adler,  reached 
him,  in  which  he  was  also  urgently  re- 
quested to  accept  the  office;  he  hesi- 
tated no  longer. 

In  June,  1864,  after  Felsenthal  had 
officiated  three^  years  in  the  "Sinai 
Congregation,"  he  was  re-elected  for 
another  term.  A  committee,  consisting 
of  Messrs.  Schoeneman,  Frankenthal 
and  Gatzert,  informed  Felsenthal  of  his 
re-election.  B.  Felsenthal  thought  that 
the  congregation,  being  otherwise  sat- 
isfied with  him,  should  make  his  posi- 
tion more  secure  and  elect  him  either 
for  life  time  or  during  good  behavior. 
To  this  condition  the  congregation 
would  not  consent,  and  in  consequence 
of  this  disagreement,  Felsenthal  re- 
tired. 

A  few  weeks  thereafter,  during  the 
summer  of  1864,  a  number  of  Chicago 
Israelites  founded  the  "Ziori  Congrega- 
tion," and  unanimously  resolved  to  in- 
vite B.  Felsenthal  to  become  their  min- 
ister. In  September,  1864,  he  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  new  position. 

For  twenty-two  years,  that  is,  until 
the  fall  of  1886,  Felsenthal  was  the  of- 
ficiating Rabbi  of  the  Zion  Congrega- 
tion. 

In  1886  Rabbi  Felsenthal  was  pen- 
sioned and  retired  from  office.  Only  oc- 
casionally he  has  since  then  ascended 
the  pulpit.  In  1866,  he  was  greatly  hon- 
ored, by  the  old  Chicago  University, 
with  a  diploma  as  a  Doctor  of  Philoso- 
phy. In  1868  he  published  a  practical 
grammar  of  the  Hebrew  language. 
About  a  year  previously  ihe  had  pub- 
lished "Yuedisches  Schulwesen  In 
Amerika."  In  1869:  "Kritik  des  Mis- 
sionswesens."  In  1878:  "Zur  Proselyt- 
renfrage  im  Yudenthum."  In  1869: 
"Yuedische  Fragen." 

He  contributed  often  to  various  peri- 
odicals as  "Sinai,"  "Jewish  Times," 
"Young  Israel,"  "Zeitgeist,"  "Jewish 
Advance,"  "Reform  Advocate,"  "The 
Menorah,"  etc.  Also  articles  from  his 
pen  appeared  in  the  year  book  of  the 
Central  Conference  of  American  Rab- 
bis, in  the  publication  of  the  American 
Jewish  Historical  Society,  etc. 

On  Jan.  2nd,  1892,  the  members  of 
the  Zion  Congregation,  and  a  number 
of  his  friends,  celebrated  the  70th  anni- 
versary of  the  birth  of  Dr.  Felsenthal, 
by  a  grand  banquet  arranged  in  the 
vestry  rooms  of  the  "Zion  Temple," 
and  on  the  Saturday  previous  a  special 
service  was  held  at  the  Temple  in  hon- 
or of  Rev.  Dr.  Felsenthal,  who  has  been 
their  spiritual  guide  for  so  many  years. 
Dr.  Felsenthal  was  on  this  occasion  the 
recipient  of  a  great  number  of  congrat- 
ulatory telegrams,  letters  and  Hebrew 
poems,  laudatory  of  his  fine  character, 
manly  virtues,  and  scholarly  attain- 
ments as  well  as  a  faithful  exponent  of 


the  word  of  God,  and  as  a  sincere  min- 
ister of  religion  in  the  Chicago  Jewish 
Community. 

The  work  of  Dr.  Felsenthal,  as  a 
leader  in  Israel,  has  made  an  indelible 
impression  and  will  occupy  a  conspic- 
uous part  in  the  'history  of  the  Ameri- 
can Jews  and  Judaism  in  this  country. 
Especially  will  his  pioneer  labors  in 
the  interest  of  the  Reform  Judaism 
claim  the  attention  of  the  Jewish  his- 
torians. In  Illinois  he  was  the  first 
practical  path-finder  of  Jewish  Reform; 
he  sowed  the  seeds,  tilled  the  soil, 
worked  and  watched  with  unabating 
interest  and  energy  until  the  blossoms 
appeared,  the  buds  sprouted  and  the 
fruit  ripened.  As  a  man  he  stands 
prominently  high  in  the  esteem  of  his 
fellow  men;  as  an  American  Citizen, 
he  is  'held  in  great  regard  by  his  fellow 
citizens,  and  as  a  Jewish  savant  he  is 
looked  up  to  by  scholars,  as  a  man  of 
great  erudition.  He  is  an  authority  on 
Rabbinical  questions,  on  subjects  of 
Jewish  history  and  literature  and  one 
of  the  best  Hebrew  scholars  in  this 
country;  he  is  a  profound  thinker  and 
logical  and  forcible  writer  in  the  He- 
brew as  well  as  in  the  German  and 
English  languages. 

Like  the  late  Dr.  Liebman  Adler,  of 
blessed  memory,  he  'has  made  many 
friends  and  very  few  enemies  dur- 
ing his  long  and  useful  career 
in  the  Chicago  Community.  The 
hand  of  time  is  exhibiting  the 
signs  of  old  age  on  his  head, 
and  a  host  of  friends  ardently 
pray  that  our  Father  in  Heaven  may 
lighten  the  burden  of  the  loss,  of  his 
noble,  true  and  kind  helpmate,  and 
that  many  more  years  of  happiness 
may  be  vouchsafed  to  this  venerable 
and  honored  teacher  of  Israel. 

CLAY  LITERARY  ASSOCIATION. 

This  association  was  established  in 
Chicago  by  eleven  Jewish  young  men 
in  September,  1859.  The  object  of  the 
association  was  to  gain  a  more  inti- 
mate union  among  the  young  men  of 
Chicago  and  for  the  promotion  of  lit- 
erature. The  members  were  prominent 
business  men  and  good  speakers,  and 
many  a  spirited  debate  enlivened  their 
meetings. 

The  officers  were:  Henry  N.  Hart, 
president;  D.  J.  Boehm,  vice-presi- 
dent; G.  A.  Levi,  recording  secretary; 
Martin  Barbe,  financial  seretary,  and 
F.  S.  Mandle,  treasurer. 

EXCELSIOR  CLUB. 

About  that  time  there  was  also  in 
existence  a  Jewish  club  by  the  name 
of  Excelsior.  This  club  was  noted  for 
its  theatrical  performances  and  mu- 
sical entertainments.  Mr.  E.  Salomon 
was  at  the  head  of  this  club,  which 
had  about  seventy-five  members. 

IX. 
FIRST  CHARITY   INSTITUTrON. 

UNITED  HEBREW  RELIEF  ASSOCI- 
ATION. 

The  population  of  Chicago  contin- 
ued to  increase  very  rapidly.  The 
Jewish  community  kept  pace  by  con- 


stant additions  to  its  members.  The 
demands  upon  Jewish  charity  were 
growing  from  day  to  day  and  the 
necessity  of  organizing  some  charity 
institution  was  very  much  felt  in  the 
community. 

In  February,  1859,  the  leaders  met 
in  the  vestry  rooms  of  the  synagogue 
of  Congregation  Anshe  Maarabh,  cor- 
ner Wells  and  Adams  streets,  for  the 
purpose  of  starting  a  charity  associa- 
tion. Six  or  eight  meetings  were  held 
before  a  system  of  organization  was 
devised. 

For  several  years  past  various  Jew- 
ish organizations  of  the  city  main- 
tained a  special  relief  fund  for  the  as- 
sistance of  non-members.  There  was 
also  a  relief  society  for  the  assistance 
of  needy  co-religionists.  The  subject 
of  a  union  of  all  these  charity-giving 
societies  was  proposed  to  Raman 
Lodge  No.  S3,  I.  O.  B.  B.,  and  at  the 
suggestion  of  Henry  Greenebaum, 
Ramah  Lodge  appointed  a  committee 
to  wait  upon  the  several  Jewish  so- 
cieties. A  convention  composed  of 
delegates,  on  the  basis  of  one  for  each 
ten  members,  from  the  Hebrew  Relief 
society,  Hebrew  Benevolent  society, 
Ramah  lodge,  Young  Men's  Fraterni- 
ty, Relief  society  No.  2,  Young  Ladies' 
Benevolent  society.  Ladies'  Benevo- 
lent society,  and  of  the  presidents  of 
K.  A.  M.  and  B'nai  Sholom  congrega- 
tions, held  several  meetings,  adopted 
a  constitution  and  elected  an  execu- 
tive board. 

The  final  object  of  this  association 
was  to  provide  for  the  hospital  In 
which  poor  co-religionists  shall  be 
attended  to  when  sick  and  for  an  asy- 
lum to  receive  Jewish  widows  and 
orphans  without  means.  On  Novem- 
ber 20,  1859,  the  executive  board  held 
its  first  meeting  and  elected  Henry 
Greenebaum  president,  Isaac  Greens- 
felder  treasurer  and  Edward  S.  Salo- 
mon recording  secretary.  Of  this  orig- 
inal board  President  Henry  Greene- 
baum and  Treasurer  Isaac  Greensfeld- 
er  are  the  only  two  surviving  officers. 

On  October  4,  1860,  the  board  of  del- 
egates held  their  first  annual  meeting 
at  which  the  following  delegates  were 
present:  Hebrew  Relief  society,  M. 
M.  Gerstley,  A.  Cohen,  G.  Snydacker 
and  J.  Cook;  Hebrew  Benevolent  so- 
ciety, R.  Guthman,  J.  Liebensteln,  I. 
Greensfelder,  A.  Hart,  B.  Schlossman, 
M.  Schields,  J.  M.  Stine  and  L.  Frei- 
berger;  Ramah  lodge,  Henry  Greene- 
baum, L.  J.  Unna,  J.  Greenebaum,  Sr., 
B.  Barbe,  H.  Felsenthal,  Julius  Ham- 
burger, J.  L.  Gatzert  and  B.  Brunne- 
man;  Young  Men's  Fraternity,  Ed.  S. 
Salomon,  J.  Biersdorf,  M.  Morris  and 
B.  Engel;  Relief  society  No.  2,  A.  Alex- 
ander, A.  Barnett,  Anton  Herzog  and 
S.  Levy;  Ladies'  Benevolent  society, 
Mrs.  J.  Hyman,  Mrs.  F.  Greenebaum, 
Jr.,  Mrs.  R.  Foreman  and  Mrs.  Joseph 
Liebenstein.  Young  Ladies'  Benevo- 
lent society,  Mrs.  A.  Rubel,  Miss  E. 
Stiefel  and  Miss  F.  Salomon;  K.  A.  M., 
President  B.  Schlossman;  B'nai  Sho- 
lom congregation,  President  Jonas 


306 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


Moore.  The  following  board  was 
elected:  H.  Greenebaum,  president, 
Godfrey  Snydacker,  vice-president,  Is- 
aac Greensfelder,  treasurer,  Jacob  Lle- 
benstein  and  Julius  Hamburger,  trus- 
tees, J.  L.  Gatzert,  recording  secretary 
and  A.  Alexander,  financial  secretary. 
The  mayor  of  the  city,  J.  C.  Haines, 
gave  his  official  encouragement  to  the 
new  society  and  promised  his  aid  and 
assistance.  The  Michigan  Central, 
Michigan  Southern,  Pittsburg,  Ft 
\Vayne  and  Chicago,  Illinois  Central 
and  the  New  York  and  Erie  railroads 
offered  their  aid  to  forward  passengers 
In  the  charge  of  the  society  at  reduced 
rates,  and  Drs.  M.  B.  Isham  and  N.  S. 
Davis  performed  the  medical  services 
and  Mr.  Mathea,  druggist,  furnished 
medicines  at  reduced  prices.  The  Clay 
Literary  society  also  became  a  con- 
tributor to  the  United  Hebrew  Relief 
and  sent  the  following  delegates:  Lew- 
is Reitler,  Morris  Barbe  and  Aaron 
Schloss. 

On  September  20,  1861,  the  Ladies' 
Sewing  society  was  organized.  The 
subject  to  organize  such  a  society 
was  first  introduced  by  the  Ladies' 
Benevolent  society  ana  about  100  la- 
dies became  members  of  the  sewing 
society.  The  object  of  this  society 
was  to  procure  material  and  finish 
garments,  bed  quilts,  etc.,  for  the  ben- 
efit of  poor  co-religionists,  the  United 
Hebrew  Relief  society  was  to  see  to  the 
proper  contribution  of  same.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  delegates  of  the  He- 
brew Relief  association  held  Septem- 
ber 23,  1861,  Mr.  Isaac  Greensfelder 
was  elected  president.  Mr.  Greensfeld- 
er has  served  as  president,  treasurer 
and  trustee  for  forty  years,  and  is 
still  at  the  head  of  the  association. 

In  April,  1862,  the  Hebrew  Relief  as- 
sociation sent  a  check  for  $200  to  the 
Sanitary  Commission,  in  aid  of  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers,  the  heroes  of 
Pittsburg  Landing. 

The  necessity  for  a  Jewish  hospital 
was  constantly  increasing.  Jewish 
patients  were  sent  to  Jewish  hospitals 
in  other  cities,  which  involved  much 
expense  and  many  hardships.  The 
Hebrew  Relief  association  of  Chicago 
had  created  from  the  start  a  hospital 
fund  and  this  fund  was  now  increas- 
ing. The  deliberations  of  the  third 
annual  meeting  were  mainly  devoted 
to  the  subject  of  a  Jewish  hospital. 

What  the  patriotic  feelings  of  the 
Chicago  Jews  were  in  regard  to  the 
Civil  war,  which  was  then  raging  in 
the  country,  was  graphically  expressed 
in  the  third  annual  report  of  the  ex- 
ecutive board,  from  which  we  quote: 
"But  unfortunately  we  are  surrounded 
by  circumstances,  which,  aside  from 
charity,  require  great  sacrifices.  We 
are  living  in  a  time  which,  indeed, 
tries  men's  souls.  The  very  existence 
of  that  good  government,  to  which  the 
Israelite  especially  is  indebted  for  the 
enjoyment  of  political  equality  and  re- 
ligious liberty,  is  threatened  at  the 
hands  of  a  most  bold  and  wicked  con- 
spiracy. The  stars  and  stripes,  that 


emblem  of  justice  and  free  institu- 
tions, have  been  trampled  under  foot 
by  traitors  at  home,  while  the  act,  if 
not  openly  commended,  is  secretly 
cheered  by  desperate  and  crowned 
heads  of  tyrannical  Europe.  Brave 
hearts  and  strong  arms  are  rushing 
to  the  rescue  by  the  hundred  thou- 
sands, in  support  of  the  government, 
and  every  loyal  man  is  called  upon  to 
bring'  sacrifices  in  a  holy  cause  and 
nobly,  yes,  thrice  nobly  and  patrioti- 
cally did  the  Israelites  of  Chicago  re- 
spond in  the  emergency  with  a  burn- 
ing love  for  country  and  freedom,  did 
they  arise,  far  above  all  selfish  consid- 
eration, and  praise  resounded 
throughout  the  land  for  their  support 
of  the  war,  most  liberal  and  truly 
magnificent." 

Ten  thousand  dollars  were  raised 
in  one  meeting  to  fit  out  a  company 
of  soldiers.  The  Jewish  ladies  sub- 
scribed $150  for  a  splendid  flag  to  this 
company. 

An  attemept  to  organize  a  society 
for  a  widows'  and  orphans'  home  was 
made  in  1863.  A  meeting  was  held 
August  3d  of  that  year,  in  the  K.  A. 
M.  synagogue,  M.  M.  Gerstley  in  the 
chair  and  Rev.  Liebman  Adler  serving 
as  secretary.  Fifty  ladies  signed  their 
names  to  show  their  willingness  to  es- 
tablish such  a  society.  The  following 
ladies  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
perfect  the  organization:  Mrs.  Henry 
Homer,  Mrs.  L.  Rosenfeld,  Mrs.  L. 
Goodkind,  Mrs.  L.  F.  Leopold,  Mrs. 
Isaac  Lucky. 

In  1863  the  following  societies  were 
added  as  contributors  to  the  United 
Hebrew  Relief,  Frauen  Wohlthaetig- 
keits  Verein.  The  delegates  of  this 
ladies'  society  were  Mrs.  Michael 
Greenebaum  and  Mrs.  Leah  Goodkind. 
The  ladies'  Sewing  Society  sent  Mrs. 
Rebecca  Levi,  Mrs.  Henrietta  Rosen- 
feld, Mrs.  Mina  btine,  Mrs.  Bertha 
Snydacker.  And  Chebra  Kadisha 
Ubikkur  Cholim  sent  L.  Mayer,  D.  Wit- 
kowski,  H.  L.  Marks  and  Casper  Burg- 
heim.  This  society  then  numbered 
about  thirty-eight  members. 

Destitute  Jewish  families  came  to 
Chicago  from  the  South  and  the  de- 
mands upon  the  Hebrew  association 
were  greatly  increased. 

In  an  address  to  the  public  in  the 
interest  of  the  Hebrew  Relief  associ- 
ation, embodied  in  the  fourth  annual 
report,  we  find  the  following  foot- 
note, which  is  very  characteristic  of 
the  men  and  the  time.  It  was  hardly 
written  by  the  president,  Mr.  M.  Gerst- 
ley; it  was  more  likely  the  work  of 
Rev.  Liebman  Adler,  for  the  knowl- 
edge of  talmudic  and  rabbinic  liter- 
ature displayed  in  this  appeal  is  al- 
most too  much  for  a  layman. 

"Aniye  Irkha  waaniye  ir  akhereth, 
aniye  Irkha  kodmin."  "Baba  Mezia, 
fol.  71,  a.  Compare  Maimon,  in  Hilk- 
hoth  Mathnoth  Anlym,  chap.  7,  Ha- 
lakha  13;  Jacob  ben  Asher  In  Tur 
Yoreh  Deah,  Art.  251.  Joseph  Karo 
in  Shulkan  Arukb.  ibid,  sec.  3. 
(Where  Shabthai  Cohen  adds):  Even 


the  poor  of  the  holy  land  have  no 
such  claims  as  the  poor  of  our  own 
city;  same  in  Tur  and  Sh.  A.  Choshen 
Mishpat,  art.  97,  sec.  1.  Compare  also 
Yalkut  Thorah,  sec.  350  and  sec.  897, 
Mekhiltha  and  Rashi  to  Exod.  22,  24; 
Sifri  and  Rashi  to  Deut.  15,  7;  Aben 
Esra  to  Deut.  12,  11,  and  many  other 
places." 

Surely,  if  the  writer  of  this  note 
would  have  addressed  to  the  Rabbini- 
cal society  of  Chicago  such  quotations 
from  the  Rabbinical  authorities,  it 
would  have  been  sufficient  to  gain  for 
him  the  title  Moreno  and  a  diploma 
authorizing  him  to  p.asken  shaaloth  in 
the  most  prominent  Jewish  congrega- 
tion in  the  country. 

The  Washington  Irving  Literary  as- 
sociation and  the  Zion  congregation 
joined  the  Hebrew  Relief  association 
and  sent  delegates.  From  a  ball  ar- 
ranged for  the  benefit  of  the  Hebrew 
Relief  association  $15,054.92  were  re- 
alized and  $34,000  were  collected  by  a 
committee.  In  this  year  the  Sisters 
of  Peace  joined  the  Hebrew  Relief  as- 
sociation and  sent  delegates. 

Sinai  congregation  also  became  a 
member  of  the  U.  H.  R.  A.,  and  was 
represented  at  the  annual  meeting. 
The  delegates  were  as  follows:  S. 
Floersheim,  Moses  Snydacker,  Elias 
Greenebaum,  Benedict  Schlossman,  L. 
Levi,  Isaac  Greensfelder,  J.  M.  Stine, 
Leopold  Mayer,  Sigmond  Hyman  and 
Isaac  Liebenstein.  During  that  year 
the  society  supplied  many  crippled 
Jewish  soldiers  with  artificial  arms 
and  limbs. 

In  defining  the  sphere  of  action  of 
the  Hebrew  Relief  association,  the 
board  opposed  a  collection  for  an  or- 
phan asylum  on  the  ground  that  the 
only  beneficial  asylum  for  an  orphan 
is  within  the  circle  of  a  private  fam- 
ily. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  Lucky  of 
Chicago  were  the  first  to  practice  this 
charity  by  adopting  an  orphan  girl 
into  their  home. 

In  1866  the  name  of  Hillel  Lodge 
B.  B.  was  added  to  the  list  of  the  con- 
tributing societies. 

A  piece  of  ground  in  the  north  .di- 
vision of  the  city  was  purchased  on 
which  to  build  a  hospital.  At  a  mass 
meeting  held  on  October  22,  1866,  for 
the  purpose  of  raising  funds  for  the 
hospital,  over  $17,000  were  subscribed. 

The  Hebrew  Relief  association  now 
comprised  fourteen  components  with 
about  1,080  members,  who  sent  108 
delegates.  Two  hundred  and  sixty  of 
this  number  were  ladies. 

The  hospital  lot  was  on  North  La 
Salle  street  between  Schiller  and  Goe- 
the streets,  130  feet  front  by  170  deep, 
cost  about  $7,000  all  paid  up.  A  build- 
ing committee  was  appointed  at  a  spe- 
cial meeting  held  March  24,  1867,  con- 
sisting of  the  following:  Isaac  Greens- 
felder, chairman,  Jacob  Greenebaum, 
Jr.,  Godfrey  Snydacker,  Jonas  Moore, 
Lazarus  Silverman,  L.  Rosenfeld  and 
Leopold  Miller.  Architect  F.  Bauman 
was  selected  to  draw  the  plans  for  the 
hospital. 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


307 


In  this  year  a  charter  was  granted 
the  United  Hebrew  Hospital  associa- 
tion. 

On  September  2,  1867,  the  corner 
stone  of  the  hospital  was  laid.  It  was 
a  great  day  for  the  Chicago  Jewish 
community.  All  the  Israelites,  indi- 
vidually and  in  their  organizations, 
turned  out  in  procession,  mayor  Rice 
was  one  of  the  speakers.  The  author- 
ities of  the  city,  county  and  some  of 
the  United  States  officers  were  pres- 
ent. Other  speakers  were  Godfrey 
Snydacker,  in  German,  and  Henry 
Greenebaum,  in  English.  We  quote 
the  following  from  the  speeches: 

Mayor  Rice  said: 

"Fellow  citizens,  when  this  building 
shall  be  completed  and  tenanted  by 
the  maimed  and  sick;  when  wants 
shall  be  ministered  to,  by  the  kind 
and  the  capable,  then  will  the  prayers 
of  its  inmates  implore  blessings  on  all 
who  have  assisted  in  this  noble  char- 
ity, and  the  names  of  its  founders 
shall  remain  ever  bright  in  the  rec- 
ords of  Chicago,  to  be  read  with  ad- 
miration by  generations  yet  unborn." 

Mr.  Snydacker  remarked: 

"Union  of  hearts,  will  and  purpose 
enabled  us  to  begin  this  edifice;  let  us 
stand  firmly  together  to  complete  and 
to  put  It  in  operation." 

Henry  Greenebaum  gave  expression 
to  the  following  sentiments: 

"May  all  of  you  live,  not  only  to  see 
this  building  completed,  but  also  to 
behold  emanating  from  its  hallowed 
walls  deeds  of  bravest  charity,  and 
may  you  also  live  to  be  gratified  in 
contemplating  He  blissful  results  of 
your  own  efforts  in  your  respective 
spheres  of  action." 

The  meeting  of  the  association  was 
held  at  the  rooms  of  Sinai  congrega- 
tion. Concordia  club  placed  its  rooms 
at  the  disposal  of  the  board  for  mass 
meetings  free  of  charge. 

The  U.  H.  R.  A.  limited  the  cost  of 
the  hospital  to  $18,000,  but  the  speci- 
fications exceeded  considerably,  the 
calculated  cost  reaching  the  sum  of 
about  $25,000. 

A  fair  for  the  benefit  of  the  hospital 
was  held  in  December,  1867,  and  the 
sum  of  $11,500  netted.  The  hospital 
was  finally  opened  for  reception  of 
visitors  August  9,  1868,  and  patients 
were  received  next  day.  Mr.  A.  Lev! 
and  wife  were  appointed  steward  and 
matron  with  a  salary  of  4800  per  an- 
num. According  to  the  first  medical 
report  the  hospital  contained  fourteen 
inmates,  twelve  men  and  two  women, 
nine  German,  three  Polanders  and  one 
Bohemian,  some  pay  and  some  free 
patients.  Mr.  Charles  H.  Schwab  and 
Mrs.  L.  Lieberman  furnished  one  room 
each. 

In  April,  1869,  Mr.  Greenebaum  re- 
signed from  the  office  of  president  on 
account  of  a  trip  to  Europe  which  he 
was  about  to  undertake.  Before  leav- 
ing he  became  a  life  member  of  the 
hospital  by  paying  $100,  the  first  and 
only  one  at  that  time,  creating  there- 
by the  endowment  fund.  He  is  still 
In  possession  of  the  certificate  issued 


to  him  at  that  time  and  values  it  very 
highly. 

On  October  9,  1871,  the  red  letter 
day  in  the  calender  of  Chicago,  the 
hospital  was  destroyed  by  the  great 
fire. 

In  order  to  give  a  correct  report  of 
the  conditions  prevailing  in  the  Jew- 
ish community  of  Chicago  immediate-> 
ly  after  the  fire,  we  can  do  no  better 
than  to  quote  from  the  twelfth  annual 
report  of  the  executive  board  of  the 
Hebrew  Relief  association: 

"Since  the  catastrophy  of  the  8th 
and  9th  of  October  our  association  has 
undoubtedly  entered  upon  a  new  phase 
of  its  history.  Your  dealing  with  pov- 
erty and  pauperism,  forms  henceforth 
only  an  insignificant  part  of  your  gi- 
gantic task. 

"It  is  with  another  class  o*  your 
people,  relatives,  friends  and  neigh- 
bors, men  and  families,  that  stood 
side  by  side  with  you  heretofore  in 
society,  in  congregation,  in  this  coun- 
cil, that  you  have  to  engage  your 
hearts,  your  minds  and  all  your  ef- 
forts. You  know  how  they  were 
turned  out  of  their  homes,  sometimes 
In  the  middle  of  the  night,  'by  the  per- 
nicious element,  striking  down  what 
could  not  keep  pace  with  its  volatile 
strides.  You  know  that  in  most  cases 
they  had  hardly  time  to  grasp*  their 
wives  and  little  ones,  to  flee  for  their 
lives,  and  then  even  to  find  no  rest- 
Ing  place  except  after  a  wearying 
stampede  of  ten  or  twelve  miles  with 
a  cloud  of  fire  chasing  after  them. 

Nothing  saved,  no  clothes  or  under- 
wear, for  husband,  wife  or  children; 
no  furniture,  beds  or  bedding,  no 
stove,  cooking  utensils  or  crockery; 
nothing  to  make  home  cheerful  and 
what  was  gradually  amassed  by  the 
industrious  toils  of  the  model  wife. 

"Ah,  how  long  will  it  take  to  make 
up  these  losses,  or  even  for  so  much 
that  will  make  their  home  tolerably 
comfortable?  But  this  Is  not  all;  the 
husband's  business  is  gone  with  their 
homes  and  mostly  insured  in  bank- 
rupt companies.  Thrown  out  of  busi- 
ness, employment  or  usual  occupation, 
where  shall  he  find  the  means  to  sup- 
port wife  and  children  that  he  loves 
so  dearly?  Will  he  ever  be  able  to 
raise  from  the  grave  of  utter  demo- 
lition? This  is  henceforth  the  Her- 
culean task  that  we  have  to  shoulder. 
You  can  not,  you  dare  not,  rest  until 
every  one  of  these  families  are  placed 
beyond  the  reach  of  want  and  need; 
aye,  even  there  you  must  not  rest,  un- 
til they  are  restored  to  their  former 
well-to-do  condition.  Don't  under- 
rate the  work  before  you,  go  into  the 
details  that  are  wanted  for  each  of 
these  families  and  you  will  find  your 
aim  almost  beyond  the  extent  of  hu- 
man power,  for  the  lowest  estimate  Is 
that  400  Jewish  families  share  the  fate 
of  this  utter  destruction  that  we  have 
so  poorly  attempted  to  depict. 

"Like  the  sun  ray  tearing  the  dark 
clouds,  pregnant  with  mischief,  af- 
fected us,  however,  this  spontaneous 
uprise  of  sympathy  with  our  distress 


throughout  the  civilized-  world.  This 
feeling  of  our  pain,  and  the  attempt  to 
alleviate  it  from  near  and  'far,  as 
though  we  were  all  limbs  and  mem- 
bers of  one  body,  contributed  greatly 
to  our  consolation.  These  showers  of 
contributions  of  victuals,  clothing,  bed- 
ding, stoves  and  money  were  the  best 
means  to  remove  the  first  effect  of  our 
terrible  disaster.  We  know  that  our 
Jewish  brethern  from  abroad  contrib- 
uted their  ample  share  to  this  relief, 
intended  for  the  benefit  of  our  suffer- 
ers without  distinction,  that  saved  us 
from  famine  or  worse  disaster.  We 
also  gladly  admit  that  our  unfortunate 
co-religionists  received  their  ample 
share  of  these  contributions,  but  these 
could  certainly  be  intended  only  to 
afford  momentary  assistance  and  to 
continue  so  to  do  in  the  worst  cases 
of  impoverishment  during  the  whole 
dreary  winter  is  the  task  that  is  be- 
fore us. 

"But  in  the  true  sense  of  Jewish 
charity  our  brethern  abroad  collected 
large  funds  for  the  special  purpose  of 
supplying  their  reduced  co-religionists 
in  Chicago  with  means  to  start  again 
in  business  and  thus  protect  them 
against  pauperism. 

"Although  the  U.  H.  R.  A.  has  been 
for  the  last  thirteen  years  the  only 
recognized  organ  receiving  all  con- 
tributions of  charity  and  distributing 
them,  we  can  not  complain  if  the  con- 
tributions raised  within  the  lodges  of 
the  I.  O.  B.  B.  for  the  special  assist- 
ance of  their  brethren  went  into  the 
funds  of  the  relief  committee  of  the 
I.  O.  B.  B.  and  were  applied  exclusive- 
ly to  their  benefit,  however,  injurious 
to  the  cause  of  Judaism  and  the  idea 
of  equality  and  coherence  of  all  its 
members,  it  might  have  been  in  our 
opinion.  But  we  certainly  have  a 
right  to  expect  and  to  claim  that  all 
contributions  not  collected  for  the 
special  benefit  of  the  I.  O.  B.  B. 
should  have  been  or  should  be  here- 
after, at  least,  turned  over  to  the  U. 
H.  R.  A.  for  the  benefit  of  all  poor 
Yehudim,  and  for  the  purpose  of  sus- 
taining the  integrity  and  existence  of 
our  association  that  has  been  for  the 
past  and  will  be  for  the  future,  iden- 
tified with  all  Jewish  institutions  of 
this  city  In  the  province  of  charity 
and  benevolence. 

"We  can  only  ascribe  it  to  this  cir- 
cumstance of  mixing  up  funds  that  the 
relief  committee  of  the  I.  O.  B.  B.  col- 
lected over  $20,000,  while  according  to 
the  report  of  the  special  committee 
the  U.  H.  R.  A.  has  received  up  to  date 
the  modest  sum  of  $4,384.15,  of  which, 
doing  the  best  under  the  circumstanc- 
es, they  have  relieved  up  to  date  178 
cases  with  the  amount  of  $3,115.67, 
leaving  a  balance  on  hand  of  $1,268.48. 
Most  of  the  families  having  been  thus 
far  relieved  in  accordance  with  our 
means  ought  to  receive  additional  as- 
sistance; other  families  have  not  been 
reached  at  all  and  will  be  found  out 
only  in  the  course  of  time,  as  most 
of  the  sufferers  do  not  apply  for  aid 
for  themselves  but  must  be  searched 


:;ns 


THE.  R&FORM  ADVOCATED 


and  found  out,  and  labor  under  the 
mistaken  idea  that  their  misfortune, 
although  not  caused  by  any  fault  of 
theirs,  does  not  entitle  them  to  any 
acceptance  of  assistance,  and  that  this 
acceptance  would  degrade  them  and 
place  them  on  a  level  with  habitual 
beggars. 

"In  order  to  meet  all  the  wants  of 
our  sufferers  during  the  winter  and 
to  prepare  them  for  their  new  career 
in  life  which  they  must  open  for  them- 
selves, we  estimate  that  a  sum  of  $50,- 
000  is  required,  and  we  think  the  sum 
can  be  approximated,  if  not  reached, 
if  all  passion,  and  jealousy  are  laid 
aside,  if  there  is  only  one  head  center 
to  receive  and  distribute  the  contri- 
butions which  come  from  abroad,  and 
that  there  is  only  one  pass-word  that 
will  establish  the  full  title  for  assist- 
tance  if  otherwise  worthy,  1.  e.,  yatr 


"Earnest  and  constant  efforts  should 
be  made  to  let  our  Jewish  brethren 
know  our  wants,  to  let  them  know 
that  our  barriers  of  distinctions  have 
been  dropped  within  the  pale  of  Juda- 
ism, that  we  are  all  B'nai  B'rith,  that 
is',  sons  of  the  covenant  of  our  father, 
Abraham,  and  all  will  be  well,  and  the 
proverbial  Jewish  charity  will  mani- 
fest itself  in  our  sister  cities  in  these, 
our  days  or  trial  and  affliction,  as  we 
can  expect  but  little  in  the  way  of 
annual  contributions  from  the  re- 
duced condition  of  our  heretofore 
most  liberal  contributors  in  this  city 
for  the  present  winter. 

"As  we  stated  before,  the  books  and 
vouchers  of   the  treasurer  and  finan- 
cial secretary  were  destroyed  by  the 
flre,  but  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  C. 
Witkowski,  acting  secretary,  our  rec- 
ords were  saved,  which  enables  us  to 
present  you  with  a  correct  financial 
report,  showing  the  following  result  of 
the    annual  collections     to  the  relief 
fund  from  members  of  the  respective 
congregations   and   societies   auxiliary 
to  the  U.  H.  R.  A. 
Sinai    congregation  ............  $2,200.00 

K.  A.  M  ......................  1,150.05 

Zion    congregation  ............      779.00 

K.  B'nai  Sholom  ...........  ....      789.00 

K.  Ahawas  Achim  ............        43.50 

Chebra  Bikur  Cholim  .........        62.00 

The  Hospital 

was  laid  in  ruins  by  the  late  flre,  but 
owing  to  the  efforts  of  Dr.  Win.  Wag1 
ner,  and  the  steward,  Mr.  Levy,  none 
of  the  patients  or  occupants  perished 
in  the  flames.  Up  to  the  time  of  its. 
destruction  the  hospital,  under  the 
special  care  of  Dr.  Wagner  has  been 
well  patronized  by  free  and  pay  pa- 
tients, irrespective  of  creed;  with  am- 
ple accommodations  at  our  command, 
we  did  not  make  religion  or  national- 
ity a  test. 

This  report  is  signed  by.  B.  Loe- 
wenthal,  president,  L.  Wampold,  Laz. 
Sllverman,  Conrad  Witkowsky,  R.  Ru- 
bel,  Gerhard  Foreman,  Julius  Rosen- 
thai,  Chas  Kozniouski  and  Godfrey 
Snydacker. 

The  report  of  the  special  relief  com- 


mittee  is  of  great  interest.     It  reads 
as  follows: 

"The  special  relief  committee  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Jewish  sufferers 
through  the  late  fire,  acting  in  concert 
with  and  under  the  auspices  of  the 
U.  H.  R.  A.  beg  leave  to  submit  to  you 
the  following  report: 

J.  W.  Seligman  &  Co $1,000.00 

Cincinnati  committee 1,000.00 

Nelson    Morris 60.00 

Felix     Marx,   N.   Y.,     through 

Abe  Hart  156.85 

A  poor  Jew  of  Beimont,  Ohio.          5.00 
From  the  Israelites  of  Louisi- 
ana,   Mo 60.00 

From  the  Israelites  of  Marion, 

Ala    34.75 

Ladies'  Hebrew  Benevolent  So- 
ciety, Jackson,  Mich 99.75 

Mrs.  I.  Frankel,  Oskaloosa,  la.       15.00 

M.    Frankel 25.00 

Froelich     &    Freiberger,     Mt. 

Carroll,   111 10.00 

T.  Alexander  &  Co.,  Browns- 
ville,   Texas 25.00 

S.  Bernstein,  Champaign,  111. .        34.50 

M.   Loth,    Cincinnati 25.00 

Zadok  Lodge,  Salem,  Ala 142.50 

Donation  through  B.  Cahn 25.00 

Through  Messrs.  Bloch  &  Co., 

Cincinnati    34.00 

M.  S.  Dessauer,  Montrose,  Pa..       25.00 
From  the  Israelites  of  Boston. ..1,104. 80 

J.  &  S.  Bernheimer 300.00 

Hebrew    Ladies'    Bene.    Soc.; 

Canton,  Mass  40.00 

M.  Frank,  Delaware,  Ohio 7.00 

Bloch    &    Co.,    Cincinnati,    O., 
from  diverse  col 155.00 


$4,384.15 

Of  this  amount  178  cases  have  been 
relieved  to  the  extent  of  $3,115.67. 

Besides  this,  a  great  many  goods  of 
all  kinds  have  been  distributed  among 
our  co-religionists. 

(Signed)        B.   Loewenthal, 

Chairman. 
G.  Snydacker, 

Acting  Treasurer. 
E.  Wikowsky, 

Rec.    Secretary. 

The  executive  committee  found  its 
sphere  of  action  largely  increased  in 
consequence  of  the  flre.  An  attempt 
to  give  each  applicant  enough  to 
start  in  business  failed.  The  appli- 
cant was  no  longer  admitted  to  the 
meetings  of  the  board,  but  were  called 
upon  at  their  homes  to  receive  what, 
after  due  investigation,  the  board 
deemed  it  proper  to  give.  Mr.  J.  L. 
L.  Gatzert  was  appointed  as  superin- 
tendent, who  rendered  faithful  and  ef- 
ficient services  gratuitously.  He  was 
presented  by  the  board  at  withdrawal, 
in  thankful  acknowledgment  of  his 
services,  with  a  memorial,  executed  in 
the  highest  style  of  art  by  the  talented 
penman,  Mr.  A.  Sinks,  at  the  house 
of  the  president,  Abe  Hart. 

Mr.  Francis  Kiss  was  engaged  as  su- 
perintendent. 

B'nai  Brith  Order  turned  over  sur- 
plus of  $2,149.50  to  treasurer  of  H.  R., 
and  harmony  prevailed. 


The  board  decided  to  rebuild  the 
hospital.  It  expected  to  receive  a 
large  contribution  from  the  surplus  in 
the  hands  of  the  Chicago  Relief  and 
Aid  Society.  The  Order  of  B.  B.  made 
a  very  generous  offer  to  issue  appeal 
to  the  lodges  of  district  for  every 
member  \m  pay  one  dollar  to  the  Hos- 
pital Fund.  This  offer  was  accepted, 
but  not  carried  out  for  above  reason. 

The  Ch.  R.  &  A.  S.  demanded  a  free 
bed  for  every  $1,000  and  this  was 
found  unadvisable,  as  it  would  have 
been  an  incumbrance  on  the  property. 

Fifteen  thousand  dollars  were  again 
offered  to  the  board  by  the  Chicago 
Relief  &  Aid  Society,  which  was  only 
accepted  on  condition  that  the  U.  H.  R. 
A.  should  have  the  privilege  to  refund 
whenever  able. 

In  1876  the  Deborah  Verein,  Sisters 
of  Peace,  Sisters  of  Harmony  and  La- 
dies' Society  of  West  Chicago  accept- 
ed the  mission  to  bring  consolation 
and  material  help  to  women  who  were 
left  destitute  by  their  husbands  going 
South. 

•    •     • 

The  second  fire,  on  July  14,  1874,  was 
indeed  a  serious  blow  to  many  of  the 
poor  Jews  of  Chicago.  The  U.  H.  R.  A. 
was  again  taxed  to  the  utmost  and  it 
again  helped  and  aided  as  much  as  it 
was  possible. 

Rev.  Liebman  Adler  was  requested 
by  the  board  to  write  an  appeal  to  the 
Jews  for  financial  supp6rt  of  the  as- 
sociation, and  the  following  appeal, 
prepared  by  Rabbi  Adler,  was  pub- 
lished: 

"Scarce  two  decades  have  elapsed 
since  all  the  Israelites  of  this  city  wefe 
living  as  in  the  bonds  of  one  family 
circle.  Each  knew  the  other,  all  wor- 
shiped harmoniously  in  one  temple  and 
shared  each  others  woes  and  joys. 

"How  great  is  the  change!  Thou- 
sands scattered  over  a  space  of  nearly 
thirty  miles,  in  hundreds  of  streets, 
divided  by  pecuniary,  intellectual  and 
social  directions,  provincial  jealousies 
and  even  religious  distinctions  and  dif- 
ferences. Separation,  division,  disso- 
lution, estrangement  repeated  and  con- 
tinual, are  the  words  which  character- 
ize the  history  of  our  brothers  in 
faith  until  now.  Dissolved  in  the  mass 
of  our  population,  we  are  losing  the 
consciousness  of  homogeny  and  the 
strength  gained  for  each  individual  by 
concerted  action. 

"Let  us  also  consider  the  oftheard 
complaint  that  Poles  and  Russians  ab- 
sorb a  disproportional  large  share  of 
the  means  of  this  association. 

"Brothers  and  Sisters:  Are  these 
poor  ones  less  to  be  pitied,  are  they 
less  poor,  are  they  less  Israelites  be- 
cause Poland  or  Russia  is  the  land  in 
which  they  first  saw  the  light,  or  rath- 
er the  darkness  of  this  world?  The 
poor  of  those  countries  are  doubly 
poor.  These  unfortunates  come  to  us 
from  a  country  which  is  the  European 
headquarters  for  barbarism,  ignorance 
and  uncleanliness.  In  those  countries 
thousands  of  Israelites  are  densely 
crowded  and  pressed  into  small  towns 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


309 


and  villages,  and  they  become  singu- 
lar and  peculiar  in  their  customs,  man- 
ners and  ideas.  In  conferring  charity, 
it  is  the  duty  of  the  Israelite  first  to 
look  to  the  needs  and  then  to  the  de- 
serts of  the  recipient." 

In  1878  the  Jewish  young  men  of 
Chicago  organized  to  contribute  to  the 
U.  H.  R.  A.  The  leaders  in  this  move- 
ment were:  Louis  Falk,  Louis  B. 
Kuppenheimer  and  Joseph  Schaflner. 

In  1879  Henry  L.  Frank  and  his 
brother,  Joseph  Frank,  trustees  of  a 
fund  bequeathed  to  them  by  Michael 
Reese  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  ottered 
the  sum  of  $30,000  for  a  hospital  build- 
ing, on  condition  that  it  shall  be 
known  as  Michael  Reese  Hospital.  Mr. 
Jacob  Rosenberg  and  Mrs.  Henrietta 
Rosenfeld,  likewise  trustees  of  a  fund 
'bequeathed  to  them  by  the  same 
Michael  Reese,  offered  to  donate  $50,- 
000  as  an  endowment  maintaining  the 
new  hospital,  to  be  named  after  the 
creator  of  the  trust  funds,  Michael 
Reese  Hospital.  The  U.  H.  R.  A.  ac- 
cepted both  offers.  The  old  hospital 
site  was  exchanged  in  1880  for  a  lot 
corner  Twenty-ninth  street  and  Lake 
avenue,  208x252  feet. 

The  Jewish  young  men  of  Chicago 
formed  a  Hospital  Association,  with 
the  following  as  leaders:  Louis  Frank, 
Joseph  Schaffner,  Jonas  Kuppenheim- 
er, Louis  Kuppenheimer  and  Moses 
Weinberg. 

The  cornerstone  for  the  new  hospital 
was  laid  on  Nov.  4,  1880*,  and  On  the 
23d  of  October,  1881,  it  was  dedicated 
and  opened  for  the  admission  of  pa- 
tients. 

The  cost  of  the  building  and  lot 
reached  the  sum  of  $48,521.41.  The 
building  committee  consisted  of  the 
following  gentlemen:  Jacob  Rosen- 
berg, Isaac  Greensfelder,  Henry  L. 
Frank,  Abe  Hart  and  G.  Snydacker. 

In  January,  1881,  the  Young  Men's 
Hebrew  Charity  Association  was  or- 
ganized. 

In  1882  twenty-two  component  socie- 
ties were  contributing  to  the  U.  H. 
R.  A. 

On  Feb.  1,  1884,  the  Employment 
Bureau  was  opened  and  Mr.  S.  Barten- 
stein  engaged  as  superintendent  of  the 
same. 

In  their  annual  report,  dated  Oct. 
10,  1886,  the  executive  board  suggests 
the  founding  of  a  Manual  Training 
School,  and  in  their  next  report  of  Oc- 
tober, 1877,  they  recommend  the  estab- 
lishing of  an  Old  People's  Home. 


In  1888  the  name  of  the  association 
was  changed  from  the  "U.  H.  R.  A." 
to  the  "United  Hebrew  Charities  of 
Chicago,"  and  on  November  24th  of 
that  year  the  legislature  of  Illinois 
granted  a  charter  under  the  new  name. 

In  1889  the  United  Hebrew  Charities 
bought  a  lot  on  223  Twenty-sixth 
street  and  erected  a  commodious  brick 
building  for  the  use  of  the  association. 
The  net  cost  of  the  lot  was  $4,575  and 
the  expense  of  the  building  was  $6,400. 
In  the  same  year  they  also  bought  a 
cemetery  at  Ridge  Lawn. 

On  Sept.  1,  1890,  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities  established  a  training  school 
for  nurses  in  connection  with  the  hos- 
pital. 

According  to  the  report  of  the  execu- 
tive board,  dated  October,  1891,  over 
$58,000  was  expended  in  the  conduct  of 
the  relief  office  and  of  the  hospital, 
from  October,  1890,  to  October,  1891. 
Over  17,000  persons  received  assist- 


the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  other- 
wise the  totals  here  given  would  have 
been  much  greater. 

In  the  conduct  of  the  Relief  Office 
there  was  expended  nearly  $19,000;  in 
the  Hospital,  over  $38,000;  for  the 
Hospital  and  Dispensary,  about  11,000 
prescriptions  were  filled. 

One  thousand  and  fifty  patients  were 
treated  in  the  hospital,  more  than  half 
being  non-Jews,  while  during  the  pre- 
vious year  there  were  less  tha*n  800 
all  told.  At  the  Employment  Bureau, 
658  applications  were  filed  for  work,  of 
which  549  were  provided  for. 

At  the  Ridge  Lawn  Cemetery  there 
were  seventy-four  interments,  while 
last  year  there  were  forty-seven. 

Up  to  September  1st  of  that  year  all 
Russian  refugees  worthy  of  assistance 
were  provided  for  by  the  United  He- 
brew Charities.  At  that  time  the  Rus- 
sian Refugees'  Society  was  formed  for 
the  special  care  of  refugees  who  were 


MICHAEL  REESE  HOSPITAL. 


ance,  this  being  nearly  600  more  than 
during  the  previous  year.  Since  the 
Chicago  fire  no  record  equal  to  this 
has  been  made. 

In  this  year  the  Russian  Jews  of  the 
West  Side  established  a  general  relief 
society  of  their  own  under  the  name 
of  "Zedoko  Kololos."  This  materially 
helped  to  decrease  the  demands  upon 


driven  from  their  homes  in  Russia  and 
came  here  without  means.  The  Young 
Men's  Hebrew  Charity  Association 
contributed  $6,000  to  the  Hospital  from 
the  proceeds  of  their  ball,  and  the  La- 
bor Bureau  was  exclusively  supported 
by  them  besides. 

The  Training  School  for  Nurses,  es- 
tablished about  a  year  ago,  had  proven 


•It  is  generally  the  custom  in  civil- 
ized countries,  and  so  it  is  in  this  coun- 
try, to  deposit  if  the  cornerstones  of 
public  institutions  a  box  containing  a 
number  of  documents,  such  as  a  his- 
torical sketch  of  the  respective  asso- 
ciation and  institution,  copies  of  the 
daily  press  of  the  respective  date,  and 
denominational  publications  of  the  re- 
spective time.  The  object  of  this  act 
is  obviously  to  furnish  data  concerning 
the  history  of  the  time  and  the  institu- 
tion to  coming  generations.  It  is  a 
wise  and  commendable  act.  But  we 
venture  to  suggest  that  duplicates  of 


all  the  documents  which  are  deposited 
in  the  cornerstone  should  also  be  de- 
posited about  the  same  time  In  some 
accessible  fireproof  vault. 

The  objects  deposited  in  the  corner- 
stone may  remain  hidden  from  sight 
for  many,  many  years,  but  the  dupli- 
cates would  form  the  basis  of  a  his- 
tory of  the  respective  institution  and 
society,  which  could  be  referred  to  at 
any  time.  From  time  to  time  addi- 
tions could  be  made  to  these  dupli- 
cates, such  as  short  extracts  from  the 
minutes,  newspaper  clippings  and  oth- 
er important  papers,  bearing  directly 


upon  the  development  of  the  respec- 
tive organization  or  institution.  The 
accumulated  minute-books  generally 
become  too  cumbersome,  and  the 
main  historical  facts  are  often  buried 
under  such  a  mass  of  unimportant 
matter  that  it  is  difficult  to  get  at 
them  when  wanted  without  great  loss 
of  time  and  much  labor.  It  should  be 
made  the  duty  of  the  secretary  to  look 
after  the  historical  department  of  his 
association.  In  this  manner  every  in- 
stitution or  organization  would  be 
gradually  preparing  and  constantly 
completing  a  record  of  its  own  history. 


310 


REFORM  ADVOCATE.. 


a  success,  and  in  order  to  increase  the 
sphere  of  action  in  this  school  it  was 
determined  to  erect  a  home  for  nurses 
in  connection  with  the  Hospital.  This 
home  was  now  under  roof  on  the  hos- 
pital grounds,  and  contained  besides 
the  reception  and  lecture  rooms,  li- 
brary and  maternity  ward.  Accommo- 
dation for  forty  nurses  was  provided 
in  the  •building. 

The  majority  of  those  who  sought  to 
«nter  the  school  were  non-Jews.  It 
was  a  source  of  regret  to  the  board 
that  not  more  Jewish  young  women 
had  filed  applications  during  the  past 


The  Ladies'  Sewing  Societies  have 
been  of  great  assistance  to  the  U.  H. 
C.  Association.  The  South  Side  La- 
dies' Sewing  Society  expended  $4,000 
for  the  relief  of  the  poor;  the  West 
Side  Ladies'  Sewin-g  Society,  over 
$2,100;  the  Young  Ladies'  Aid  Society, 
nearly  $650,  and  the  West  Side  Ladies' 
Aid  Society  about  $1,000. 

An  innovation  was  made  at  the  hos- 
pital on  Rosh  Hashana;  a  pulpit  was 
improvised  in  the  hall  of  the  dispen- 
sary by  the  superintendent,  Max  Salo- 
mon, and  religious  services  were  con- 
ducted by  Rabbi  Moses  of  K.  A.  M. 


MICHAE L .m:KSE-H^lTM..AX:<[EXti»miME\t.Clllt,PKEX»  Stum.  D.EEPJDRMH 


year,  and  the  board  recommended  that 
an  effort  should  be  made  to  teach  the 
public  that  a  trained  nurse  Is  not  a 
menial;  that  the  calling  is  a  profes- 
sion everywhere  expected. 

The  children's  ward  of  the  hospital 
proved  a  blessing,  not  only  to  the  little 
ones  treated,  but  to  their  parents,  who 
had  neither  the  means  nor  the  facili- 
ties to  give  them  the  proper  care. 
Many  of  the  little  sufferers,  having 
undergone  medical  or  surgical  treat- 
ment, appreciated  in  a  childish  way 
the  cleanly  surroundings,  the  care  and 
attention  given  them,  and  objected  to 
be  sent  back  to  their  homes. 


during  the  afternoon.  Twenty-eight  of 
the  patients  were  able  to  be  present 
and  take  part  in  the  services. 

A  fireproof  vault  was  constructed  at 
the  hospital  for  the  preservation  of  all 
books,  papers  and  pamphlets  connect- 
ed with  the  association.  Mr.  Jacob 
Rosenberg  and  Mrs.  Henrietta  Rosen- 
feld  contributed  the  necessary  funds  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  this  improve- 
ment. They  also  contributed,  out  of 
'  the  Michael  Reese  Trust  Fund,  the 
amount  necessary  to  pay  for  the  build- 
ing of  the  Home  for  Nurses. 

From  October,  1891,  to  October,  1892, 
10,000  persons  were  assisted.  The  board 


recommended  that  sufficient  money  be 
appropriated  to  defray  the  expense  of 
preparing  a  directory  of  the  Jews  of 
Chicago,  for  the  purpose  of  reaching 
those  who  are  charitably  inclined. 

At  the  Labor  Bureau  there  were 
866  applications  for  work,  of  which  777 
were  provided  for.  At  the  Hospital 
1,088  persons  were  treated.  There  were 
82  Jewish  pay  patients  and  251  non- 
Jewish,  597  Jewish  charity  patients 
and  159  non-Jewish.  The  amount  ex- 
pended at  the  Hospital  for  all  pur- 
poses was  $39,000.  Mr.  B.  I.  David  was 
appointed  superintendent  in  place  of 
Mr.  Salomon. 

Thirten  thousand,  four  hundred  pre- 
scriptions were  filled,  7,000  for  patients 
at  the  hospital,  5,000  for  patients  out- 
side of  the  hospital,  sent  in  by  the  re- 
lief office,  and  about  1,400  outside  of 
the  dispensary  upon  orders  from  the 
relief  office. 

The  contributions  of  the  Young 
Men's  Hebrew  Charity  Association 
during  the  year  aggregated  nearly 
$9,000. 

Mr.  S.  Bartenstein,  superintendent  of 
the  Employment  Bureau,  gives  an  in- 
teresting table  of  the  classification  of 
applicants,  which  we  consider  valuable 
as  an  indication  of  the  distribution  of 
trades  among  the  Jews,  and  we  there- 
fore copy  it  here. 

No.  of 

Occupation.  Appli- 

cants. 

Peddlers    75 

Merchants    95 

Students    4 

Teachers    5 

Laborers  and  Porters 118 

Clerks    76 

Women  and  Girls 60 

Boys  42 

Bookkeepers    23 

Bakers    •> 4 

Bartenders  , 2 

Bookbinders    5 

Capmaker   1 

Cabinetmakers   29 

Cooks    4 

Cutters    6 

Cigarmakers    , . .  17 

Blacksmiths   4 

Coppersmiths    4 

Tinsmiths    10 

Locksmiths    5 

Machinists  11 

Photographers    ...» 2 

Painters  and  Paperhangers 13 

Paperbox-maker  1 

Shoemakers    21 

Tailors  53 

Cloakmakers  and  Operator 16 

Jewelers   5 

Printers  and  Typesetters 6 

Brewer 1 

Diamond  Cutter 1 

Surgeons   2 

Dyers  3 

Umbrellamaker  1 

Watchmakers   7 

Iron  Molders 5 

Waiters  13 

Butchers 24 

Glovemaker    1 

Pressers    12 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


311 


Bricklayers    3 

Furriers   9 

Hatmaker   1 

Farmers    3 

Tanners   11 

Soapmakers    3 

Plumbers    4 

Chemists   3 

Lawyers    6 

Glaziers   .  i 4 

Nurses  2 

Distillers   2 

Forester    1 

Finishers    2 

Opera  Singers 2 

Engineer   1 

Weavers  and  Fringemakers  5 

Barbers  2 

Upholsterers   5 

Varnishmaker   1 

Harnessmakers  2 

Buttonholemaker   1 

Turners    2 

Artificial  Flowermaker 1 

Pocketbookmaker   1 

Picture  Frame  Maker  1 

Carpet  Layer 1 

Bristle  Cleaner 1 

Total    866 

The  annual  report  of  the  executive 
board  for  the  year  1892-1893  contains 
the  following  introductory  remarks 
which  treat  upon  the  scope  of  the  work 
undertaken  by  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities:  "In  1859  the  United  He- 
brew Relief  Association,  the  predeces- 
sor of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities, 
was-  organized.  In  looking  back  over 
a  stretch  of  thirty-four  years,  in  con- 
templating the  growth  of  the  chari- 
ties and  the  growth  of  Chicago,  we 
have  much  to  be  thankful  for.  True, 
our  conceptions  of  charitable  or,  bet- 
ter, philanthropic  work,  have  changed 
since  those  days.  We  have  improved 
our  methods  and  we  seek  to  realize 
other  aims,  but  we  may  well  pause  and 
listen  to  the  voice  of  that  distant  past, 
and  learn  many  a  lesson  therefrom. 

"In  the  very  first  report  of  this  asso- 
ciation, a  doctrine  was  taught  that  we 
at  times  forget.  They  say,  'It  has 
been  just  as  much  our  aim  to  refuse 
all  unworthy  applicants,  as  we  have 
been  anxious  to  assist  those  really 
worthy  of  our  support.  You  know  full 
well  that  many  Israelites,  in  utter 
want  of  even  the  necessities  of  life, 
are  too  proud  to  beg.  We  have  used 
every  exertion,  by  the  appointment 
of  standing  committees  of  relief  in 
each  division  of  the  city,  to  find  out 
such  families.  We  have  found  them 
in  the  midst  of  winter  without  fuel, 
and  often  without  bread,  and  found 
that  we  had  to  argue  and  persuade 
them  that  it  was  not  dishonorable  to 
take  what  they  have  not  asked,  in  or- 
der to  make  them  recipients  of  our 
charities,  and  we  have  several  in- 
stances where  donations  of  this  kind 
have  been  refunded  to  the  association 
after  the  parties  relieved  felt  able  to 
do  so.  It  is  for  such  cases  as  these 
that  this  association  has  been  organ- 
ized.' 
"And  one,  whom  full  of  years  and 


after  a  life  of  faithful  labor,  God  called 
to  his  eternal  rest,  points  out  the  idea 
of  our  work  in  his  presidential  report, 
thirty  years  ago,  when  he  says,  "Your 
officers  have  assumed  the  delicate  task 
of  finding  out  such  families  as  were 
actually  in  want  amongst  us  and  came 
in  peace  to  their  assistance  without 
any  special  notice  from  any  source, 
saving  them  the  heartrending  neces- 
sity and  the  humiliating  alternative  of 
exposing  their  own  misery."  M.  M. 
Gertsley,  who  uttered  these  words  of 
love  in  charity  work,  served  you 
faithfully  as  president,  vice-president 
and  trustee,  during  eighteen  long 
years,  a  term  succeeded  but  by  two 
men,  both  members  of  the  present 
board.  Truly,  his  deeds  will  live  after 


done  more  than  ever  before  in  every 
field.  May  they  continue  In  their  no- 
ble work  and  may  their  increased 
forces  increase  the  good  they  spread 
about  them. 

"The  Younfg  Ladies'  Aid  Society, 
too,  has  continued  to  brighten  the  hos- 
pital patients  with  flowers  and  delica- 
cies. Its  assistance  will  be  heartily 
welcomed  in  every  branch  of  the 
work." 

The  total  number  of  cases  during 
this  year  was  3,134,  consisting  of  13,- 
300  persons;  $21,000  were  expended 
directly  in  the  work.  Ten  thousand 
yards  of  wearing  apparel  and  irearly 
1,500  pairs  of  shoes  were  distributed 
and  800  school  boys  were  clothed.  No 
child  attending  the  public  school  or 


TRAINING  SCHOOL  FOR  NURSES—      MICHAEL  REESE  HOSPITAL. 


him.  It  is  impossible,  however,  In 
these  'busy  days  for  the  present  board 
to  engage  in  this  kind  of  work.  They 
cannot  seek  out  the  deserving,  timid 
poor.  Their  hands  are  more  than  full ' 
in  attending  to  the  applicants  for  aid. 
Here,  however,  is  a  field  where  the 
women  can  do  more  than  the  men. 

"Inquisitive  charity  dispensers,  who 
take  up  this  work,  and  many  others, 
too,  as  a  fad,  we  cannot  use;  but  wom- 
en, young  and  old,  whose  hearts  are 
filled  with  a  sense  of  human  brother- 
hood and  whose  heads  control  both 
heart  and  hand,  can  render  priceless 
assistance  if  they  will  work  in  co-op- 
eration with  the  relief  office. 

"The  Sewing  Society,  the  Deborah 
Verein,  the  Jochannah  Lodge  and  the 
Baron  Hirsch  Ladies'  Society  have 


Jewish  training  school  was  compelled 
to  stay  away  from  school  for  want  of 
clothing  or  shoes.  The  only  require- 
ment was  inability  of  the  parents  to 
provide  them  and  a  certificate  of  a 
teacher  that  a  child  was  attending 
school. 

The  board  recommends  to  the  dele- 
gates that  a  special  committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  provide  for  the  opening  of 
rooms  on  the  West  Side,  as  a  "Crfiche," 
where  the  young  children  of  women 
who  are  able  to  work  should  be  taken 
care  of  in  the  absence  of  their  mothers. 
As  the  poor  women  cannot  leave  their 
little  ones,  they  are  therefore  de- 
prived of  the  opportunity  to  earn  their 
living. 

In  this  year  the  West  Side  Dispen- 
sary was  established. 


312 


THE.  RKFORM 


In  the  report  of  the  executive  board 
for  the  year  1893  to  1894  the  board  rec- 
ommends most  strongly  a  union  of  all 
Jewish  societies,  and  the  advancement, 
as  far  as  possible,  of  woman's  share 
in  the  work. 

Every  branch  shows  an  enormous 
increase.  Four  thousand,  four  hun- 
dred and  sixty-two  cases,  comprising 
20,600  persons,  were  assisted.  Only 
$37,000  were  collected  from  all  sources. 

That  year  2,187  pairs  of  shoes  were 
given  away  and  1,174  school  boys  were 
clothed.  The  direct  expenditure  In 
money  and  supplies  among  the  20,000 
recipients  was  but  $31,000,  a  little  over 
$1.50  ?or  each  person,  or  $7  in  each 
case. 

The  pension  list  of  the  association 
contained  thirty  names  and  amounted 
to  $275  per  month,  which  comprised 
the  old,  the  sick  and  the  widows  with 
families.  They  were  among  the  wor- 
thiest of  the  recipients  of  charity. 

The  sewing  societies  expended  over 
$10,000  not  included  in  the  report  of 
the  superintendent  of  the  U.  H.  C., 
during  the  nine  and  one-half  months  of 
their  existence.  At  the  West  Side  Dis- 
pensary 13,500  patients  have  been 
treated,  an  average  of  1,410  per 
month.  Twelve  thousand,  five  hundred 
prescriptions  were  filled.  The  Dispen- 
sary, being  not  a  year  old,  was  the 
second  largest  in  the  city.  At  the  La- 
bor Bureau  1,120  applications  were  re- 
ceived for  work  and  911  were  rovided 
for. 

A  maternity  ward  was  established  at 
the  Hospital;  twenty-three  nurses  and 
one  probationer  were  at  the  training 
school  for  nurses;  1,022  patients  were 
treated  at  the  hospital.  In  the  dispen- 
sary over  10,000  patients  were  treated. 
The  druggists  prepared  nearly  17,000 
prescriptions. 

In  that  year  the  Hospital  received 
from: 
The  widow  of  the  late  Max  M. 

Rothschild   $  5,000 

The  heirs  of  Leopold  Loewen- 

stein    1,000 

Little  Nelson  Morris  Rothschild  500 
The  bequest  of  Mrs.  Eliza 

Frank  6,000 

erected  'by  Jacob  Rosenberg,  a  surviv- 
ing trustee,  at  a  cost  of  over  $14,000. 
The  total  number  of  persons  helped  at 
the  Relief  office  during  the  year  from 
September,  1897,  to  1898,  was  10,742. 
Five  hundred  and  ninety-five  persons 
applied  for  work  at  the  Employment 
Bureau  and  work  was  procured  for 
534.  At  the  Hospital  were  treated  the 
following  patients:  Jewish,  pay,  95; 
charity,  1,234.  Non- Jewish,  pay,  100; 
charity,  87.  Total  1,516.  In  the  Hos- 
pital Dispensary  a  total  of  20,949  pa- 
tients were  treated.  Of  these  5,490  were 
non-Jewish;  20,991  prescriptions  were 
filled  at  the  pharmacy.  At  the  West 
Side  Dispensary  there  were  treated  19,- 
525  cases  and  18,151  prescriptions  were 
filled.  At  the  Sheltering  Home  100 

Henry  A.   Kohn 5,000 

Max  Goodkind 500 

And  the  fifth  annual  payment  of       100 


(From  the  estate  of  E.  Gross- 
man.) 
Total    $13,100 

The  Hospital  endowment  fund 
amounted  to  $139,900. 

The  board  urged  that  as  New  York 
raises  $175,000  a  year  for  Jewish  char- 
ity, the  Jewish  Relief  of  Chicago, 
should  raise  not  less  than  $60,000  for 
the  same  purpose. 


.  In  1895  a  Sheltering  Home  was 
opened  by  the  United  Hebrew  Charities 
on  the  west  side.  In  1896  Mrs.  Eman- 
uel  Mandel  donated  $10,000  for  a  West 
Side  Dispensary  building.  On  April  18, 
1897,  the  children's  building  was 
opened  In  the  Hospital  grounds, 
children  belonging  to  49  families  were 
kept  at  the  Home  for  a  total  period  of 
2,581  days. 

In  the  annual  report  of  the  Executive 
Board  for  1898  to  1899  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing remarks: 

"Complaints  are  heard  at  times,  even 
today,  of  unjust  treatment  at  the  Re- 
lief office.  Nearly  every  disappointed 
applicant  has  words  of  abuse  and  de- 
nunciation, which  find  only  too  willing 
an  ear,  particularly  with  those  mem- 
bers of  the  community  who  fail  to  con- 
tribute to  this  department.  We  cau- 
tion you  against  accepting  these  sto- 
ries. We  invite  investigation.  We 
urge  you  to  visit  the  Relief  office,  to 
examine  into  the  work,  to  see  how  the 
applicants  are  treated.  Our  records  are 
open  to  the  inspection  of  anyone  who 
has  a  legitimate  interest  therein.  In- 
formation can  be  obtained  and  will  be 
willingly  given  at  the  office.  Year 
after  year  we  have  repeated  this  invi- 
tation, and  year  after  year  we  have 
kept  on  complaining,  but  you  have 
failed  to  respond.  The  work  is  your 
work,  not  ours  alone;  we  are  but  your 
representatives.  You  yourselves,  are 
the  representatives  of  the  Jewish  com- 
munity. An  attendance  at  these  an- 
nual meetings,  a  payment  of  an  annual 
contribution,  is  not  the  full  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  which  you  have  as- 
sumed. A  personal  Interest  In  the 
work,  such  as  will  enable  you  to  sug- 
gest at  these  annual  meetings  neces- 
sary changes  of  reform,  is  essential. 

"As  long  as  we  are  given  $27,500,  as 
long  as  we  are  compelled  to  grant  as- 
sistance in  1,010  cases,  as  often  as  2,335 
times,  we  cannot  hope  to  effect  aid  in 
many  cases.  We  have  on  our  books 
today  49  persons  receiving  regular 
monthly  assistance,  aggregating  $350. 
They  are  mostly,  the  aged,  the  sick  and 
the  widowed  with  dependent  children, 
the  most  deserving  of  all  our  appli- 
cants." 

Public  exercises  were  held  in  June  in 
the  K.  A.  M.  Temple  at  which  the  first 
three-year  class  of  twelve  nurses  were 
graduated.  At  the  Hospital  Dispen- 
sary about  13,000  patients  were  treated, 
while  In  the  pharmacy  nearly  22,000 
prescriptions  were  filled.  The  Fair  and 
the  charity  ball  of  that  year  arranged 
by  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Charity 
Association  netted  the  sum  of  $84,000.  Of 


this  the  Michael  Reese  hospital  re- 
ceived one-half,  the  other  departments 
of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  re- 
ceived in  all  $14,250.  On  May  1,  1899, 
the  Sheltering  Home  was  closed.  The 
West  Side  Dispensary  building  was 
erected  on  the  50-foot  lot  on  the  west 
side  of  Morgan  street,  south  of  Max- 
well. The  cost  of  the  lot  was  $5,000. 
We  received  for  this  purpose  from  the 
Young  Men's  Hebrew  Charity  Associa- 
tion $3,000,  the  balance  of  $2,000  was 
taken  from  the  building  fund.  It  was 
found  that  the  plans  called  for  a  build- 
ing which  would  cost  $1,300  in  excess 
of  the  amount  of  money  on  hand.  One 
of  the  trustees,  Mr.  Edwin  F.  Meyer, 
generously  guaranteed  that  the  amount 
necessary  to  complete  the  building 
would  be  paid  when  needed.  The  plans 
for  the  building  were  drawn  by  Mr. 
Dankmar  Adler,  one  of  the  trustees,  as 
architect. 

Mr.  Francis  Kiss,  who  had  been  the 
efficient  superintendent  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities  for  twenty-eight 
years,  was  retired  by  the  board  on  ac- 
count of  old  age,  and  his  son-in-law, 
Mr.  Edward  Rutoovits,  elected  to  take 
his  "place.  Mr.  Kiss  earned,  during  his 
many  years  of  service,  the  highest  re- 
spect and  appreciation  of  the  entire 
community.  The  board  often  expressed 
their  warm  gratitude  and  full  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  services  ren- 
dered to  the  cause  of  charity  by  Mr. 
Kiss.  He  worked  hard,  intelligently 
and  faithfully,  and  fully  deserves  the 
rest  he  is  now  enjoying. 

A  new  superintendent,  Doctor  Un- 
gerleider,  was  also  elected  for  the  hos- 
pital, and  the  United  Hebrew  Chari- 
ties have  cause  to  congratulate  them- 
selves upon  securing  the  services  of  so 
able,  zealous  and  efficient  a  superin- 
tendent for  the  hospital.  During  the 
period  from  September,  1899,  to  April, 
1900,  assistance  was  given  at  the  Re- 
lief Office  to  1,511  applicants,  represent- 
ing 7,160  persons.  The  hospital  re- 
ceived frpm  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew 
Charity  Association  the  sum  of  $5,000; 
984  patients  were  treated  in  the  hos- 
pital, of  whom  681  were  Jewish  charity 
patients. 

The  new  building  of  the  West  Side 
Dispensary  was  completed  and  occu- 
pied during  the  current  year.  It  is  a 
splendid  memorial  to  the  architect,  a 
late  member  of  the  board,  Dankmar 
Adler,  as  well  as  a  beautiful  testimo- 
nial of  the  generosity  of  Mrs.  Emanuel 
Mandel,  who  donated  $10,000  to  be  ap- 
plied to  the  building  of  the  dispensary. 

During  the  year  1900,  an  important 
step  was  taken  in  the  financial  manage- 
ment of  the  Jewish  charity  institutions 
of  Chicago.  It  was  resolved  to  put  the 
collection  of  the  necessary  funds  for 
all  the  charity  institutions  into  the 
hands  of  one  board  or  committee, 
thereby  relieving  the  individual  boards 
of  the  task  of  collecting  the  necessary 
funds  wherewith  to  run  the  institu- 
tions. It  was  also  hoped  that  thereby 
the  revenue  of  the  charity  institutions 
would  'be  materially  increased. 

This  general  or  associated  board  was 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


313 


to  distribute  the  collected  funds  among 
all  the  charity  institutions  in  a  judi- 
cious manner. 

For  over  forty  years  the  United  He- 
brew Chanties  of  Chicago  labored  un- 
ceasingly, unselfishly,  ardently  and  de- 
votedly in  the  cause  of  benevolence. 
Boards  came  and  boards  went.  The 
Jewish  population  of  Chicago  in- 
creased and  multiplied  rapidly.  The 
demands  upon  the  patience,  the  intel- 
ligence and  the  devotedness  of  the  dif- 
ferent boards  were  frequently  enor- 
mous. A  terrific  conflagration  swept 
over  the  city,  creating  a  crisis  of  vast 
importance  in  the  Jewish  community, 
threatening  life  and  existence  of  all  the 
communal  institutions.  The  United 
Hebrew  Charities  was  found  equal  to 
the  emergency.  By  reading  the  ex- 
tracts of  the  reports  which  we  have 
given,  one  is  amazed  at  the  enormity  of 
the  work  accomplished.  The  numbers 
of  applicants  treated  at  the  Relief  Of- 
fice, at  the  hospital  and  at  the  branch 
institutions,  as  the  West  Side  Dispen- 
sary, Sheltering  Home,  Lying  in  Hos- 
pital, etc.,  are  dazzling  in  their  im- 
mensity. During  all  these  years  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities  maintained 
its  position  as  the  first  and  the  great- 
est Jewish  benevolent  institution  In 
the  State  of  Illinois,  and  it  has  been 
only  surpassed,  so  far,  by  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities  of  New  York  City. 

As  the  years  roll  by  and  new  gener- 
ations step  into  the  places  of  the  old 
leaders,  all  the  complaining  and  fault 
finding  will  toe  forgotten,  and  the 
names  of  the  true  and  faithful  workers 
in  the  ranks  of  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities  of  Chicago  will  stand  out  as 
shining  examples  of  true  manhood,  of 
ideal  benevolence,  worthy  of  emula- 
tion. The  blessings  of  the  entire  com- 
munity will  follow  them  beyond  this 
life  to  their  eternal  homes,  and  the 
unanimous  verdict  will  be,  "Well  done, 
true  and  faithful  servants!" 

ASSOCIATED    JEWISH    CHARITIES 
OF  CHICAGO. 

The  movement  for  the  creation  of 
the  Associated  Jewish  Charities  of 
Chicago  began  to  take  shape  in  Janu- 
ary, 1900.  After  several  prelimi- 
nary meetings  the  work  was  ac- 
complished, and  on  April  16,  1900, 
a  charter  was  granted  to  the  As- 
sociated Jewish  Charities  of  Chi- 
cago. This  is  the  object  which  ths 
Associated  Charities  had  set  for  itself: 
To  substitute  for  the  annual  contri- 
butions to  the  various  institutions  one 
single  contribution  to  its  funds,  the 
proceeds  of  which  will  be  distributed 
by  it  among  the  various  charities  in 
aid  of  the  Jews  of  Chicago  in  accord- 
ance with  their  requirements.  We 
quote  from  the  report  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities  for  the  period  of  Sep- 
tember 18,  1899,  to  April  30, 1900.  From 
this  report  we  learn  that  during  that 
time  a  larger  sum  has  been  subscribed 
than  has  heretofore  been  collected  by 
all  of  the  Jewish  charities  combined, 
including  the  annual  charity  ball,  and 
that,  too,  among  a  fewer  number  of 


persons  than  have  contributed  to  the 
relief  department.  Less  than  one 
thousand  persons  have  subscribed  over 
$  120,000,  and  it  is  hoped  that  at  least 
$30,000  more  will  soon  be  raised. 

Pursuant  to  a  call  issued  by  the  tem- 
porary officers  of  the  new  movement  a 
meeting  of  the  subscribers  to  the  Asso- 
ciated Jewish  Charities  was  held  April 
12,  1900,  in  the  vestry  rooms  of  Sinai 
Temple.  The  very  large  attendance 
was  an  evidence  of  the  great  interest 
felt  in  the  movement.  All  sections  of 
the  city  were  well  represented,  as  were 
all  the  leading  Jewish  institutions  and 
organizations.  Mr.  Edwin  G.  Fore- 
man opened  the  meeting  by  making  the 
following  statement: 


treatment  received  from  everyone  ap- 
proached in  the  matter..  It  did,  indeed, 
seem  as  though  the  entire  Jewish  com- 
munity acted  as  a  committee  of  one  to 
further  a  cause  which  one  and  all  con- 
sidered to  be  a  good  move  in  the  right 
direction. 

"During  the  time  subscribers  were 
being  solicited,  the  plans  which  will 
be  submitted  to  you  this  evening  were 
formulated  and  carefully  considered  at 
meetings  held  by  a  committee  of  twen- 
ty-one, consisting  of  four  members  of 
each  of  the  executive  boards  of  the  fol- 
lowing instructions — namely,  the  Uni- 
ted Hebrew  Charities,  the  Jewish 
Training  School,  the  Home  for  Aged 
Jews,  and  the  Chicago  Home  for  Jew- 


OHICAGO  LYING-IN  HOSPITAL. 


"The  work  in  connection  with  this 
undertaking  of  making  one  annual  col- 
lection for  the  charities  was  com- 
menced about  three  months  ago.  Since 
that  time  we  have  obtained  835  sub- 
scribers, the  amount  subscribed  being 
$115,940.  Inasmuch  as  the  United  He- 
brew Charities  alone  had  1,200  sub- 
scribers last  year,  I  feel  safe  in  pre- 
dicting that  there  are  at  least  one  thou- 
sand more  persons  who  will  subscribe 
under  the  new  system,  while  some  of 
my  co-workers  estimated  the  number 
.at  two  thousand. 

"I  am  satisfied  that  the  methods 
heretofore  pursued  in  collecting  money 
for  the  charities  did  not  receive  such 
generous  and  enthusiastic  support 
nor  met  with  such  unanimous  ap- 
proval. 

"While  the  work  performed  has  been 
great  and  laborious,  it  has,  neverthe- 
less, proved  a  pleasant  and  agreeable 
task,  owing  to  the  general  willingness 
to  assist,  and  the  kind  and  courteous 


ish  Orphans,  and  the  five  members  of 
the  self-constituted  committee,  and 
these  plans  have  also  been  approved 
by  the  boards  of  these  respective  insti- 
tutions. 

"Before  you  enter  upon  your  delibera- 
tions this  evening  permit  me  to  offer 
this  suggestion— namely,  that  you  place 
the  fullest  and  most  implicit  confi- 
dence in  your  first  board  of  directors. 

"Do  not  hamper  them  or  limit  their 
sphere  of  action  by  rules  and  conven- 
tionalities, but  leave  them  free  to  work 
out,  along  the  lines  dictated  by  their 
own  reason  and  judgment,  the  prob- 
lems that  will  necessarily  confront 
them.  Your  confidence  will  not  be  mis- 
placed. The  interests  of  the  organiza- 
tion will  be  the  individual  Interests  of 
each  member  of  the  board,  and  will  be 
fully  conserved  by  them." 

The  following  statement  made  by 
Mr.  Julian  W.  Mack,  Secretary  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities,  at  this  meet- 
ing clearly  outlines  the  work  and  in- 


314 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


tentions  of  th,e  organization.  Mr. 
Mack  said: 

'"For  some  time  past  it  has  been  con- 
sidered desirable  by  a  number  of  mem- 
bers of  this  community  to  adopt  a  new 
system  of  collecting  and  distributing 
the  charitable  donations  of  the  Jews. 
At  the  last  annual  meeting  of  the  Uni- 
ted Charities  this  matter  was  suggested 
by  the  report  of  the  executive  board, 
and  independently,  from  the  floor,  a 
resolution  was  offered  and  adopted  In- 
structing the  executive  board  to  invite 
a  conference  of  the  other  Jewish  chari- 
table organizations. 

"Before  anything  was  done  under 
this  resolution,  and  entirely  indepen- 
dently thereof,  Mr.  Edwin  G.  Foreman 
and  Mr.  Edwin  F.  Meyer  determined 
to  ascertain  to.  what  extent  a  move- 
ment of  this  kind  would  be  supported. 
On  the  7th  of  January,  1900,  they  in- 
vited a  conference  of  a  few  citizens  to 
test  their  feelings  on  the  subject.  The 
response  was  gratifyingly  unanimous. 


amount  necessary  for  proper  work, 
will  be  raised.  After  $100,000  had  been 
subscribed  the  central  committee  de- 
cided it  was  time  to  organize.  They 
invited  a  conference  with  representa- 
tives from  the  'board  of  United  Hebrew 
Charities,  the  Jewish  Training 
School,  and  the  Chicago  Home  for 
Jewish  Orphans.  A  number  or 
meetings  were  held  by  this  con- 
ference. A  sub-committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  draft  a  charter  and  by-laws. 
These  were  submitted  to  the  general 
conference,  and  after  several  meetings, 
at  which  all  the  questions  involved 
were  thoroughly  discussed,  the  charter 
and  by-laws,  practically  as  presented 
to  you  tonight,  were  unanimously 
adopted.  The  by-laws  adopted  have 
been  submitted  to  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities, 
the  Home  for  Aged  Jews,  the  Jewish 
Training  School  and  the  Chicago 
Home  for  Jewish  Orphans,  and  have 
been  unanimously  approved  of. 


WEST  SIDE    DISPENSARY. 


They  thereupon  associated  with  them- 
celves,  as  a  provisional  central  commit- 
tee to  take  charge  of  the  work,  Doctor 
E.  G.  Hirsch,  Messrs.  Leon  Mandel  and 
Julian  W.  Mack.  This  committee  se- 
lected a  sub-committee  from  the  vari- 
ous clubs,  and  they  one  and  all  worked 
with  unabated  zeal  in  soliciting  contri- 
butions from  their  fellow  members. 
The  central  committee  invited  confer- 
ences with  the  Rabbis  and  obtained 
their  assistance  in  soliciting  subscrip- 
tions from  the  congregation  members, 
and  finally  when  this  meeting  had  been 
determined  upon  they  sent  out  general 
circulars  to  the  public  at  large  invit- 
ing subscriptions.  As  a  result  of  these 
efforts  870  persons  have  contributed 
nearly  $116,000  to  date.  As  soon  as  the 
organization  is  completed  active  steps 
will  have  to  be  taken  to  obtain  sub- 
scriptions from  every  Jew  and  Jewess 
in  the  City  of  Chicago,  and  it  cannot 
be  doubted  but  that  $150,000,  the 


"Before  reading  the  draft  of  the 
charter  it  may  be  permissible  to  say  a 
few  words  on  the  functions  o?the  new 
organization,  and  particularly  to  em- 
phasize, what  it  is  not  expected  to  do. 
It  is  to  be  primarily  a  financial  insti- 
tution, a  clearing  house,  to  collect  the 
contributions  and  to  distribute  them 
among  the  various  charities.  There  is 
no  intention  of  engaging  in  direct 
charity  work,  or  of  competing  in  any 
manner  with  any  of  the  existing  insti- 
tutions. The  officers  and  trustees  who 
are  to  be  elected  by  you  to  manage  it 
should,  therefore,  be  selected  because 
of  their  ability  to  collect  funds  and  to 
maintain  the  present  collections  and 
because  of  their  well  established  repu- 
tations for  fairness  and  impartiality. 

"The  new  society,  if  carried  on  on 
these  lines,  will  not  and  cannot  solve 
all  the  acute  charity  problems  that 
must  be  solved  at  once  by  the  Jews 
of  this  city.  The  chief  of  these  is  the 


amalgamation  of  all  of  the  relief  giving 
bodies  into  one  central  body.  The  new 
organization,  as  a  distributer  of  the 
funds;  will  certainly  take  up  this  prob- 
lem immediately  and  endeavor  to  bring 
about  a  complete  co-operation  of  all 
the  organizations  which  now  dispense 
direct  relief  among  the  Jews.  This 
amalgamated  relief  body  will,  it  is 
hoped,  include  all  of  the  ladies'  socie- 
ties, the  relief  department  of  the  Unit- 
ed Hebrew  Charities  and  various  bod- 
ies working  in  co-operation  with  the 
Seventh  Ward  Bureau." 

The  following  officers  were  unani- 
mously elected  to  serve  for  the  first 
year: 

President — Edwin  G.  Foreman. 

Vice-President — Harry  Hart. 

Treasurer — Isador  BaumgarU. 

Secretary — Julian  W.  Mack. 

A  board  of  seven  directors  was  also 
elected  as  follows: 

For  three  years — A.  G.  Becker  and 
L.  B.  Kuppenheimer. 

For  one  year — Mrs.  Hannah  G.  Solo- 
mon and  George  Frank. 

From  the  speeches  of  the  President 
and  the  Secretary  of  this  new  associa- 
tion we  believe  that  the  reader  will  be 
able  to  form  a  clear  conception  of  the 
intentions,  aims  and  objects  of  the  As- 
sociated Jewish  Charities.  The  forma- 
tion of  this  association  was  a  step  in 
the  right  direction,  which  will  be  imi- 
tated by  the  larger  Jewish  communi- 
ties of  this  country.  The  officers  elec- 
ted have  the  full  confidence  of  the 
community,  and  the  results  of  their 
work  will  tell  a  cheerful  and  gratifying 
story. 

THE  CHICAGO  LYING  IN  HOSPITAL 
AND  DISPENSARY. 

Just  a  few  words  in  regard  to  these 
two  very  necessary  and  beneficial  in- 
stitutions in  connection  with  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities.  These  institutions 
are  growing  larger,  better  and  more 
useful  every  year.  The  board  of  direc- 
tors stands  as  follows: 

Mrs.  E.  C.  Dudley,  President. 

Mrs.  Leon  Hartmen,  First  Vice-Pres- 
ident. 

Mrs.  Charles  L.  Strobel,  Second  Vice- 
President 

Mrs.  George  Bass,  Secretary. 

Mr.  B.  R.  Cahn,  Mrs.  Emanuel  Man- 
del,  Mrs.  Frank  M.  Avery,  Mrs.  Charles 
Sherman,  Mrs.  L.  Lowensteln,  Mrs.  H. 
C.  Chatfleld-Taylor,  Mrs.  George  W. 
Meeker,  Mrs.  Levy  Mayer,  Doctor  J.  B. 
DeLee,  Mrs.  S.  B.  Steele,  Mrs.  W.  H. 
Atwater,  Mrs.  George  E.  Wood,  Mrs.  S. 
C.  Stanton,  Mrs.  Charles  D.  Norton, 
Mrs.  J.  L.  Cochran,  Mrs.  M.  D.  Wells, 
Mrs.  L.  J.  Wolf. 

The  objects  of  the  institution  are: 
"To  provide  proper  medical  care  for 
poor  women  during  confinement  at 
their  own  homes;  to  establish  and 
maintain  a  hospital  for  the  care  of 
such  pregnant  women  as  are  without 
homes  or  need  hospital  care  during 
confinement;  to  instruct  students  of 
medicine  in  the  art  of  midwifery,  and 
to  train  nurses  in  the  care  of  women 
during  confinement" 


REFORM  ADYOGA.TR. 


315 


The  first  of  these  objects  is  being  ac- 
complished at  the  dispensary,  at  298 
Maxwell  street,  which  cares  for  nearly 
one  thousand  women  a  year  at  their 
homes.  The  society  turns  its  efforts 
toward  establishing  the  much  wished 
for  maternity  hospital,  the  necessity 
for  which  as  an  adjunct  to  the  dispen- 
sary was  being  more  and  more  acutely 
felt.  No  case  is  refused  at  the  hospital 
if  there  is  a  vacant  bed — Jew  or  Gen- 
tile, rich  or  poor,  white  or  colored — 
the  hospital  will  do  its  best  for  them 
all.  In  September  a  course  of  obstet- 
ric training  of  nurses  was  established. 
This  course  is  of  two  months'  duration, 
and  many  nurses  of  the  other  hospitals 
have  availed  themselves  of  its  privi- 
leges. The  service  is  both  indoor  and 
among  the  dispensary  patients.  Its 
fame  is  rapidly  spreading  througfiout 
the  training  schools  of  the  city  and 
elsewhere. 

in  connection  with  the  nursery  an 
Incubator  Station  has  been  opened,  for 
the  care  of  prematurely  and  weakly 
born  infants.  This  is  the  only  thing 
of  the  kind  in  the  city,  as  is  also  the 
ambulance  incubator  used  in  trans- 
porting these  delicate  children  from 
distant  parts  of  the  city  and  the  sub- 
urbs. 

While  this  society  is  not  exclusively 
a  Jewish  organization,  yet  so  many  of 
our  co-religionists  take  an  active  in- 
terest in  its  work  and  so  many  poor 
Jewish  women  benefit  by  it,  that  wo 
thought  it  proper  to  give  an  account  of 
this  institution  in  connection  with  the 
U.  H.  Ch. 

The  fact  is  that  a  Jewish  physician, 
Dr.  J.  B.  De  Lee,  is  the  very  soul  of 
the  entire  establishment  and  a  sub- 
stantial part  of  the  funds  are  con- 
tributed by  Jews. 

THE   DISPENSARY. 

At  298  Maxwell  street  the  dispensary 
continues  to  do  great  good  among  the 
poor  women  at  their  homes.  During 
the  past  year  889  cases  were  treated 
and  no  death  is  to  be  recorded  in  the 
whole  service;  10,982  visits  were  made 
these  women,  representing  a  vast 
amount  of  effort. 

One  hundred  and  six  students  were 
trained  in  the  essentials  of  midwifery, 
and  the  minutiae  of  obstetrics  and 
cleanliness. 

SOUTH  SIDE  LADIES'  SEWING  SO- 
CIETY. 

The  South  Side  Ladies'  Sewing  So- 
ciety was  organized  in  the  fall  of 
1S63,  with  thirty  members.  There 
T/as  only  one  officer  at  that  time,  and 
that  was  a  president.  The  first  presi- 
dent was  Mrs.  Michael  Greenebaum. 
The  dues  were  ten  cents  per  week. 
The  ladies  met  at  the  homes  of  the 
members  and  sewed  garments  for 
poor  women  and  children,  which  wore 
distributed  by  the  Hebrew  Relief  As- 
sociation. From  the  start  until  the 
present  day  the  Sewing '  Society  was 
an  auxiliary  of  the  Hebrew  Relief 
Association.  « 


On  the  3d  of  April,  1888,  the  Society 
was  incorporated.  The  officers  were 
then:  Mrs.  M.  Schmaltz,  president, 
•Mrs.  H.  F.  Hahn,  vice-president,  Mrs. 
E.  Mandel,  recording  secretary.  Mrs. 
l-i.  Simons,  treasurer,  Mrs.  J.  Hirsch, 
financial  secretary.  When  the  Mi- 
chael Reese  Hospital  was  opened  the 
South  Side  Ladies'  Sewing  Society 
supplied  said  Hospital  with  all  linens, 
such  as  aprons,  comforters,  etc. 

For  the  last  few  years  the  Society 
has  employed  four  Jewish  women  to 
do  the  sewing,  which  in  former  years 
was  done  by  its  members,  expending 
for  this  purpose  from  four  to  six 
hundred  dollars  a  season.  Lately  the 
Society  has  been  working  in  co-  opera- 
tion with  the  Chicago  Women's  Aid, 
in  operating  the  work  room  on  Canal 
Street,  the  Sewing  Society  supplying 
all  material  and  distributing  the  fin- 
ished garments.  In»  addition  to  this 
the  L.  S.  Society  furnishes  employ- 
ment to  thirty  women  at  their  homes, 
who  are  unable  to  attend  the  work 
room. 

The  present  staff  of  officers  consists 
of  Mrs.  J.  Schmaltz,  president;  Mrs. 
A.  Rheimstrom,  vice-president;  Mrs. 
L.  Strauss,  treasurer;  Mrs.  N.  F.  Leo- 
pold, financial  secretary;  Miss  Bins- 
wanger,  recording  secretary.  The  mem- 
bership numbers  310.  The  annual  ex- 
penditures have  reached  the  sum  of 
$4,000.  The  number  of  families  sup- 
plied are  about  225. 

For  the  last  thirteen  years  the  pies- 
Ident,  Mrs.  Schmaltz,  has  attended  to 
the  duties  of  her  office  with  a  zeal 
and  devotion  commanding  the  highest 
praise.  Mrs.  Schmaltz  is  a  sister  of 
Abe  and  Henry  N.  Hart,  and  charity, 
the  strong  trait  of  character  in  the 
Hart  family,  exercises  its  fascination 
and  influence  upon  the  daughters  as 
well  as  upon  the  sons.  Mrs.  Schmaltz 
seems  to  grow  younger  every  year  un- 
der the  benign  and  rejuvenating  in- 
fluence of  sweet  charity.  She  is  still 
vary  active  in  her  blessed  work  and 
with  the  aid  of  her  devoted  sisters  in 
charity,  her  companion  officers  of  the 
L.  S.  Society,  she  accomplishes  a  vast 
amount  of  good  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Jewish  poor  of  Chicago.  May  her 
powers  never  grow  less. 

The  other  Ladies'  Sewing  Societies 
of  the  North  and  West  Sides  have  af- 
filiated with  the  United  Hebrew  Chari- 
ties. 

THE  JOCHANNAH  LODGE. 

The  Jochannah  Lodge  is  one  of  a 
number  of  lodges  constituting  "The  In- 
dependent Order  of  True  Sisters" 
("Unabhaengige  Orden  der  Treuen 
Sch western"),  with  its  headiuarters 
in  New  York. 

Jochannah  Lodge  was  organized 
twenty-seven  years  ago,  on  the  12th 
of  February,  in  this  city,  with  Mrs. 
Babbette  Weise  its  first  president. 
The  charter  members  were:  The 
above-named  president,  Mrs.  Johan- 
nah  A.  Loeb,  Mrs.  Michael  Greene- 
baum, Mrs.  Leopold  Simon,  Mrs.  Sa- 


rah Cole  and  Mrs.  Jochannah  Koeh- 
ler.  It  was  organized  for  mutual 
benefit  and  advancement.  The  mem- 
bers are  entitled  to  a  sick  benefit. 
There  is  also  an  endowment  feature 
connected  with  the  association.  Joc- 
hannah Lodge  has  always  bfcen  close- 
ly allied  with  all  charitable  projects 
in  the  city.  In  former  years  it  an- 
nually clothed  100  poor  children,  but 
for  the  past  six  years  it  has  confined  its 
work  to  the  maintenance  of  a  certain 
number  of  widows  and  their  children. 
Its  annual  entertainments  and  festi- 
vals are  undertaken  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  funds  to  be  so  applied.  Dur- 
ing the  last  year  it  has  been  work- 
ing in  conjunction  with  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  and  has  charge  of 
about  twenty-five  families.  Jochan- 
uah  Lodge  was  first  to  organize  and 
maintain  a  free  kindergarten  for  poor 
Jewish  children,  and  it  points  with 
pride  to  the  fact  that  the  present 
Manual  Training  School  is  an  out- 
come of  the  feeble  efforts  of  Jochan- 
nah Lodge  in  that  direction. 

The  membership  at  present  is  near- 
ly 300. 

THE  YOUNG  LADIES'  AUXILIARY. 

This  is  a  powerful  adjunct  to  the 
society.  During  the  year  these  young 
women  contributed  $613  to  the  insti- 
tution; $300  for  furnishing  the  nursery 
and  $313  for  its  support.  In  addition 
they  donated  large  quantities  of  babies' 
clothes,  the  labor  of  their  own  hands. 
Their  membership  now  numbers  86, 
and  all  are  deeply  imbued  with  the  im- 
portance of  their  work  and  active  in 
their  efforts  in  furtherance  of  it. 

President— Miss  Minnie  Sax. 

First  Vice-President — Miss  Rose  Des- 
pres. 

Second  Vice-President — Miss  Emma 
Steele. 

Secretary — Miss  Lulu  Newman. 

Treasurer — Miss  Nettie  De  Lee. 

In  charge  of  the  work  room — Miss 
Rebecca  Hefte'r. 

LEADERS  IN  CHARITY  WORK. 

MR.  HENRY  GREENEBAUM. 
The  First  President  of  the  U.  H.  R.  A. 

In  tracing  the  development  of  a 
community  the  historian  often  finds 
the  foot-prints  of  a  single  individual 
deeply  impressed  in  the  sands  of  time, 
extending  through  several  epochs  of 
progress  and  achievement.  From  the 
faintest  border  lines  of  first  attempts 
in  the  pioneer  period  to  the  very  cen- 
ter of  the  movements  of  maturity  the 
light  of  this  individual  character  radi- 
ates like  a  brilliant  star  on  the  firma- 
ment of  the  communal  life,  leading  the 
way  to  thrift  and  to  triumph,  to 
strength  and  to  stability. 

In  the  history  of  the  Jewish  commu- 
nity of  Chicago  Henry  Greenebaum  oc- 
cupies just  such  an  exalted  position. 
He  was  the  pioneer  leader  and  the  pow- 
erful promoter  of  good  and  noble 
achievements  through  many  years  of 
the  life  of  the  Jewish  community.  The 
irresistible  force  of  his  energetic  indi- 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


viduality  gave  the  impulse  to  the  cre- 
ation of  many  of  the  religious,  benevo- 
lent, fraternal,  educational  and  social 
institutions,  and  his  enthusiastic  na- 
ture and  lofty  idealism,  tempered  with 
practicability  and  commercial  sagacity, 
helped  to  sustain  them  and  to  extend 
their  beneficial  influences. 

Henry  Greenebaum  was  born  at  Ep~ 
pelsheim,  Germany,  June  18,  1833,  and 
his  parents  were  Jacob  and  Sarah 
(Herz)  Greenebaum.  He  received  his 
primary  education  in  yie  public  schools 
of  his  native  town  and  then  took  up 
the  study  of  the  classics  at  Alzey  and 
Kaiserslautern.  He  came  to  Chicago 
October  25, 1848,  where  two  elder  broth- 
ers, Michael  and  Elias,  had  preceded 
him,  and  took  employment  as  a  hard- 
ware salesman  in  the  establishment  of 
W.  F.  Dominick.  After  two  years  he 
engaged  as  clerk  in  the  banking  house 
of  General  R.  K.  Swift  Here  he  re- 
mained four  years,  becoming  thorough- 
ly conversant  with  the  banking  busi- 
ness. 

At  the  end  of  this  period  he  opened 


HENRY  GREENEBAUM. 
First  President  U.  H.  R.  A. 

a  bank  in  partnership  with  his  elder 
brother,  Elias,  who  was  also  a  clerk 
In  Swift's  bank.  Mr.  Greenebaum  be- 
came president  of  the  German  Savings 
Bank,  and  in  the  time  of  their  high- 
est prosperity  the  deposits  of  these 
banks  approximated  five  million  dol- 
lars, quite  a  large  aggregate  In  the 
earlier  bank  history  of  Chicago. 

He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of  the 
city  library  and  Is  a  life  member  of 
the  Chicago  Historical  Society,  the 
Chicago  Atheneum  (to  which  upon  his 
motion  It  was  changed  from  the  origi- 
nal name  of  Christian  Union),  the  As- 
tronomical Society,  the  82d  Illinois  Vol. 
Regiment  of  Veterans,  and  of  several 
kindred  associations.  He  served  in  the 
City  Council  as  Alderman  from  the 
Sixth  Ward,  was  Presidential  Elector 
on  the  Douglas  ticket,  in  1856  he  repre- 
sented Cook  County  on  the  first  Equal- 
ization Board  of  the  States  and  was  a 
member  of  the  West  Chicago  Park 
Commission  during  the  administration 
of  Governor  Palmer. 

The  greatest  interest  he  always  took 
In  Jewish  affairs.  Before  he  was  of 


age  he  was  secretary  of  the  Congrega- 
tion B'nai  Sholom  and  when  he  with- 
drew in  1855  to  join  Kehilath  Anshe 
Maarabh,  Congregation  B'nai  Sholom  « 
elected  him  an  honorary  member.  In 
1857  he  assisted  in  instituting  Ra- 
man Lodge  No.  33  of  the  Order 
of  B'nai  B'rith.  He  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  District  Grand  Lodge  No.  2  for 
ten  years  and  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Cleveland  Orphan  Asylum.  At  the 
institution  of  District  Grand  Lodge 
No.  6,  in  1868,  he  was  elected  first 
President  by  unanimous  choice  and 
twice  succeeded  himself.  He  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  Sinai  Congregation. 
In  1864  he  established  the  Zion  Congre- 
gation on  the  west  side  and  was  its 
President  for  seven  years.  In  1882  he 
was  again  elected  President,  holding 
the  office  for  two  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1895  a  large  number  of  co-religionists 
living  south  of  Tltfrty-ninth  street  or- 
ganized the  Isaiah  Congregation  and 
Mr.  Greenebaum  was  elected  the  first 
President.  He  was  the  father  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Relief  Association,  now 
known  as  the  United  Hebrew  Charities, 
and  was  elected  its  first  President.  He 
is  an  honorary  member  of  Jochannah 
Lodge,  an  organization  of  Jewish 
women  devoted  to  charity  and  intel- 
lectual culture.  He  is  also  President  of 
the  Past-Presidents'  Association  of 
District  Grand  Lodge  No.  6,  I.  O.  B.  B., 
and  for  thirty  years  he  officiated  in 
ZioB  Temple  as  reader  on  the  eve  of 
the  day  of  Atonement. 

In  1855  Mr.  Greenebaum  was  married 
in  New  York  to  Miss  Emily  Hyman 
and  she  proved  a  true  and  noble  help- 
mate to  him  through  many  years  of 
his  eventful  life.  She  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1899,  after  forty-four  years  of 
wedded  life,  lamented  by  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  admirers  of  her  many 
womanly  virtues.  The  only  child  born 
to  them  lived  but  one  year,  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Greenebaum  raised  several  or- 
phaned children  of  relatives,  bestowing 
upon  them  the  loving  care  of  parents. 
Since  1882  Mr.  Greenebaum  has  been 
connected  with  the  Equitable  Life  As- 
surance Society  of  the  United  States, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  managers  of  this 
company  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Greenebaum,  though  advanced  in 
years,  still  retains  the  freshness  and 
activity  of  youth.  He  is  still  taking 
a  lively  interest  in  B'nai  B'rith  and 
other  Jewish  communal  affairs.  He  is 
still  a  student  of  literature  and  lan- 
guages and  is  much  interested  in  mu- 
sic. The  Jewish  community  honors 
him  as  the  acknowledged  leader  of 
over  half  a  century,  who  has  fully 
earned  the  love  and  veneration  of  the 
past  and  present  generations. 

MR.  ISAAC  GREENSFELDER. 
Present  President  of  the  U.  H.  Charities. 

Among  the  many  Jewish  emigrants 
who  left  Germany  in  1848,  the  year  of 
revolutions  In  Europe,  was  a  young 
man  of  21  years,  by  the  name  of  Isaac 
Greensfelder,  who  had  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade.  He  was  born  In 
Lehrberg,  Bavaria,  in  1827,  and  his  pa- 


ISAAC  GREENSFELDER. 

rents'  names  were  Nathan  and  There- 
sa. In  his  native  town  he  received  a 
public  school  education  and  he  had  full 
confidence  in  his  ability  to  earn  an 
honest  living  in  the  new  world.  In  1853 
he  came  to  Chicago  and  here  he  suc- 
ceeded far  beyond  his  modest  expecta- 
tions. A  year  ago  he  retired  from  a  bus- 
iness which  counted  among  the  largest 
and  most  prosperous  wholesale  boot 
and  shoe  establishments  of  the  west 
and  his  standing  in  the  Chicago  com- 
munity as  man  and  merchant  is  in- 
deed an  enviable  one. 

Mr.  Greenfelder  has  devoted  almost 
his  entire  life  to  charitable  work. 
From  the  very  first  day  of  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Hebrew  Relief  Associa- 
tion, October,  1859,  he  was  one  of  its 
prominent  and  active  leaders.  This 
benevolent  society  is  now  known  as 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities.  For 
thirty-three  years  he  has  been  an 
officer  of  the  society  and  its  president 
for  thirty-one  years,  and  he  is  still 
filling  this  honorable  position.  He  is 
a  charter  member  of  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion and  for  many  years  one  of  its  di- 
rectors. As  president  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities  he  also  has  the  Mi- 
chael Reese  Hospital  under  his  official 
management,  and  in  spite  of  his  ad- 
vanced age  he  attends  to  his  duties 
with  earnest  zeal  and  astonishing  reg- 
ularity. He  is  also  director  of  the 
Jewish  Orphans'  Home  and  a  mem- 


AQRAHAM  HART. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


317 


ber  of  the  Standard  Club.  Mr.  Greens- 
felder  married  Miss  Emilie  Blum, 
and  of  the  children  born  to  them  seven 
are  living,  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, Nathan,  Dr.  Louis,  Adolph,  Ju- 
lius, Thekla,  Rose,  and  Bella. 

MR.  ABRAHAM  HART. 

The  town  of  Eppelsheim,  in  the 
Rhein  country,  is  the  place  where  Mr. 
Hart  was  born  in  1831.  He  Is  the  son 
of  Michael  and  Babetta  (Newberger) 
Hart.  In  1854  he  came  to  America  and 
settled  in  Chicago.  He  is  the  founder 
of  the  well  known  wholesale  furni- 
ture house  of  Hart  Bros,  and  is  still 
the  active  senior  partner  of  this  firm. 
Mr.  Hart  is  a  member  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation and  an  ex-director  of  the  same, 
also  a  member  of  the  Standard  Club. 

Mr.  Hart  is  a  prominent  figure  in  the 
Jewish  community  of  Chicago,  for  he 
was  for  many  years  the  heart  and  soul 
of  the  most  important  movements 
which  resulted  in  the  establishment  of 
the  best  Jewish  communal  Institutions. 
His  enviable  reputation  as  a  father  of 
the  orphans  and  as  a  friend  of  the 
needy  even  went  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  state.  For  eighteen  years  he  served 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities  of  Chi- 
cago. Twice  he  was  elected  President, 
twice  Treasurer  and  four  times  Trus- 
tee. He  is  a  life  member  of  the  Cleve- 
land Orphan  Asylum,  and  for  elev- 
en years  he  held  the  honorable 
position  of  President  and  twenty- 
six  years  as  Trustee  of  this  In- 
stitution. He  is  also  a  contribut- 
ing member  of  the  Orphans'  Home 
of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  of  the  Monte- 
flore  Old  People's  Home  of  Cleveland, 
O.,  and  he  still  takes  warm  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  the  inmates  of  the 
Cleveland  Orphan  Asylum.  Mr.  Hart 
married  Miss  Hannah  Rosenheim  and 
they  have  three  children,  Mrs.  H.  Levi, 
Harry  R.  and  Milton  R. 


work  and  was  an  ex-President  of  Sinai 
Congregation.  He  died  April  12,  1892, 
after  a  successful  career,  honored  by 
all  who  knew  him.  He  married  Han- 
nah Frank,  and  six  children  are  now 
living— Joseph,  Clara,  Emanuel,  Ar- 
thur, Rose  and  "Elsie. 


GODFREY  SNYDACKER. 

»  ^ 

GODFREY  SNYDACKER. 
Mr.  Snydacker  was  born  In  Enger, 
Westphalia,  September  7,  1826.  He 
came  to  America  in  1854;  was  German 
Consul  in  this  city  in  1857,  and  was 
prominently  identified  with  the 
early  growth  of  Chicago.  He  took 
an  active  part  in  Congregational 


CHAS.  KOZMINSKI. 

CHARLES  KOZMINSKI. 

Charles  Kozminski  was  born  June  12, 
1836,  in  the  Prussian  province  of  Si- 
lesia. His  parents  were  well  to  do  and 
educated  him  in  the  higher  schools  of 
Breslau.  At  the  age  of  16  he  entered 
the  employ  of  a  commission  house  at 
Breslau  and  his  employers  had  such 
great  confidence  in  his  ability  and  in- 
tegrity that  they  entrusted  to  him 
their  entire  business  upon  the  local 
bourse.  When  he  reached  the  age  of  17 
he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  New 
York  City,  where  he  remained  about  a 
year.  He  came  to  Chicago  in  1854. 
His  first  mercantile  venture  in  this 
city  was  in  the  grocery  business  and 
for  years  he  conducted  one  of  the  larg- 
est retail  grocery  stores  in  the  West, 
situated  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
Monroe  street  and  Fifth  avenue.  In 
1866  he  disposed  of  his  grocery  store 
and  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business 
at  No.  360  State  street,  where  he  re- 
mained about  three  years.  He  then 
abandoned  mercantile  pursuits  and  en- 
tered the  banking  business,  and  was 
also  general  western  passenger  agent 
of  a  number  of  lines  of  ocean  steamers. 

In  the  '50s  he  was  the  first  president 
of  the  first  German  Republican  organi- 
zation in  Chicago,  called  the  Washing- 
ton Club. 

In  1887  he  was  appointed  by  Mayor 
Roche  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, and  as  chairman  of  the  Finance 
Committee  he  proved  himself  an  active, 
enthusiastic  and  useful  member.  He 
took  great  interest  in  the  work  of  the 
board  and  was  one  of  the  main  factors 
in  securing  the  passage  of  the  compul- 
sory education  law.  He  was  connected 
with  the  United  Hebrew  Relief  Asso- 
ciation and  held  different  offices  in  the 
same;  he  was  trustee  from  1869  to  1871, 
financial  secretary  from  1871  to  1873, 
and  president  from  1873  to  1874. 

His  charity  knew  no  bounds  and  he 
was  never  too  busy  to  give  advice  and 


counsel.  At  the  time  of  the  Chicago 
fire  he  was  actively  connected  with  the 
different  relief  societies  and  gave  up 
much  time  and  money  in  aiding  the 
poor.  He  was  an  active  and  enthusias- 
tic Republican  in  politics,  and  died  on 
the  platform  after  having  finished  a 
most  patriotic  speech  nominating  ex- 
Mayor  Swift  for  Mayor  of  Chicago. 

He  left  a  widow  who  is  also  very  ac- 
tive in  charity  circles;  since  a  number 
of  years  she  is  a  director  of  the  Cleve- 
land Orphan  Asylum  and  secretary  of 
the  Chicago  Auxiliary  Association  of 
the  same  institution.  One  son,  Maurice 
Kozminski,  also  survives  him;  he  is  a 
well-known  and  prominent  citizen  of 
Chicago;  he  is  a  member  of  the  mort- 
gage banking  firm  of  Kozminski  & 
Yondorf,  and  is  also  the  general  agent 
for  the  French  Trans-Atlantic  line  of 
steamers. 

The  Board  of  Education  of  Chicago 
paid  a  high  compliment  to  the  memory 
of  Charles  Kozminski,  as  a  sign  of  ap- 
preciation of  his  work  while  a  member 
of  the  board;  they  named  a  school  on 
the  west  side  after  him,  and  the  Jewish 
community  highly  appreciated  this 
friendly  act  of  the  Board  of  Education. 


NATHAN  EISENDRATH. 

MR.  NATHAN  EISENDRATH. 

Mr.  Eisendrath  was  born  in  Dorsten, 
Prussia,  in  the  year  1823,  and  came  to 
America  in  1848.  He  is  one  of  the  Jew- 
ish pioneers  of  Chicago,  and  has  for 
many  years  occupied  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  the  business  world.  He  helped 
to  establish  the  North  Side  Hebrew 
Congregation,  in  which  he  held  the  of- 
fice of  President  for  several  years.  He 
served  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  as 
oflicer  for  six  years  and  for  one  year, 
1874  to  1875,  he  was  president  of  this 
association.  He  is  a  member  of  Con- 
gregation Anshe  Maarabh,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  he  was  one  of  the  di- 
rectors. He  married  Miss  Helena  Fell- 
heimer  of  Bavaria,  and  nine  children 
were  the  fruits  of  this  union,  four  of 
whom  are  living,  Benjamin  W.,  Wil- 
liam N.,  Joseph  N.,  and  Dr.  Daniel  N. 

Some  years  ago  he  retired  from  busi- 
ness to  enjoy  in  his  old  age  the  rest 
which  he  so  well  deserves.  Mr.  Nathan 
Eisendrath  is  the  pioneer  of  the  Eisen- 
drath family  in  the  United  States. 


318 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


H.  F.  HAHN. 


MR.  HERMAN  F.  HAHN. 

The  Chicago  Jewish  community  is 
indeed  deeply  indebted  to  Eppelsheim, 
a  small  town  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of 
Hesse-Darmstadt.  Many  of  its  best 
and  noblest  members  hail  from  that 
distant  German  place.  There  stood  the 
cradles  of  the  Greenebaums,  the  Harts 
and  the  Felsenthals,  and  there,  too, 
the  subject  of  our  sketch  first  saw  the 
light  of  day.  Destiny  seems  to  have 
dedicated  him  to  a  free  and  indepen- 
dent life  in  the  land  of  liberty  at  his 
very  birth,  for  he  was  born  on  the  day 
consecrated  to  the  celebration  of  Am- 
erican independence,  July  4,  1841.  His 
parents,  John  and  Florin  Hahn,  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1849  and  settled 
in  Ohio.  There  Herman  F.  Hahn  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  Coming 
to  Chicago, he  engaged  in  the  wholesale 
jewelry  business  and  was  very  success- 
ful. He  is  a  member  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation and  the  Standard  Club.  He  was 
a  member  of  Zion  Congregation  for 
many  years,  also  Treasurer  of  the 
We'st  Chicago  Club.  Since  1883  he  has 
been  connected  with  the  United  He- 
,  brew  Charities  in  an  official  capacity, 
and  for  ten  years,  from  1889  to  1899,  be 
held  the  office  of  Vice-President  in  that 
institution.  He  married  Miss  Jose- 
phine Joseph  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  one  daughter — 
Mrs.  G.  T.  Bauer,  Harry  W.  and  Ed- 
ward J. 

His  good  qualities,  public-spirited- 
ness,  ability  and  integrity,  were  al- 
ready recognized  by  his  fellow  citizens 
when  he  was  quite  a  young  man  in  the 
state  of  Ohio  and  they  bestowed  upon 
him  many  a  political  honor,  and  the 
rich  experience  of  a  long  and  honor- 
able career  in  Chicago  has  gained  for 
'lim  the  full  measure  of  esteem  due  to 
a  good  and  able  man. 

MR.  MAURICE  ROSENFELD. 

Mr.  Maurice  Rosenfeld  was  born  in 
Chicago  in  the  year  1855.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  Germany  at  the  city  of  Frank- 
fort-on-the-Main.  His  first  business 
enterprise  was  in  the  wholesale  dry 
goods  line.  At  present  he  is  engaged 
ifl  the  real  estate  business.  He  is 
director  in  three  very  prominent 


financial  Institutions  of  Chicago,  the 
Chicago  National  Bank,  the  Equitable 
Trust  Co.,  and  the  Home  Savings 
Bank.  He  is  also  director  of  the  Chi- 
cago Relief  and  Aid  Society  and  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities.  At  the  last 
election  he  was  chosen  by  the  citizens 
as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  County 
Commissioners.  He  is  a  member  of 
Congregation  Anshe  Maariv,  which  his 
father  and  father-in-law,  the  late  Jacob 
Rosenberg,  helped  to  establish  fifty- 
four  years  ago.  Mr.  Rosenfeld  mar- 
ried Miss  Mattie  Rosenberg,  and  the 
fruits  of  this  union  are  two  very  lovely 
children. 


MAURICE   ROSENFELD. 

MR.  ELIAS  GREENEBAUM. 

Mr.  Greenebaum,  who  is  the  senior 
partner  of  the  popular  banking  house 
of  Greenebaum  Sons,  is  so  well  and 
favorably  known  in  the  Chicago  com- 
munity that  it  is  superfluous  to  preface 
this  biographical  sketch  with  any  in- 
troductory remarks.  His  name  alone 
suffices,  for  it  is  synonymous  with  all 
that  an  honorable  career  of  a  half  cen- 
tury can  possibly  imply.  Mr.  Greene- 
baum was  born  at  Eppelsheim,  Grand 
Duchy  of  Darmstadt,  in  June,  1822.  He 
was  educated  in  Germany,  and  at  the 
age  of  25  (in  1847),  he  came  to  the 
United  States.  His  first  employment 
was  as  a  clerk  in  a  country  store  in 
Ohio.  He  soon  came  to  Chicago  and 
accepted  a  position  as  clerk  in  the  dry 
goods  store  of  Francis  Clarke,  168  Lake 
street.  He  subsequently  entered  the 
banking  house  of  Richard  K.  Swift. 
On  January  1,  1855,  he  joined  his 
brother,  Henry,  in  the  banking  and 
brokerage  business.  In  1862  he 'joined 
his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Gerhard  Fore- 
man, under  the  firm  name  of  Greene- 
baum &  Foreman.  The  business  was 
carried  on  until  1874.,  when  the  firm 
was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Greenebaum 
joined  his  brother  Henry,  entering  into 
the  firm  of  Henry  Greenebaum  &  Co. 
In  1878  Mr.  Ellas  Greenebaum  started 
a  loan  brokerage  business  with  his 
sons,  Henry  E.  and  Moses  E.,  the  firm 
name  being  as  at  present,  Greenebaum 
Sons. 

Mr.  Greenebaum  is  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Sinai  Congregation,  and  is 


ELIAS  GREENEBAUM. 

still  a  member  of  the  same.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregation  have 
bestowed  on  him  the  highest  honors 
within  their  gift.  He  was  director, 
treasurer,  vice-president  and  president 
at  different  times.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society,  the 
second  oldest  charity  organization  in 
the  Jewish  community  of  Chicago, 
and  was  President  of  the  same  for  ten 
years. 

Mr.  Greenebaum  married  a  Miss  Ro- 
sina  Strauss  and  has  three  sons,  Moses 
E.,  Henry  E.,  and  James  E.,  and  one 
daughter,  Emma,  now  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Nathan  Guthman. 

MR.  GERHARD  FOREMAN. 

The  history  of  the  Chicago  Jewish 
community  would  indeed  be  incomplete 
without  relating  the  life  of  Gerhard 
Foreman.  His  work  and  influence  were 
important  factors  in  the  building  up  of 
a  number  of  Jewish  institutions  and 
the  community  is  indebted  to  him  for 
much  that  is  good  and  noble  in  its 
midst. 

Mr.  Foreman  was  born  in  Dermstein, 
Rheinpfalz,  Germany,  April  29,  1823. 
His  parents  were  Isaac  and  Fannie 
Foreman.  He  went  to  school  at  Grun- 
stadt,  Germany,  and  in  1848  came  tO' 
America  and  embarked  in  the  whole- 
sale clothing  business  at  Delphi,  Ind., 
which  business  was  afterwards  re- 


GERHARD  FOREMAN. 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


319 


moved  to  Chicago.  In  1857  he  entered 
the  banking  business  in  Chicago  and 
continued  in  this  business  until  1885 
when  he  retired,  having  founded  the 
banking  institution  now  known  as 
Foreman  Bros'.  Banking  Company. 

Mr.  Foreman  started  life  as  a  teacher 
and  his  fine  education  was  of  great 
help  in  his  business  career. 

He  was  a  member  and  an  officer  of 
Sinai  Congregation.  On  August  17, 
1856,  he  married  Miss  Hannah  Greene- 
baum  of  Chicago  and  nine  children 
were  born  to  them.  Mr.  Foreman  died 
August  13,  1897,  and  Mrs.  Foreman 
died  April  5,  1886;  a  daughter,  Mrs. 
Amanda  F.  Ballenberg,  died  in  1893. 
Three  sons,  Henry  G.,  Edwin  G.  and 
Oscar  G.,  and  five  daughters,  Mrs.  Tillie 
F.  Rosenberg,  Mrs.  Ida  F.  Fleischer, 
Mrs.  Lydia  F.  Steele,  Mrs.  Florence  F. 
Leopold  and  Mrs.  Birdie  F.  Schwab, 
are  still  living. 


Socially  he  is  well  known,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Standard  and  Lake- 
side clubs,  having  been  director,  vice- 
president  and  president  of  the  latter. 
He  has  taken  much  interest  in  the 


M.  EINSTEIN. 

MR.  MORRIS  EINSTEIN. 

Mr.  Einstein  was  born  in  Germany 
in  1826  and  came  to  America  in  1843. 
For  some  years  he  lived  in  Joliet,  111., 
•where  he  conducted  a  mercantile  es- 
tablishment, he  then  settled  in  Chica- 
go, where  his  business  prospered.  For 
fourteen  years  he  has  been  Irustee  of 
Michael  Reese  Hospital.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Sinai  Congregation  and  an  ex- 
director  of  the  same.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Standard  Club  and  was  one 
of  its  directors.  He  married  Miss  Julia 
Rosenheim  and  their  union  was  blessed 
with  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are 
now  living,  Mrs.  Jennie  Schaffner,  Ar- 
thur M.,  Mrs.  Emma  Pierce  (Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.),  Mrs.  Rose  Longini,  Mrs. 
Tillie  Rosenfield  and  Miss  Anna. 

CONRAD  WITKOWSKY. 

Mr.  Witkowsky  is  a  son  of  Solomon 
G.  and  Dora  Witkowsky,  and  was  born 
in  1839  in  Posen,  Prussia.  He  came  to 
America  in  1847  and  to  this  city  in  1852 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  and  insurance  business.  He 
has  seen  the  city  grow,  from  an  unpre- 
tentious town  to  the  present  great  me- 
tropolis of  the  west.  He  is  a  member 
of  Sinai  Congregation  and  has  served 
as  one  of  its  directors. 


CONRAD  WITKOWSKY. 

charitable  organizations,  and  has  been 
a  director  of  the  United  Hebrew  Relief 
Association. 

Mr.  Witkowsky  is  married  and  has 
three  children  living. 

ADOLPH  MOSES. 

Mr.  Moses  was  born  in  the  ancient 
city  of  Speyer,  Germany,  Feb.  27,  1837. 
He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca  (nee 
Adler)  Moses.  He  attended  the  public 
and  private  schools  of  his  native  town. 
In  1852  he  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Louisiana.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the 
University  of  Louisiana,  and  in  1861  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  that  state. 
He  came  to  Chicago  in  1869,  (after  a 
residence -of  six  years  in  Quincy,  111.), 
and  his  ability  and  legal  learning  soon 
placed  him  in  the  foremost  rank  of  his 
profession.  Mr.  Moses  is  a  member  of 
Sinai  Congregation  and  of  the  Stand- 


ADOLPH  MOSES. 

ard,  Lakeside  and  Iroquois  clubs.  He 
is  ex-President  of  the  Lakeside  club 
and  for  six  years  was  a  director  of 
the  Chicago  public  library.  He  is  ex- 
President  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Dis- 
trict No.  6,  I.  0.  B.  B.  At  present  he 


is  a  member  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee for  this  district,  and  President  of 
Covenant  Culture  Club.  He  also  serv- 
ed for  several  years  as  Secretary  of 
District  Grand  Lodge  No.  6,  and  was 
one  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Cleveland 
Orphan  Asylum.  Mr.  Moses  is  editor 
of  the  National  Corporation  Reporter 
(since  1891),  was  Vice-President  of  the 
Illinois  State  Bar  Association,  is  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  Civic  Federation  and  Director  of 
the  Chicago  Commercial  Association. 
He  is  the  author  of  a  number  of  pam- 
phlets on  law  and  other  subjects  and 
has  delivered  many  lectures  before 
large  and  appreciative  audiences,  not- 
able among  these  lectures  are  those  on 
the  legal  phase  of  the  "Captain  Dreyfus 
case,"  on  "Haym  Solomon,  a  Neglected 
Hero  of  the  American  Revolution,"  on 
"Adolph  Cremieux,  the  French  lawyer, 
and  an  eulogy  on  the  life  of  the  late 
Isidore  Bush  of  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Moses 


HON.   PHILIP   STEIN. 

was  the  original  organizer  of  the  "John 
Marshall  Day"  celebration,  Feb.  4, 
1901,  which  was  a  notable  celebration 
in  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Moses  still  takes  a  warm  inter- 
est in  every  important  movement  of  the 
Jewish  community.  In  1869  Mr.  Moses 
married  Miss  Matilda  Wolf,  of  Man- 
tieim,  Germany,  and  they  have  six 
children  living.  Two  of  his  sons  are 
associated  with  him  in  the  law  prac- 
tice, and  like  their  father,  are  steadily 
ascending  the  ladder  of  popularity  and 
fame. 

HON.    PHILIP    STEIN. 

Judge  Stein  was  born  in  Rhenish 
Prussia,  March  12,  1844.  At  the  age  of 
ten  years  he  came  to  America  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Wisconsin.  From 
1861  to  1865  he  was  a  student  at  the 
Wisconsin  State  University.  He  then 
went  to  Europe  and  spent  two  years  at 
the  universities  of  Heidelberg,  Bonn 
and  Berlin.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Milwaukee  in  1868.  In  1870-71. 
he  was  associated  with  Mr.  Adolph 
Moses  under  the  firm  name  of  Moses 
&  Stein,  and  in  1887  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  law  firm  of  Kra'us,  Mayer  & 
Stein.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  Standard  club  and  its  secretary  for 


320 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


many  years.  He  helped  to  organize 
the  West  Chicago  Club  and  was  Its 
President  for  eight  years  in  succession. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Isaiah  Congre- 
gation. In  1885  he  served  as  chairman 
of  the  general  convention  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  B'nal  B'rith,  held 
in  New  York,  and  in  1886,  in  a  similar 
capacity  at  the  general  convention  of 
the  Order  of  Free  Sons  of  Israel,  at 
Cincinnati.  He  was  Secretary  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Relief  Association  for 
a  number  of  years.  He  married  April 
4,  1875,  Miss  Emma  Stein  of  Chicago, 
and  has  five  daughters,  one  of  whom  is 
married  to  Mr.  Sam  Eisendrath. 

Judge  Stein  is  now  serving  the  sec- 
ond term  on  the  bench  of  Cook  county, 
and  is  the  first  Jew  ever  elected  to  the 
bench  in  the  state  of  Illinois. 

MARIAN  HART  SCHMALTZ. 
Mrs.  Schmaltz  was  born  in  Eppelsheim 
and  her  parents,  Michael  and  Babette 
Hart,  came  from  Hesse-Darmstadt. 
She  came  to  Chicago  in  1852  and  is  an 
old  and  respected  resident,  and  has 


MARIAN  HART  SCHMALTZ.    ' 

taken  an  active  and  prominent  part  in 
charity  work.  She  has  been  president  of 
the  South  Side  Ladies'  Sewing  Society 
for  25  years,  which  office  she  now 
holds,  and  has  helped  many  a  poor 
family  in  time  of  need.  Her  husband, 
Mr.  Jos.  Schmaltz,  died  in  1867.  Pour 
children  are  living — Mrs.  James  H. 
Heller,  Nathan  and  Jos.  Schmaltz  and 
Mrs.  M.  Rothschild.  Mrs.  Schmaltz 
is  a  member  of  K.  A.  M.  and  is  still 
active  in  charity  work. 

MRS.  JOHANNA  M.  LOEB. 
Mrs.  Loeb  was  born  in  Rendsburg, 
Germany.  She  came  to  America  in 
1856,  with  her  parents,  Lev!  J.  and 
Caroline  (Moses)  Unna.  She  was  edu- 
cated in  Chicago;  is  a  member  of  the 
Sinai  Congregation,  Jochanna  Lodge, 
Council  of  Jewish  Women,  and  Debo- 
rah Verein.  She  is  a  director  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities  and  the  only 
woman  member  for  many  years.  For  a 
number  of  years  she  was  President  of 
Jochanna  Lodge,  and  under  her  able 
leadership  the  Lodge  reached  a  high 
degree  of  prosperity,  manifesting  a 
very  beneficial  influence.  She  is  the 


mother  of  four  sons,  Sidney,  Julius,  Al- 
bert Henry  and  Jacob  Moritzy. 

Mrs.  Loeb  earned  her  high. standing 
in  the  community  by  her  intellectual 
gifts,  her  lofty  character  and  many 
deeds  of  charity  and  benevolence. 


MRS.  JOHANNA  M.  LOEB. 

MRS.  EMANUEL  MANDEL. 

Mrs.  Emanuel  Mandel  is  the  wife  of 
Emanuel  Mandel  of  Mandel  Bros.  Her 
ancestral  home  is  Germany,  and  she 
came  to  this  country  shortly  after  her 
husband's  arrival  in  1844,  although  at 
that  time  she  was  Miss  Babette  Frank. 
Mrs.  Mandel  has  always  been  an  active 
worker  for  the  charity  organizations, 
she  has  not  only  given  much  of  her 
valuable  time  but  has  also  contributed 
liberally  in  a  financial  way.  She  can 
always  be  relied  on  for  cheerful  as- 
sistance when  her  aid  is  asked  for 
charitable  purposes.  Mrs.  Mandel  will 
ever  be  remembered  for  her  many  kind 
deeds  and  loving  disposition. 


MRS.  E.   MANDEL. 

EDWIN  G.   FOREMAN. 

Edwin  G.  Foreman  was  born  in  Chi- 
cago, July  14,  1862,  and  received  his 
early  education  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  city.  His  parents,  Gerhard  Fore- 
man and  Hannah  (Greenebaum)  Fore- 
man, were  well  known  and  respected 
citizens  of  Chicago,  whose  work  and 
influence  in  connection  with  Jewish 


charitable  undertakings  was  felt  and 
appreciated.  He  commenced  his  busi- 
ness career  in  1879  as  a  messenger  in 
the  Corn  Exchange  National  Bank,  of 
which  institution  he  is  now  a  direc- 
tor, and  in  1882  entered  the  banking 
house  of  his  father,  which  institution 
is  now  known  as  Foreman  Bros.'  Bank- 
ing Co. 

Mr.  Foreman  takes  a  deep  interest 
in  the  growth  and  welfare  of  Jewish 
charitable  institutions  in  this  city  and 
is  a  loyal  and  public-spirited  citizen. 
In  addition  to  being  president  of  the 


EDWIN  G.  FOREMAN. 

Foreman  Bros'.  Banking  Co.,  and  a  di- 
rector of  the  Corn  Exchange  National 
Bank,  he  is  president  of  the  Associated 
Jewish  Charities,  treasurer  of  the  Sinai 
Congregation,  president  of  the  Stand- 
ard Club,  treasurer  of  the  Merchants' 
Club,  treasurer  of  the  Illinois  Manual 
Training  School  Farm,  at-Glenwood, 
treasurer  of  the  State  Fawners'  Society 
at  Chicago,  and  a  member  of  the 
Bankers'  Club. 

He  was  married  June  1,  1887,  to  Miss 
Rose  Kohn,  daughter  of  the  late  Henry 
A.  Kohn  of  Chicago,  and  has  three 
sons— Harold,  Alfred  K.  and  Edwin  G. 
Foreman,  Junior. 


SIMON  W.  STRAUS. 

MR.  SIMON  W.  STRAUS. 
Mr.  Straus    is    a  native    American. 
He  was     born  in     Ligonier,  Ind.     His 


REFORM  ADVOCATE, 


321 


parents  were  Frederick  William  and 
Madelon  (Goldsmith)  Straus.  For  a 
number  of  years  they  lived  in  Ligonier, 
Indiana,  where  the  father  was  engag- 
ed in  the  banking  business  in  partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  Jacob,  who  is 
still  a  resident  of  Ligonier,  Ind.  The 
family  moved  to  Chicago,  and  Simon 
W.  was  educated  in  this  city,  where 
he  is  now  conducting  a  bank  under 
the  firm  name  of  S.  W.  Straus  &  Co. 
Mr.  Straus  is  a  member  of  Sinai  Con- 
gregation and  a  director  of  the  same. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Standard 
and  Hamilton  Clubs.  He  was  direct- 
or of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  and 
is  now  holding  the  same  office  in  the 
Associated  Hebrew  Charities.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Hattie  Klee,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Madeline  and  Louise. 

MR.  LEO  A.  LOEB. 

Mr.  Leo  A.  Loeb  is  a  son  of  Adolph 
and  Lucille  Loeb  and  was  born  June 
20,  .1867,  in  Memphis,  Tenn.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the 
schools  of  Chicago,  to  which  city  he 
came  when  still  a  boy.  Mr.  Loeb  has 
been  actively  identified  with  a  number 
of  the  charity  institutions  to  which  he 


LEO  A.  LOEB. 

has  lent  valuable  aid  and  assistance. 
He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Denver  Hospital 
for  Consumptives  and  is -chairman  of 
the  relief  committee  of  the  United  He- 
brew Charities  and  has  been  one  of 
the  factors  in  the  organizing  of  the 
Associated  Hebrew  Charities  of  Chi- 
cago. In  social  circles  he  is  well  and 
favorably  known  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Standard  Club.  Mr.  Loeb  Is  a 
junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Adolph 
Loeb  &  Son,  fire  insurance  agents.  He 
married  Minnie  Elson.one  of  the  prom- 
inent society  young  ladies  of  this 
city. 

LOUIS  ECKSTEIN. 

Louis  Eckstein  was  born  and  edu- 
cated in  Milwaukee.  He  started  his 
active  life  career  when  seventeen  years 
old  as  a  messenger  boy  with  the  Wis- 
consin Central  Railroad.  His  irrepres- 
sible virility  brought  him  within  ten 
years  to  the  position  of  General  Pas- 
senger and  Ticket  Agent,  of  this  road. 
When  the  offices  were  moved  to  Chi- 


cago, Mr.  Eckstein  came  also.  In  1891 
Mr.  Eckstein  resigned  his  position  with 
the  Wisconsin  Central  and  associated 
with  Ben.  J.  Rosenthal  and  Louis  M. 
Stumer  opened  a  business  house  on 
State  street,  known  as  the  Emporium, 
with  which  he  still  is  connected.  In 
1899  he  accepted  the  Presidency  of 
Streets  Western  Stable  Car  lines. 


LOUIS  ECKSTEIN. 

In  charities  he  is  one  of  the  most  ac- 
tive and  effective  workers  in  Chicago. 
He  was  for  years  a  director  of  the 
Manual  Training  School  and  Young 
Men's  Hebrew  Charity  Association, 
the  latter  of  which  he  was  President 
during  its  banner  years.  While  in 
this  office  three  years  ago  he  arranged 
with  the  publishers  of  one  of  the 
evening  papers  to  manage  one  edition 
for  charity,  by  which  he  raised  $5,000 
from  advertising.  This  is  a  small  in- 
cident in  his  active  career,  but  it  is 
a  striking  example  of  his  strong  per- 
sonality. He  is  a  member  of  Sinai 
Congregation. 

Mr.  Eckstein  married  Elsie  Sny- 
dacker,  daughter  of  Godfrey  Snydack- 
er.  He  is  a  member  and  was  a  director 
of  the  Standard  Club. 


and  was  born,  April  24th,  1869,  in  Bal- 
timore, Md.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  and  is  a  graduate  of  Notre 
Dame  College.  Mr.  Stumer  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Stumer,  Rosenthal 
and  Eckstein,  wholesale  and  retail  mil- 
liners, one  of  the  largest  establishments 
of  its  kind.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Standard  and  Lakeside  clubs  and  has 
taken  a  great  deal  of  interest  In  the 
charities,  and  is  at  present  a  director 
of  the  Chicago  Home  for  Jewish  Or- 
phans. Mr.  Stumer  has  exerted  con- 
siderable influence  in  raising  money 
for  charitable  purposes. 

He  is  a  member  of  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion. 


LOUIS  M.  STUMER. 


LOUIS  M.   STUMER. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  son 
of  Michael  and  Jennie  Kellner  Stumer, 


JULIAN  W.  MACK. 

JULIAN   W.    MACK. 

Mr.  Mack  is  a  native  of  California, 
born  in  San  Francisco,  July  19,  1866. 
His  mother  was  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
her  parents  having  come  from  Bava- 
ria. His  father,  Wm.  J.  Mack,  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  Germany.  Julian  re- 
ceived his  common  school  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Cincinnati, 
later  graduating  from  Harvard  Uni- 
versity Law  School  and  completing  his 
course  of  study  at  the  Universities  of 
Berlin  and  Leipsic.  He  came  to  Chi- 
cago in  November,  1890,  and  has  since 
practiced  law.  He  is  also  professor  of 
law  at  the  Law  School  of  the  North- 
western University,  where  he  is  held 
in  high  esteem. 

Mr.  Mack  is  a  member  of  Sinai  Con- 
gregation and  an  active  worker  In  the 
charity  associations.  He  has  been 
secretary  of  the  United  Hebrew  Char- 
ities for  eight  years,  was  one  of  the 
founders  and  is  the  first  secretary  of 
the  Associated  Jewish  Charities.  He 
married  Jessie  Fox  and  has  one  child, 
Ruth  J.  Mack. 

HARRY  PFLAUM. 
Mr.  Pflaum  was  born  in  Chicago, 
April  25,  1863.  He  is  the  son  of  Mor- 
ris and  Hannah  Pflaum,  and  although 
a  young  man  has  taken  a  very  active 
interest  in  congregational  and  charit- 
able work.  He  is  now  a  member  of 
Sinai  Congregation  and  has  been  a  di- 
rector of  the  North  Chicago  Hebrew 
Congregation.  He  has  also  been  FI- 


322 


THEL  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


nancial  Secretary,  Director  and  Presi-. 
dent  of  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Char- 
ity Association,  Secretary  and  Direct- 
or of  the  Ideal  club,  director  of  the 
Standard  Club  and  of  the  Jewish 
Training  School.  In  his  official  duties 
he  has  always  been  a  hard  and  consci- 
entious worker,  and  a  competent  and 
valuable  aid. 


HARRY  PFLAUM. 

ISRAEL,  SHRIMSKI. 

Mr.  Shrimski  was  born  in  Chicago, 
April  9,  1869,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Rebecca  Shrimski.  Graduating  from 
the  grammar  schools,  he  received  his 
higher  education  in  the  University  of 
Wisconsin  and  then  took  a  course  in 
law  at  the  Union  College  of  Law.  He 
is  known  as  an  aggressive  and  bright 
lawyer,  having  an  extensive  practice. 
Socially,  Mr.  Shrimski  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  Standard  Club  and 
has  been  vice-president  of  the  Lake- 
side Club.  He  has  taken  much  in- 
terest in  charitable  affairs,  and  was 
president  of  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew 
Charity  Association  from  1898-1899, and 
is  now  a  director.  He  is  a  member  of 
Sinai  Congregation. 


Jewish  social  organization  in  the  State 
of  Illinois.  Its  members  were  among 
the  best  known  young  men  in  the  Jew- 
ish community.  It  catered  mostly  to 
the  social  part  of  its  members,  but  it 
took  great  pride  in  its  literary  debates 
and  dramatic  performances,  which 
were  highly  enjoyed  and  appreciated  by 
the  community.  Among  the  members 
were: 

Mr.  Emanuel  Mandel  of  Mandel 
Brothers,  Mr.  Adolph  Shire,  Mr.  Jacob 
Metzler,  Mr.  Louis  Rothschild,  Mr. 
Louis  Oberndorf,  Mr.  Jacob  Katz,  Mr. 
Max  Polachek  and  Mr.  Jacob  L.  Cahn, 
who  was  afterwards  County  Commis- 
sioner. It  had  a  very  prosperous  exist- 
ence for  a  number  of  years,  until  the 
majority  of  its  members  entered  the 
state  of  matrimony  and  lost  interest  In 
the  society,  which  succumbed  to  a  nat- 
ural death.  We  were  unable  to  ob- 
tain the  names  of  the  first  officers  of 
this  society.  We  can  only  give  a  list 
of  officers  who  served  six  years  later, 
in  1866: 

J.  Greenhood,  President. 

M.  Newberger,  Vice-President. 

Jacob  L.  Cahn,  Secretary. 

J.  Kahn,  Treasurer. 

J.  Katz,  Librarian. 

'  From  this  list  it  appears  that  the  so- 
ciety also  maintained  a  library,  the 
nature  of  which  we  are  unable  to 
state. 

In  1860  Dr.  Isaac  M.  Wise  delivered  a 
lecture  before  the  Washington  Irving 
Literary  Society,  on  the  position  of  Is- 
rael among  the  nations.  A  large  con- 
course of  co-religionists  assembled  to 
listen  to  this  celebrated  Rabbi  and  his 
words  made  a  deep  and  lasting  im- 
pression almost  upon  the  entire  com- 
munity. 


ISRAEL  SHRIMSKI. 


THE  WASHINGTON  LITERARY  SO- 
CIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  in  Chica- 
go in  the  year  1860,  and  was  the  first 


SINAI  CONGREGATION   OH  CHI- 
CAGO. 

Sinai  Congregation  was  established 
on  April  7th,  1861.  The  first  mem- 
bers were,  In  addition  to  those  named 
above  in  the  history  of  the  "Reform 
Verein,"  the  following:  B.  Schoene- 
mann,  B.  Schlossman,  Henry  Leopold, 
E.  Frankenthal,  J.  Friedman,  M.  Selz, 
Charles  Schwab,  Abraham  Hart,  J.  L. 
Gataert,  G.  Snydacker,  Herman  Leh- 
mann,  Isaac  Wolfner,  Aaron  Cahn, 
Nelson  Morris,  Moses  Reinemann,  A. 
Rubel,  J.  M.  Stine,  Jacob  Bayersdorf, 
S.  Hymen,  Henry  Berg,  Joseph  Lieben- 
stein  and  others,  whose  names  cannot 
be  ascertained  at  present,  as  all  the 
old  lists,  together  with  books  and  doc- 
uments, were  destroyed  in  the  great 
fire  of  October  9,  1871.  Mr.  B.  Schoene- 
mann  was  the  first  President  of  the 
Congregation.  The  Congregation,  was 
chartered  on  July  20,  by  the  Secretary 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  the  follow- 
ing named  persons  were  the  incorpora- 
tors:  Benjamin  Schoenemann,  Leo- 
pold Mayer,  Rapheal  Guthmann,  Jo- 
seph Liebenstein,  Benedict  Schloss- 
man and  Elias  Greenebaum. 

THE  FIRST  SINAI  TEMPLE. 
The  young  Congregation  was  fortu- 
nate enough  to  acquire  a  frame  build- 


ing, a  former  Christian  church,  as  a 
house  of  worship.  This  first  temple  of 
the  Sinai  Congregation,  a  very  modest 
structure,  was  situated  on  Monroe 
street,  'between  Clark  and  La  Salle 
streets.  On  June  21,  1861,  the  temple 
was  dedicated  by  Dr.  S.  Adler  of  New 
York.  The  first  public  divine  service  was 
then  held  by  the  young  Congregation 
and  the  Einhorn  Ritual,  was 
for  the  first  time,  used  in  a  west- 
ern Congregation.  The  secretary  of 
the  "Reform  Verein,"  whose  history  of 
the  beginnings  of  the  Chicago  Sinai 
Congregation  we  utilize  to  a  great  ex- 
tent, reports  in  regard  to  this  temple 
as  follows:  "It  characterizes  some- 
what the  religious  views  prevailing 
generally  among  our  Jewish  people  in 
those  years  when  in  this  connection  we 
state,  that  at  the  time  the  Congrega- 
tion was  negotiating  for  the  acquisi- 
tion of  its  first  temple,  objections  were 
raised  by  some  members  to  the  buying 
of  the  building  proposed,  for  the  rea- 
son that  in  this  building  the  congrega- 
tion would  have  to  sit  with  their  faces 
towards  the-  northern  wall,  while  a 
Jewish  congregation  for  religious  pur- 
poses assembled,  in  accordance  with 
law  and  custom,  should  turn  their 
faces  towards  Mizra'h,  that  is:  to- 
wards the  east.  In  order  to  quiet  the 
religious  scruples  of  some,  the  Rabbi- 
elect  was  asked  to  give  his  opinion  in 
writing  about  this  matter  and  he  did 
so. 

The  Congregation  began  its 
corporate  existence  without  any  treas- 
ury whatsoever.  In  its  circumscribed 
condition  it  invited  repeatedly  and 
urgently  B.  Felsenthal  to  become  the 
Rabbi.  He  did  so. 

In  those  years  the  Rabbi  was  elected, 
as  it  was  the  custom  then  in  aimost  all 
Jewish  congregations  in  the  land,  from 
year  to  year.  Towards  the  end  of  the 
third  year  of  his  service  Rabbi  Felsen- 
thal thought  it  would  be  not  more  than 
proper  that  the  congregation  should 
now  appoint  him  for  a  longer  term  of 
years,  and  he  gave  notice  to  that  effect 
to  the  officers  of  the  congregation.  In 
May,  1864,  the  congregation  re-elected 
Felsenthal,  but  for  one  year  only  with 
an  increased  salary.  (In  the  third 
year  of  his  officiating  with  the  congre- 
gation his  salary  had  been  $1,200;  for 
the  fourth  year  he  was  to  receive 
$1,500.)  A  committee  consisting  of 
Messrs.  Schoenemann,  Frankenthal 
and  Gatzert,  two  of  whom  are  still 
among  the  living  and  honored  mem- 
bers of  the  Sinai  Congregation,  came  to 
Dr.  Felsenthal's  house,  to  inform  him 
officially  of  his  having  been  re-elected 
unanimously  for  another  year  ,and  of 
his  salary  having  been  increased,  but 
Rabbi  Felsenthal  declined  to  accept.  He 
asked  the  committee  to  report  to  the 
congregation  that  he  would  continue  to 
be  their  Rabbi  under  the  condition 
that  he  should  be  elected  for  a  longer 
term  of  years,  or  if  the  congregation 
would  prefer  this,  that  they  would  se- 
cure him  in  his  position  during  good 
behavior.  The  committee  reported  this 
to  the  congregation  in  a  general  meet- 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATE.' 


323 


ing  assembled  on  the  following  Sun- 
day, and  a  motion  was  made  to  recon- 
sider the  action  of  the  week  previous. 
This  a  majority  at  .the  meeting  de- 
clined to  do.  The  resolution  passed  in 
the  preceding  meeting  was  re-adopted. 
The  consequence  was  that  in  June, 
1864,  Rabbi  Felsenthal  retired  from  his 
office  and  ceased  to  be  the  minister  of 
Sinai  Congregation.  On  June  17,  1864, 
he  preached  his  farewell  sermon. 

During  the  three  years  Dr.  Fe'.sen- 
thal  occupied  the  pulpit  of  Sinai 
Congregation,  the  Rabbi  and  the  mem- 
bers were  bound  together  by  ties  of 
mutual  friendship  and  esteem.  His 
ministrations  within  the  congregation 
were  blessed  and  brought  forth  good 
fruit. 

*From  1864  until  1866  the  congrega- 
tion had  no  regularly  engaged  minis- 
ter. In  its  efforts  to  secure  a  Rabbi  the 
-congregation  stipulated,  among  other 
qualifications,  that  the  applicant  be  a 
university  graduate  and  a  regularly  ac- 
knowledged Ra'bbi.  As  an  organiza- 
tion, Sinai  was  always  prompted  to  be 
abreast  of  modern  thought.  The  pulpit 
meant  to  these  early  members,  these 
brave  and  sturdy  pioneers  of  a  great 
movement,  not  merely  a  religious  po- 
sition to  be  occupied  by  a  ready  can- 
didate— but  the  honored  place  for 
an  honored  teacher.  The  vacancy  in 
the  pulpit  did  not,  however,  interfere 
with  the  holding  of  regular  Saturday 
services.  Before  and  after  the  en- 
gagement of  Mr.  Heiman  of  Milwaukee, 
who  officiated  as  reader  and  teacher 
for  about  one  year  after  the  autumn 
of  1864,  various  members  conducted  the 
services.  Enthusiasm  and  an  honest 
love  of  Judaism  prompted  many  a  lay- 
man modestly  to  contribute  his  share 
toward  establishing  the  permanency  of 
the  congregation.  B.  Schoenemann, 
Raphael  Guthmann,  Elias  Greenebaum, 
Leopold  Mayer,  Godfrey  Snydacker,  L. 
W.  Reiss,  and  perhaps  others,  offi- 
ciated. The  services  of  these  volun- 
teers, whose  example  cheered  the  ac- 
tive and  whose  efforts  aroused  the  in- 
different, are  recalled  with  pleasure 
and  apreciation  by  the  members  of 
Sinai  Congregation.  They  remember 
and  gratefully  acknowledge  the  serv- 
ices rendered  to  Sinai  Congregation  by 
the  minister  of  Kehilath  Anshe 
Maarabh,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Liebmann  Ad- 
ler,  of  'beloved  memory,  who  at  one 
time  in  1864  left  his  own  temple  to 
preach  a  sermon  before  Sinai  Congre- 
gation on  Yom  Kippur. 

The  second  Sinai  Temple  was  locat- 


*For  the  facts  relating  to  the  his- 
tory of  Sinai  Congregation  from  1864 
to  187 i,  we  are  indebted  to  the  histori- 
cal committee  of  Sinai  Congregation, 
consisting  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Gatzert,  Chair- 
man; B.  Loewenthal,  Elias  Greene- 
baum, Leopold  Mayer  and  Julius  Ro- 
senthal.  This  committee  prepared  a- 
written  document  covering  that"  period 
and  this  document,  which  they  call 
"Contributions  to  Sinai's  History,'.' 
they  have  placed  at  our  disposal.  We 
frequently  copy  their  manuscript  ver- 
batim. 


ed  at  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and 
Van  Buren  Street.  The  property  was 
deeded  to  the  congregation  April  1st, 
1863,  for  seven  thousand  dollars. 

On  September  15th,  1871,  Sinai  Con- 
gregation sold  the  above  propeity  to 
Benjamin  Lombard  for  |62,500,  on 
which  he  paid  $2.500  cash,  and  was  to 
pay  $7,500  cash  upon  delivery  of  war- 
ranty deed  si.vty  days  from  October  1st, 
1871;  balance  in  three  equal  annual 
payments  with  interest  at  8  per  cent 
per  annum.  Owing  to  the  great  fire 
of  '71;  Mr.  Lombard  failed  to  ta';s  ths 
property  and  after  long  and  tedious 
litigation  the  property  reverted  to  Si- 
nai congregation.  On  August  20th, 
1880  the  congregation  sold  this  proper- 
ty to  Rezin  Lancaster  for  $30,000. 

The  above  property  is  the  lot  on 
which  the  Fisher  Building,  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Dearborn  and  Van  Buren 
Streets  is  now  located. 

DEDICATION  OF  TEMPLE. 
In  the  spring  of  1SG3  the  new  temple 
at  the  corner  of  Third  Avenue  and  Van 
Buren  Street  was  dedicated  with  ap- 
propriate ceremonies  by  Dr.  Maurice 
Meyer  of  New  York.  The  music  was 
rendered  by  a  choir  consisting  of  Mr. 
Simon  Florsheim,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sam- 
uel Alschueler,  Miss  Holden  and  Mr. 
Bischoff,  and  led  by  Mr.  John 
Molter.who  was  a  popular  organist  for 
many  years.  Jt  may  be  noticed  in 
passing,  that  on  this  occasion  all  mem- 
bers, by  common  consent,  took  off 
their  hats  during  divine  services, 
thereby  abolishing  an  oriental  custom 
and  establishing  a  uniformity  of  action 
in  this  regard. 

PAROCHIAL  SCHOOL. 
While  Sinai  Congregation  from  its 
beginning  realized  that  the  work  in  its 
pulpit  must  be  of  greatest  importance, 
it  conceded  that  for  the  time  being  the 
establishment  of  a  Parochial  School 
was  necessary  and  therefore  gave  this 
matter  careful  attention.  A  special 
building  was  erected  next  to  the  tem- 
ple for  the  use  of  the  school  and  sev- 
eral teachers  were  engaged  to  give 
the  pupils  daily  instructions  in  the 
same  branches  of  education  as  those 
which  were  then  obtained  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  Mr.  F.  Heimbach,  succes- 
sor to  Mr.  Hyman,  was  the  head  teach- 
er for  several  years  and  until  the 
school  was  changed  from  a  day  to  a 
Sabbath  school.  His  services  as  teach- 
er in  the  Sabbath  school  in  connection 
with  the  office  of  reader  were  contin- 
ued until  April  1st,  1884,  when  he  was 
retired  with  a  pension. 

CALL  EXTENDED  TO  DR.  CilROMC. 

In  1865  Mr.  B.  Schoneman,  when  in 
Europe,  consulted  Dr.  Abraham  Gei- 
ger  upon  the  subject  of  securing  a  suit- 
able candidate  for  Sinai's  pulpit,  and 
at  his  advice  Mr.  Schoenemann  went 
to  Koenigsberg  to  see  Dr.  Chronic. 
Upon  Mr.  Schoenemann's  return  to 
America  and  his  report  to  the  congre-' 
gation,  Dr.  Chronic  was  elected  for  a 
term  of  five  years,  at  a  salary  of 
three  thousand  dollars-  per  annum. 

Dr.     Chronic's    reputation    for    fine 


scholarship  had  preceded  his  arrival, 
and  his  professional  work  more  than 
satisfied  the  expectations  of  a  number 
of  Sinai's  most  p.-ominent  members. 
Besides  attending  to  his  official  duties 
he  issued  a  German  monthly  magazine, 
in  the  interest  of  Jewish  reform, 
called  "Zeichen  der  Zeit,"  and  deliv- 
ered one  or  more  courses  of  ethical  lec- 
tures in  the  old  Metropolitan  building. 

At  the  Rabbinical  Conference  held 
at  the  home  of  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch,  of 
Philadelphia,  in  1869  and  attended  by 
Doctors  Wise,  Einhorn,  Adler  and  oth- 
er leading  reform  representatives  of 
America.  Dr.  Chronic,  tha  delegate  of 
Sinai  congregation,  made  a  motion 
without  comment  to  transfir  the  Satur- 
day Sabbath  to  Sunday.  This  proposi- 
tion was  referred  to  a  committee  to 
report  at  the  next  meeting  which  was 
to  take  place  the  following  year  at  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  but  this  meeting  never 
convened;  no  action  was  ever  taken 
upon  Chronic's  proposition. 

Probably  no  more  accurate  estimate 
of  Dr.  Chronic  and  his  work  can 
be  rendered  than  that  given  by  Mr. 
Julius  Rosenthal  in  his  interview  on 
Sinai's  Sunday  Services,  printed  in 
the  Reform  Advocate  on  January  14th, 
1898.  In  part  Mr.  Rosenthal  says:- 
"The  memory  of  Dr.  Chronic  and  of 
his  sermons  and  lectures  is  still  fresh 
in  the  minds  of  the  living  who  had  the 
pleasure  of  listening  to  him.  As  a  man 
and  teacher  admiration  for  him  has 
not  abated.  He  was  the  one  that  made 
it  clear  to  those  that  were  as  yet  un- 
decided in  the  opinion  about  Sunday 
services,  that  it  is  the  only  remedy  for 
the  preservation  and  dissemination  of 
prophetic  Judaism.  It  was  Dr.  Chronic 
who  made  us  acquainted  with  the 
teachings  of  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch  of 
Luxemburg,  Germany,  and  his  cate- 
chism, thereby  satisfying  us,  that  if  a 
man  like  the  latter,  whose  faithful  ad- 
herence to  Judaism  cannot  be  doubted, 
conceded  it  necessary  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  Judaism  to  introduce  a  Sunday 
Sabbath,  such  innovation  in  the  trans- 
fer of  the  Saturday  to  the  Sunday  ser- 
vice could  absolutely  not  be  non- 
Jewish. 

CONTRACT  WITH   ROSEHILL 
CEMETERY    COMPANY. 

A  contract  was  made  with  the  Rose- 
hill  Cemetery  Company  on  July  15th, 
1867,  for  a  plat  of  ground  to  be  used  as 
a  cemetery  by  Sinai  Congregation. 
This  was  the  first  instance  of  its  kind 
in  Chicago  where  a  Jewish  congrega- 
tion secured  burial  lots  in  a  non-Jew- 
ish cemetery.  This,  however,  was  ac- 
complished only  after  a  considerable 
opposition  on  the  part  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  members.  This  contract  was  for 
two  hundred  and  three  burial  lots, 
averaging  about  three  hundred  square 
feet  each,  at  eleven  cents  per  square 
foot;  fifty-three  of  these  lots  were  to 
be  taken  and  paid  for  at  once,  the  re- 
mainder of  one  hundred  and  fifty  lots 
were  to  be  taken  and  paid  for  at  the 
rate  of  thirty  lots  per  annum,  bringing 
the  last  installment  to  July  15th,  1872. 
Rosehill  Cemetery  Company  further 


32* 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


extended  the  privilege  to  Sinai  Congre- 
gation to  purchase*  -within  ten  years 
one  hundred  and  fifty  additional  burial 
lots  adjoining  the  original  plat  at  one- 
half  the  rate  at  which  burial  lots  are 
sold  hy  said  company  at  the  respective 
time  of  this  purchase. 

Blocks  of  burial  lots  were  subse- 
quently deeded  to  Sinai  Congregation 
as  follows: 

October  15th,  1884,  11,550  square  feet, 
$2,000. 

June  19th,  1890.  S2,639  square  feet, 
J9.791.70. 

July  29th,  1899.  22.286  square  feet, 
$14.486.22. 

Mr.  B.  Schoenemann  held  the  office 
of  president  from  1861  to  1863.  Prom 
1863  to  1899.  the  following  held  the  of- 
fice of  president  In  Sinai  Congregation : 

From  '63  to  '65,  J.  M.  Stlne;  from 
'65  to  '67,  Godfrey  Snydacker;  from  '67 
to  '68,  Simon  Florsheim;  from  '68  to 
'70,  Elias  Greenebaum;  from  *70  to  '73, 
Gustave  Eliel:  '73  to  '77,  B.  Loewen- 
thal;  "77  to  '78,  G.  Snydacker;  "78  to 
'79.  B.  Loewenthal;  '79  to  '80,  M.  Selz; 
'80  to  '83,  G.  Snydacker;  '83  to  '86,  B. 
Loewenthal;  '86  to  '96,  J.  L.  Gatzert; 
'96  to  '99,  Albert  Fishell.  In  1899  Mr. 
Adolph  Loeb  was  elected,  who  was  re- 
elected  at  the  last  general  meeting. 

The  following  were  secretaries  of 
Sinai  Congregation  from  1861  to  187S: 

R.  Guthmann,  J.  L.  Gatzert.  John 
Cahn,  Simon  Florsheim,  L.  Friedman. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation 
held  Sept.  1.  1872.  for  the  purpose  of 
revising  the  constitution,  a  motion  was 
made  to  strike  out  from  the  constitu- 
tion the  words  "Biblical  Sabbath."  The 
motion  was  lost:  sixteen  voted  for  it 
and  twenty-six  against  it. 

DOCTOR  KAUFMAN  KOHLER. 

In  October.  1S71.  just  before  the  great 
fire,  Sinai  Congregation  extended  a  call 
to  Doctor  Kaufman  Kohler,  who  was 
then  minister  of  Beth  El  Congregation. 
Detroit,  Mich.  The  doctor  accepted  the 
call  and  was  preparing  to  come  to  Chi- 
cago to  take  charge  of  Sinai's  pulpit. 
The  reverend  gentleman  was  induced 
to  come  to  America  by  the  Detroit  con- 
gregation two  years  previous;  he  had 
been  warmly  recommended  to  Beth  El 
Congregation  by  European  and  Ameri- 
can scholars  of  note,  especially  Doctors 
Geiger,  Einhorn  and  Lilienthal.  He 
was  then  a  young  man  scarcely  in  the 
prime  of  life,  but  already  noted  as  a 
scholar  and  fine  pulpit  orator.  But  be- 
fore he  completed  his  arrangements  at 
Detroit  to  leave  for  Chicago,  the  great 
fire  broke  out  on  the  evening  of  Oct.  8. 
1871,  and  Sinai  Temple  was  destroyed. 
Beth  El  Congregation  of  Detroit  eager- 
ly re-elected  Doctor  Kohler  as  rabbi  for 
a  term  of  years,  but  Sinai  Congregation 
decided  to  rebuild  at  once  and  they 
were  unwilling  to  release  him.  Doctor 
Kohler  arrived  in  Chicago  on  Thurs- 
day, October  29,  1871. 

Dr.  Kohler  was  born  in  Fnerth,  Ba- 
varia, in  1843.  Of  orthodox  parentage, 
he  was  in  youth  an  ardent  and  unfal- 
tering adherent  of  Rabbinism.  But  his 
University  studies,  and  especially  the 
deepest  application  to  and  study  of  the 


History  of  Jewish  institutions  and 
above  all  of  Jewish  thought,  soon  con- 
vinced him  that  the  Jewish  Religion 
had  been  undergoing  development 
from  its  earliest  period,  that  each  age 
adopted  rites  and  symbols  which  ex- 
pressed these  eternal  truths  in  a  man- 
ner best  suited  to  its  intellectual  con- 
dition, and  that  it  was  a  most  dan- 
gerous fallacy  to  regard  Judaism  as 
identical  with  its  ceremonies  and 
creeds  of  centuries  ago. 

These  views  were  strengthened  by  a 
thorough  critical  study  of  the  Bible 
and  Rabbinical  literature,  and  when 
his  thesis  for  the  Doctor  of  Philosophy 
degree,  entitled  "Der  Segen  Jakobs," 
appeared,  it  showed  him  to  be  one  of 
the  most  radical,  but  also  most  loyal 
adherents  of  Reform  Judaism  and  one 
of  the  earilest  of  the  new  school  of 
Bible  critics. 

Under  his  ministry  at  Chicago  a  new 
and  larger  Synagogue  was  dedicated 
by  the  Congregation  and  many  con- 
verts to  the  cause  of  positive  Reform 
Judaism  were  secured  for  it.  Here  Dr. 
Kohler  introduced  Sunday  lectures  in 
addition  to  the  regular  Sabbath  serv- 


DR.  KAUFMAN  KOHLER.    • 

ices,  which  he  labored  to  prevent  from 
superseding  the  latter.  His  efforts  met 
with  great  success. 

The  site  of  the  present  temple,  south- 
west corner  Indiana  avenue  and  Twen- 
ty-first street,  was  bought  in  October, 
1872,  from  Mr.  C.  M.  Culbertson  for  the 
sum  of  $35.000,  including  a  two-story 
frame  house:  size  of  lot,  100  feet  on 
Indiana  avenue  by  160  on  Twenty-first 
street. 

At  a  meeting  held  Oct.  27,  1872,  the 
following  committee  was  appointed  to 
look  into  the  matter  of  establishing 
Sunday  services.  Elias  Greenebaum, 
Berthold  Loewenthal.  Godfrey  Sny- 
dacker. James  Mayer  and  J.  Beiers- 
dorf. 

On  Nov.  24.  1872.  the  School  Com- 
mittee was  instructed  to  confer  with 
Doctor  Kohler  in  regard  to  writing  a 
book  on  Jewish  Religion  and  History 
for  the  use  of  the  Sunday  School. 

Sunday  services  were  held  for  the 
first  time  in  Sinai  Congregation  at  Mar- 
tin's Hall  on  the  loth  day  of  Jan.,  1874; 
Doctor  Kohler.  minister  of  the  congre- 


gation, officiated.  Mr.  Berthold  Loe- 
wenthal was  then  president  of  the  con- 
gregation. The  congregation  then  .had 
about  80  members,  and  a  fair  repre- 
sentation of  the  membership  was  pres- 
ent on  this  auspicious  occasion.  A 
majority  of  the  congregation  had  for 
years  been  convinced  of  the  need  and 
justice  of  Sunday  services;  others  were 
educated  up  to  this  idea  by  the  gifted 
spiritual  leader  who  was  then  the  hon- 
ored occupant  of  Sinai's  pulpit.  Up- 
held by  their  Jewish  optimism  and 
strengthened  by  their  enthusiastic 
earnestness  of  purpose,  their  persistent 
endeavors  had  won  for  them  success. 
They  considered  Sunday  services  a  ne- 
cessity for  the  preservation  of  Juda- 
ism in  America.  With  them  it  was  & 
conviction  of  a  religious  obligation  and 
all  the  negative  views  of  the  congrega- 
tions in  America  could  not  swerve 
Sinai's  handful  one  iota  from  what  it 
conceived  to  be  its  duty  in  the  crisis 
which  threatened  to  estrange  the  ris- 
ing generation  from  the  synagogue. 

The  following  resolutions  were  unan- 
imously passed  at  a  special  meeting  of 
the  Congregation  held  September  1st, 
1872:  "Be  it  resolved,  first,  that  a  bet- 
ter attendance  at  the  public  worship 
is  henceforth  expected  and  thereby  an 
interest  and  progress  in  religion  at- 
tained. Whosoever  advocates  Satur- 
day shall  show  it  by  example,  and  he 
who  advocates  Sunday  shall  not  stay 
away,  as  an  attendance  will  bring 
about  material  understanding  and  har- 
monious action  cherished  by  all. 

2.  It  is  conceded  on  all  sides  that 
the  light  participation  in   our  public 
worship  is  a  detriment  and  reproach 
upon   the   congregation   and   Judaism, 
and  that  either  one  change  or  another 
must  follow,  therefore,  if  public  wor- 
ship on   Saturdays   is   upheld   by  the 
members  the  question  of  a  change  will 
rest,  otherwise  it  will  soon  come  np 
again  as  a  natural  consequence. 

3.  For  the  purpose  of  affording  an 
opportunity  to  the  youth  to  hear  some- 
times a  word  of  religion,  this  congre- 
gation will  as  soon  as  possible  arrange 
for  a  periodical  or  Sunday  service  or 
lecture,    and   the   members   shall   use 
their  influence  upon  the  youth  to  have 
them  attend  the  same. 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  Congre- 
gation held  on  April  6th,  1873,  It  was 
resolved,  that  the  frame  house 
standing  on  the  lot  purchased  from 
Culbertson  by  the  congregation  should 
be  moved  to  the  rear  of  the  lot  and 
that  Doctor  Kohler  should  be  allowed 
to  occupy  the  honse  as  his  residence. 

Martin's  Hall  was  rented. 

During  the  month  of  November,  1873, 
Doctor  Kohler  sent  a  communication 
to  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Sinai  Con- 
gregation complaining  of  the  small  at- 
tendance of  the  members  at  his  lec- 
tures on  Saturday. 

At  the  special  meeting  of  the  Con- 
gregation the  Board  of  Directors  sub- 
mitted to  the  Congregation  Doctor 
Kohler's  communication,  with  the  tol- 
lowing  additions  by  the  Board: 

"The   undersigned   Board    of   Direc- 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


325 


tors  beg  to  submit  to  you  the  following 
in  connection  with  the  communication 
of  Rev.  Doctor  Kohler:  Considering 
that  the  demands  of  Rev.  Doctor  Koh- 
ler in  regard  to  the  participation  of 
the  members  in  our  public  worship  are 
just  and  fair,  and  that  his  position 
cannot  give  him  any  satisfaction  un- 
less the  congregation  hears  his  lec- 
tures and  profits  by  his  instruction, 
and, 

"Considering  further  that  it  is  of 
vital  importance  for  you  to  retain  the 
valuable  services  of  the  reverend 
gentleman,  who,  notwithstanding  the 
brilliant  inducements  offered  him  from 
abroad,  is  willing  to  remain  with  you, 
provided  he  can  gain  the  conviction 
that  he  enjoys  your  confidence,  and 
can  exercise  a  beneficial  influence  on 
the  religious  and  moral  education  01 
the  congregation,  we  beg  to  recom- 
mend to  you  the  adoption  of  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions: 

"1.  Resolved,  That  the  Sinai  Congre- 
gation express  its  full  and  implicit 
trust  and  confidence  in  the  ability, 
learning  and  devotion  to  Judaism  of 
the  Reverend  Doctor  Kohler,  and  its 
wish  to  retain  his  valuable  services  for 
the  benefit  of  the  young  and  the  old 
by  all  means. 

"2.  Resolved,  That  we  consider  it  the 
duty  of  every  member  of  our  congre- 
gation to  attend  promptly  to  public 
worship  on  the  historical  Sabbath,  and 
are  willing  to  preserve  it  in  Its  proper 
integrity,  but  it  appears  from  practical 
experience  that  a  large  number  of  our 
members  are  prevented  by  circum- 
stances from  enjoying  the  benefits 
thereof  and  In  order  to  give  them  and 
to  the  rising  generation  an  opportunity 
to  receive  religious  instruction  weekly, 
provision  shall  be  made  for  this  pur- 
pose as  soon  as  practicable  in  addi- 
tion to  the  present  worship." 

(Signed  by  the  entire  board.) 

The  first  resolution  expressing  full 
confidence  of  the  entire  congregation  in 
Doctor  Kohler  was  carried  unanimous- 
ly. The  second  resolution  pledging  tp 
keep  up  the  historical  Sabbath  in  all 
its  integrity  as  a  duty  of  all  good 
Israelites,  and  to  establish  a  Sunday 
service,  besides  the  regular  Sabbath 
service,  for  those  who  are  prevented 
from  attending  on  Saturday,  was 
amended  by  inserting  Friday  evening 
instead  of  Sunday.  The  amendment 
was  upon  motion  tabled  unanimously, 
and  the  second  resolution  was  then 
carried  unanimously. 

Doctor  Kohler's  salary  was  fixed 
from  the  beginning  at  the  rate  of  $3,- 
000.00  per  annum. 

The  holiday  services  of  1874  were 
held  in  the  Church  of  the  Messiah,  cor- 
ner of  Twenty-third  street  and  Michi- 
gan avenue. 

The  corner-stone  of  the  present  tem- 
ple was  laid  on  June  20,  1875.  In  the 
corner-stone  were  deposited  the  fol- 
lowing documents:  History  of  the  con- 
gregation from  its  organization  to  date, 
written  by  Mr.  Herman  Felsenthal, 
secretary  of  the  congregation;  consti- 


tution and  by-laws  of  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion; complete  list  of  members;  list  of 
officers  and  Building  Committee  of  the 
same;  the  daily  papers  of  this  city: 
Tribune  and  Times  of  date.  Inter 
Ocean,  Post  and  Mail  of  June  19,  Jour- 
nal, June  18;  Jewish  organs:  Jewish 
Messenger  of  New  York,  June  11,  Jew- 
ish Times  of  New  York,  June  18, 
American  Israelite  of  Cincinnati,  June 
18;  printed  sermons  of  Doctor  Kohler, 
delivered  in  August,  1873,  and  in  Janu- 
ary, 1874;  the  last  annual  report  of  M. 
M.  Gerstley,  president  of  K.  A.  M.; 
Legal  News,  June  18,  1875,  containing 
decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illi- 
nois in  reference  to  the  lawsuit  be- 
tween Sinai  Congregation  and  Lom- 
bard, affecting  the  congregation's  prop- 
erty, corner  Van  Buren  street  and  Third 
avenue;  the  last  city  comptroller's  re- 
port for  the  year  ending  April  1,  1875; 
last  report  of  Board  of  Trade  for  1874; 
last  report  of  Chicago  Relief  and  Aid 
Society,  and  the  last  report  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Relief  Association.  The 
speakers  on  this  occasion  were  Doctor 
Kohler  and  President  Loewenthal.  The 
Germania  choir  furnished  the  music. 
The  total  cost  of  the  temple  reached 
the  sum  of  $128,000. 

The  dedication  of  the  temple  took 
place  on  April  8,  1876. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  congrega- 
tion was  called  for  October  6,  1874. 
The  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  con- 
sider the  feasibility  of  uniting  with 
Kehilath  Anshe  Maarabh  as  one  body. 

It  was  moved  and  seconded  that  the 
Congregation  is  ready  to  unite  with 
K.  A.  M.,  if  it  can  be  done  upon  satis- 
factory terms.  This  motion  was  car- 
ried. 

It  was  then  moved  and  seconded  to 
appoint  a  committee  of  nine  to  confer 
with  a  similar  committee  of  K.  A.  M.. 
if  said  Congregation  should  appoint 
such  a  committee  of  conference,  for 
the  purpose  of  uniting  the  two  con- 
gregations. This  motion  was  also 
carried. 

It  was  moved  to  instruct  the  commit- 
tee representing  Sinai  Congregation 
that  a  consolidation  with  K.  A.  M.  can 
only  take  place  provided  the  Sunday 
service  will  be  guaranteed  to  Sinai 
Congregation.  A  substitute  was  of- 
fered to  instruct  the  committee  of 
Sinai  Congregation  to  endeavor  to  pre- 
serve the  Sunday  service,  but  if  this  be 
the  only  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the 
consolidation  to  report  back  to  the 
Congregation. 

An  amendment  to  the  substitute  to 
make  it  read:  "That  the  committee 
be  instructed  to  preserve  the  Sabbath 
and  Sunday  services"  was  accepted  by 
the  mover  and  was  then  passed  unani- 
mously. 

The  following  committee  of  confer- 
ence, of  which  the  president  was  by 
motion  made  a  member,  was  then  ap- 
pointed: B.  Loeventhal,  E.  Greene- 
baum,  Charles  H.  Schwab,  M.  Ein- 
stein, S.  F.  Leopold,  D.  M.  Lindauer, 
H.  Felsenthal,  G.  Eliel  and  G.  Sny- 
dacker. 
.  The  Committee  on  Conference  re- 


ported as  follows,  at  a  special  meeting 
held  November  24,  1874: 

"Your  committee  of  nine  appoint- 
ed to  confer  with  the  similar  commit- 
tee of  K.  A.  M.  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
amining into  the  feasibility  and  prac- 
ticability of  affecting  a  fusion  of  the 
two  Congregations  beg  leave  to  sub- 
mit to  you  the  following  report: 

"Upon  notice  to  the  President  of 
K.  A.  M.  a  committee  of  nine  was  also 
appointed  by  said  Congregation  to 
meet  with  us  and  to  discuss  the  object 
in  view.  Three  meetings  of  the  com- 
bined Conference  Committee  were  held. 

"While  the  deliberations  were  gen- 
erally friendly  and  courteous,  both 
committees  were  bound  by  instructions 
antagonistic  to  each  other.  Our  com- 
mittee was  to  insist  upon  the  guaran- 
tee of  a  Sabbath  and  Sunday  service, 
and  the  committee  of  K.  A.  M.  was  to 
oppose  the  Sunday  service  under  all 
circumstances,  and  to  make  no  other 
concession  for  the  instruction  of  those 
who  are  unable  to  participate  In  the 
Sabbath  service,  except  lectures  on 
Friday  and  Sunday  evenings  alter- 
nately. 

In  a  congregational  meeting  of  K.  A. 
M.  intervening  between  the  second  and 
third  meetings  of  the  Conference  Com- 
mittee no  change  whatever  was  made 
in  their  instructions,  as  far  as  we  were 
able  to  ascertain.  Thus  we  may  safely 
say  that  your  committee  is  utterly  un- 
able to  come  to  any  understanding  with 
the  committee  of  K.  A.  M.,  and  from 
all  appearances  a  union  of  the  two 
congregations  seems  impossible, 
wherefore  your  committee  begs  to  be 
discharged." 

(Signed  by  the  entire  committee.) 

The  committee  was  on  motion  dis- 
charged. 

A  Building  Committee  was  appoint- 
ed consisting  of  the  following:  Charles 
H.  Schwab,  S.  Florsheim,  M.  A.  Meyer, 
Henry  Leopold,  G.  Snydacker,  G.  Ellel. 
Charles  Schwab  was  appointed  chair- 
man and  S.  Florsheim  secretary. 

The  committee  recommended  the 
adoption  of  the  plans  for  the  new 
temple,  submitted  by  Burling  &  Adler, 
architects.  The  recommendation  was 
accepted  by  the  Congregation.  Mr. 
Leopold  Miller  and  Jacob  Friedman 
were  added  to  the  Building  Committee. 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  congre- 
gation held  April  4th,  1876,  the  salary 
of  Doctor  Kohler  was  unanimously 
raised  to  $4,000  per  annum. 

In  the  year  1876  a  convention  of  Jew~- 
ish  Congregations'  was  held  in  New 
York  City  for  the  purpose  of  consider- 
ing vital  questions  concerning  Judaism 
in  America.  Sinai  Congregation  was 
represented  at  this  convention  by  its 
secretary,  Hermann  Felsenthal.  The 
delegate  reported  to  the  congregation 
that  a  Theological  Seminary  Associa- 
tion was  created  at  the  convention  and 
upon  motion  the  President  appointed 
the  following  committee  to  consider 
the  feasibility  of  the  recommendation 
of  Delegate  Felsenthal  that  Sinai  Con- 
gregation become  a  member  of  the 


326 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


Seminary    Association:     G.     Foreman, 
B.  Schoeneman  and  A.  Hart. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  congre- 
gation, held  March  27th,  1879,  Julius 
Rosenthal  proposed  the  following 
amendment  to  the  by-laws: 

No  Hebrew  shall  be  taught  in  the 
Sabbath  School  of  the  congregation. 

No  action  was  taken  on  this  amend- 
ment at  that  meeting. 

At  the  special  meeting  of  the  congre- 
gation, June  17th,  1879,  the  president, 
M.  Selz,  announced  that  the  meeting 
had  been  called  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
sidering the  formal  resignation  ten- 
dered by  Dr.  Kohler. 

Following  is  a  copy  of  Dr.  Kohler's 
letter  of  resignation: 
M.  Selz,  Esq.  President  Sinai  Congre- 
gation. 

Dear  Sir: — As  you  are  no  doubt 
aware,  it  has  since  years  been  a  matter 
of  constant  complaint  from  the  pulpit 
and  of  sad  discouragement  both  to  the 
members  of  the  congregation,  and  to 
myself,  that  my  persistent  efforts  and 
pleading  in  behalf  of  a  larger  partici- 
pation in  Divine  Service  and  a  greater 
appreciation  of  our  sacred  cause,  failed 
to  arouse  our  members  from  their  in- 
difference and  lethargy,  which  have 
successively  been  assuming  a  more 
alarming  and  critical  state.  Disheart- 
ened at  last  by  such  experience,  I  could 
not  help  longing  for  a  more  promising 
and  fertile  field  of  labor.  When,  there- 
fore, about  three  weeks  ago,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Beth  El  Congregation,  in 
New  York,  opened  a  correspondence 
with  me  In  reference  to  the  pulpit  soon 
to  become  vacant  by  the  retirement  of 
my  father-in-law,  Dr.  Einhorn,  I,  con- 
sidering what  I  owed  to  my  own  fu- 
ture, felt  bound  to  express  my  willing- 
ness to  accept  the  call  although  no 
material  advantages  were  offered  to 
induce  me  to  take  this  step. 

The  pending  negotiations  having 
now  been  brought  to  a  close  and  the 
contract  having  been  ratified  by  the 
Beth  El  Congregation  enjoining  me  to 
enter  upon  my  new  duties  by  Septem- 
ber 1st,  1879,  I  herewith  tender  you  my 
resignation  to  take  effect  on  the  last 
day  of  August,  1879. 

It  would  be  a  vain  attempt  for  me  to 
describe  my  feelings  of  keen  sorrow 
at  the  thought  of  parting  with  a  con- 
gregation in  which  I  have  these  nearly 
eight  years  lived  in  unclouded  har- 
mony working  and  striving  in  common 
with  it  for  a  great  and  holy  cause,  and 
with  the  members  of  which  I  have, 
while  ever  in  sympathy,  sharing  their 
joys  and  griefs,  past  in  cordial  friend- 
ship many  of  the  most  pleasant  days 
of  my  life,  the  memory  of  which  time 
can  never  blot  out  of  my  mind. 

I  can  only  give  expression  to  my 
most  sincere  wish  and  prayer,  that 
with  the  help  of  God,  the  congregation 
may  find  a  leader  more  successful  than 
I  have  been  in  promoting  its  material 
and  spiritual  welfare  and  in  rousing 
the  interest  of  all  its  members  in  up- 
holding the  standard  of  radical  yet 
positive  Reformed  Judaism,  to  which 
the  congregation  is  pledged  by  its  past 


and  with  which  alone  it  will,  unshak- 
en by  fears  and  trials,  grow,  I  trust,  in 
power  and  influence. 

I  especially  regret,  being  obliged  to 
leave  here  sa  shortly  before  the  au- 
tumn holidays,  but  hope  for  kind  in- 
dulgence in  a  matter  which  was  be- 
yond my  power  to  alter,  intending  to 
continue  holding  regular  services  and 
lectures  during  the  summer  until  the 
close  of  my  term. 

Assuring  you  in  behalf  of  the  Sinai 
Congregation  generally  and  individual- 
ly of  my  lasting  sympathy  and  friend- 
ship, hoping  and  wishing  that  these  re- 
lations will  continue  unaltered  by  my 
departure,  I  remain, 

Yours  most  respectfully, 

Dr.  K.  Kohler. 

On  motion  the  resignation  of  Dr. 
Kohler  was  accepted  to  take  effect 
June  30th. 

The  free  use  of  the  parsonage  was 
tendered  to  the  Reverend  Doctor  for 
the  ensuing  months  of  July  and  Au- 
gust. 

During  the  holidays  of  1879  Reverend 
M.  Samfield  of  Memphis,  Tennessee,  of- 
ficiated in  the  pulpit  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation. 

On  Rosh  Hashanah  a  collection  was 
taken  up  in  the  Temple  for  the  relief 
of  Memphis  sufferers  from  the  yellow 
fever  epidemic. 

At  the  special  meeting  of  September 
30th,  1879,  a  vote  was  taken  upon  the 
motion  of  Julius  Rosenthal  to  discon- 
tinue instruction  in  Hebrew  in  the  Sab- 
bath School,  and  the  motion  was  lost, 
but  a  motion  to  adopt  the  recommen- 
dation of  the  school  committee  to  es- 
tablish a  separate  class  for  the  study  of 
Hebrew  was  carried. 

The  following  resolutions  were 
adopted  at  a  special  meeting  held  Feb- 
ruary 19th,  1880:  • 

"With  a  view  of  securing  to  this  Con- 
gregation a  minister  whose  name  will 
be  an  honor  to  Judaism  and  of  whom 
we  may  have  reason  to  expect  that  by 
word  and  deed  he  will  teach  the  tenets 
of  our  faith  in  full  accord  with  the 
convictions  shared  by  all  members  of 
this  Congregation;  and  thereby  inspire 
young  and  old  with  that  love  for  our 
holy  cause  which  to  the  preservation  of 
our  religion  is  essential. 

"Be  it  resolved,  that  the  Executive 
Board  be  herewith  requested  to  invite 
and  receive  applications  for  the  posi- 
tion of  minister  of  this  Congregation 
from  Jewish  Theologians  of  modern 
reform  principles  and  of  good  repute, 
who  have  graduated  at  a  German 
university,  with  honor,  are  excellent 
also  in  all  those  branches  of  study 
which  characterize  the  learned  Rabbis 
of  our  day  and  who  are  good  orators, 
able  to  preach  in  the  German  and 
English  vernacular. 

"Resolved,  that  inasmuch  as  circum- 
stances over  which  we  have  no  control 
prevent  a  large  number  of  our  mem- 
bers and  young  Israel  especially 
from  attending  public  worship  on  the 
biblical  Sabbath,  this  Congregation 
considers  it  an  imperative  duty  to 
continue  to  hold  services  on*  the  com- 
mon day  of  rest,  and  to  this  end  it 


shall  be  the  duty  of  the  incoming  min- 
ister to  attend  to  all  functions  of  his 
station  on  Sabbaths  and  festivals  and 
to  deliver  lectures  before  this  Congre- 
gation on  every  Sunday. 

"Resolved,  that  the.  incoming  minis- 
ter shall  also  take  charge  of  our  Sab- 
bath school  and  devote  a  portion  of 
his  time  to  the  instruction  of  a  class 
of  young  men  and  ladies  who  have 
graduated  from  our  Sabbath  School 
and  are  desirous  of  making  further  ad- 
vancement in  Jewish  lore  and  history." 

ELECTION  OF  DR.  EMIL  G.  HIRSCH 
It  was  in  July,  the  midsummer 
month,  that  a  new  star  appeared  on 
the  firmament  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation. At  a  special  meeting  of 
the  Congregation  held  July  25th,  1880, 
Reverend  Dr.  Emil  G.  Hirsch,  of 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  the  worthy  son 
of  an  illustrious  father,  was  unani- 
mously elected  minister  of  Sinai  Con- 
gregation. 

Dr.  Hirsch  was  destined  to  uplift 
Sinai  Congregation  to  an  eminence  far 
above  many  other  Congregations  in 
Israel. 

He  hastened  the  ripening  of  all 
the  plans  and  projects,  thoughts  and 
teachings  entertained  by  Sinai  Congre- 
gation in  the  interest  of  Reformed  Ju- 
daism; he  impressed  the  world  with 
the  power  and  potency  as  well  as  the 
everlasting  vitality  of  the  ethics  of 
Israel's  prophets;  he  turned  the 
searchlight  of  truth  upon  the  past  and 
present  life  of  the  Jew  and  forced 
many  of  our  Christian  neighbors  to 
recognize  the  true  traits  of  the  charac- 
ter of  the  Jew  and  of  his  misunder- 
stood religion. 

On  Rosh  Hashanah  eve  Septem- 
ber 5th,  1880,  Dr.  Hirsch  deliv- 
ered his  inaugural  sermon  before  Sinai 
Congregation.  His  theme  was  "The 
Crossing  of  the  Jordan"  and  his  text 
"V'attem  tissoo  mim'kom'hem,"  "Then 
ye  shall  remove  from  your  place."  In 
this  sermon  he  sounded  the  keynote 
of  true  Jewish  Reform  when  he  said: 
"The  mission  of  reform  is  twofold, 
critical  and  constructive.  It  is  the  sa- 
cred duty  of  modern  Judaism  to  con- 
struct on  the  eternal  principles  of  Ju- 
daism, an  all  embracing  philosophy  of 
life.  Forward!  From  the  spot  where 
we  are  resting.  Follow  me  to  the  dy- 
ing decades  of  the  Eighteenth  cen- 
tury! A  hurricane  is  sweeping  over 
'both  hemispheres;  America  and 
France  are  in  the  throes  of  a  new  era. 
But  where  does  the  storm  bring  in  its 
folds  life,  where  death?  Beyond  the 
ocean  they  defy  reason — but  she  can 
with  bloody  hands  only  tear  down,  not 
build  up;  here,  on  this  side  of  the  At- 
lantic, with  the  God  of  their  fathers 
a  living  presence  in  their  hearts,  the 
sturdy  champions  of  the  Revolution, 
not  only  tear  down,  they  build  up.  Let 
these  instances  suffice!  Let  us,  too, 
heed  their  warning.  Forward!  That 
is  indeed  the  order  of  the  day;  but 
only  when  the  arc  of  the  covenant 
leads  the  way.  But  on  the  other  hand, 
let  us  not  forget  that  this  idea  of  the 
covenant  which  makes  us  kin  to  the 


THE  REIKORM  ADVOCATE. 


327 


Infinite  must  ever  remain  a  living 
thought,  not  degenerate  into  a  dead 
dogma.  If  Judaism  protests  with  all 
the  fervor,  that  strength  and  truth  of 
conviction  can  command,  against  the 
dogma  of  materialism;  it  does  no  less 
raise  its  voice  against  the  materialism 
of  dogmas.  Like  Reuben  and  Gad  our 
Congregation  is  commissioned  and 
pledged  to  march  the  advance  guard  of 
the  army  and  bear  the  brunt  of  the  bat- 
tle." 

These  were  powerful  words,  spoken 
for  the  first  time  by  the  new  Rabbi 
in  Sinai's  pulpit,  in  a  clear,  resonant 


REV.  DR.  EMIL  G.  HIRSCH. 

voice,  and  with  a  faultless  pronuncia- 
tion of  the  vernacular.  The  Temple 
was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  the 
congregation  was  spellbound  and  cap- 
tivated by  the  earnest  eloquence  of  the 
masterful  speaker,  whose  words  car- 
ried conviction  to  every  soul.  The 
hush  and  silence  of  the  attentive  lis- 
teners lingered  with  the  audience  even 
after  the  voice  of  the  speaker  had 
ceased  to  vibrate,  and  silently  the 
vast  concourse  of  people  dispersed  in 
deep  communion  with  their  newly 
awakened  thoughts.  Sinai  became  con- 
scious '  on  that  memorable  Rosh 
Hashanah  eve  that  it  must  fol- 
low this  bold  and  brave  leader,  or 
otherwise,  retrogress  and  become  un- 
faithful .to  the  principles  of  Reform 
Judaism.' 

Dr.  Hirsch  was  elected  for  a  term  of 
ten  years  at  a  salary  of  $3,600  per  an- 
num. 

At  the  semi-annual  meeting  of  the 
congregation,  held  September  20th, 
1881,  a  committee  of  three  was  ap- 
pointed, on  motion  of  Mr.  Julius  Ro- 
senthal,  consisting  of  Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch, 
Julius  Rosenthal  and  B.  Lowenthal  to 
draft  resolutions  expressing  the  pro- 
found sorrow  and  the  deep  felt  grief 
of  Sinai  Congregation  of  Chicago  at 
the  death  of  President  Garfleld,  the 
martyr,  who  fell  a  victim  to  the  bullet 
fired  by  the  hand  of  an  assassin.  The 
Committee  reported  as  follows: 

"The  Sinai  Congregation  of  Chicago 
in  general  meeting  assembled  feel  it 
their  duty  in  presence  of  the  mournful 
calamity,  that  today  has  visited  the  na- 
tion in  the  demise  of  James  A.  Gar- 


field,  to  give  expression  to  the  feelings 
swelling  their  hearts. 

In  common  with  all  loyal  citizens 
they  recognize  in  the  departed  chief- 
tain the  noblest  illustration  of  the  pos- 
sibilities of  the  American  character. 
His  short  administration  of  public  af- 
fairs in  the  responsible  office  of  chief 
magistrate  as  his  sterling  worth  in  the 
long  career  of  public  devotion  had 
elicited  from  them  their  unqualified 
admiration.  His  heroism  on  the  bed  of 
agony  has  revealed  to  them  his  noble 
manhood. 

He  is  dead,  and  in  this  sad  reality 
disappointing  their  fondest  hopes  and 
earnest  prayers  for  his  ultimate  re- 
covery, the  members  of  this  congre- 
gation pledge  themselves  to  emulate 
his  noble  example  in  the  several  duties 
of  life. 

To  the  bereaved  widow  and  family, 
this  Congregation  extend  their  warm- 
est sympathy  in  the  hope  that  the 
knowledge  that  millions  weep  with 
them  may  prove  a  soothing  balm  for 
their  burning  wound. 

Resolved,  That  these  sentiments  be 
spread  upon  the  minutes  of  the  Con- 
gregation and  a  copy,  signed  by  the 
Minister,  President  and  Secretary  of 
this  Congregation,  be  transmitted  to 
Mrs.  James  A.  Garfield. 

The  resolutions  were  adopted  by  a 
rising  vote. 

According  to  the  semi-annual  report 
of  the  Board  of  Directors,  dated  Sep- 
tember 12th,  1882,  the  Congregation 
was  in  a  very  prosperous  condition  and 
a  marked  improvement  in  the  affairs 
of  the  Congregation  was  noticeable  in 
every  department.  The  membership 
was  increasing  rapidty,  the  finances 
showed  a  prosperous  and  thoroughly 
satisfactory  state  of  affairs,  and  what 
was  most  gratifying  was  the  fact  that 
Sinai  was  becoming  a  recognized  re- 
ligious force  in  the  community.  The 
new  members  who  flocked  to  Sinai's 
standard  all  occupied  representative 
positions  in  the  Chicago  Jewish  com- 
munity and  the  future  prospects  of 
Sinai  were  very  bright  and  promising. 

At  the  annual  meeting  on  March 
27th,  1883,  the  Board  of  Directors 
recommended  "that  in  the  event  of  a 
death  in  the  family  of  any  member  of 
this  Congregation  the  funeral  services, 
if  so  requested,  may  be  held  in  the 
Temple,"  and  this  was  adopted. 

Mr.  Leopold  Mayer  offered  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"Resolved,  That  all  confirmations 
shall  in  future  take  place  on  the  Sun- 
day preceding  Shebuoth,  or  on  the 
said  Holiday  if  the  same  happens  to 
fall  on  Sunday."  This  resolution  was 
unanimously  adopted. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  April  21st, 
1884,  $6,500  were  appropriated  for  the 
building  of  a  gallery  in  the  Temple, 
and  $4,000  for  re-decorating  the  same. 
The  building  of  the  gallery  was  a  ne- 
cessity for  the  membership  kept  on  in- 
creasing and  seats  in  the  main  audi- 
torium were  nearly  all  sold. 

On  March  26th,  1885,  Mr.  P.  Heim- 
bach,  the  teacher  and  reader  of  the 
Congregation,  was  relieved  from  fur- 


ther duties  and  a  pension  of  $1,000  per 
annum  was  voted  to  him  for  life. 

The  annual  meeting,  March  26th, 
1885,  Mr.  J.  L  Gatzert  offered  the  fol- 
lowing resolution:  "Owing  to  the  ar- 
duous labors  devolving  upon  our 
worthy  minister,  Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch,  this 
Congregation  hereby  resolves  to  re- 
lieve him  from  the  duty  of  preaching 
on  Saturdays."  Action  on  this  resolu- 
tion was  postponed  until  the  next  spe- 
cial meeting  held  April  9th,  1885,  when 
it  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  28  affirma- 
tives and  15  negatives. 

At  the  same  special  meeting  the 
question  of  the  use  of  Hebrew  in  the 
services  came  up  in  t)ie  shape  of  a 
recommendation  of  President  Loewen- 
thal.  Mr.  Herman  Felsenthal  offered 
the  following  resolution: 

"Resolved,  That  this  Congregation 
regard  the  reading  in  Hebrew  of  the 
time-honored  "Shema"  and  the  "Kedu- 
sha"  during  services  as  specially  Jew- 
ish, and  that  their  accents  so  familiar 
to  the  Jew  of  every  land,  shall  not  be 
missed  in  any  Jewish-  house  of  prayer. 
The  whole  question  was  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  Public  Worship,  with 
power  to  act. 

The  following  motion  offered  by  Mr. 
Julius  Rosenthal  was  unanimously 
adopted: 

"Resolved,  That  the  Abrahamitic 
rite  is  not  an  essential,  condition,  the 
compliance  with  which  must  precede 
or  .  follow  admittance  to  membership 
in  Sinai  Congregation."  •  , 

The  salary  of  the  minister  was  raised 
to  $4,500  in  1882,  and  in  1883  it  was 
raised  to  $5,000.  In  1885  it  was  raised 
to  $6,000,  and  in  1886  to  $7.000. 

Upon  motion  of  Mr.  Snydacker, 
made  at  the  annual  meeting,  March 
29th,  1886,  the  Congregation  voted  $150 
to  the  Hebrew  Union  College  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  Alliance  Isrealite  $200. 

The  following  recommendations  of 
the  Executive  Board  were  unanimous- 
ly adopted  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
April  4th,  1887.  First,  to  excuse  Dr. 
Hirsch  from  officiating  at  funerals  on 
Sunday  mornings;  to  pension  the  sex- 
ton, Louis  Mayer,  for  his  natural  life 
at  $400  per  annum;  that  the  salary  of 
Dr.  Hirsch  be  raised  to  $7,500. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Congre- 
gation December  25,  1887,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted: 

Whereas,  the  ministrations  of  our 
highly  esteemed  minister  and  teacher, 
the  Reverend  Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch,  during 
the  last  seven  years  have  been  fruit- 
ful of  the  most  flattering  results;  and, 

Whereas,  under  his  care  and  guid- 
ance the  aims  and  objects  of  this  Con- 
gregation have  been  developed  and 
furthered  to  a  degree  beyond  our  most 
sanguine  expectations,  and. 

Whereas,  in  acknowledgment  of 
these  facts  we  deem  it  a  high  privilege 
to  administer  to  the  comforts  of  the 
Reverend  gentleman  and  his  worthy 
family  in  a  manner  commensurate  to 
their  position,  and, 

Whereas,  the  present  parsonage  is 
no  longer  suitable  as  a  residence  for 
our  minister.owing  to  the  condition  and 


328 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


location  of  the  building,  necessitating 
an  early  and  at  the  same  time  perma- 
nent change,  and  inasmuch  as  the  con- 
tract of  our  Congregation  with  our 
•worthy  minister  will  expire  April, 
1890;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  trustees  of  this 
Congregation  are  herewith  empowered 
and  instructed  to  extend  the  contract 
of  Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch  for  a  term  of  ten 
years  from  the  first  of  April  next  and 
that  his  salary  shall  be  fixed  at  a  rate 
of  $12,000  per  annum  from  said  date, 
and  his  life  insurance  policy  of  $5,000 
be  kept  in  force  during  the  continu- 
ance of  said  contract. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  regular  meet- 
ing of  the  Executive  Board  December 
28th,  1885,  we  find  the  following: 

"Dr.  Hirsch  reported  to  the  Board 
that  for  the  reason  of  a  lack  of  wor- 
shipers no  service  had  been  held  on 
Saturdays  for  the  past  four  Weeks, 
that  on  each  Sabbath  morning  the 
Temple  had  been  open,  minister,  sex- 
ton and  choir  were  on  hand,  but  no 
audience. 

TWENTY-FIFTH  ANNIVERSARY. 

On  Sunday,  the  16th  'day  of  May, 
1886,  Sinai  Congregation  celebrated 
the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  with  ap- 
propriate ceremonies.  In  the  morning 
.services  were  held  in  the  Temple,  cor- 
ner Indiana  Avenue  and  Twenty-first 
street,  which  were  largely  attended. 
Great  preparations  had  been  made  for 
the  event,  which  was  made  one  of  gen- 
•eral  rejoicing  and  thanksgiving.  The 
pulpit  was  arrayed  in  all  the  gorgeous 
magnificence  of  the  choicest  flowers 
and  the  tasteful  arrangement  was 
beautiful  in  the  extreme.  Along  the 
entire  front  of  the  pulpit  was  a  pro- 
fuse bordering  of  lilacs,  above  which 
were  placed  vivid-hued  geraniums,  and 
towering  behind  these  were  a  row  of 
blooming  calla  lilies,  interspersed 
with  palms.  In  the  rear  of  the  pulpit 
was  a  tasteful  arrangement  of  bego- 
nias, of  varigated  colors,  and  growing 
palms  and  ferns  immediately  behind 
the  reading  desk.which  was  ornament- 
ed with  boquets  of  rare  cut  flowers.the 
flags  of  America  and  Germany  were 
crossed  and  between  the  tasteful  fes- 
toon were  hung  the  silver  letters  "C. 
S.  C." 

The  organ  loft  was  profusely  draped 
with  verdant  festoons,  and  on  either 
side  were  suspended  the  figures  "1861- 
1886."  The  front  of  the  galleries  and 
the  gas  pendants  were  all  adorned  w'ith 
graceful  festoons  of  green,  and  hanging 
baskets  of  trailing  plants  and  bright- 
hued  flowers.  On  the  platform  were 
seated  a  number  of  leading  Rabbis, 
among  whom  were  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch 
of  Philadelphia,  the  venerable  father  of 
the  incumbent  of  Sinai's  pulpit;  Dr. 
Samuel  Sale,  minister  "of  Congregation 
Anshe  Maarabh,  Dr.  Kaufman  Kohler 
of  Congregation  of  Bethel,  New  York; 
Dr.  B.  Felsenthal  of  the  Zion  Congre- 
gation, Chicago;  Dr.  Liebman  Adler; 
Dr.  Emil  Hirsch,  and  others.  Dr. 
Hirsch  opened  the  exercises  with  a 
trief  tribute  to  the  day,  and  to  the 
noble  leaders  of  progress  and  reform 


in  the  Synagogue,  he  then  introduced 
Dr.  B.  Felsenthal,  the  first  Rabbi  of 
Sinai  Congregation,  who  delivered  a 
uerman  address  commemorative  of  the 
occasion.  After  singing  by  the  aug- 
mented choir,  Dr.  Kohler  was  introduc- 
ed. The  learned  doctor  who,  for  eight 
years  presided  over  the  Congregation 
devoted  himself  to  the  consideration 
of  the  leading  tenets  of  progressive 
Judaism.  He  congratulated  the  audi- 
ence upon  the  phenomenal  success 
which  they  had  achieved  and  trusted 
that  still  greater  blessings  were  in 
store  for  them.  The  venerable  Dr. 
Samuel  Hirsch  of  the  Reform  Temple 
of  Philadelphia  then  followed  in  an 
able  address  in  German,  which  was  at- 
tentively listened  to.  The  choir  then 
tendered  an  apppropriate  anthem,  after 
which  Dr.  Hirsch  closed  the  exercises 
with  an  eloquent  address. 

In  the  evening  a  banquet  was  at- 
tended by  most  of  the  members  of  the 
Congregation  accompanied  by  their 
wives.  The  President  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation, Mr.  J.  L.  Gatzert,  presided  and 
delivered  an  eloquent  address  of  wel- 
come to  the  members  and  the  honored 
guests.  He  referred  to  the  work  and 
record  of  the  chief  guests  of  the  even- 
ing, Dr.  S.  Hirsch,  the  father  of  the 
present  Rabbi  of  Sinai,  he  described 
as  the  veteran  pioneer  of  Jewish  re- 
form who,  far  in  advance  of  his  sur- 
roundings stood  for  progressive  ideas 
of  religion,  even  forty  years  ago.  Dr. 
Felsenthal,  he  said,  plowed  the  fertile 
soil  from  which  a  Sinai  arose  inspiring 
new  hope  for  the  perpetuation  of  a 
Judaism  whose  purity  and  influence 
cannot  be  impaired  by  the  supersti- 
tious notions  otfhe  laggards  in  Jewish 
ranks,  nor  by  the  assumedly  new  theo- 
ries in  ethical  societies.  He  referred 
to  Dr.  Kohler's  great  work  while  in 
charge  of  the  congregation  and  to  his 
labors  at  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  and 
in  conclusion  he  spoke  of  Reformed 
Judaism,  holding  that  retrogression 
was  now  impossible,  inasmuch  as  "in- 
vestigation" and  thought  had  taken  the 
place  of  blind  adherence  to  lifeless 
forms  and  obsolete  customs." 

The  toasts  and  responses  were  as 
follows: 

"Chicago  Sinai  Congregation,"  re- 
sponse by  the  First  President  of  the 
Congregation,  B.  Schoeneman;  "Our 
Ministers,"  response  by  B.  Loewenthal. 
"Our  Sister  Congregations,"  response 
by  Dr.  K.  Kohler;  'The  Reformed  Ju- 
dahism  in  Europe  and  America,"  re- 
sponse by  Dr.  S.  Hirsch;  "Our  Guests," 
response  by  Dr.  Sale;  "The  Sunday 
Schools,'  response  by  H.  Felsenthal; 
"Our  Old  Members,"  response  by  G. 
Snydacker;  "The  Pioneers,"  response 
by  Leopold  Mayer;  "Our  Absent 
Friends,"  response  by  Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch. 

In  April,  1888,  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel 
Hirsch  of  Philadelphia,  came  to  Chi- 
cago.with  the  view  of  making  this  city 
his  home,  and  Congregation  Sinai  ex- 
tended to  the  father  of  their  minister  a 
royal  welcome.  Highly  complimentary 
resolutions  were  passed  at  a  special 
meeting  of  the  Congregation,  and 
he  was  unanimously  elected  an  honor- 


any  member  of  the  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion. 

The  membership  continued  to  in- 
crease and  it  again  became  necessary 
to  enlarge  the  seating  capacity  of  the 
Temple. 

A  special  committee  was  appointed 
consisting  of  nine  members  to  consider 
and  devise  ways  and  means  of  mak- 
ing the  contemplated  improvements. 
This  committee  consulted  with  Mr.  G. 
Adler,  the  architect,  who  estimated  the 
cost  of  the  change  to  reach  the  sum  of 
about  $60,000.  Some  of  the  members 
of  the  Executive  Board  were  of  the 
opinion  that  as  many  of  the  members 
of  Sinai  Congregation  have  removed 
further  south  it  would  be  advisable  to 
build  a  new  Temple  nearer  to  the 
center,  where  most  the  members  are 
located.  But  after  the  special  commit- 
tee again  consulted  Mr.  Adler  they  de- 
cided to. recommend  to  the  Congrega- 
tion to  build  an  addition  to  the  old 
Temple,  which  recommendation  was  ac- 
cepted by  the  Congregation.  Mr.  Ad- 
ler was  ordered  to  draw  plans  for  the 
addition,  these  plans  were  submitted 
to  the  Congregation  by  the  special 
committee,  and  after  a  thorough  ex- 
amination of  the  plans  and  specifica- 
tions the  recommendation  of  the  com- 
mittee was  concurred  in. 

The  next  annual  meeting  of  the  Sinai 
Congregation  was  held  at  the  vestry 
rooms  of  Temple  K.  A.  M.  on  April  4, 
1892,  as  work  had  been  commenced  on 
the  addition  to  Sinai  Temple.  At  that 
meeting  Sinai  Congregation  donated 
$500  to  the  Russian  Refuge  Society. 

SINAI'S  BEAUTIFUL  TEMPLE. 

The  remodeled,  enlarged  Temple  was 
finished  in  October,  1892.  The  Temple 
has  been  materially  extended  in  area; 
new  stairways  and  new  exits  to  the 
building  have  been  added  and  the  seat- 
ing capacity  largely  increased.  New 
and  complete  systems  of  electric  light- 
ing and  ventilation  have  been  intro- 
duced, the  decorations  are  all  of  the 
most  complete  character.  The  walls 
and  ceilings  are  covered  in  implicate 
patterns  in  many  colors,  the  whole  ef- 
fect being  very  quiet  and  harmonious. 
The  chief  feature  of  the  new  interior 
consists  of  the  organ  loft  gallery  and 
its  frame;  the  treatment  of  this  in 
plastic  ornamental  work  colored  in 
gold  is  very  rich  in  effect.  The  light- 
ing, which  is  all  electric,  is  well  dis- 
tributed and  very  soft  in  effect.  The 
seven  domes  in  the  ceiling  are  ar- 
ranged for  this  purpose  in  a  novel  way, 
the  result  being  that  the  lights  are 
mostly  hidden  from  view  and  a  very 
soft  and  pleasing  illumination  pro- 
duced; new  stained  glass  of  a  very  rich 
character  has  been  introduced  in  all 
the  windows,  and  the  equipment  of  the 
building  from  top  to  bottom  thorough- 
ly renewed.  The  platform  is  a  model 
of  beauty;  on  each  side  of  the  pulpit 
are  two  fine,  artistic,  wrought  iron 
lamps,  with  silk  shades,  the  arc  has 
been  omitted,  the  scrolls  of  the  law 
not  being  used  in  Sinai  Temple.  The 
wealth  of  originality  which  the  archi- 
tects of  Sinai  Temple,  Messrs.  Adler 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


329 


&  Sullivan,  have  shown  in  the  newly 
completed  interior  of  the  building,  is 
•well  carried  out  in  the  typical  forms 
of  the  decorations. 

The  colors  which  predominate  in  this 
building  are  the  reddish  'browns  and 
gold  colors  on  the  walls,  and  the  light 
blue  on  the  ceilings.  The  transition 
between  the  two  is  a  bold  one  and 
gives  a  pleasant  effect  of  lightness  and 
atmosphere  to  the  upper  portion. 

The  ceiling  is  linked  in  effect  to  the 
walls  by  means  of  a  broad  frieze  of  he- 
roic design — the  .sharp  outline  of 
which  against  the  vaulted  ceiling  al- 
most suggests  out-of-door  effect.  The 
shrine  is  resplendent  with  exquisitely 
worked  leaf  designs,  the  golden  ivory 
tones  of  which  bring  out  the  lacelike 
detail. 

A  feature  of  the  interior  consists  of  - 
a.  series  of  small  domes  on  each  side 
of  the  vaulted  ceiling.  These  domes 
are  decorated  in  a  most  effective  and 
unusual  manner,  by  a  repetition 
around  them  of  a  species  of  a  conven- 
tionalized growth  combined  with 
•curved  lines,  and  reminding  one  of  the 
old  Egyptian  ornaments,  in  which  the 
lotus  was  shown,  with  curved  lines  be- 
neath it,  representing  the  ripples  of  the 
Nile. 

Over  all  is  shed  the  soft,  mellow  light 
of  the  stained  glass  in  its  many  varied 
.and  intricate  designs  in  which  one  dis- 
tinguishes as  the  chief  motif,  the  star 
•of  David,  in  a  variety  of  forms  and 
•colors. 

The  re-dedication  of  this  exquisitely 
beautiful  edifice  took  place  on  Wednes- 
day, September  21,  Erebh  Rosh-Has- 
hanah,  1892,  when  services  were  held 
in  the  Temple  for  the  first  time  after 
the  remodeling.  The  Temple  was 
•crowded  to  its  utmost  limit.  The  in- 
terior decorations  enhanced  by  the 
tasteful  floral  decorations  on  and  about 
the  platform  aroused  general  enthusi- 
astic admiration.  Dr.  Hirsch  opened 
the  services  by  reading  an  original 
poem,  "Our  Spell  Words,"  composed  by 
him  for  this  occasion.  This  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  choir  chanting  a  response 
and  an  address  by  President  Gatzert. 

Dr.  Hirsch  seemed  inspired.  The 
fiery  eloquence  of  his  words  when  he 
delivered  his  sermon  entitled  "The 
Two  Books,"  perfectly  enthralled  the 
souls  of  his  listeners.  A  spirit  of  re- 
joicing, praise  and  thanksgiving 
seemed  to  hover  over  all.  Mr.  Gatzert, 
too,  seemed  to  be  filled  with  the  pro- 
found thought  of  the  solemn  hour.  His 
address  was  also  a  masterpiece,  and 
made  a  deep  impression.  Space  will 
not  permit  u<=,  we  regret,  to  give  the 
inimitably  beautiful  sermon  of  Dr. 
Hirsch  in  full,  but  we  will  present  our 
readers  with  a  few  quotations  from  the 
same.  Mr.  Gatzert's  lecture  we  copy 
here  in  full.  The  eloquence  of  Dr. 
Hirsch  is  well  known,  but  the  beauty 
of  Mr.  Gatzert's  composition  will  be 
a  pleasant  surprise  to  many. 

Dr.  Hirsch  "aid:  "To  the  sacred  In- 
spiration of  this  hour,  to  the  solemn 
appeal  of  this  house,  let  me  bid  you 
•welcome.  We  return  after  prolonged 
absence  to  our  home.  At  the  thresh- 


old meets  us  the  New  Year  to  usher 
us  to  the  njw  Temple.  The  presence  of 
this  herald  is  warning  to  remember 
the  caution:  'Rejoice  in  fear.'  Not 
that  the  conceit  possesses  us,  that  ex- 
cessive joy  must  be  ransomed  by  cor- 
responding depth  of  grief.  To  such 
dread  we  do  not  slave.  The  fetters  of 
this  heritage  of  remote  days  does  not 
weigh  down  the  wings  of  our  soul, 
though  in  such  bondage,  the  brightest 
even  among  the  Sun-kissed  minds  of 


the  enterprise.  We  have  reason  to  re- 
joice that  our  fondest  expectations 
have  been  realized.  And  yet,  mingled 
with  the  glad  congratulations  is  the 
trembling  tone  of  a  more  serious  senti- 
ment. The  New  Year's  tide  makes  al- 
ways a  refrain  set  to  a  minor  key.  The 
first  tribute  it  asks  are  tears.  Its 
wreaths  are  wound  of  memories,  and 
on  many  of  their  flowers  glisten  the 
pendants  of  regret.  The  flitting, 
shadowy  semblance  of  life,  it  lays  near 


I       Iff  I   I  I  I  I 


SINAI'S  NEW  TEMPLE. 
Indiana  avenue  and  Twenty-first  street. 


Greece  were  paying  homage  to  tyrant 
fear.  We  know  that  the  exultations, 
as  well  as  the  lamentations  of  mortal 
tongues  are  neither  challenge  nor 
charm  to  storm  or  lightning,  to  tide 
or  wave,  to  fire  or  plague.  Not  by  such 
modes  may  either  their  fury  be 
aroused,  or  their  ravages  stayed.  What 
should  it  matter  to  others  than  men, 
that  joy  abide  with  us?  Not  the  gods 
are  jealous,  but  men;  and  certainly  in 
an  hour  so  full  of  stirring  thought  as  is 
this,  the  petty  spite  of  possible  envy 
cannot  speed  or  slacken  the  flight  of 
reflection. 

"We  have  cause  to  be  thankful  to  the 
men  who  doubted  not  but  did,  who 
devised  and  carried  to  a  successful  end 


the  reflective  mind,  and  thus  oppresses 
with  suspicion,  that  vain  is  human 
deed,  and  deceptive  human  victory,  the 
thirsting,  hungry  heart.  Like  a  skill- 
ful organist  playing  grave  and  fancy 
descant  in  lofty  figures,  the  natal  hour 
of  the  New  Year  constructs  its  com- 
position on  one  theme,  the  fleetness, 
and  flightiness  of  earthly  existence. 
But  this  subject  does  not  exhaust  its 
store  of  motives.  The  prelude  may, 
perhaps,  harmonize  and  enunciate  this 
old,  yet  ever  new,  side.  But  soon  the 
movement  passes  into  a  more  jubilant 
tempo.  It  sings  of  the  permanent  and 
abiding  reality,  to  which  the  passing 
days,  the  seeming  shadows,  are  but  an 
ever  changing  setting. 


330 


REFORM  ADVOCATEI 


"Paradise  Lost  symbols  at  best  idle 
contemplation;  Paradise  to  be  gained 
tests  and  evokes  the  mettle  of  the  men. 
Its  prospect  Is  a  fitting  frontispiece  to 
the  volume,  recording  what  poet  ca'l3 
.'God's  Occasions.'  Weave,  chaste  fan- 
cy and  airy  hope  your  garlands!  Fes- 
toon the  hearts  with  the  flowers  of 
dreamland!  Let  your  palm  leaf  wave 
the  greeting  of  peace  and  beckon  on- 
ward the  eager  wanderer  on  'life's  up- 
ward path.'  All  stars  set;  all  suns 


of  -things,  stands  forth  also  as  an  ap- 
peal to  Israel  itself,  in  its  own  house- 
hold, to  remember  and  to  apply  the 
law  universal.  The  flower  fadeth,  but 
the  spirit  shall  abide.  Who  would  de- 
ny that  many  a  blossom,  beautiful  and 
chaste,  and  sweetly  scented,  there 
grew  in  the  garden  of  old  Judahism; 
but  these  flowers  fade,  and  when  they 
have  faded  away  they  are  dull  to  the 
message  from  on  high.  Their  speech 
must  be  sounded  by  other  tongues; 


'     '    .     V    ..  ..<     •         >'..:>< 


INTERIOR  OF  SINAI  TEMPLE. 


burn  out;  your  lamp  is  lit  at  a  higher 
light.  He  who  sails  his  course  by  your 
constellation  may  dare  the  voyage  over 
life's  trackless  waste  and  be  of  good 
cheer.  "The  voice  of  the  Lord  is  upon 
the  waters;  and  the  word  of  our  God 
endureth  forever.'  Storms  may  await 
the  seafarer;  tears  may  be  pressed 
from  eye,  and  the  breast  may  heave  the 
pricking  sigh. 

'Yet    trouble    springs    not    from    tha 
ground 

Nor  pain  from  chance. 
The  eternal  order  circles  round, 
And   wave   and   storm   find   mete   and 
bound, 

In  Providence.' 

"This  temple,  in  witnessing  thus  to 
this  conception  of  the  u'timate  reality 


their  charms  must  be  tokened  by  other 
buc!s.  This  is  the  emphasis  which  we 
lay  on  the  spiritual  factor.  Judahism 
is  not  a  mere  memory;  it  is  not  a  mere 
psst.  Those  that  constantly  talk  about 
the  ancient  religion  of  Israel  forget 
that  in  the  procession  of  the  years,  we 
are  the  most  aged.  The  nearer  we 
stand  to  the  beginning  the  less  is  the 
number  of  our  years.  The  immaturi- 
ties of  youth  mark  the  religions  and 
religious  symbolism  of  our  fathers. 
The  ripeness  of  thought  and  the  broad- 
er outlook,  is  characteristic  of  those 
periods  that  are  a  development  out  of 
the  teachings  of  many  predecessors. 
It  is  not  true  that  what  is  old,  and  des- 
ignated by  mere  old  age,  contains  more 
of  truth.  The  spirit  which  abideth  is 


a  living  force,  and  as  it  links  age  ^o 
age,  its  stfeam  broadens  and  deepen^. 
More  of  that  spirit  is  within  the  reach 
of  new  Judaism,  then  was  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  old.  In  execution,  then, 
of  these  views,  our  Congregation,  in- 
spired by  its  new  hall  of  assembly, 
will  remember  its  own  history,  and  ap- 
ply to  its  own  intentions  the  great  pre- 
cepts projected  on  the  screen  of  the 
past.  Ours  is  the  conviction,  that  Ju- 
dahism is  a  destiny.  The  everlasting 
word  of  God  found  incarnation  in  Ju- 
dahism, only  as  a  means  towards  its 
fuller  realization  in  the  world" at  large. 
A  preparation  for  a  still  more  inclusive 
covenant  of  humanity  is  Judahism  it- 
self. The  flower  fadeth;  Judaism 
will  fade.  The  grass  withereth;  even 
the  new  pasturages,  along  which  have 
grazed  the  herds  of  Israel,  will  dry  up. 
But  the  spirit  of  God  will  abide.  That 
sacred  word,  which  is  echoed  by  the 
ages  and  sounded  by  the  stars  will  not 
be  hushed,  but  its  peal  and  appeal  will 
win  to  higher  motives  and  nobler  re- 
solves the  whole  human  race,  on  that 
New  Year's  day  when  Israel's  volume 
will  be  closed  and  the  new  tome  of  a 
united,  redeemed  humanity  will  be  be- 
gun. We  make  no  effort  to  conceal  this, 
fact  that  for  the  coming  of  this  time, 
we  are  not  merely  awaiting,  but  work- 
ing. This,  our  Temple,  welcomes  all 
who  with  us,  regardless  of  an  inte- 
rior religious  affliation,  or  of  the  for- 
mulation of  the  faith,  will  co-operate 
to  bring  about  this  hope,  which  is  the 
vital  spark  of  Judahism." 
PRESIDENT  GATZERT'S  DEDICA- 
TION ADDRESS. 
"Build  thee  more  stately  mansions,  O 

my  soul, 

As  the  swift  seasons  roll! 
Leave  thy  low- vaulted  past! 
Let  each  new  temple,  nobler  than  the 

last, 
Shut  thee  from   heaven  with   a   dome 

more  vast, 

Till  thou  at  length  art  free, 
Leaving  thine  outgrown  shell  by  life's 

unresting  sea!" 

To  this  new  home,  this  temple,  "no- 
bler than  the  last,"  let  me  call  out  to 
you  a  welcome  heartfelt  and  sincere! 
A  welcome  laden  with  its  weight  of 
thankfulness,  heightened  by  its  power 
of  joy — a  welcome  thrilling  from  heart 
to  lips  with  gratitude  profound  to  Him 
above,  who  spared  me  in  His  mercy, 
thus  to  speak  it,  unto  you,  thus  lend- 
ing ear  to  it — a  welcome  throbbing 
with  gladness  at  the  boon  of  witness- 
ing the  realization  of  our  earnest  wish 
to  call  our  own  a  house  of  worship 
with  surroundings  as  representative  as 
the  advance  that  has  marked  the  phe- 
nomenal career  of  our  beloved  Sinai 
Congregation. 

We  are  indebted  for  the  enjoyment 
of  this  great  change,  this  marvelous 
improvement  in  our  Temple,  to  the 
generous  spirit  that  pervades  this  en- 
tire Congregation,  as  well  as  to  the 
members  who  have  so  cheerfully  ad- 
vanced the  necessary  funds.  We  are 
indebted  to  our  leader  and  teacher, 
Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch,  through  whose  elo- 
quent discourses,  so  many  have  joined 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


331 


our  ranks,  and  whose  aid  and  influ- 
ence was  the  most  potent  factor  in  our 
onward  march.  We  are  indebted  to 
our  architects,  Messrs.  Adler  and  Sulli- 
van, who  in  fulfillment  of  their  prom- 
ise, have  re-constructed  a  temple  for 
us,  capable  of  meeting  all  our  require- 
ments for  public  services,  as  well  as 
for  educational  and  social  purposes, 
and  one  which  in  point  of  interior 
completeness  and  artistic  beauty  com- 
pares favorably  with  any  church  build- 
ing in  the  World's  Fair  city.  The  con- 
tractors, too,  have  faithfullly  per- 
formed their  task,  and  may  be  justly 
proud  of  their  participation  in  the  re- 
modeling of  this  beautiful  edifice.  As 
Chairman  of  the  -Building  Committee, 
I  feel  myself  especially  indebted  to  its 
members,  Messrs.  Jos.  Austrian,  Albert 
Fishel,  Lee  Fox,  B.  Lowenthal,  Edward 
Rose  and  W.  S.  Rosenthal,  with  Dr. 
E.  G.  Hirsch  and  Mr.  Adolph  Loeb  as 
advisory  members,  all  of  whom  have 
worked  with  unflagging  zeal,  and  with 
untiring  energy.  Many  have  been  their 
anxieties,  many  their  hopes  and  fears, 
and  constant  their  prayers  that  the 
reconstruction  so  generously  author- 
ized might  result  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  all.  To  the  members  of  the 
Executive  Board  and  the  Pew  Com- 
mittee we  also  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude 
for  their  indefatigable  labors  in  the  re- 
adjustment of  our  pews,  and  for  the 
happy  solution  of  this  most  difficult 
problem.  Sincere  thanks  are  due,  and 
are  heartily  tendered  to  the  courteous 
officers  and  kind  members  of  our 
Mother  Congregation,  the  K.  A.  M., 
who  opened  wide  their  gates  to  us,  dur- 
ing our  temporary  absence  from  our 
own  place  of  worship.  A  word,  too,  in 
grateful  acknowledgment  to  Plymouth 
Church,  under  whose  hospitable  roof 
our  holiday  services  were  held. 

It  is  an  old  and  honored  custom  in 
Israel  to  recite  upon  certain  occasions, 
a  portion  of  the  history  of  its  institu- 
tions; what  more  joyful  occasion  than 
this  of  our  return?  What  institution 
more  worthy  than  this,  our  Congrega- 
tion? The  most  sanguine  expectations 
of  the  original  founders  of  this  organi- 
zation are  certainly  surpassed  by  the 
sight  that  greets  us  this  evening,  and 
yet  the  very  height  of  our  progress  and 
success  causes  memory  to  travel  back- 
ward to  that  noble  band  of  seventeen 
courageous  and  self-sacrificing  men, 
who,  true  to  their  convictions,  joined 
together  to  form  this  Congregation. 
All  honor  to  these  pioneers,  who,  feel- 
ing within  themselves  the  spirit  of  in- 
quiry and  progress,  stood  manfully  by 
their  religious  ideas,  and,  failing  ut- 
terly to  introduce  their  views  into  the 
service  of  the  Mother  .  Congregation, 
called  Sinai  Congregation  into  exist- 
ence on  the  7th  of  April,  1861.  Soon 
thereafter  its  first  Temple,  a  very  sim- 
ple, wooden  building  on  leased  ground, 
located  on  Monroe  street,  between 
Clark  and  La  Salle  streets,  was  dedica- 
ted by  the  Sainted  Dr.  Samuel  Adler  of 
New  York,  and  a  new  era  dawned  upon 
the  progressive  Jewish  element  of  this 
city.  The  adoption1  of  Dr.  Einhorn's 
prayer-book,  satisfied  the  men  of  schol- 


arly attainments  and  revived  the  Inter- 
est in  Jewish,  affairs  among  the  laity. 

Sinai's  first  and  highly  esteamed  min- 
ister, Dr.  B.  Felsenthal,  did  yeoman's 
service  in  laying  the  foundation  upon 
which  our  structure  is  reared.  It  was 
indeed  no  easy  task,  to  destroy  the 
idols  of  superstition,  and  to  erect  in 
their  place  a  religious  belief  to  which 
the  mind,  as  well  as  the  heart,  could 
subscribe.  The  Congregation's  second 
temple,  dedicated  by  the  late  Dr. 
Moritz  Meyer  of  New  York,  In  the 
spring  of  1865,  marked  even  thus  early 
a  decided  growth  in  our  material  pros- 
perity. But  stronger  than  this,  and 
more  important,  a  spirit  of  research, 
well  calculated  to  strengthen  the  cause 
of  reform  Judaism  sprang  up  and  de- 
veloped in  a  limited  circle  under  the 
able  leadership  of  the  lamented  Dr.  I. 
Chronek,  who  at  that  time,  and  dur- 
ing the  five  succeeding  years,  occupied 
Sinai's  pulpit. 

Like  to  many  thousand  firms  and  in- 
dividuals in  our  community  the  great 
fire  of  1871  proved  a  dire  disaster  to 
our  Congregation  from  a  worldly 
standpoint.  Our  temple  was  destroyed, 
our  records  burned,  our  members 
scattered  and  busy  with  re-establishing 
themselves.  One  fortunate  circum- 
stance, however,  rallied  the  leaders  of 
our  Congregation  to  an  extent  which 
made  them  equal  to  the  emergency. 
The  knowledge  of  their  arrangement 
previously  made  with  Dr.  K.  Kohler, 
to  act  as  Sinai's  minister  from  No- 
vember, 1871,  re-awakened  the  keen 
desire  within  them  not  to  lose  the  serv- 
ices of  this  eminent  scholar.  Dr.  Koh- 
ler found  Sinai  Congregation,  though 
much  decried  by  orthodox  factions,  an 
earnest,  thoughtful  and  upward  striv- 
ing organization  of  some  seventy  mem- 
bers, well  equipped  to  comprehend  the 
spirit  of  Jewish  Reform,  and  willing 
to  bring  sacrifices  for  the  propagation 
of  its  theories  and  the  realization  of 
its  ideals.  Whatever  the  learned 
Rabbi's  position  may  now  be,  we  will 
ever  gratefully  remember  that  his 
logical  arguments  and  forceful  plead- 
ings for  a  Sunday  service,  aye  Sunday 
Sabbath,  took  root  in  the  thought-life 
of  our  members  and  flourished  in  the 
fertile  soil  ploughed  by  his  predeces- 
sors. 

"A  Congregation  without  a  home  is 
no  Congregation."  Such  were  the 
words,  and  others  of  a  like  import  that 
frequently  greeted  the  ears  of  a  de- 
creasing and  already  heavily  burdened 
membership  from  the  pulpit  of  the 
temporary  Church,  corner  Fourteenth 
street  and  Wabash  avenue,  and  the  ros- 
trum of  Martine's  Hall,  in  which  places 
Sinai  Congregation  held  its  services. 
The  crucial  test  of  loyalty  to  the  cause 
and  the  self-forgetting  spirit  of  unfal- 
tering devotion  to  the  task  assumed, 
was  now  supplied  and  Maccabeean-like 
triumphantly  borne.  The  Temple  was 
erected  upon  its  present  site,  at  a  cost 
of  $120,000,  and  dedicatory  services 
were  held  in  1876.  For  a  while  mat- 
ters ran  smoothly  until  a  reactionary 
attempt  to  check  the  reform  tendencies 
of  our  Congregation  injured  the  at- 


tendance at  our  services,  and  thinned 
the  roll  of  our  members.  The  hard 
times  in  our  Congregation  reached  their 
culmination  in  1878.  A  debt  of  $50,000, 
a  salary  list  of  about  $10,000  per  an- 
num, the  almost  unbearable  cry  of 
bankruptcy  from  our  opponents,  all 
combined  to  dim  the  lustre  of  our  pros- 
perity. These  were  times  that  tried 
men's  souls;  but  the  managers  of 
Sinai's  affairs  were  men  of  undaunted 
courage.  With  a  conviction  in  their 
breasts  that  the  cause  of  Reform  Juda- 
ism as  espoused  by  their  congregation, 
could  not  be  injured  by  vacillations  in 
quarters  least  expected,  nor  by  the  on- 
slaught of  unprincipled  antagonists, 
they  met  the  unrest  that  threatened  in- 
ternal disruption  by  a  well  taught  les- 
son that  retrogression  has  no  place  In 
Sinai  Congregation.  The  clouds  began 
to  fade  from  our  horizon  with  the  ad- 
vent of  Dr.  Emil  Hirsch  in  the  year 
1880— the  seed  planted  in  richest  fields, 
•varmed  by  the  rays  of  his  intellect's 
bright  sunlight  sprang  into  life  and 
sent  forth  their  fruitage.  Under  his 
able  leadership  our  list  of  members  in- 
creased fourfold  and  we  now  number 
280  co-workers. 

The  expounding  from  our  pulpit  of 
theories  of  value  in  a  practical  work- 
ing-day world — the  various  philoso- 
phies of  life  so  clearly  touched  upon, 
the  sound  ethics  so  earnestly  and  im- 
pressively taught,  must  stimulate  to 
greater  activity  in  the  paths  of  duty 
and  of  justice,  must  arouse  the  nobler, 
truer  self,  making  it  possible  for  eager 
listeners  to  become  better  citizens,  bet- 
ter men  and  women,  better  Jews! 

The  men  who  forged  the  principles 
tlia*  support  this  organization  through 
tiij-is,  and  through  struggles,  through 
difliculties  and  disasters  before  which 
a  wea>er  body  would  have  fallen  back 
dismayed,  may  see  in  the  sacred  beauty 
of  this  hour,  the  realization  of  their 
pure  and  noble  ideals,  may  find  here- 
in the  reward  of  their  faithful  labors. 
These  men  insisted  upon  Sinai  Congre- 
gation's right  to  manage  its  own  af- 
fairs without  let  or  hindrance  from 
other  congregations  or  conferences; 
these  men  dared  to  proclaim  to  all  the 
world,  that  Sinai  Congregation,  freeing 
itself  from  all  burdensome,  and  for  our 
time,  meaningless  customs,  seeks  the 
perpetuation  of  Judaism  through  the 
purity  of  its  moral  idea  by  adhering  to 
the  ethical  truths  contained  in  the 
Bible  and  the  teachings  of  the  proph- 
ets; these  men  and  their  co-workers  to 
and  of  the  present  day,  saw  in  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  well  regulated  Sun- 
day service  the  only  means  of  keeping 
the  rising  generation  within  the  pale 
of  Judaism.  All  are  not  here  with  us 
in  the  body,  some  having  gone  home, 
to  sleep  the  last,  long  sleep— the  busy 
brains  have  ceased  their  thinking,  the 
hands  that  toiled  are  quiet  in  the  rest 
of  rests;  yet  in  this  Temple  find  they 
remembrance  strong  as  immortality 
and  its  success  shall  be  for  them  a  last- 
ing monument. 

In  this  solemn  hour,  solemn,  yet  joy- 
ful beyond  all  measure,  I  appeal  to  the 
young  men  and  young  women  here  as- 


332 


REFORM  ADVOOATB,. 


sembled,  to  crown  the  work  of  their 
parents  and  teachers  by  joining  our 
ranks  with  a  whole  heart.  I  ask  them 
to  place  the  proper  value  upon  the  sac- 
rifices that  their  parents  have  brought 
In  educating  them  with  a  lavish  hand, 
and  thereby  fitting  them  out  to  aid  in 
the  upbuilding  of  the  moral  nature  and 
character  of  our  co-religionists,  by  rea- 
son of  their  own  intelligence;  so  that, 
when  their  time  comes  to  feel  the  re- 
sponsibility for  the  continued  progress 
of  this  Congregation,  an  institution 
which  makes  for  righteousness,  and 
will  outlive  us  and  them— the  joy,  the 
happiness  and  satisfaction  which  fill 
our  hearts  today  may  also  swell  their 
breasts  with  pride  and  with  thanks- 
giving! 

At  the  annual  meeting  held  March 
30,  1893,  the  recommendation  of  Presi- 
dent Gatzert  that  the  incoming  board 
should  devise  ways  and  means  for 
equipping  the  Semitic  Department  of 
the  Chicago  University  with  a  requisite 
Library  was  concurred  in  by  a  motion 
of  Mr.  Adolph  Nathan,  that  it  is  the 
sense  of  this  meeting  to  raise  the 
amount  necessary  by  subscription  from 
individual  members,  such  amount  not 
to  exceed  $5,000. 

The  President  also  recommended 
that  the  Congregation  assist  and  en- 
courage young  men  studying  for  the 
Jewish  ministry  by  setting  aside  one- 
half  per  cent  of  the  annual  assess- 
ments. Mr.  Lowenthal  then  moved 
that  the  Congregation  donate  a 
sum  not  to  exceed  $1,000  per  annum 
but  of  the  general  fund  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  board,  and  this  motion 
was  carried. 

President  Gatzert's  annual  re- 
port, presented  to  the  Congregation 
April  2,  1894,  contains  the  following 
announcement:  "The  contributions 
from  members  of  Sinai  Congregation 
to  the  various  charitable  educational 
and  other  helpful  institutions,  are  as 
follows: 

To  the  United  Hebrew  Chari- 
ties  $11,462.50 

To  the  Michael    Reese    Hos- 
pital     5,325.00 

To    the     Cleveland     Orphan 

Asylum 3,820.00 

To      the      Jewish     Training 

School 5,168.00 

Averaging  as  a  whole,  58  per  cent  of 
the  entire  amounts  which  the  several 
other  organizations  have  collected  in 
the  usual  manner  from  the  Jewish  pop- 
ulation in  our  city.  Mr.  Gatzert  recom- 
mends to  the  Congregation  to  give  to 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities  an  extra 
$500  to  help  to  replenish  their  empty 
treasury. 

According  to  the  report  of  the  Exec- 
utive Board  the  Congregation  then  had 
a  total  membership  of  304. 

The  following  resolution  was  unani- 
mously adopted: 

"That  the  public  worship  committee 
be  Instructed  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  propriety  and  expediency  of 
eliminating  from  our  service  on  holi- 
days the  reading  of  lengthy  prayers 
in  Hebrew,  and  bring  the  services  on 


holidays  in  harmony  with  our  Sunday 
services." 

The  Sabbath  School  was  attended  by 
175  children.  Only  paid  teachers  are 
employed  and  no  volunteers.  The 
teachers  are  paid  a  liberal  salary. 

At  the  Executive  Board  meeting 
May  7,  1894,  the  following  resoluton 
was  adopted: 

"Whereas,  the  Congregation  is  the 
owner  of  a  Sepher  Thorah,  the  use  of 
which  in  the  services  has  been  dis- 
pensed with;  Therefore,  Resolved, 
that  said  Sepher  Thorah  be  donated 
to  the  University  of  Chicago  as  a  part 
of  the  Semitic  Library,  donated  by  the 
Congregation." 

The  donation  of  the  congregation  to 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities  was 
raised  to  $600.00  for  the  year  1893  to 
1894. 

T-he  President  reported  that  the 
Liberal  Religous  Congress,  the  first 
of  its  kind  in  the  history  of  the 
world,  had  held  its  sessions  in  Sinai 
Temple  on  May  22d,  23d,  24th  and 
25th;  that  said  Congress  was  excep- 
tionally well  attended  and  marks  an 
era  in  their  history  of  liberal  religious 
movement;  and  that  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion can  be  proud  of  the  part  taken 
therein  by  Dr.  Hirsch  and  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregation. 

Mrs.  H.  L.  Frank  was  appointed 
by  the  President  a  member  of  the 
Choir  Committee. 

The  Chicago  Tribune  of  September 
15,  1894,  contained  the  following  re- 
port of  a  reception  tendered  to  Dr. 
Hirsch  on  the  14th  of  that  month: 
"An  informal  reception  was  given  to 
Dr.  Emil  G.  Hirsch  by  his  congregation 
tion  last  night  in  the  vestry  room  of 
Sinai  Temple.  Between  500  and  600 
people  were  present  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  evening  was  taken  up  in 
greetings.  The  main  hall  was  deco- 
rated with  flowers,  ferns  and  flags, 
and  over  the  rotunda  was  a  circular  de- 
sign illuminated  with  electric  lights 
bearing  the  inscription,  'Sinai's 
Greeting.'  In  the  center  was  a  por- 
trait of  the  doctor.  While  'Home, 
Sweet  Home'  was  being  rendered  by  a 
mandolin  orchestra  Dr.  Hirsch  was 
led  into  the  room  by  J.  L.  Gatzert, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  church.  The  doctor  was  greet- 
ed with  prolonged  applause  and  af- 
ter the  quartette  had  sung  Mr.  Gat- 
zert delivered  an  address  of  welcome. 
Dr.  Hirsch  responded  saying  this  was 
the  first  speech  he  had  made  for  twelve 
weeks,  and  he  had  almost  forgotten 
how  to  make  one.  He  had  been  glad 
to  get  away,  but  was  equally  glad  to 
get  back. 

The  Torn  Kippur  donations  collect- 
ed in  Sinai  Congregation  in  1894  for 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities  amount- 
ed to  $12,000.00. 

On  March  4,  1895,  President  Gatzert 
announced  to  the  executive  board  that 
he  deemed  it  proper  to  state  that 
he  would  not  accept  a  renomination 
as  President  for  the  ensuing  year, 
being  prevented  by  the  necessity  of 
devoting  his  entire  time  to  his  pri- 


vate affairs.  The  members  of  the 
Board  expressed  great  regret  that  the 
President  felt  called  upon  to  make 
such  an  announcement. 

On  Shebuoth  of  1895  subscriptions 
of  the  members  during  confirmation 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Jewish  Train- 
ing School  were  inaugurated  and  the 
sum  of  $1,518  was  realized.  On  Kol- 
Nidre  Eve  $13,158.43  were  subscribed 
by  the  members  to  the  United  He- 
brew Charities,  and  on  Purim  of  that 
year  the  sum  of  $157.40  was  subscribed 
for  Alliance  Israelite  Universale. 

The  regular  donation  to  the  United 
H.  C.  was  increased  from  $100  to  $1,- 
000.  Twelve  young  men  petitioned  the 
Board  of  Directors  for  the  permission 
to  become  members  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation without  being  compelled  to  buy 
pews,  and  their  petition  was  granted. 
At  the  annual  meeting  of  1896  the 
Congregation  appropriated  $600  for  a 
religious  school  to  be  established  in 
the  Jewish  settlement  on  the  West 
side,  as  requested  by  'the  Council 
Jewish  Women's  Council. 

Dr.  Hirsch  was  unanimously  re- 
elected  for  a  term  of  ten  years  from 
the  expiration  of  his  contract  at  a  sal- 
ary of  $12,000  per  annum. 

Dr.  Einhorn's  prayer  book  in  Eng- 
lish as  revised  by  Dr.  Hirsch  was 
adopted  by  the  Congregation,  and  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Hirsch  for  devot- 
ing his  summer  vacation  to  the  great 
task  of  translating  into  pure  English 
the  beautiful  and  inspiring  prayers  of 
the  lamented  Dr.  Einhorn. 

According  to  President  Fishell's  re- 
port April  5,  1897,  the  total  member- 
ship was  430.  The  attendance  at  the 
services  on  Sunday  showed  by  a 
closely  kept  record  an  average  of  1,- 
100,  notwithstanding  the  severity  of 
the  storms  and  inclemency  of  the  sea- 
son. We  quote  from  the  President's 
report: 

"There  is,  however,  one  thing  to 
which  I  beg  to  call  your  special  at- 
tention, and  that  is,  the  small  num- 
ber of  confirmants.  We  take  the 
child  from  its  entrance  to  the  school, 
carry  it  through  from  class  to  class, 
year  after  year,  but  when  we  hope  to 
see  it  become  a  strong  link  in  the 
chain  of  our  Congregation,  through 
the  rite  of  confirmation,  we  meet  with 
disappointment. 

"What  is  the  cause  of  this  failure 
to  secure  the  culminating  advantages 
of  the  religious  instruction  imparted  in 
the  school?  Having  been  closely  con- 
nected with  the  Sabbath  School,  and 
having  given  some  care  and  atten- 
tion to  the  subject,  I  believe  I  can 
point  out  to  you  the  special  cause  un- 
derlying the  motive  for  failure  to  have 
pupils  of  the  school  publicly  con- 
firmed in  our  temple.  For  years  past 
our  esteemed  Rabbi  has  advised  and 
insisted  that  the  young  lady  members 
of  the  class  foster  simplicity  in  dress 
on  confirmation  day,  instead  of  being 
clad  in  expensive  garments  elaborately 
decorated,  and  this  -suggestion  has  in 
a  great  measure  been  complied  with; 
but,  unfortunately,  another  and  a  se- 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE, 


333 


rious  feature  accompanying  the  con- 
firmation, that  of  giving  large  and  ex- 
pensive receptions  to  the  confirmants, 
has  gradually  arisen.  Another,  and 
no  less  potent  objection  is  urged,  that 
children  of  rich  or  affluent  parents 
are  more  favored  with  callers  than 
those  having  less  of  the  world's  goods, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  they  may 
be  leading  in  their  classes  and  no  less 
worthy.  This,  when  it  becomes 
known  to  the  children — as  it  always 
does — produces  heart-burnings,  and 
thus  almost  on  the  threshold  of  life 
their  progress  seems  to  be  impeded  by 
barriers  erected  by  social  conditions. 

"Is  it  any  wonder,  then,  that  under 
such  circumstances  a  man  of  moder- 
ate means  sacrifices  his  own  pride 
and  that  of  his  child,  and  foregoes  the 
gratification  of  having  him  or  her 
confirmed? 

"I  would  therefore  suggest,  as  a 
remedy,  that  you  aid  in  the  abolition 
of  all  private  receptions  to  confirm- 
ants, and  instruct  the  incoming 
Board  to  tender,  in  behalf  of  the  Con- 
gregation, to  the  conflrmants,  their 
parents  and  friends,  a  reception  in  the 
afternoon  of  confirmation  day  at  our 
vestry  rooms,  which  are  so  well  adapt- 
ed for  large  gatherings,  the  expense 
to  be  defrayed  out  of  the  contingent 
fund,  and  thus  the  day  will  become 
to  all  the  children,  rich  and  poor 
alike,  a  happy  and  a  joyful  one,  and 
to  members  and  friends  a  social  re- 
union, and  the  objections  to  non-con- 
firmation will  in  great  part  be  re- 
moved. Our  congregation  can  well  af- 
ford to  take  the  first  step  in  this  di- 
rection, and  I  feel  confident  that  ere 
long  we  will  not  only  have  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  the  desired  object 
accomplished,  but  that  other  congre- 
gations will  adopt  the  same  measures." 
EXTRACT  FROM  REPORT  OF  THE 
SINAI  MISSION  SCHOOL. 

"I  herewith  submit  to  you  a  report 
of  the  Sabbath  School  of  the  Council 
of  Jewish  Women  of  Chicago,  which 
your  generous  support  has  enabled  us 
to  carry  on  in  a  most  satisfactory 
manner. 

"We  hold  our  sessions  on  the  third 
and  fourth  floors  of  571  South  Canal 
Street,  having  there  the  use  of  four 
well  lighted,  well  heated  and  well 
ventilated  rooms.  These  sessions  take 
place  on  every  Saturday  from  2:30  to 
4:00  o'clock  P.  M. 

"We  have  enrolled  about  260  chil- 
dren with  an  average  attendance  for 
this  season  of  240. 

"Our  school  consists  of  girls  only. 
We  were  compelled  to  limit  ourselves 
as  to  numbers,  and  after  careful  con- 
sideration thought  for  various  rea- 
sons that  this  would  be  the  wisest 
course: 

"First.  The  boys  were  receiving 
religious  instructions  while  the  girls 
with  but  few  exceptions  were  entirely 
untaught  in  this  direction. 

"Second.  We  thought  that  the  les- 
sons of  cleanliness,  thrift,  etc.,  taught 
to  the  girls  might  be  more  productive 
•of  good  results  in  the  home. 


"A  special  stress  is  laid  on  the  mor- 
al and  ethical  lessons  derived  from 
the  bible  stories. 

"Regarding  the  results,  I  would  say 
that  they  are  more  than  satisfactory 
and  encouraging. 

"The  appearance  of  the  children  has 
changed  greatly.  Unwashed  faces 
and  unkempt  heads  are  now  the  ex- 
ception; now  we  are  always  greeted 
by  the  sight  of  clean,  bright  and  smil- 
ing faces. 

"We  feel  satisfied  that  these  influ- 
ences- do  not  end  with  the  Sabbath 
School,  but  are  carried  into  the  homes 
and  lives  of  these  children. 

"ROSALIE   SULTZBERGER, 
Chairman  Sabbath  School  Committee 

C.  J.  W.  of  Chicago." 

The  President's  recommendation  in 
regard  to  the  reception  to  be  given  to 
the  confirmants  on  Confirmation  day 
was  unanimously  adopted  and  the  Ex- 
ecutive Board  made  the  proper  arrange- 
ments. 

A  prominent  and  gratifying  feature 
of  the  thirty-seventh  annual  meeting 
of  the  Chicago  Sinai  Congregation, 
held  April  4,  1898,  was  the  attendance 
of  a  large  number  of  the  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregation  and  their  ac- 
.  tive  participation  in  the  proceedings. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Board 
held  October  1,  1898,  it  was  stated  that 
on  the  third  Sunday  in  January,  1899, 
twenty-five  years  would  have  elapsed 
since  Sunday  services  were  inaugurated 
in  this  Congregation.  Whereupon  the 
Executive  Board  unanimously  re- 
solved to  recommend  to  the  Congrega- 
tion that  it  hold  suitable  services  on 
that  day. 

At  the  special  Congregational  meet- 
ing, held  to  take  action  on  said  mat- 
ter, the  recommendation  of  the  Execu- 
tive Board  was  adopted,  and  a  com- 
mittee of  eleven  members  of  the  Con- 
gregation, part  of  whom  were  members 
of  the  Executive  Board,  was  named  to 
arrange  and  carry  out  plans  for  the 
celebration.  The  following  persons 
composed  this  committee:  Augustus 
Binswanzer,  Leo  Fox,  Joseph  L.  Gat- 
zert,  Harry  Hart,  Dr.  Emil  G.  Hirsch, 
Adolph  Loeb,  Berthod  Loewenthal,  Ju- 
lian W.  Mack,  Leon  Mandel,  Edward 
Rose,  Julius  Rosenthal.  Albert  Fishell, 
ex-officio.  In  compliance  with  the  res- 
olution the  committee  extended  an  In- 
vitation to  the  following  Rabbis  and 
scholars  to  grace  the  occasion  with 
their  presence: 

The  Rev.  Dr.  K.  Kohler,  Ne^York; 
Rabbi  Moses  J.  Gries,  Cleveland,  O.; 
Prof.  Morris  Jastrow,  Jr.,  Philadelphia, 
Pa.;  Dr.  Joseph  K.  Krauskopf,  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.;  Dr.  Max  Landsberg, 
Rochester,  N.  Y.;  Rabbi  J.  Leonard 
Levy,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Dr.  L.  Mayer, 
Pittsburg,  Pa.;  Dr.  Adolph  Moses, 
Louisville,  Ky.;  Dr.  Samuel  Sale  and 
Dr.  Leo  Harrison,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and 
Dr.  Gustav  Gottheil  of  New  York, 
whom  old  age  prevented  from  attend- 
ing, was  requested  to  write  a  letter  em- 
bodying his  views. 

The  celebration  took  place  on  Jan- 
uary 15,  1899.  Two  services  were  held, 
one  in  the  morning  and  the  other  in 


the  evening.  In  the  morning  the  spa- 
cious auditorium  was  filled  with  over 
2,200  congregants,  among  whom  were 
all  the  local  Rabbis  and  representa- 
tives of  their  congregations.  The  plat- 
form was  becomingly  decorated  with 
flowers,  plants  and  flags.  Overhead,  in 
floral  letters  was  the  motto:  "Das 
neue  Wissen— der  alte  Glaube,"  the 
title  of  Dr.  Kohler's  first  Sunday  ser- 
mon. The  services  opened  with  sing- 
ing of  Psalm  CL.  by  the  choir,  after 
which  the  regular  ritual  services  were 
read  by  Dr.  Hirsch.  Mr.  Loewenthal, 
who  was  President  of  the  Congregation 
in  1874,  the  year  in  which  Sunday  serv- 
ices were  first  introduced,  was  to  be 
the  first  speaker,  but  unfortunately  the 
state  of  his  health  would  not  permit 
him  to  venture  the  experiment.  In  his 
stead  Mr.  Gatzert  was  introduced  by 
Dr.  Hirsch,  and  made  some  very  ap- 
propriate remarks.  Dr.  Hirsch  then  de- 
livered %  characteristic  address  In 
'which  he  warmly  welcomed  his  hon- 
ored colleagues  to  the  house  of  God. 
He  said  in  substance:  "If  ever  men 
loved  Judaism,  Einhorn,  Hirsch  and 
Holdheim  did;  if  ever  men  were  con- 
vinced of  the  world-enlightening  and 
world-redeeming  mission  of  our  ances- 
tral faith,  Holdheim  and  Samuel 
Hirsch  were.  Let  the  slanderer  use  his 
venomous  epithets  to  the  contrary,  his 
is  vain  babble.  Before  the  throne  of 
God,  where  these  transfigured  leaders 
and  pioneers  are  now  standing,  our 
pathfinders  have  been  crowned  with 
the  wreath  of  immortality,  and  in  the 
book  of  life,  whose  letters  shall  never 
fade,  is  recorded  as  the  rhythm  of 
every  heartbeat  of  theirs,-  their  un- 
quenchable love  for  Judaism  and  their 
unshakeable  faith  in  the  God  of  Israel. 
If  Holdheim  and  Hirsch,  and  at  one 
period  of  his  noble  life,  the  blessed 
Einhorn,  thought  it  necessary  to 
march  on  from  Saturday  to  Sunday,  it 
was  because  the  land  of  promise  beck- 
oned them.  They  felt  intensely  that 
not  to  abide  in  a  desert  of  indifference 
was  Israel  led  out  from  Egypt.  They 
were  convinced  that  for  the  promulga- 
tion of  the  hope,  and  the  realization  of 
the  faith  of  a  God-blessed  and  God- 
united  humanity,  God's  own  had  come 
into  the  patrimony  of  liberty. 

"The  Sabbath  idea  is  cardinal  to  Ju- 
daism. Without  a  Sabbath,  no  Juda- 
ism. This  is  fundamentally  true,  and 
no  one  may  take  even  as  much  as  a 
tittle  away  from  this  root  proposition. 
If  Judaism  had  given  to  the  world 
nought  but  the  Sabbath,  its  history 
would  be  crowned  wherever  justice  is 
done  to  service  rendered  and  acknowl- 
edgment is  made  for  inspiration  given, 
with  the  lustre  of  having  brought  to 
toiling  man  the  richest  of  all  blessings. 
Not  Rome  and  not  Greece,  not  Assyria 
and  not  Egypt,  offered  to  the  strug- 
gling race  such  sweet  boon.  Among 
them,  slavery  clanked  its  chain,  the 
scourge  of  selfishness  lashed  the  back 
of  brother  men,  lust  held  the  sceptre, 
and  thought  of  gain  and  pelf  alone  was 
the  magnet  of  life.  The  Sabbath  bride 
could  never  feel  at  home  among  their 
art  treasures,  their  martial  trophies. 


334 


THE.  RE.FORM  ADVOCATE, 


Her  cradle  was  not  the  forum,  and  not 
the  agora,  not  In  the  Parthenan,  nor 
in  the  Pantheon,  not  at  the  foot  of  the 
pyramids,  nor  in  the  shadow  of  the  Pa- 
goda, Not  from  Ganges  nor  from  Eu- 
phrates radiated  forth  her  light  of  joy 
to  diffuse  in  home  the  glow  of  duty  and 
the  glory  of  peace  in  the  hearts  of  men. 
In  Jerusalem,  at  Sinai,  across  the  Jor- 
dan, where  liberty  was  written  on  the 
first  tablet  of  God's  communication, 
wnere  light  was  apprehended  to  be  the 
first  audible  articulation  out  of  chaos 
seething  and  whirling  into  cosmos — 
where  duty  was  sung  as  the  primal 
chord  and  the  final  diapason  of  life's 
melody  and  meaning— where  love  was 
prized  the  universal  magnet  and  re- 
ward— there,  and  there  alone,  the  Sab- 
bath lamp  could  shine  its  brightest, 
and  the  Sabbath  law  could  be  garbed 
with  deepest  import  and  guarded  in  its 
unutterably  impressive  importance. 

"The  Sabbath  is  the  badge  of  God's 
covenants  with  men  and  in  blhalf  of 
man  with  Israel.  It  is  the  sign  of 
God's  abiding  in  the  world;  of  His 
guidance  of  the  nations  in  history. 
Take  it  away,  night  enwrapts  human- 
ity, Time  is  robbed  of  purpose.  Ages 
lose  their  awful  trumphet  notes  as 
successive  heralds  of  the  God  who 
leads  men  from  slavery  to  sublimity. 

The  men  who  led  our  advance  have 
recognized  this,  if  they  have  recog- 
nized one  truth.  But  looking  into  the 
life  of  the  modern  world,  they  soon 
apprehended  that  if  Israel  was  to  be 
genuinely  true  to  its  mission,  if  Ju- 
daism was  not  to  ebb  away  as  a  reli- 
gion of  the  ghetto  and  to  petrify  into 
a  ghettoized  religion,  it  was  necessary 
for  the  Jew  td  live  to  the  full  the  mod- 
ern life.  That  modern  life  entailed  up- 
on him,  deaf  to  his  regrets  and  blind 
to  his  romances,  accommodation  to 
modern  institutions  and  adjustment  to 
modern  necessities.  Deny  this  whoso- 
ever will,  to  this  effect  is  the  universal 
testimony  of  far  spread  experience." 

The  sermons  preached  on  that  cele- 
bration day  were  printed  in  pamphlet 
form.  They  form  a  rare  collection  of 
pearls  of  thought — thoughts  to  kindle 
the  perpetual  lamp  of  truth  in  the 
sanctuary  of  humanity  and  keep  the 
altars  aglow  with  celestial  fire  in  the 
temples  of  religious  aspiration. 

The  pamphlet  contains  the  addresses 
by  Dr.  Kohler,  Dr.  Sale,  Dr.  Mayer, 
Rabbi  Leonard  Levy,  Rabbi  Moses 
Gries,  etc.,  all  illustrious  leaders  in 
Reform  Judaism  in  America. 

In  the  evening  of  the  next  day  after 
a  reception  tendered  the  visitors  by 
the  Chicago  Section  of  the  Council  of 
Jewish  Women,  Mr.  B.  Loewenthal  en- 
tertained the  Rabbis  and  other  guests 
at  a  banquet  at  the  Standard  Club.  The 
list  of  participants  included  a  number 
c.'  the  leaders  of  the  Congregation,  and 
the  presidents  of  the  local  institutions 
accompanied  by  their  ladies.  Mr.  Au- 
gustus Binswanger  presided  as  toast- 
master.  Wit  and  wisdom  flowed  in 
profusion. 

Shortly  after  this  event  the  equa- 
nimity of  the  Congregation  was  con- 
siderably disturbed  by  the  news  that 


Dr.  Hirsch  had  been  the  recipient  of  a 
call  from  Temple  Emanuel,  New  York, 
to  become  the  Chief  Rabbi  of  this 
the  most  influential  and  prominent 
Congregation  of  the  East  if  not  of  the 
country.  Efforts  were  at  once  made 
to  induce  the  Doctor  not  to  accept  the 
call.  Young  men,  to  the  number  of 
seventy,  enrolled  themselves  as  mem- 
bers in  order  to  evidence  by  this  that 
there  was  a  future  in  this  city  for  the 
Doctor's  work.  The  newspapers  took 
up  the  matter  and  editorially  asked  the 
Rabbi  not  to  leave  Chicago.  Dr. 
Hirsch  had  sent  in  his  resignation, 
fully  determined  to  seek  the  new  field 
offered  him.  But  after  long  efforts  to 
convince  him  that  it  was  his  duty  to 
remain  with  the  Congregation  and 
when  the  Congregation  elected  him  for 
life,  the  Doctor  consented  to  ask 
Temple  Emanuel  to  release  him 
from  whatever  promise  the  mem- 
bers of  that  Congregation  had 
^thought  he  had  given  to  come.  After 
Temple  Emanuel  took  the  desired  ac- 
tion, Dr.  Hirsch  accepted  the  election 
under  the  new  terms.  Did  he  do  wise- 
ly? The  opinions  on  this  are  divided. 
Perhaps  he  might  have  made  his  influ- 
ence tell  in  the  larger  field  to  much 
greater  advantage  for  the  whole  com- 
munity of  Israel.  But  this  is  what  the 
President  of  Sinai  has  to  say  on  this 
matter  in  one  of  his  reports. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  April,  1900, 
President  Loeb  writes  in  his  message: 
"The  closing  scenes  of  last  year's 
events  are  still  fresh  in  our  minds. 
Sinai  Congregation  had  passed 
thiough  a  crisis,  which,  to  say  the 
least,  caused  an  excitement  among  its 
members  such  as  is  rarely  witnessed  by 
an  organization  like  our.  The  Congre- 
gation, in  tones  that  could  not  be  mis- 
understood, decided  under  any  and  all 
circumstances  that  our  minister  must 
remain,  and  if  any  sacrifices  were  nec- 
essary to  obtain  this  sole  object,  the 
Congregation  was  ready  to  make  them. 
The  incoming  Executive  Board,  officers 
and  all,  were  elected,  so  to  speak,  un- 
der these  conditions  and  Dr.  Hirsch  re- 
mained. Now  that  a  year  has  passed, 
it  behooves  us  to  pass  the  calm  and 
retrospective  glance  and  ask  ourselves 
the  question:  'Was  our  action  hasty, and 
have  we  occasion  to  repent  it?'  The 
answer  is  readily  found.  The  year  just 
closed  has  been  one  of  unparalleled 
prosperity.  New  members  flocked  to  us 
in  great  numbers  regardless  whether 
they  could  get  a  good  seat  or  not;  the 
services  .throughout  the  whole  year 
were  of  the  highest  order.  The  best 
of  understanding  was  at  all  times 
maintained  between  the  Board  and  the 
Minister,  the  latter  outdoing  himself 
in  his  great  efforts  to  furnish  the  Con- 
gregation with  the  best  creations  of  his 
master  mind  and  master  tongue.  Not 
satisfied  with  his  efforts  in  the  pulpit 
up  stairs,  Dr.  Hirsch  also  took  personal 
charge  of  the  Sabbath  School,  and  the 
result  of  his  wonderful  patriotism  is 
apparent  in  that  the  school  has  at- 
tained an  attendance  and  a  standard 
never  before  reached. 

"We  come  before  you  tonight  with  a 


membership     of    463,      including      all 
classes." 

The  collection  from  the  Congrega- 
tion for  the  United  Hebrew  Charities 
for  the  year  1899  to  1900,  amounted  to 
$14,430.41,  the  highest  figure  ever  col- 
lected. Munificent  donations  have  been 
made  this  year  to  the  Chicago  Univer- 
sity by  quite  a  number  of  the  members 
of  Sinai  Congregation,  reaching  all  the 
way  from  $5,000  to  $50,000. 

The  year  1900  to  1901  -was  also  re- 
markably prosperous  for  the  Congre- 
gation. The  President  in  his  annual 
report  says:  "Our  Rabbi,  Dr.  E.  G. 
Hirsch,  seems  to  have  made  it  his  am- 
bition to  make  each  sermon  de- 
livered on  Sunday  greater  and 
more  admirable,  more  instructive, 
and  more  magnificent,  than  the 
preceding  one.  The  experiment  to 
transfer  the  school  hours  from  Sunday 
morning  to  Saturday  has  proven  a 
great  success,  enabling  our  superinten- 
dent and  staff  of  teachers  to  devote 
twice  as  much  time  to  their  task,  and 
the  result  Is  most  gratifying,  both  as 
to  attendance  and  decorum,  as  also  ta 
the  dissemination  of  knowledge  and 
the  infusion  of  religion  into  the  minds 
and  hearts  of  the  young.  The  removal 
from  the  city  of  Miss  Sadie  American 
.  deprived  the  school  of  an  able  and  com- 
petent teacher,  and  so  did  also  the  ad- 
vancement of  young  Mr.  Baker  to  the 
ministry  of  a  sister  congregation. 
Both  resignations  were  reluctantly  ac- 
cepted and  their  places  filled  by  the 
election  of  Miss  Block  and  Mrs.  Abra- 
ham. We  have  now  on  the  rolls  473 
members,  which  will  soon  reach  500,. 
according  to  the  assurances  of  the 
Committee  on  Membership." 

President  Loeb  strongly  recommends, 
to  Sinai  Congregation  to  join  the 
Union  of  American  Hebrew  Congrega- 
tions at  Cincinnati.  A  Young  People's 
Association  was  recently  organized 
from  among  the  members  and  their 
families,  in  the  hope  that  they  will 
help  swell  the  audiences  at  the  Sun- 
day services  to  a  degree  worthy  of  a 
congregation  like  Sinai. 

In  consequence  of  the  organization 
of  the  Associated  Jewish  Charities  of 
Chicago  the  collection  of  contributions 
at  the  service  on  the  eve  of  the  day 
of  atonement  for  charities  has  been; 
discontinued.  The  amount  of  $677.70 
was  promptly  contributed  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregation  to  assist  in 
alleviating  the  distress  of  the  Galves- 
ton  sufferers. 

Dr.  Hirsch  in  a  letter  to  the  Congre- 
gation, earnestly  advocates  the" accept- 
ance of  the  President's  recommenda- 
tion, that  Sinai  Congregation  join  the 
Union  of  American-Hebrew  Congrega- 
tion. He  also  suggests  that  Sinai  Con- 
gregation follow  the  example  set  by 
Temple  Emanuel  of  San  Francisco  and 
establish  one  or  two  fellowships  in 
semitics  at  the  Chicago  University, 
each  to  bring  every  year  $500  to  be 
open  to  a  graduate  student,  preferably 
of  Rabbinics. 

The  following  officers  were  elected: 
President.  Adolph  Loeb;  Vice-Presi- 
dent, Leon  Mandel;  Treasurer,  Edwin 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


335 


G.  Foreman;  Financial  Secretary,  S. 
Greenebaum;  Recording  Secretary,  Ju- 
lius Stern;  Directors  to  serve  two 
years,  Harry  Hart,  Joseph  Kahn,  S.  W. 
Strauss  and  S.  J.  Klein;  Director  to 
serve  for  one  year,  Mr.  Herman  Lan- 
dauer. 

This  completes  the  history  of  Sinai 
Congregation  from  the  day  of  its  birth 
to  the  present  time.  We  deemed  it 
best  to  follow  the  records  of  the  Con- 
gregation chronologically  from  year  to 
year,  keeping  close  even  to  the  parlia- 
mentary language  of  the  minutes. 

The  wonderful  success  and  the  mar- 
velous achievements  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation during  the  forty  years  of  its  ex- 
istence, in  the  fields  of  religion  and 
charity,  free  thought  and  free  giving, 
will  no  doubt  stimulate  other  Jewish 
congregations  to  emulation.  Under  the 
leadership  of  its  Rabbis  Sinai  Congre- 
gation has  emerged  from  the  desert  of 
doubt,  problematic  experimenting  and 
halting  hesitation.  It  aims  at  a 
positive,  prophetic  Judaism — a  Juda- 
ism of  duty  and  righteousness.  It  is 
now  also  emerging  from  its  isolated 
retreat  and  is  seeking  the  fellowship  of 
its  sister  congregations  in  the  house  of 
Israel.  It  is  marching  onward  with 
flying  colors  towards  the  promised  land 
of  ethical  and  religious  truth,  and  it 
confidingly  follows  the  new  device  in- 
scribed on  its  banner:  "Das  neue 
Wissen — der  alte  Glaube." 

As  stated  before,  as  soon  as  Dr. 
Samuel  Hirsch  resolved  upon  his  re- 
tirement from  active  duties  as  Rabbi 
of  the  Reform  congregation  Kene- 
seth  Israel  of  Philadelphia,  to  make 
Chicago  his  residence,  Chicago  Sinai 
Congregation  honored  itself  by  elect- 
ing this  veteran  leader  of  the  Reform 
cause  to  honorary  membership.  Dr. 
Hirsch  came  to  this  city  March  23d, 

1888.  The  hope  that  here  he  would 
be  spared  to  live  many    more    years 
and  enjoy  the  fruitage  of  his  teachings 
in  the  prosperity  of  his  son's  congre- 
gation was  not  realized.    Only  a  little 
over  a  year  did  he  tarry  with  us.   Dur- 
ing this  time  he  occupied   the   pulpit 
of  Sinai  Congregation  once,   on  Yom 
Kippur  morning,   1888,   and   read  the 
concluding  prayer  in  the  evening.  Af- 
ter a  torief  spell  of  sickness  he  passed 
to  his  reward  on  May  the  fourteenth, 

1889,  and  was  buried  in  Rosehill,  the 
cemetery  of  Sinai  Congregation,  on  a 
lot  dedicated  to  his  memory  by  the 
congregation.     Soon  after  his  demise 
the  Board  of  Sinai  resolved  that  it  was 
their   duty   to   mark    in    a    becoming 
manner  the  resting  place  of  this  noble 
teacher.     An  invitation  was  extended 
to  the  congregation  over  which  he  had 
presided  so  long     in     Philadelphia  to 
join  Sinai  in  this  work  of  love,  but  the 
Philadelphia  admirers  of  Dr.    Samuel 
Hirsch  thought  it  best  to  give  expres- 
sion to  their     feelings  in  a  memorial 
window  in  the  new  Temple  then  pro- 
posed and  since  erected,  and  therefore 
did     not    accept     Sinai's    suggestion. 
September  6th,  1890,  the  monument,  a 
beautiful  shaft,  was  dedicated  with  ap- 
propriate ceremony.     Dr.   Sale  of  St. 


Louis,  at  the  invitation  of  the  Congre- 
gation, delivered  the  dedicatory  ser- 
mon, and  Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch  gave  ex- 
pression to  his  dear  mother's  thanks 
for  this  signal  mark  of  reverence  for 
a  man  who  had  not  been  the  minister 
of  Sinai,  though  his  principles  were 
indeed  fundamental  to  the  aims  of 
Sinai's  members.  An  inscription  re- 
counting the  services  of  the  great  lead- 
er and  a  quotation  from  an  address 
delivered  by  him  at  the  twenty-fifth 
anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the 
Congregation  marks  the  beautiful 
monolith.  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch  was 
survived  by  his  widow  only  a  few 
years.  She  died  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  her,  in  August,  1893,  and  was 
carried  to  her  resting  place  by  the  sido 
of  her  dear  husband  by  the  members 
of  Sinai  Congregation,  the  executive 
board  acting  as  pallbearers. 


DR.  SAMUEL,  HIRSCH. 

.  REV.   DR.   SAMUEL  HIRSCH. 

Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch  was  born  June 
8th,  1815,  at  Thalfangen,  Rhinish  Prus- 
sia. For  a  number  of  years  he  attend- 
ed the  celebrated  Jeshibha  at  Metz. 
Then  he  became  a  student  at  the  Bonn 
University.  His  thirst  for  knowledge 
was  so  great  that  he  walked  all  the 
way  to  Berlin  to  continue  his  studies 
there  under  the  great  professors.  His 
first  sermon  he  preached  at  Bessau,  but 
he  was  too  liberal  a  man  for  the  ortho- 
dox faction  and  they  forced  him  out. 

In  1844  he  wrote  his  main  work  "Re- 
ligions Philosophie  der  Juden."  In  1845 
he  received  the  title  of  Doctor  of  Phil- 
osophy from  the  Leipzig  University. 
During  that  year  he  officiated  as  sec- 
retary of  the  Second  Rabbinical  Con- 
ference at  Breslau.  Before  this  confer- 
ence he  advocated  Sunday  services  and 
afterwards  published  a  pamphlet  on 


the  subject.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
called  to  the  postiion  of  Rabbi  at  Lux- 
emburg, where  he  remained  until  1866. 
He  then  emigrated  to  America  and  be- 
came the  Rabbi  of  Kenesseth  Israel 
Congregation  at  Philadelphia,  where 
he  remained  until  1888.  He  also  wrote: 
"Humanitaet  als  Religion"  and  a  Cate- 
chism of  the  Jewish  religion,  shortly 
after  he  removed  to  Chicago,  and  Sinai 
Congregation,  whose  pulpit  is  occupied 
by  his  son,  Dr.  Emil  G.  Hirsch,  extend- 
ed to  the  venerable  father  of  their 
minister  a  very  cordial  welcome. 

He  died  in  Chicago  at  the  residence 
of  his  son.  May  14th,  1899,  and  was  bur- 
ied by  Sinai  Congregation  at  Rose  Hill 
Cemetery.  In  1890  Sinai  Congregation 
erected  a  magnificent  monument  In" 
honor  of  his  memory,  over  his  grave  at 
Rose  Hill.  The  monument  is  an 
obelisk  of  Barre  granite,  extending  18 
feet  high  on  a  symmetrical  base,  meas- 
uring more  than  seven  feet  square  at 
the  ground.  On  the  shaft  appears  in 
raised  letters  "S.  H."  in  monogram, 
and  the  name  "Samuel  Hirsch"  is  on 
the  base.  The  die  bears  the  following 
inscription  in  polished  letters: 

"Erected  by  Chicago  Sinai  Congre- 
gation, the  first  to  adopt  without  com- 
promise or  hesitation  the  principles  he 
taught,  and  consecrated  to  the  memory 
of  Dr.  Samuel  Hirsch.  Born  in  Thal- 
fangen,Prussia,  June  8,  1815,  he  died  in 
Chicago,  May  14,  1889.  For  fifty  years 
of  active  life  as  rabbi,  both  in  Europe 
and  in  the  United  States,  he  was  the 
most  fearless  and  consistent  champion 
of  enlightened,  liberal  Judaism,  and  by 
words  of  mouth  and  pen  never  tired  of 
holding  its  tenets  as  fundamentally  the 
doctrine  destined  to  be  the  religion  of 
humanity,  looking  neither  to  the  right 
nor  to  the  left,  but  confident  of  the  in- 
vincible power  of  truth.  Those  who 
now  lag  behind  will  follow,  and  those 
who  now  oppose  will  indorse  our 
movement." 

Dr.  Hirsch  was  thirty  years  in  the 
Jewish  ministry  in  his  native  land,  and 
for  twenty  three  years  he  preached 
progressive  Judaism  in  this  country. 
His  contributions  on  the  philosophy  o.f 
the  Jewish  religion  and  his  text  books 
on  the  tenets  of  Judaism,  rank  among 
the  best  of  their  kind. 


LEADERS   OF    SINAI    CONGREGA- 
TION. 

BENJAMIN  SCHOENEMAN. 

Benjamin  Schoeneman,  the  first 
President  of  Sinai  Congregation,  was 
born  July  6th,  1825,  at  Hainsforth, 
Germany.  He  was  liberally  educated 
in  his  native  country.  In  1849  he  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  in  1852  he  came 
to  Chicago,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
packing  business  in  which  he  was  very 
successful.  He  was  versed  in  Jewish 
literature,  was  a  man  of  progressive 
ideas  and  a  warm  champion  of  Jewish 
reform.  From  1863  to  1867,  he  was 
Chairman  of  the  School  Board  of 
Sinai  Congregation.  From  1862  to 
1863,  he  was  Trustee,  and  from  1867  to 
1868,  Financial  Secretary  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities. 


336 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


B.  SCHOENEMAN. 
First  President  Sinai  Congregation. 

He  married  Miss  Eliza  Unger  of 
Koeln  (Cologne),  Germany,  who  was 
his  second  wife;  his  first  wife  was  her 
sister.  His  wife  and  four  children  sus- 
vive  him:  Mrs.  Eliza  Stein,  Simon, 
Frieda  Katz  and  Leo  Schoeneman. 

MR.  ADOLPH   LOEB. 

In  the  year  1873,  there  arrived  in 
Chicago  a  man  whose  refined  manners 
and  lofty  character  at  once  won  for 
him  the  love  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens,  especially  that  of  his  Jewish 
co-religionists.  Almost  immediately 
he  became  an  active  member  of  the 
Jewish  community  and  his  influence 
soon  manifested  itself  in  Jewish  cir- 
cles. In  his  southern  home  he  was 
prominent  in  B'nai  B'rith  affairs,  and 
the  leaders  of  district  No.  6  received 
him  with  open  arms.  He  was  elected 
Grand  Secretary  for  the  district,  which 
office  'he  held  for  ten  years.  Those 
who  know  something  about  the  history 
of  the  Jewish  community  of  Chicago 
for  the  last  quarter  of  the  past  century 
will  easily  recognize  our  friend  Adolph 
Loeb,  in  the  short  pen  sketch  which 
we  have  drawn. 

Mr.  Loeb  was  born  in  the  old  historic 
city  of  Germany,  Bingen  on  the  Rhine, 
in  the  year  1839.  The  family  of  Loeb 
has  been  prominent  in  Germany  for 


ADOLPH  LOEB 
Present  President  Sinai  Congregation. 


several  generations.  At  the  age  of 
14  he  came  to  America  and  spent  his 
youth  in  the  city  of  New  York.  From 
there  he  went  south  and  for  a  number 
of  years  he  lived  in  Memphis,  Tenn. 
Very  early  in  life  he  started  in  the  in- 
surance business,  became  an  expert  in 
his  line,  was  very  successful  and  re- 
mained in  this  business  to  this  day. 
Mr.  Loeb  is  manager  of  the  North  Ger- 
man and  Transatlantic  Insurance  Com- 
panies of  Hamburg  and  Vice-President 
and  Western  Manager  of  'the  North- 
German  Insurance  Co.,  of  New  York. 
Several  years  ago  he  admitted  his  son, 
Leo,  into  his  business  and  the  firm 
name  now  is  Adolph  Loeb  &  Son. 

Mr.  Loeb  was  the  President  of  the 
Russian  Aid  Society,  established  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Russian  refugees, 
and  existed  for  two  years,  from  1892 
to  1894.  For  twenty-five  years,  up  to 
last  year,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  the  United  Hebrew  Chari- 
ties and  during  the  last  twenty  years 
he  frequently  held  important  offices  in 
the  Standard  Club,  of  which  he  is  a 
charter  member.  At  present  he  is 
President  of  the  Sinai  Congregation, 
Grand  President  of  District  No.  6, 
B'nai  B'rith,  President  of  the  Jewish 
Agricultural  Aid  Society  of  America, 
Trustee  of  the  Cleveland  Orphan  Asy- 
lum, a  member  of  the  Art  Institute,  of 
the  Civic  Federation  and  of  the  Citi- 
zens' Association. 

All  these  high  honors  and  distinc- 
tions Mr.  Loeb  carries  with  dignified 
modesty,  always  finding  a  kind  word 
and  a  pleasant  smile  for  the  humblest 
as  well  as  for  the  most  influential. 

MR.  SIMON  FLORSHEIM. 

Mr.  Florsheim  was  born  in  Ronerad, 
Germany,  May  28,  1837,  and  his  par- 
ents' names  were  Isaac  and  Marian 
(Weiler)  Florsheim.  He  came  to  Am- 
erica in  1853  and  to  Chicago  four  years 
later.  He  first  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance business  and  became  secretary  of 
the  Germania  Insurance  Company, 
then  he  embarked  in  the  wholesale  hat 
business  and  now  he  is  the  proprietor 
of  the  Chicago  Corset  Company,  with 
offices  in  Chicago  and  New  York,  fac- 
tory at  Aurora.Ill.,  where  900  operators 
are  employed.  He  is  also  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  Aurora  Automatic  Machin- 
ery Company,  where  about  250  ma- 
chinists are  employed,  Mr.  Florsheim 
is  the  inventor  of  the  Ball  corset  and 
several  other  mechanical  devices.  For 
a  number  of  years  he  was  a  leading 
member  of  the  Underwriters  and 
Treasurer  of  Fire  Insurance  Patrol 
and  a  member  of  the  Patrol  which  he 
helped  to  organize.  He  is  now  treas- 
urer of  the  Protection  Mutual  Fire  In- 
surance Company.  He  was  a  member 
of  a  vocal  quartet,  which  started  the 
first  singing  society  in  Chicago,  the 
at  one  time  well  known  Concordia 
Maennerchor.  He  is  a  member  of  Sinai 
Congregation,  of  which  he  was  Direct- 
or, Secretary,  Treasurer,  Vice-Presi- 
dent and  for  many  years  member  of 
the  choir.  For  two  years,  from 
1896  to  1898,  he  was  a  director  of 
the  United  Hebrew  Relief  Association. 


He  is  a  member  of  the  Standard  and 
Hamilton  Clubs,  and  an  ex-Director  of 
the  first.  He  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Friesleben  and  of  the  children  that 
were  born  to  them  six  are  now  living. 
Mrs.  Flora  Altman,  Norman,-  Sidney, 
Isaac,  Leonard  and  Isabel. 

Mr.     Florsheim    was    the    youngest 
President  ever  elected  in  Sinai     Con- 


SAMUEL  FLORSHEIM. 

gregation,  being  but  27  years  old.  He 
organized  the  first  choir  for  the  con- 
gregation and  sang  in  it  for  15  years 
as  basso. 

MR.  BERTHOLD  LOEWENTHAL. 

In  the  congregational,  charity  and 
social  circles  of  the  Jewish  commun- 
ity, as  well  as  in  the  financial  world, 
municipal  affairs  and  public  life  of 
Chicago  in  general,  the  name  of  Ber- 
thold  Loewenthal  occupies  a  place  of 
honor. 

Mr.  Loewenthal  was  born  in  Mueh- 
ringen,  Wurtemburg,  Germany,  August 
6,  1830.  His  parents  were  Joseph  and 
Yetta  Loewenthal.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  came  to 
America,  and  settled  in  Rock  Island, 
111.,  and  for  two  years,  from  1855  to 
1857,  he  served  as  Alderman  of  that 
town.  In  1863  he  moved  to  Chicago. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  President 
from  October,  1870,  to  January,  1872. 
In  December  of  1871  he  was  elected 
South  Town  Supervisor  on  the  Fire 
ticket  (non  partisan)  and  for  two 
years  he  served  creditably  without 
compensation.  From  1875  to  1882  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Direct- 
ors of  the  Chicago  Public  Library,  es- 
tablishing for  himself  an  excellent  rec- 
ord. From  Sept.  1,  1890  to  Feb.  21, 
1898,  he  was  President  of  the  Interna- 
tional Bank,  when  its  business  was 
transferred  to  the  Continental  National 
bank,  and  he  became  a  director  of  the 
last  named  institution,  a  position 
which  he  continues  to  hold  at  the  pres- 
ent time. 

Mr.  Loewenthal  is  a  member  of  Sinai 
Congregation  and  for  ten  years  he  was 
President  of  the  same,  and  held  the 


THE.  RE.FORM  ADVOCATED 


337 


BERTHOLD  LOEWENTHAL. 

position  of  Director  and  Treasurer  for 
fully  25  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Standard  Club,  and  also  of  this  insti- 
tution, he  was  President  for  two  years. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors of  the  Home  for  Aged  Jews 
and  has  been  its  Treasurer  ever  since 
the  Home  was  organized,  to  the  pres- 
ent day.  He  married  Miss  Nannie 
Kaufman,  and  they  have  two  children, 
a  daughter,  Julia,  the  wife  of  Mr.  A. 
H.  Wolf,  and  a  son,  Julius  W. 

JOSEPH  L.  GATZERT. 

Mr.  Gatzert  was  born  in  Hofheim, 
near  Worms,  May  6,  1836.  His  parents 
were  Abraham  and  Sarah  Gatzert. 
His  ancestral  home  was  at  Alsbach,  in 
the  Rheinish  Palatinate.  He  received 
an  excellent  education  in  his  native 
country.  In  December,  1852,  he  came 
to  America  and  settled  in  Chicago, 
where  he  engaged  in  merchandising, 
and  was  very  successful.  Being  of  a 
charitable  disposition,  a  man  of  tact, 
refinement,  and  possessing  adminis- 
trative ability  to  a  high  degree,  he 
soon  became  a  prominent  figure  in 
Jewish  communal  life  of  Chicago.  He 
early  identified  himself  with  the  Jew- 
ish charities,  rendering  valuable  ser- 
vices to  the  good  cause.  For  his 
faithful  gratuitous  services  as  super- 
intendent he  received  a  highly  artisti- 
cally executed  testimonial  from  the 


J.   L.   GATZERT. 


Board  of  the  United  Hebrew  Relief 
Association.  From  October,  1860,  to 
1862,  he  was  recording  secretary,  and 
from  October,  1864,  to  18(i5,  he  was 
financial  secretary.  From  1873  to 
1874,  and  again  from  1896  to  1898  he 
was  a  director  of  the  charities.  He 
stood  at  the  cradle  of  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion and  was  materially  instrumental 
in  the  successful  development  of  this 
.great  'religious  institution.  In.  <the 
midst  of  men  of  progress  and  enlight- 
enment the  liberal-minded  Mr.  Gat- 
zei't  found  himself  In  a  congenial 
sphere,  and  he  soon  became  the  lead- 
er par  excellence.  The  members  of 
Sinai  recognized  his  superior  ability 
and  gladly  followed  his  brilliant  and 
devoted  leadership.  In  1886  he  was 
elected  president  of  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion and  for  ten  consecutive  years  he 
stood  at  the  helm  guiding  the  craft 
entrusted  to  his  care  with  a  elear 
mind,  faithful  heart,  eagle  eye,  and 
a  master's  hand,  achieving  triumphs 
and  victories  and  covering  Sinai  and 
himself  with  endless  glory.  Repeat- 
edly have  his  business  affairs  com- 
pelled him  to  decline  a  renomination, 
but  he  always  yielded  to  the  will  of  his 
fellow-members  who  were  reluctant 
in  dispensing  with  the  guidance  of  a 
capable  and  successful  leader,  and 
when  in  1896  the  demands  of  his  busi- 
ness became  too  imperative  and  he  was 
forced  to  positively  decline  a  re-elec- 
tion, the  members  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation relinquished  their  claims  with 
strong  disappointment  and  deep  re- 
gret. Highly  complimentary  resolu- 
tions, speaking  of  his  services  to  the 
congregation  in  glowing  terms,  were 
unanimously  passed  at  that  annual 
meeting  and  his  faithful  friend,  Rev. 
Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch,  whose  high  esteem 
Mr.  Gatzert  was  fortunate  to  win, 
ciommiented  in  an  editorial  of  the 
Reform  Advocate  of  April,  1896,  as  fol- 
lows, upon  his  retirement  from  the 
presidency:  "The  voluntary  retire- 
ment from  the  presidency  of  Sinai 
Congregation,  after  a  continuous  in- 
cumbency of  a  decade,  of  Mr.  J.  L. 
Gatzert,  is  an  advent  in  the  history 
of  the  congregation  and  Jewish  com- 
munity calling  for  more  than  a  chron- 
icling note.  Under  Mr.  Gatzert's  care- 
ful guidance,  Sinai  Congregation  has 
in  undisturbed  peace  and  harmony, 
without  beating  of  drums  and  clarion 
blasts  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  its 
upward  path,  growing  in  numbers,  in 
influence,  in  devotion  to  principle,  in 
appreciation  of  its  duties  within  and 
without  Judaism.  In  these  days  of 
'bossism,'  of  revived  arrogance  of 
'Parnassim,'  it  is  a  gratifying  fact 
that  Sinai  and  its  president  and  its 
board  remained  loyal  to  the  tradi- 
tions of  the  best  congregations,  re- 
garding the  rabbi  as  a  fellow-member, 
rather  than  as  a  'hired'  servant.  To 
be  the  successor  of  a  man  of  so  much 
tact  and  such  singleness  of  purpose,  in 
the  presidency,  is  an  honor  which  the 
best  might  prize.  The  writer  of  these 
lines  will  ever  remember  with  more 
than  pleasure,  with  genuine"  pride, 


the  ten  years  of  official  co-operation 
with  his  president  and  friend,  Sinai's 
trusty  representative,  the  true  man 
and  citizen  without  reproach,  Joseph 
L.  Gatzert.  Many  more  years  of  ac- 
tive interest  in  all  that  makes  for 
the  better  life  be  vouchsafed  unto 
him  by  a  kind  Providence." 

Mr.  Gatzert  is  also  a  member  of  -.he 
Standard  Club,  an  officer  of  the  Jew- 
ish Training  School,  and  other  soci- 
eties. He  married,  in  Chicago,  Miss 
Henrietta  Hart,  a  sister  of  Abe  end 
Henry  N.  Hart.  They  have  two 
daughters,  Mrs.  Max  Leopold  and 
Miss  Blanch.  He  made  it  his  highest 
aim  to  give  his  children  a  most  liber- 
al education,  and  has  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  them  numbered  among  the 
brightest  daughters  of  Israel  in  the 
Chicago  community. 

JULIUS    ROSENTHAL. 

Julius  Rosenthal  was  born  on  the 
17th  of  September,  1828,  in  Liedol- 
sheim,  in  the  grand  duchy  of  Baden. 


JULIUS   ROSENTHAL. 

Since  his  12th  year  he  was  a  pupil  of 
the  Lyceum  at  Rastatt.  He  afterwards 
studied  law  at  the  universities  of  Heid- 
elberg and  Freiburg,  with  the  inten- 
tion to  emigrate  to  America  at  the 
completion  of  his  studies. 

In  April,  1854,  he  landed  at  Port- 
land, Maine,  and  went  directly  to  New 
York  City,  where  he  became  a  peddlar 
in  Yankee  notions.  Scarcely  a  few 
months  in  this  country,  he  was  fortun- 
ate in  making  the  acquaintance  of 
Mr.  R.  K.  Swift,  a  prominent  banker  of 
Chicago,  who  took  a  friendly  interest 
in  the  young  man  and  offered  him  a 
position  in  his  business,  and  when  Mr. 
Rosenthal  gladly  accepted,  stating  at 
the  same  time  that  he  lacked  the  neces- 
sary money  to  defray  his  traveling  ex- 
penses from  New  York  to  Chicago,  Mr. 
Swift  advanced  to  this  young  man, 
who  was  a  total  stranger  to  him,  the 
necessary  amount  with  instructions  to 
follow  him  to  Chicago  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. A  week  later,  in  the  beginning 
of  July,  1854,  Julius  Rosenthal  arrived 
in  his  new  home  and»was  installed  in 
his  new  office  in  the  banking  house  of 
Mr.  Swift,  where  he  served  his  employ- 
er honestly  and  faithfully  until  1858. 


338 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


Then  he  gave  up  his  position  and  es- 
tablished an  independent  office  as  a 
conveyancer,  for  which  calling  he 
gained  the  necessary  knowledge  during 
his  work  in  the  bank. 

In  1859  he  became  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  notary  public,  and  pub- 
lic administrator  of  Cook  county,  and 
these  two  offices  he  retained  honorably 
and  to  the  greatest  satisfaction  of  the 
public  for  a  long  time. 

In  the  beginning  of  1860  he  was  ad- 
mited  to  the  bar.  His  first  partner  was 
the  well-known  Chicago  citizen,  Law- 
rence Brentano,  and  he  was  followed 
by  E.  W.  McTomas,  ex-lieutenant  gov- 
ernor of  Virginia,  then  'by  William  A. 
Hopkins  and  finally,  on  the  9th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1866,  by  Mr.  A.  M.  Pence. 

His  fellow  citizens  of  Chicago  held 
him  in  such  high  esteem  and  appre- 
ciated his  thorough  honesty  and  prac- 
ticability that  he  was  elected  to  differ- 
ent positions  of  trust  and  confidence. 
Especially  he  became  prominent  in 
charity  circles.  At  the  time  of  the  fire 
he  was  director  of  the  German  Aid  So- 
ciety, the  United  Hebrew  Relief  Asso- 
ciation and  the  Chicago  Relief  and  Aid 
Society.  Whoever  is  not  familiar  with 
the  work  of  these  associations  will 
hardly  be  able  to  estimate  the  tremen- 
dous effort,  the  hard  work  which  fell 
to  the  lot  of  a  member  of  these  asso- 
ciations during  the  terrible  time  of  the 
year  1871  (the  year  of  the  fire)  and  for 
some  time  after  that.  It  suffices  to  Bay 
that  Julius  Rosenthal  was  a  very  ac- 
tive member  of  these  different  associa- 
tions, and  although  he  himself  was  a 
heavy  loser  he  gladly  sacrificed  his 
time  in  order  to  help  others. 

His  constant  endeavors  to  uplift  the 
religious  spirit  among  his  co-religion- 
ists, to  spread  religious  toleration  and 
emancipation  among  his  Jewish  breth- 
ren, has  contributed  much  to  bring 
about  the  better  conditions  now  pre- 
vailing in  the  midst  of  the  Chicago 
Jewish  community.  He  took  a  very 
active  part  in  the  work  of  the  Russian 
Refuge  Society  established  by  the  Chi- 
cago Jews  in  the  'beginning  of  the  '90s 
for  the  purpose  of  assisting  the  unfor- 
tunate exiled  Russian  Jews  who  came 
to  seek  homes  here,  bereft  of  their 
means  and  possessions  by  the  iron 
hand  of  tyranny. 

His  wisdom,  humanity,  learning  and 
practicability  were  of  great  service  to 
the  community. 

In  the  year  1867  he  was  elected  li- 
brarian of  the  Chicago  Law  Institute, 
and  for  nine  years  he  stood  at  his  post 
with  unflagging  energy,  rendering  very 
efficient  services  to  the  institute,  in 
recognition  of  which  he  was  then  elect- 
ed president  of  the  same.  Twice  he  ac- 
complished the  gigantic  task,  first 
when  the  library  was  instituted  and 
then  again  after  the  great  fire,  of  build- 
ing up  a  model  library.  In  April,  1872, 
Mayor  Medill  appointed  him  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  library  board,  and  in  1874 
Mayor  Colvin  extended  his  appoint- 
ment for  three  years  longer. 

Julius  Rosenthal  has  been  a  stanch 
Republican  since  1856.  He  was  the  first 


secretary  in  Chicago  of  the  first  Fre- 
mont Club. 

Mr.  Rosenthal  is  a  great  reader  and 
his  reading  is  done  systematically,  so 
that  he  is  able  to  store  up  in  his  bril- 
liant mind  a  vast  treasure  of  useful 
knowledge.  He  is  a  learned  man  and 
recognized  as  a  deep  thinker. 

As  a  lawyer  he  is  the  possessor  of 
great  legal  knowledge  and  stands  high 
in  the  esteem  of  the  members  of  the 
bar  of  the  entire  state.  He  is  secretary 
of  the  state  examining  board  for  ad- 
mission to  the  bar.  In  probate  and 
real-estate  questions  he  stands  fore- 
most in  his  profession.  He  is  the  pos- 
sessor of  an  extensive  library. 

Mr.  Rosenthal  married  in  the  year 
1856  Miss  Yette  Wolf  of  Chicago.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Sinai  congregation 
and  an  intimate  friend  of  Dr.  Emil  G. 
Hirsch,  the  minister  of  that  congrega- 
tion. He  is  an  indefatigable  worker, 
which  is  the  secret  of  his  success  in  his 
profession. 

His  son  Lessing  is  now  associated 
with  him  as  a  member  of  his  law  firm. 


ALBERT  FISHELL 

ALBERT  FISHELL. 

In  Blowitz,  Bohemia,  on  June  13, 
1844,  a  son  was  born  to  Leopold  Fish- 
ell  and  Rebecca  Fishell,  nee  Gutwil- 
lig,  and  they  gave  him  the  name  of 
Albert.  Leopold  Fishell  was  a  lead- 
ing merchant,  at  one  time  mayor  of 
his  native  city,  and  highly  esteemed 
by  his  fellow-citizens. 

Young  Fishell  was  educated  in  the 
Pilsen  "Real  Schule,"  the  Academy 
of  Commerce  in  Prague,  and  also  at- 
tended a  series  of  lectures  at  the  St. 
Charles  University  in  that  city.  At 
the  age  of  18  (in  1862),  he  began  his 
business  life  as  an  employe  in  the 
manufacturing  department  of  the 
large  banking  and  manufacturing 
establishment  of  L.  Forchheimer 
Sons.  He  remained  there  three 
years,  and  became  manager  of 
the  manufacturing  department.  In 
1865  he  became  manager  of  the  oil 
works  of  Mr.  A.  Hartman,  in  the  cele- 
brated mining  city  of  Kuttenberg, 
Bohemia.  A  year  later  he  determined 
to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  new  world, 
and  removed  to  the  United  States, 


where  he  soon  accumulated  money 
enough  to  begin  business  on  his  own 
account.  Associating  himself  with  a 
Mr.  Loth,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Fishell  &  Loth,  he  opened  a  general 
store  at  Pittsfield,  111.  In  1870  he 
withdrew  from  mercantile  life,  and, 
associated  with  Judge  Atkinson  and 
others,  organized  the  Bank  of  Pike 
County,  of  which  he  was  elected  cash- 
ier, which  office  he  filled  from  June, 
1870,  when  the  bank  was  opened,  un- 
til December,  1883,  when  it  was  com- 
pelled to  make  an  assignment. 

Mr.  Fishell  then  took  a  position 
with  the  New  York  Life  Insurance 
Company  as  general  agent,  at  a  sal- 
ary of  $5,000  per  annum.  The  assets 
of  the  Pike  County  Bank  were  insuf- 
ficient to  pay  the  creditors  in  full,  but 
Mr.  Fishell  paid  the  shortage  out  of 
his  salary  and  every  creditor  of  the 
bank  received  one  hundred  cents  on 
the  dollar,  with  interest. 

During  Mr.  Fishell's  connection 
with  the  New  York  Life  Insurance 
Company  he  was  forced  to  remain 
most  of  his  time  in  Chicago,  where 
he  became  largely  interested  in  real 
estate  transactions,  and  in  connection 
with  some  capitalists  he  consummated 
some  of  the  largest  deals  recorded  in 
Chicago  realty.  At  the  expiration 
of  his  contract  with  the  New  York 
Life  Insurance  Company,  1889,  he  be- 
came \manager  of  the  western  'de- 
partment of  the  United  States  Credit 
System  Company,  which  comprised 
eight  states,  and  through  Mr.  Fish- 
ell's  able  management  has  advanced 
from  a  very  small  beginning  until  it 
has  become  one  of  the  strongest  and 
largest  guarantee  companies  in  this 
country.  In  April,  1890,  Mr.  Fishell 
removed  his  family  to  Chicago,  and 
was  enabled  to  take  the  members  of 
his  household  to  their  own  handsome 
residence  at  3448  Wabash  Avenue. 

Besides  his  interest  in  the  United 
States  Credit  Company  he  had  large 
interests  in  Chicago  real  estate,  the 
Atlas  National  Bank  and  other  enter- 
prises. 

While  a  resident  of  Pittsfield  Mr. 
Fishell  was  very  prominent  in  edu- 
cational and  literary  matters.  The 
Pittsfleld  Public  Library  was  founded 
largely  through  his  exertions,  and  for 
several  years  he  was  president  of  the 
library,  and  also  of  the  Board  of  Ed- 
ucation. He  was  also  county  com- 
missioner, city  treasurer  and  treas- 
urer of  the  school  board  at  different 
times.  In  politics  he  has  always  been 
a  democrat  and  has  at  various  times 
represented  his  district  in  the  several 
political  conventions  throughout  the 
state. 

Mr.  Fishell  firmly  believes  that  Ju- 
daism must  be  progressive.  He  is  a 
radical  reformer  and  a  member  of  Si- 
nai Congregation.  In  April,  1896,  he 
was  elected  president  of  said  Congre- 
gation and  held  the  office  for  three 
consecutive  terms,  to  the  highest  sat- 
isfaction of  the  Congregation,  and  is 
now  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors. 


THE.  RE.FORM  ADVOCATE, 


339 


On  October  8,  1870,  Mr.  Fishell  was 
married  to  Miss  Annie  Sicher,  of  St. 
Louis.  They  have  five  children,  Elk- 
ins  Washington,  Daniel  Webster,  Leo 
K.,  Regina  S.,  and  Josephine  ').  The 
oldest  son  is  a  practicing  dentist,  one 
of  his  sons  is  a  lawyer  in  Chicago, 
and  the  third  son  is  in  the  manufac- 
turing business  in  the  same  city.  His 
daughter,  Regina,  is  the  wife  of  I. 
L.  Libermann. 

Mr.  Fishell  has  devoted  much  of 
his  time  and  money  in  aiding  the 
Russian  refugees.  He  was  a  director 
of  the  Russian  Refugee  Society  of 
this  city  and  has  helped  to  make  mary 
good  citizens. 

Mr.  Fishell's  record  throughout  his 
entire  career  is  thoroughly  American. 
In  religion  and  politics  his  ideas  are 
most  liberal;  he  believes  implictly  in 
.the  great  principles  of  American  lib- 
erty, free  thought  and  free  speech. 


brew  Charities.  Kis  wife  was  a  Miss 
Carrie  Vogel,  and  two  children,  Ida 
and  Elbin  are  now  living. 


AUGUSTUS  BINSWANGER. 

AUGUSTUS  BINSWANGER. 

Mr.  Binswanger  is  a  son  of  Emanuel 
and  Elsie  Seligman  Binswanger,  and 
was  born  in  Baltimore  County,  Mary- 
land, Jan.  19,  1844.  He  received  his 
early  education  in  the  private  schools, 
later  attending  Yale  university.  Mr. 
Binswanger  lived  in  St.  Louis  from 
Oct.,  1867  to  Oct.,  1888,  and  while  there 
attained  prominence  in  his  profession 
as  attorney.  He  is  considered  an  able 
lawyer,  is  a  fluent  talker  and  is  an 
honor  to  the  profession  which  he  has 
chosen  for  his  calling.  Always  a  busy 
man  he  has  taken  the  time  to  identify 
himself  with  Jewish  institutions  and 
organizations.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  United  Hebrew  Relief 
Association  of  St.  Louis,  and  of  the  Old 
People's  Home  of  that  city.  He  was 
secretary  of  the  former  for  13  years, 
and  of  the  latter  for  five  years,  and  was 
lor  many  years  a  director  of  the  Con- 
gregation Shaare  Emeth.  Since  his  re- 
moval to  Chicago  in  1888,  he  has  con- 
tinued in  his  profession,  meeting  with 
marked  success.  Mr.  Binswanger  has 
taken  an  active  interest  here  in  charit- 
able and  congregational  affairs  and 
•was  director  and  recording  secretary 
of  Sinai  Congregation  and  has  also 
been  identified  with  the  United  He- 


LEON  MANDEL. 

MR.  LEON  MANDEL. 

Mr.  Leon  Mandel  is  a  son  of  Frank 
and  Caroline  Klein  Mandel  and  was 
born  in  Kervenheim,  Bavaria,  in  1841. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  dry  goods  firm 
of  Mandel  Bros.,  and  is  one  of  the  pub- 
lic spirited  citizens  of  this  city.  His 
gift  of  $75,000  to  the  Chicago  Univer- 
sity is  only  one  of  the  public  acts  with 
which  he  has  been  credited.  Mr.  Man- 
del  is  vice-president  of  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion in  which  he  has  always  taken  an 
active  interesf.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Standard  Club  and  is  married  to  Belle 
Foreman.  Mr.  Mandel  is  a  liberal  con- 
tributor to  all  of  the  charities  and  is  an 
honored  and  respected  member  of  this 
community. 

MR.  HARRY  HART. 

Mr.  Hart  was  born  in  Eppelsheim, 
Rhenish  Hessia,  Feb.  17th,  1850.  His 
parents  were  Jacob  and  Minnie  Hart. 
In  1858  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  and  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Chicago.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  wholesale  cloth- 
ing firm  of  Hart,  Schaffner  &  Marx. 
He  is  vice-president  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation and  a  member  of  the  Standard 


and  Hamilton  Clubs,  a  director  of  the 
Home  for  Aged  Jews  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Associated  Jewish  Chari- 
ties of  Chicago.  He  married  Miss  Ad- 
die  Klein  of  Chicago,  now  deceased. 
Six  children  were  born  to  them,  four 
of  whom  are  living — Mrs.  Louis  H. 
Kohn,  Mrs.  William  Lowenbach,  Lillie 
and  Jacob. 

The  extensive  business  interests  of 
Mr.  Hart  do  not  prevent  him  from  de- 
voting much  time  and  attention  to  the 
work  of  charity  and  congregational 
affairs,  and  in  the  councils  of  the  Jew- 
ish communal  institutions  his  practical 
suggestions  and  business  methods  are 
readily  heeded  and  willingly  followed. 

BERNHARD   MERGENTHEIM. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Chicago, 
Mr.  Bernhard  Mergentheim  may  be 
mentioned,  as  he  arrived  in  this  city 
in  1856,  although  he  had  been  a  resi- 
dent of  America  since  1848.  Born  in 
Luebbeck,  Westphalia,  December  25, 
1825,  his  ancestral  home  being  Mergen- 
theim, Germany,  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try when  a  young  man  23  years  old. 
His  parents  were  Aaron  Mergentheim 
and  Pauline  (Luerbach)  Mergentheim. 


HARRY  HART. 


BERNHARD  MERGENTHEIM. 

After  coming  to  Chicago  he  engaged  in 
the  leather  business  which  was  his  vo- 
cation, until  his  retirement  a  few  years 
ago.  Mr.  Mergentheim  has  been  prom- 
inently identified  with  charitable,  re- 
ligious and  social  organizations,  hav- 
ing been  secretary  for  twelve  years, 
treasurer  seven  years  and  chairman  of 
the  house  committee  for  three  years  of 
Sinai  Congregation.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Standard  Club  and  has  been  a 
director,  and  has  also  been  a  member 
of  the  board  of  United  Hebrew  Chari- 
ties. He  married  Bettie  Hirsch  and 
has  five  children  living,  Aaron,  Moses 
B.,  Mrs.  Ida  Caspary,  Mrs.  Emma  Loeb 
and  Mrs.  Ella  Seligman.  He  is  one  of 
Chicago's  retired  and  venerated  busi- 
ness men. 

MR.  LEO  FOX. 

Mr.  Fox  was  born  in  Oettingen,  Ba- 
varia, Feb.  2,  1844,  and  his  parents' 
names  are  Moritz  and  Babetta  Fuchs. 
He  was  educated  at  the  public  schools 


340 


REFORM  ADVOCATE, 


LEO  FOX. 

of  his  native  town.  At  the  age  of  13 
he  came  to  America,  and  settled 
in  Oregon.  He  was  a  merchant  and 
then  a  woolen  manufacturer.  He  came 
to  Chicago  in  1887,  and  was  elected 
Vice-President  of  the  International 
Bank,  which  liquidated  several  years 
ago.  After  the  affairs  of  the  bank  were 
wound  up,  Mr.  Fox  retired  from  busi- 
ness. He  is  a  member  of  Sinai  Congre- 
gation, and  has  been  one  of  the  direct- 
ors for  ten  years.  He  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Standard  and  Sunset  Clubs.  He 
is  Treasurer  of  the  Jewish  Training 
School,  to  which  office  he  was  elected 
ten  years  ago.  He  was  Director  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities,  and  Treas- 
urer of  Congress  of  Religions.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Ella  Liebenstein. 

JOS.  S.  HARTMAN. 

Mr.  Hartman  is  a  native  of  Bohemia, 
where  he  was  born  Aug.  30,  1846.  He 
is  a  son  of  Simon  and  Ludmilla  Hart- 
man and  received  his  early  education 
in  the  schools  of  his  native  country. 
He  came  to  America  April  1,  1867,since 
which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in 
various  civic  occupations,  such  as 
teacher,  bookkeeper  and  traveling 
salesman.  He  is  now  senior  member 
of  the  Hartman  Trunk  Company,  one 
of  the  most  prominent  concerns  of  its 
kind  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
Mr.  Hartman  is  actively  interested  in 


JOSEPH  S.  HARTMAN. 


congregational  work  and  is  a  trustee 
and  chairman  of  the  School  Board  of 
Sinai  Congregation.  He  formerly  re- 
sided in  Milwaukee,  coming  to  Chi- 
cago in  1890.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  the  Standard  Club,  of  which 
he  is  an  honored  and  respected  mem- 
ber. His  wife  was  a  Miss  Laura  Heller 
and  they  have  five  children  Jiving — 
Belle,  Sam,  Henry,  Hugo  and  Mildred. 

THE  CONCORDIA  CLUB. 

This  club  was  organized  in  the  be- 
ginning of  1862.  For  several  years  it 
occupied  rootas  in  the  building  on  the 
east  side  of  Dearborn  street,  between 
Washington  and  Madison,  and  subse- 
quently it  moved  to  larger  quarters  in 
the  Lombard  Block,  situated  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Postofflce  building, 
(now  First  National  Bank),  corner 
Dearborn  and  Monroe  Streets,  until  the 
building  was  burned  in  1871.  Mr.  Hen- 
ry Greenebaum  was  the  first  president 
and  Joseph  Frank  the  first  secretary. 
The  club  had  a  regular  course  of  lec- 
tures, vocal  and  instrumental  concerts, 
a  well  conducted  amateur  stage  and 
reading  room.  Hops  and  full  dress 
balls  were  frequently  given.  Their 
puerim-masquerades  were  magnificent 
affairs.  The  Club  maintained  a  liberal 
policy  in  granting  the  use  of  its  hall 
to  different  Jewish  societies  for  meet- 
ings, social  gatherings  and  entertain- 
ments. It  fostered  patriotism  in  the 
hearts  of  its  members  during  the  war, 
cultivated  a  public  spirit  and  with  ?he 
assistance  of  the  Jewish  non-members, 
it  raised  a  company  of  volunteers  for 
service.  The  company  was  sworn  in  in 
the  hall  of  the  club;  elected  Jacob  La 
Salle  captain,  and  M.  Frank  lieuten- 
ant, and  marched  from  the  club  with 
banner  and  music  to  the  Chicago  & 
.Alton  railroad  depot  on  their  departure 
for  Camp  Butler,  near  Springfield,  to 
be  incorporated  in  the  82nd  Ills.,  Fred 
Hecker,  Colonel,  who  was  succeeded  in 
command  by  Col.  Ed.  S.  Solomon. 

The  club  aided  materially  in  the 
raising  of  the  means  for  the  establish- 
ment of  the  first  Jewish  hospital  in 
Chicago. 

The  fire  having  destroyed  all  the 
central  portion  of  the  city  and  the 
"Standard"  having  already  been  organ- 
ized to  meet  a  demand  south  of  12th 
Street,  the  "Concordia"  was  not  reor- 
ganized after  the  fire. 

Mr.  Silberman,  one  of  the  presidents 
of  Concordia  Club,  was  formerly  May- 
or of  Port  Washington  and  a  state 
senator  in  Wisconsin. 

ZION    CONGREGATION. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in 
the  summer  of  1864.  It  held  first  di- 
vine service  on  the  eve  of  Rosh  ha- 
Shanah  5625  (September  30th,  1864). 

The  first  house  of  worship  was  lo- 
cated on  Desplaines  Street,  between 
Madison  Street  and  Washington  Boule- 
vard. Before  that  it  occupied  a  Baptist 
Church  on  the  West  Side. 

The  first  executive  officers  of  the 
congregation  were:  Henry  Greene- 
baum, president;  David  Simon,  vice- 


president;  Joseph  Haas,  treasurer; 
and  Moses  Rubel,  secretary.  Dr. 
B.  Felsenthal  was  the  first  Rabbi 
of  the  congregation.  His  sermons  were 
delivered  principally  in  the  German 
language  and  occasionally  in  the  ver- 
nacular. 

From  the  start  Dr.  Einhorn's  Ger- 
man prayer  book,  "Olath  Tamid,"  was 
adopted  by  the  congregation  as  its 
ritual  and  the  same  is  still  used  by  the 
congregation  today. 

In  1869  the  congregation  sold  its 
temple  and  purchased  a  lot  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Sangamon  and  Jackson  streets 
and  erected  thereon  a  new  temple.  It 
was  the  first  and  only  reform  congre- 
gation on  the  West  Side.  The  Jewish 
population  of  Chicago  increased  very 
rapidly  and  many  prominent  Jews 
moved  from  the  south  to  the  West 
Side.  A  number  of  them  joined  ZIon 
Congregation  and  it  was  very  prosper- 
ous and  became  influential.  Under  the 
superintendency  of  Dr.  Felsenthal  the 
congregation  built  up  an  excellent  Sab- 
bath school,  which  was  attended  by 
about  150  pupils.  One  of  the  most 
faithful  and  enthusiastic  teachers  of 


ZION  TEMPLE. 

that  school  was  Mrs.  J.  W.  Strauss,  a 
convert  to  Judaism.  Mrs.  Strauss  en- 
tered with  her  heart  and  soul  into  Jew- 
ish life  and  made  it  her  special  aim  to 
post  herself  in  the  teachings  of  Juda- 
ism and  to  become  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted with  the  Jewish  history  of 
the  Jewish  people.  In  the  school  room 
she  developed  a  remarkable  zeal  and 
ability.  The  work  was  a  labor  of  love 
with  her  and  her  influence  upon  the 
children  was  always  beneficial.  She 
instructed  for  a  number  of  years  and 
her  services  were  recognized  and  ap- 
preciated by  the  entire  congregation. 
She  was  highly  beloved  and  respected. 
Tributes  which  she  fully  deserved. 
Mrs.  Strauss  is  still  living  in  Chicago, 
but  we  are  sorry  to  state  .that  since  a 
number  of  years  she  has  been  a  con- 
firmed invalid.  Two  of  her  daughters, 
Misses  Carrie  and  Nona,  also  instruct- 
ed classes  at  the  Zion  Sabbath  school 
until  they  married.  Other  teach- 
ers of  that  Sabbath  school  were  the 
late  Mr,  Francis  Kiss,  who  afterwards 
became  superintendent  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Relief,  and  who  died  in  Chi- 


THE  REIKORM  ADVOCATED 


341 


cago  on  Monday,  April  29th,  1901.  Mr. 
Edward  Rubovitz,  well  known  in 
B'nai  Brith  circles  of  District  No.  6, 
the  successor  of  his  late  father-in-law, 
Mr.  Kiss,  as  superintendent  of  the 
United  Hebrew  Charities,  also  was 
teacher  of  the  Zion  Sabbath  school  for 
a  number  of  years.  Mr.  H.  Eliassof 
was  for  ten  years  from  1873  to  1883, 
assistant  to  Dr.  Felsenthal  in  the 
school  room,  and  for  many  years  as 
reader  in  the  Temple.  Miss  Miriam 
Del  Banco,  the  well-known  poet,  also 
instructed  in  the  Sabbath  school  for  a 
number  of  years. 

In  1885  the  congregation  built  in  one 
of  the  choicest  locations  of  the  West 
Side,  corner  Ogden  Avenue  and  Wash- 
ington Boulevard  a  beautiful  temple, 
as  the  old  temple  on  Green  street  had 
become  too  small  for  the  growing  con- 
gregation. During  the  construction  of 
the  new  temple  the  congregation  wor- 
shiped in  a  hall  on  West  Lake  Street. 

In  1884  Rabbi  Max  Heller,  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Hebrew  Union  College  of 
Cincinnati,  was  elected  associate  rabbi 
to  Dr.  Felsenthal.  He  remained  with 
the  congregation  for  about  two  years. 
Dr.  Heller  is  now  Rabbi  of  the  congre- 
gation in  New  Orleans,  La. 
In  1886  Dr.  Felsenthal,  on  account  of 
advanced  age,  was  pensioned  for  life 
and  Rabbi  Joseph  Stolz,  also  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Hebrew  Union  college,  was 
elected  his  successor. 

During  all  these  years,  Zion  Congre- 
gation was  one  of  the  most  influential 
and  one  of  the  strongest  numerically 
in  the  city. 

Within  the  last  decade  very  many  of 
its  members  have  moved  to  the  SoutJi 
Side  and  under  the  spiritual  leader- 
ship of  Dr.  Stolz,  who  had  previously 
resigned  his  Rabbinate  in  the  Zion 
Congregation,  organized  a  new  congre- 
gation under  the  name  of  "Isaiah." 
Zion  Congregation  suffered  consider- 
ably from  this  exodus  of  its  best  mem- 
bers to  the  South  Side.  For  two  years 
Dr.  Emil  G.  Hirsch  of  Sinai  Teple  oc- 
cupied the  pulpit  of  Zion  Congregation 
on  Friday  evenings,  and  Rabbi  Joseph 
K.  Arnold  officiated  as  his  assistant  on 
Sabbath  mornings.  Rabbi  Arnold  then 
took  full  charge  of  the  Rabbinical 
office  and  continued  as  Rabbi  of  Zion 
Congregation  for  two  years,  when  he 
resigned  his  position. 

The  present  incumbent,  Dr.  Jacob 
S.  Jacobson,  was  elected  his  successor 
in  September,  1900. 

Divine  services  are  held  regularly  on 
Sabbaths  and  holidays.  The  Sabbath 
School  is  under  the  superintendency  of 
Dr.  Jacobson,  and  he  is  assisted  by  five 
teachers.  About  one  hundred  children 
are  in  attendance. 

Among  the  earliest  members  of  Zion 
Temple  were  as  far  as  we  can  ascertain 
their  names,  the  following:  Henry 
Greenebaum,  S.  Solomon,  J.  W. 
Strauss,  David  Simon,  L.  J.  Unna,  Ja- 
cob Schram,  Herman  F.  Hahn,  Adolph 
Kraus,  M.  M.  Hirsch,  S.  Daniels,  L. 
Buxbaum  and  Edward  Rubovits;  also 
the  late  Samuel  Powell,  Joseph  Haas, 
Moses  Rhineman,  Isaac  Weichsel,  the 


Rubel  family,  Meyer  Hirsch,  Herman 
Felsenthal,  Jacob  Greenebaum,  Jr., 
Abraham  Wise,  Michael  and  Isaac 
Greenebaum,  S.  Birkenstein,  Roths- 
child, J.  Stein  and  Jabob  Greenhut. 
David  Simon  and  M.  M.  Hirsch  held 
the  office  of  president  for  many  years. 

The  present  officers  of  the  congrega- 
tion are:  R.  Gerber,  President;  L.  W. 
Abt,  first  vice-president;  Jacob 
Schram,  second  vice-president;  Adolf 
Stein,  treasurer;  E.  Levit,  secretary, 
and  the  following  board  of  directors: 
Louis  Schram,  Harry  Berger,  E.  Harz- 
feld,  J.  W.  Strauss,  A.  Block,  Ben  Katz, 
Bernhard  Stein,  Meyer  Eichengreen. 

The  Woman's  Society  of  Zion  Tem- 
ple, organized  for  purposes  of  social 
culture  among  the  general  membership 
of  the  congregation  and  their  friends, 
is  composed  nearly  of  one  hundred 
members,  and  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. The  Society  gives  regular 
monthly  literary,  musical  and  social 
entertainments.  Its  officers  are:  Mes- 
dames  Adolf  Stein,  president;  N.  Her- 
zog,  vice-president;  K.  Eichengreen, 
treasurer,  and  Rabbi  Jacobson,  Hon- 
orary Secretary. 


REV.  JACOB  S.  JACOBSON. 


REV.  JACOB  SAMUEL  JACOBSON. 
ZION  TEMPLE. 

Rev.  Jacobson  was  born  in  Rends- 
berg,  Schleswig-Holstein,  October  4, 
1840.  His  parents  were  Samuel  and 
Caroline  Jacobson,  natives  of  Schles- 
wig-Holstein. .  He  received  his  educa- 
tion abroad,  and  was  a  teacher  at 
Flensburg  1862-1863,  coming  to  Am- 
erica in  1865.  In  1866  he  was  elected 
Rabbi  of  the  Washington  Hebrew  Con- 
gregation at  Washington,  D.  C.,  where 
he  remained  until  1870.  From  1870- 
1872  he  was  Rabbi  of  B'nai  Jeshurum 
Congregation  of  Paterson,  N.  J.,  and 
from  1873-1881  of  B'rith  Scholem  Con- 
gregation of  Easton,  Pa.  He  was  Rab- 
bi of  Congregation  G'miluth  Hesed  of 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  from  1881-1888,  and  of 
Congregation  B'nai  Israel  of  Natchez, 
Miss.,  from  1888-1896.  He  has  recently 
been  elected  Rabbi  of  Zion  Temple,  Og- 
den Ave.  and  Washington  Boulevard. 
Rev.  Jacobson  married  Miss  Rosa  Han- 
nah Ulman  and  has  six  children  living. 


RUDOLPH  GERBER. 

President    Zion    Congregation. 

RUDOLPH  GERBER. 

Mr.  Gerber  is  a  native  of  Prague,  Bo- 
hemia, and  was  born  in  1855.  He  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Judith  Lowe  Gerber, 
is  married  and  has  three  children  liv- 
ing, Jay  J.,  Norman  J.,  and  Judith  J. 
On  arrival  in  this  country  in  1867,  he 
came  direct  to  Chicago,  engaging  in 
the  commission  business,  which  is  his 
present  occupation. 

Mr.  Gerber  has  always  taken  consid- 
erable interest  in  congregational  af- 
fairs, and  was  director  of  Zion  Congre- 
gation for  three  years  and  for  the  past 
four  years  has  been  its  President.  , 

As  a  business  man  he  typifies  one  of 
Chicago's  successful  and  enterprising 
merchants. 

CHICAGO   LODOE   NO.   437,   A.   F.   & 
A.  M. 

Chicago  Lodge  was  instituted  under 
dispensation  in  1864.  .  It  became  neces- 
sary on  account  of  an  unfortunate  dis- 
agreement in  the  old  LaFayette  Lodge, 
No.  18.  While  we  cannot  designate 
this  Masonic  lodge  as  a  strictly  and 
exclusive  Jewish  institution,  yet,  a.a 
mostly  Jews  were  instrumental  in  the 
establishment  of  Chicago  Lodge  and  as 
the  majority  of  its  members  during  all 
the  years  of  its  existence  were  co- 
religionists, we  consider  it  proper  to- 
give  a  short  account  of  this  lodge 
among  the  other  Jewish  institutions  of 
the  state  of  Illinois. 

According  to  a  list  of  officers  from 
the  very  beginning  up  to  the  year  1894, 
published  as  an  addition  to  the  By- 
laws of  Chicago  Lodge,  the  first  wor- 
shipful master  of  this  lodge  was 
Charles  Cohen,  who  continued  in  of- 
fice during  the  years  of  1866  and  1867^ 
and  was  again  elected  to  this  honor- 
able position  in  1878  and  in  1882.  An- 
other co-religionist  who  held  this  hon- 
orable office  seven  different  times,  is 
Adolph  Shire.  Joseph  Spiegel  waa 
elected  five  times  to  this  honorable 
position.  Among  those  who  filled  the 
chair  in  the  east  in  Chicago  lodge  were 
Moses  Shields,  Edward  Rubovits,  Jo- 
seph B.  Schlossman,  Henry  N.  Greene- 
baum, Emanuel  J.  Kohn,  Simon  W. 
Strauss,  Charles  E.  Rothschild,  Benja- 
min I.  Greenebaum,  Mr.  Wilhartz,  Da- 


342 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


vid  Birkenstein,  Julius  B.  Furth,  and 
others.  Since  many  years  ago  Mr.  Na- 
than Hefter  has  been  the  efficient  sec- 
retary of  Chicago  Lodge.  Many  of  the 
best  and  most  permanent  members  of 
the  Jewish  community  of  Chicago  and 
vicinity  have  joined  Chicago  Lodge, 
and  quite  a  number  of  our  leading 
Jews  are  today  active  members  of  the 
same  organization. 

This  institution  has  sustained 
through  the  many  years  of  its  exist- 
ence a  bright  record  of  noble  deeds  of 
charity. 

Mr.  Charles  Cohen,  who  has  taken  a 
considerable  interest  in  the  workings 
of  the  Masonic  order,  is  considered  an 
authority  on  Masonic  lodge  law.  He 
is  frequently  consulted  by  members 
and  is  always  ready  to  lend  his  assist- 
ance in  the  preparation  for  and  con- 
ferring of  the  degrees.  The  lodge  has 
always  highly  esteemed  Brother  Cohen 
and  has  on  several  occasions  manifest- 
ed its  great  appreciation  of  his  ser- 
'vices. 

THE  NORTH   SIDE  HEBREW  CON- 
GREGATION. 

In  the  year  1867  the  necessity  became 
apparent  of  having  a  Jewish  congrega- 
tion on  the  North  Side.  Thirty-two 
enthusiastic  Israelites  banded  together 
and  formed  the  North  Side  Hebrew 
Congregation.  They  leased  a  lot  on 
Superior  Street,  near  Wells  street,  and 
erected  thereon  a  frame  synagogue,  an 
unpretentious  building,  but  sufficient 
for  the  wants  of  the  congregation,  both 
as  a  house  of  worship  and  a  place  for 
the  religious  education  of  the  young. 

The  following  were  among  the 
founders  of  the  congregation:  M.  Eis- 
endrath,  B.  Gradle,  Wolf  Levy,  Samuel 
Glickauf,  Julius  Jonas,  N.  M.  Plotke,  S. 
Swartchild,  P.  Weinred. 

Among  the  founders  living  in  other 
parts  of  the  city  and  belonging  to  sis- 
ter congregations,  who  joined  the 
North  Side  Hebrew  Congregation  to 
lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  young  or- 
ganization were:  Nathan  Eisendrath, 
Henry  Regensburg,  Michael  Cohen.  S. 
Dreschfield,  H.  Friedman,  Cossman 
Eisendrath  and  Herman  Goldsmidt. 

On  the  27th  of  September,  1867,  the 
little  temple  was  dedicated  by  the  Rev. 
A.  Ollendorff,  who  was  called  to  the 
ministry.  The  cost  of  the  synagogue 
was  $6,000.  Mr.  Moses  Shields  was 
president  and  Mr.  Samuel  Glickauf 
treasurer. 

After  two  years  service  Rev.  Ollen- 
dorff severed  his  connection  with  the 
congregation.  For  a  year  the  congre- 
gation was  without  a  rabbi  and  some  of 
the  members,  as  Mr.  Nathan  Eisen- 
drath, Mr.  Moses  Eisendrath,  and 
others,  officiated  at  divine  service.  In 
1870  Rev.  A.  Norden  was  called  from 
Baltimore  and  took  charge  of  the  con- 
gregation. He  delivered  his  inaugural 
sermon  on  the  17th  of  October  of  that 
year. 

On  that  eventful  night,  from  the  8th 
to  the  9th  of  October,  1871,  when  Chi- 
cago was  visited  by  that  terrible  con- 
flagration, the  entire  North  division 


fell  a  prey  to  the  raging  element.  The 
little  temple  was  laid  in  ashes;  the 
members  became  homelesss  and  scat- 
tered all  over  the  city.  The  minister 
was  obliged  to  seek  another  field  of 
activity.  He  found  a  congenial  con- 
gregation in  Natchez,  Miss.  The  sum 
of  $800,  the  balance  in  the  treasury  at 
the  time  of  the  fire,  was  kept  as  a 
trust  fund  by  Mr.  Samuel  Glickauf. 

The  North  Division  was  slowly  re- 
built. The  old  north  side  pioneers  re- 
turned again  to  their  quarters.  In  1875 
Messrs.  Samuel  Glickauf,  Jacob  Glick- 
auf and  H.  A.  Kaufmann  deemed  it  op- 
portune to  reorganize  the  congrega- 
tion. An  appeal  was  issued,  a  meeting 
held  and  the  re-organization  effected. 
Mr.  Samuel  Glickauf  was  elected  presi- 
dent, and  the  Rev.  A.  Norden  at  the 
time  in  Europe,  was  recalled  to  his  for- 
mer field  of  labor.  For  nine  long  years 
the  congregaton  worshipped  at  different 


a  more  suitable  location.  The  com- 
mittee consisted  of  George  Frank,  S. 
Eichberg,  and  Adolph  Shakman.  To 
their  indefatigable  zeal  it  is  due  that 
the  congregation  has  erected  a  temple 
on  one  of  the  best,  most  suitable  and 
most  valuable  sites  of  the  north  divis- 
ion of  the  city,  corner  LaSalle  Avenue 
and  Goethe  Street.  The  purchase 
price  of  the  lot  was  about  $25,000,  and 
the  temple  building  incurred  an  addi- 
tional cost  of  about  $40,000. 

Mention  must  be  made  that  among 
those  who  served  the  congregation  in 
an  official  capacity  were  Messrs.  H. 
Elkan  and  Samuel  Eichberg,  who  held 
the  office  of  president  and  manifested 
great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the 
congregation.* 

At  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the 
present  edifice,  the  officers  of  the  con- 
gregation were  as  follows:  A.  J.  Frank, 
President;  Bernard  Gradle,  vice  presi- 


TEMPLE  OF  NORTH  SIDE  HEBREW  CONGREGATION. 


churches.  In  1882  a  fair  was  held  and 
quite  a  large  sum  was  realized  through 
the  efficient  management  of  the  chair- 
man, Mr.  A.  Shakman,  and  the  general 
interest  taken  by  the  members  of  the 
congregation.  With  the  proceeds  of 
the  Fair  a  lot  was  purchased  an  the 
corner  of  Rush  Street  and  Walton 
Place,  for  the  sum  of  $6,000.  The  first 
story  was  erected  thereon  and  served 
as  a  place  of  worship  for  eight  years. 
This  synagogue  was  dedicated  on  the 
22d  of  August,  1884,  the  Rev.  A.  Nor- 
den delivered  the  dedication  sermon. 
Addresses  were  also  delivered  by  Dr. 
B.  Felsenthal  and  Rev.  A.  Ollendorff. 
Mr.  B.  Gradle  was  president  at  that 
time.  Mr.  Samuel  Glickauf  was  chair- 
man and  Mr.  Adolph  Shakman  was 
secretary  of  the  building  committee. 

After  eight  years  of  occupancy  the 
congregation  did  not  deem  it  prudent 
to  finish  the  building  on  that  lot.  The 
property  was  sold  and  18,500  realized. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  secure 


dent;  E.  C.  Hamburgher,  treasurer; 
Charles  S.  Bloch,  recording  secretary; 
Felix  A.  Norden,  financial  secretary; 
directors,  Henry  Elkan,  David  Roths- 
child, Moses  Kaufman,  August  Yon- 
dorf  and  Louis  Baer.  The  building 
committee  consisted  of:  August  Yon- 
dorf,  Chairman;  George  Frank,  Her- 
man Gradle,  Adolph  Shakman,  Louis 
Baer,  Samuel  Eichberg,  Harry  Pfiaum, 
Rev.  A.  Norden,  Secretary;  S.  S.  Be- 
man,  architect;  H.  S.  Godfrey,  super- 
intendent of  building.  The  member- 
ship at  that  time  was  about  120. 

*The  above  facts  concerning  the 
North  Side  Hebrew  Congregation  we 
copied  from  a  brief  historical  sketch 
prepared  in  the  year  1894  by  the  Rab- 
bi of  the  Congregation,  Rev.  A.  Nor- 
den, assisted  by  the  late  Mr.  Samuel 
Glickauf  and  Rev.  A.  Norden.  A  copy 
of  this  sketch  was  deposited  among 
other  documents  in  the  corner  stone  of 
the  temple,  when  it  was  being  built. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


34  a 


Ever  since  the  reorganization  In 
1875  the  congregation  enlisted  under 
the  banner  of  Reform  Judaism.  Its  rit- 
ual is  "Minhag  Einhorn." 

To  the  great  fire  of  1871,  it  may  be 
attributed  that  the  congregation  had  to 
endure  an  unenviable  fate.  It  has  to 
lead  a  sort  of  nomadic  existence,  wan- 
dering from  church  to  church,  depend- 
ing upon  ajid  enjoying  the  kind  hospi- 
tality of  our  Christian  friends. 

In  1898  Rev.  A.  Norden,  Rabbi  of  the 
Congregation,  was  pensioned  and  Rev. 
Abraham  Hirschberg,  a  graduate  of  the 
Hebrew  Union  College  of  Cincinnati, 
was  elected  his  successor. 

The  Congregation  maintains  a  Sab- 
bath School  with  an  attendance  of 
about  175  children. 

During  the  many  years  of  its  exist- 
ence the  North  Side  Hebrew  congrega- 
tion has  accomplished  much  good 
among  the  Jews  of  the  North  Division 
of  the  city.  Its  labors  in  the  interest 
of  a  progressive  Judaism  fully  deserve 
the  prosperity  which  it  now  enjoys, 
and  the  full  support  of  their  co-relig- 
ionists who  have  made  their  homes  on 
the  North  Side. 

The  present  officers  are  A.  I.  frank, 
President;  E.  R.  Weil,  Vice  President; 
S.  Eichberg,  Treasurer;  H.  Seligman, 
Recording  Secretary;  L.  J.  Strauss, 
Financial  Secretary.  Trustees:  David 
Berkenstein,  H.  Elkan,  A.  Yondorf,  F. 
Griesheimer,  E.  C.  Hamburgher  and  L. 
Baer.  Members  and  seatholders  num- 
ber about  165.  It  owns  a  plat  of  ground 
in  Rosehill  cemetery  which  it  uses  for 
burial  ground  purposes. 

The  Auxiliary  Societies  of  the  North 
Chicago  Hebrew  Congregation  are 
Young  Peoples  Union  and  Baron 
Hirsch  Ladies  Aid  Society.  The  pres- 
ent officers  of  the  latter  are:  President, 
Mrs.  H.  Lewis,  Vice-President,  Mrs.  C. 
L.  Lowenthal  and  Mrs.  H.  Friedman; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  H.  Roth;  Secretary, 
Mrs.  L.  L.  Aaronson.  This  Society  is 
affiliated  with  the  United  Hebrew  Char- 
ities. 

LEADERS  OF  THE  NORTH  CHICA- 
GO HEBREW  CONGREGATION. 

RABBI  A.  NORDEN. 

Reverend  Aaron  Norden  was  born  in 
Lissa,  Prussian  Province  of  Posen, 
June,  8,  1844.  He  attended  the  Ele- 
mentary Schools  and  Gymnasium  in 
his  native  town.  His  early  Rabbinical 
education  he  received  from  Rabbi 
Hirsch.  A  barbanel.Rabbi  of  Lissa,  and 
of  Rabbi  Elias  Gutmacher,  of  Graetz. 
Rabbi  Norden  came  to  America  in  1865, 
and  until  1869  he  was  assistant  to  Dr. 
H.  Hochelmer,  in  Baltimore,  Maryland. 
In  that  year  he  accepted  a  call  to  the 
North  Chicago  Hebrew  Congregation, 
came  to  Chicago  and  remained  with 
them  until  1898.  Since  that  time  he  is 
Rabbi  Emeritus,  of  that  Congregation. 

Rabbi  Norden  was  interested  in 
charity  work  and  during  the  many 
years  of  his  connection  with  the  North 
Chicago  Hebrew  Congregation  he  ac- 
complished much  good.  He  has  always 
been  prominent  in  B'nai  B'rith  circles, 
and  served  one  term  as  President  of 


District  No.  6,  I.  O.  B.  B.  He  also 
officiated  as  secretary  of  the  Russian 
Refugee  Society,  and  of  the  Covenant 
Culture  Club.  He  is  the  present  secre- 
tary of  the  Rabbinical  Association  of 
Chicago  and  is  actively  engaged  in  the 
good  work  of  aiding  the  Roumanian 
Jews,  who  are  driven  to  our  shores  by 
the  inhumanity  of  the  Roumanian  Gov- 
ernment. 

Reverend  A.  Norden  was  married  in 
1866  to  Rosalia  Gabriel,  of  New  York, 
qnd  they  have  seven  children,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters.  One  of  the 
sons  is  a  practicing  physician  in  Chi- 
cago and  one  of  the  daughters,  Mrs. 
Schlossmann,  is  a  noted  singer,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  choir  of  Sinai  Congregation. 

REV.  ABRAHAM  HIRSCHBERG. 

Rabbi  Hirschberg  was  born  August 
uated  from  the  University  of  Cincin- 
nati, and  from  the  Hebrew  Union  Col- 
lege in  1898,  receiving  the  title  of  B.  A. 
from  the  former  institution,  and  B.  H. 
B.  D.  and  Rabbi  from  the  latter.  In 
the  same  year  he  was  elected  Rabbi  of 
the  North  Chicago  Hebrew  Congrega- 
tion, where  he  has  since  been  preach- 
ing and  teaching  to  the  satisfaction  of 
his  congregation.  He  is  also  a  post 
graduate  student  of  the  University  of 
Chicago. 

Rabbi  Hirschberg  is  the  secretary  of 
the  Home  for  Aged  Jews.  He  is  a 
young  man  of  talent  and  promise. 


REV.  ABRAM  HIRSCHBERG. 
Present  Rabbi  of  N.  C.  H.  C. 

ABRAHAM  I.  FRANK. 

Mr.  Fraak  was  born  in  Zuvalck,  Po- 
land, April  19,  1838,  and  is  the  son  of 
Levi  and  Amelia  Frank.  He  came  to 
America  in  1851,  and  has  been  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  this  city  for 
many  years.  He  has  been  very  active 
in  congregational  work  and  is  at  pres- 
ent president  of  the  North  Chicago  He- 
brew Congregation.  -He  Is  also  a  di- 
rector of  the  Ideal  Club  and  a  contribu- 
tor to  the  Associated  Charities.  Mr. 
Frank  is  married  and  has  three  chil- 
dren living,  Mannie,  Le  Roy  and  Syd- 
ney. 


ABRAHAM  I.  FRANK. 
President  N.  C.  H.  C. 


FIRST  JEWISH  CLUB. 

THE    STANDARD    CLUB. 

Of  all  the  Jewish  Clubs  of  Chicago 
to-day,  the  Standard  is  the  oldest,  most 
prominent  and  most  influential.  It 
was  organized  April  4,  1869,  and  on 
July  7th  of  the  same  year  it  was  incor- 
porated as  the  Standard.  It  started 
with  69  members  and  held  its  meetings 
at  Brunswick's  Hall,  on  Washington 
street,  between  Clark  and  La  Salle 
streets.  In  February,  1870,  the  club 
rented  and  occupied  the  building  espe- 
cially erected  for  it,  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  Michigan  Avenue  and  Thir- 
teenth street.  After  the  great  fire  of 
1871  General  Sheridan  took  possession 
of  the  house  and  for  several  weeks  es- 
tablished therein  the  headquarters  of 
the  Federal  troops  sent  here  to  main- 
tain order.  Upon  their  removal  the 
building  was  seized  by  the  relief  so- 
ciety, and  it  was  finally  arranged  that 
the  entire  premises  with  the  exception 
of  the  basement  and  ballroom,  which 
were  retained  for  club  purposes  be  let 
to  them  for  one  year. 

With  the  membership  growing  be- 
yond the  capacity  of  the  quarters,  the 
club  in  February,  1889,  moved  into  its 
own  home,  the  present  building  at  the 
southwest  corner  of  Michigan  Avenue 
and  Twenty-fourth  street.  On  Febru- 
ary 14,  1887,  the  old  name  "The  Stand- 
ard," was  given  up.  The  club  was  re- 
organized and  incorporated  under  its 
present  name  "The  Standard  Club  of 
Chicago." 

The  incorportors  are:  Jacob  New- 
man, Louis  B.  Kuppenheimer,  Abra- 
ham G.  Becker,  Joseph  Gerstley,  Alfred 
M.  Snydacker,  Bernhard  Mergentheim, 
Morris  Selz,  Emanuel  Frankenthal, 
Moses  Bensinger,  ^.narles  M.  Leopold 
and  Leopold  Bloom. 

The  first  officers  were:  President, 
E.  Frankenthal;  Vice-President,  L. 
Wampold;  Treasurer,  D.  Stettauer; 
Recording  Secretary,  Philip  Stein;  Fin- 
ancial Secretary,  H.  Goodman;  Direct- 
ors: Joseph  Austrian,  Henry  Frank, 
Gerhard  Foreman  and  J.  B.  Schloss- 
man.  The  present  officers  are:  Edwin 
G.  Foreman,  President;  Alfred  S.  Aus- 
trian, Vice-President;  Benjamin  R. 
Cahn,  Treasurer;  Byron  L.  Glaser 
Secretary.  Directors:  William  N.  Eis- 


344 


THE  REIFORM  ADVOCATE. 


endrath,  Alfred  Oppenheimer,  Joseph 
F.  Hartman,  H.  Abt  and  Milton  L. 
Monhelmer. 

The  "Beefsteak  Club"  forms  a  part 
of  the-  Standard.  The  membership  is 
confined  to  the  members  of  the  Stand- 
ard Club,  and  the  object  of  the  club  is 
to  discuss  at  the  monthly  "Beefsteak" 
dinners  questions  of  interest.  The  or- 
ganization is  a  great  benefit  to  its 
members.  The  spirit  of  democracy  per- 
vades it.  The  Beefsteak  Club  gave  its 
inaugural  "broil"  on  Tuesday  evening 
February  23,  1892,  and  the  following 
officers  presided:  Leo  Wampold,  Louis 
A.  Cohn,  Milton  R.  Weinman  and  a 
board  of  directors,  consisting  of  Milton 
Foreman,  Norman  Florsheim,  Martin 
Calm  and  Henry  Strauss. 

Many  distinguished  persons,  men  of 
national  reputation,  have  been  the 
guests  of  the  Standard  Club  and  many 
famous  speakers  have  addressed  the 
members.  Some  weighty  subjects  of 


the  Sabbath  day  was  sadly  felt  among 
the  Jewish  population  of  that  part  of 
town.  However,  even  those  who  heart- 
ily wished  that  a  congregation  should 
be  established,  lacked  the  confidence 
that  an  undertaking  in  that  direction 
would  succeed,  and,  when  on  Hol-Ha- 
rnoed  Pessach  5633,  the  late  Mr.  M. 
Oesterricher,  together  with  his  broth- 
er-in-law, Mr.  A.  Pam,  went  among  the 
Jewish  inhabitants  of  the  southwest 
side  to  induce  them  to  put  their  names 
to  a  call  for  a  meeting  to  form  a  con- 
gregation, many  a  one,  while  subscrib- 
ing his  name  to  the  paper,  expressed 
his  doubts  as  to  the  possibility  of  car- 
rying into  effect  the  good  intention. 
But  the  work  so  earnestly  undertaken 
was  not  in  vain.  Already,  on  the  7th 
day  of  that  very  Passah  Feast  (March 
13th,  1873),  divine  services  were  held 
in  Klein's  Hall,  corner  14th  and  Hal- 
sted  streets.  A  little  band  of  twenty- 


STANDARD  CLUB. 


municipal  and  even  national  import- 
ance have  been  discussed  at  the 
"broils"  of  the  Beefsteak  Club.  The 
discussions  are  generally  led  by  dis- 
tinguished scholars  and  orators,  who 
are  the  invited  guests  of  the  club. 

CONGREGATION  B'NAI  ABRAHAM. 

Thirty-one  years  ago  (in  1870)  the 
B'nal  Abraham  Congregation  was 
called  into  existence  through  the  ef- 
forts of  a  few  brave  and  enthusiastic 
Jews  of  the  southwest  side  of  our  city, 
who  considered  It  a  sacred  duty  to  es- 
talblish  a  place  of  worship  where  serv- 
ices should  be  held,  not  only  during 
the  fall  holidays,  but  throughout  the 
Sabbaths  and  festivals  of  the  whole 
year.  There  was  at  that  time  no  per- 
manent congregation  on  the  southwest 
side  of  the  city,  and  the  want  of  an 
institution  that  would  afford  the  op- 
portunity to  attend  divine  services  on 


six  men  united  themselves  for  the  pur- 
pose, as  they  expressed  themselves  in 
their  call  for  the  first  meeting,  "to 
hold  divine  service,  to  teach  the  young 
the  tenets  of  Judaism  and  to  practice 
Jewish  charity." 

The  following  first  officers  were 
elected:  Henry  Orthal,  president;  Jos- 
eph Goldberger,  vice-president;  Moritz 
Oesterreicher,  financial  secretary;  H. 
Wolf,  recording  secretary.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Janko  (now  in  his  82d  year,  living 
at  the  Home  for  Aged  Jews  on  Drexel 
boulevard,  and  still  officiating  at  the 
chapel  of  that  institution  on  Friday 
nights,  Saturday  mornings  and  on 
holidays)  conducted  the  services  and 
superintended  the  religious  school  of 
the  congregation. 

Of  the  first  members  of  the  congre- 
gation but  one  is  today  on  the  list  of 
membership.  Trustee  Mr.  Simon  Pick 
is  the  only  one  of  the  starting  mem- 


bers still  active  in  Congregation 
B'nai  Abraham.  Those  who  are  yet 
among  the  living  but  have  removed 
from  the  city  or  from  the  vicinity  are 
A.  Pam,  P.  Olf,  Ignatz  Lederer,  M. 
Heinrich,  J.  Goldtoerger,  Max  Peabody, 
Charles  Guthman,  Joseph  Zuckerman, 
William  Tausig,  Emanuel  Kohn  and 
others.  Of  the  earliest  members  of 
the  congregation  we  mention  Albert 
Weil,  Ignatz  Lurie,  A.  S.  Fischer,  C.  B. 
Hefter  and  Ignatz  Stein. 

The  congregation  worshiped  in  a 
rented  hall;  first  in  Klein's,  then  in 
Westphal's,  on  Halsted  street,  and 
then  again  in  Klein's  hall.  Dur- 
ing the  fall  holidays,  when  -it  was 
found  that  the  hall  was  too  small  to 
hold  all  those  who  desired  to  worship 
with  the  congregation  a  church  was 
secured  for  the  purpose  of  holding 
services. 

When  Mr.  Oesterreicher  was  elected 
president  he  at  once  took  it  upon 
himself  to  build  a  house  of  worship 
for  the  congregation.  The  congrega- 
tion was  small  in  number  and  finan- 
cially quite  weak,  yet  Mr.  Oesterricher 
was  not  dismayed.  He  appointed  a 
committee  to  look  about  for  a  site.  The 
committee  consisted  of  Messrs.  A.  Pam 
and  Charles  Guthman,  with  Mr.  Oes- 
terreicher, ex-offlcio,  as  chairman,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1S76  the  committee 
recommended  the  corner  lot  at  John- 
son and  Wright  streets,  which  the 
congregation  purchased.  The  funds 
were  exhausted  in  paying  for  the  lot, 
and  the  'building  of  the  house  of  wor- 
ship would  of  necessity  have  been  de- 
layed for  some  years  had  it  not  -been 
for  Mr.  Joseph  Stein,  who  at  that  time 
became  treasurer  of  the  congregation. 
Mr.  Stein  declared  himself  ready  to 
advance  the  necessary  funds  if  the 
congregation  should  decide  to  build  at 
once.  This  was  the  incentive  for  im- 
mediate action.  A  building  committee 
was  appointed  consisting  of  Mr.  Joseph 
Stein,  Mr.  Albert  L.  Klein,  Charles 
Guthman,  Ignatz  Lederer,  Adolph 
Weiskopf  and  President  Oesterreicher, 
who  rendered  valuable  services  as  the 
head  of  that  official  committee.  Plans 
for  the  building  were  secured  and  in 
the  spring  of  1877  the  erection  of  a 
synagogue  was  begun.  Mr.  Albert 
Weil  was  elected  .recording  secretary 
and  worked  very  actively  for  the  in- 
terest of  the  congregation. 

The  temple  was  dedicated  on  De- 
cember 2d,  1877,  with  appropriate  cer- 
emonies. 

During  the  next  following  years  the 
congregation  was  very  prosperous, 
gaining  in  membership  and  doing  good 
work  as  a  congregation.  Rev.  Isaac 
Fall  was  called  to  the  pulpit,  and  he 
remained  two  years.  He  was  succeed- 
ed by  the  late  Dr.  Ignatz  Grossman, 
the  father  of  the  two  well-known 
young  rabbis,  Dr.  I.  Grossman  of  Cin- 
cinnati, the  successor  to  the  lamented 
Dr.  I.  M.  Wise,  and  Dr.  Rudolph  Gross- 
man, who  was  first  assistant  to  Dr. 
Kohler  in  the  Beth-El  Temple  of  New 
York,  and  is  now  rabbi  of  Rodef  Sho- 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


345 


TEMPLE   B'NAI  ABRAHAM. 

lorn  congregation  of  the  same  city, 
both  are  graduates  of  the  Hebrew 
Union  College,  Cincinnati.  Dr.  Ignatz 
Grossman  officiated  as  rabbi  of  con- 
gregation B'nai  Abraham  for  five 
years. 

During  this  time  he  labored  suc- 
cessfully as  teacher  and  preach 3r 
among  the  Jewish  population  in  the 
southwest  side  of  the  city. 

In  1881  the  congregation  gave  a 
masque  ball,  by  which  it  raised  $700 
for  the  Michael  Reese  Hospital. 

The  congregation  suffered  a  great 
loss  in  the  demise  of  Joseph  Stein, 
who  died  in  1880.  He  was  succeeded 
as  treasurer  'by  Mr.  Win.  Peabody, 
who  served  in  that  office  until  1883. 

In  the  fall  of  1884  the  congregation 
inaugurated  several  reforms.  A  rad- 
ical change  was  made  in  the  mode  of 
worship.  "Minhag  America"  was  sub- 
stituted for  the  old  ritual.  This  caused 
a  little  stir  at  first,  but  soon  quietness 
and  peace  led  the  congregation  on  the 
way  to  prosperity. 

In  1885  Dr.  Grossman  retired  from 
the  pulpit  of  the  congregation  and  Rev. 
Jacobson  became  his  successor.  Dur- 
ing the  same  year  the  congregation 
.suffered  the  loss  of  its  beloved  pres- 
ident, Mr.  Moritz  Oesterreicher,  who 
was  suddenly  called  to  his  eternal  rest 
on  November  llth,  1886.  He  was  in 
the  elevator  of  his  cracker  factory 
when  the  cable  broke  and  the  elevator 
fell  with  a  crash.  The  heavy  weights 
striking  the  unfortunate  man,  mang- 
ling and  maiming  him  in  a  fearful 
manner.  He  died  shortly  after  the  ac- 
cident. Mr.  Oesterreicher  had  served 
the  congregation  from  the  very  begin- 
ning, and  for  nearly  thirteen  years  as 
president  he  labored  indefatigably 
to  establish  the  congregation  on  a  sure 
and  safe  basis.  In  the  annals  of  con- 
gregation B'nai  Abraham  no  name  will 
tie  remembered  with  greater  love  and 
•esteem  than  the  name  of  Mr.  Oester- 
reicher. As  long  as  B'nai  Abraham 
•will  exist  the  memory  of  this  faithful 


founder  will  be  honored  and  blest. 
During  the  many  years  of  his  office 
as  president  the  following  were  as- 
sociated with  him  as  vice-presidents: 
L.  A.  Klein,  Max  Peabody,  A.  Cohn, 
„  A.  S.  Fischer,  Charles  Guthman,  Wolf 
Lederer,  I.  Guthman  and  C.  A.  Weis- 
senbach.  As  secretaries  there  were 
associated  with  Mr.  Oeserreicher,  Sam 
Stein,  Joseph  Falk,  Edward  Klein.  L. 
Kahnweiler  and  Sig.  Langbein. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Oesterreicher 
Mr.  C.  A.  Weissenbach  became  presi- 
dent of  the  congregation  and  served 
for  three  years  in  that  capacity.  His 
administratiin  was  a  very  prosperous 
one  for  the  congregation. 

In  May  1888  Dr.  A.  R.  Levy  was 
called  to  the  pulpit  of  the  congrega- 
tion. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1889  C.  B. 
Hefter  was  elected  president  of  the 
congregation  and  he  acted  in  this  ca- 
pacity for  two  years.  During  this 
time  the  congregation  purchased  the 
site  on  Marshfleld  avenue,  upon  which 
the  temple  now  stands,  and  the  prop- 
erty on  the  corner  of  Wright  and  John- 
son streets  was  sold.  In  September, 
1891,  I.  S.  Lurie  became  president  of 
the  congregation,  and  he  served  dur- 
ing the  entire  period  when  the  present 
temple  was  being  erected.  The  pres- 
ent temple  was  dedicated  on  the  9th 
of  September,  1892.  The  cost  of  the 
lot  and  building  complete,  with  organ, 
furniture,  carpets  and  hangings  was 
$37,760.00.  Of  this  sum  but  $13,435.00 
had  been  paid  at  the  time,  and  during 
the  following  five  years  the  congre- 
gation has  been  enabled  to  reduce  the 
indebtedness  to  $17,325.00 

Mr.  Charles  Klausner,  who  was 
elected  president  of  the  congregation 
in  1892,  when  the  temple  was  dedi- 
cated, served  the  congregation  for  over 
four  years,  and  to  his  zeal  and  able 
management,  as  well  as  to  the  wiling- 
ness  of  all  the  members  of  the  congre- 
gation, it  was  due  that  the  liquidation 
of  the  sum  of  $7,000.00  of  the  indebt- 
edness was  made  possible  during  the 
times  of  business  stringency  of  which 
the  country  suffered  since  1892.  Mr. 
Klausner  was  succeeded  in  1897  by 
Mr.  Ignatz  Bick. 

The  religious  school  of  the  congre- 
gation held  two  sessions  weekly,  316 
children  were  enrolled  as  pupils.  The 
school  was  divided  Into  eight  classes, . 
the  superintendent,  Dr.  Levy  being  as- 
sisted by  volunteer  teachers.  There 
was  also  a  Hebrew  school  connected 
with  the  congregation,  where  Instruc- 
tion In  Hebrew  reading  and  transla- 
tion was  given  exclusively.  The  con- 
gregation owns  a  cemetery  at  Wald- 
heim.  It  has  two  lady  auxiliary  so- 
cieties— Ladies'  B'nai  Abraham  So- 
ciety and  Sewing  Circle. 

At  the  last  annual  meeting  held  Sun- 
day, January  20th,  1901,  a  very  encour- 
aging report  of  the  executive  board 
was  submitted  to  the  congregation. 
The  congregation  has  been  eminently 
prosperous  in  every  part  of  its  activ- 
ity. The  membership  has  increased 


during  the  past  year,  and  numbers 
now  130  active  members  and  86  seat- 
holders,  a  total  of  224.  The  Income 
for  the  year  has  been  $6,111.70,  and 
the  expenditures  were  $5,148.60,  so  that 
the  treasury  shows  a  balance  of  $963.10, 
almost  a  rare  thing  for  Jewish  con- 
gregations, who,  with  few  exceptions, 
generally  have  the  balance  on  the 
wrong  side  of  the  ledger.  The  Sab- 
bath school  of  the  congregation  has 
on  its  rolls  326  pupils  and  the  at- 
tendance at  the  school  during  the  year 
has  been  eighty  per  cent.  A  "Bible 
Class,"  composed  of  young  people, 
many  of  whom  are  university  gradu- 
ates, is  active  in  the  study  of  Jewish 
history  and  literature,  and  is  doing 
good  work.  The  weekly  Sabbath  ser- 
vices at  the  temple  are  well  attended 
and  the  capacity  of  the  house  of  wor- 
ship is  taxed  to  its  utmost  on  special 
and  holiday  services. 

The  present  officers  are:  President, 
I.  S.  Lurie;  first  vice-president,  J. 
Fantl;  second  vice-president,  S.  Baer; 
recording  secretary,  S.  Klausner: 
financial  secretary,  A.  Steindler; 
treasurer,  .  Chas.  Klausner;  trustees, 
Gustave  Kassowitz,  Sig.  M.  Lederer 
and  Joseph  Hirsch. 

The  good  influence  of  B'nai  Abraham 
congregation  goes  beyond  the  imme- 
diate neighborhood.  It  reaches  even 
the  heart  of  the  Ghetto,  for  although 
Congregation  B'nai  Abraham  is  far 
removed  from  being  an  orthodox  con- 
gregation, and  should  rather  be  count- 
ed among  the  conservative  congrega- 
tions of  Chicago,  many  of  the  Russian 
Jews  frequently  attend  the  services, 
which  fact  cannot  fail  to  wield  a  ben- 
eficial influence. 

LEADERS     OF     B'ri\I      ABRAHAM 
CONGREGATION. 


REV.  DR.  A.  R.  LEVY. 

DR.  A.  R.  LEVY. 

Rabbi  Levy  was  born  at  Beerford, 
Province  of  Starkenburg,  Duchy  of 
Hessia,  October  24th,  1858.  He  began 
at  an  early  age  to  prepare  for  the  min- 
istry. From  1869  to  1873  he  attended 
the  Gymnasium  at  Mayence,  and  stud- 
ied Hebrew  under  Dr.  Lehman,  the 
pillar  of  German-Jewish  orthodoxy  and 


346 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


the  editor  of  the  "Mainzer-Israelite." 
He  lived  one  year  at  Frankfort  on  the 
Main  and  went  to  Berlin  in  1874.  There 
he  entered  the  seminary,  which  was 
then  under  the  directorship  of  Prof. 
Horwitz,  and  graduated  from  that  in- 
stitution in  1876.  For  the  next  two 
years  Rabbi  Levi  was  instructor  in 
the  Preparatory  School  in  connection 
with  the  Rabbinical  Seminary  at  Ber- 
lin, and  while  occupying  that  position 
he  continued  to  study  Rabbinica  at 
the  Seminary. 

Dr.  Levy  officiated  for  one  year  at 
Frankisch  Crumbach,  Hessia-Darm- 
stadt.  In  1879  he  came  to  America 
and  succeeded  Dr.  Fluegel  at  the 
K'nesseth  Israel  Temple  at  Erie,  Pa., 
where  he  remained  for  two  years.  In 
the  fall  of  1881  he  entered  the  Uni- 
versity of  Georgia  at  Athens  and  grad- 
uated with  the  class  of  1884.  His 
thesis  was  on  "Medicine  in  Early 
Times,"  a  succinct  research  into  the 
earliest  times  of  the  science  of  medi- 
cine, dealing  with  the  subject  as  we 
find  it  among  the  Ancient  Egyptians, 
among  the  Hebrews,  the  Greeks  and 
the  Romans. 

The  essay  was  at  the  time  printed 
in  the  University  Journal,  and  has 
since  been  re-printed  twice;  in  the 
Digest's  Journal  of  Philadelphia,  of 
the  year  1884,  and  as  a  supplement  to 
the  report  of  the  Medical  Society  of 
the  State  of  Georgia.  While  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Georgia  University  he  offi- 
ciated before  the  Congregation  B'nal 
Israel  at  Athens,  remaining  with  that 
congregation  until  1885. 

On  June  28th,  1885,  he  married  Miss 
Carrie  Seligman  of  New  Orleans,  and 
from  that  time  until  his  coming  to 
Chicago,  in  May,  1888,  he  lived  in 
Texas  and  officiated  as  rabbi  of  Con- 
gregation Rodef  Scholom  of  Waco. 

In  May,  1888,  he  was  called  to  the 
pulpit  of  B'nai  Abraham  Congrega- 
tion of  Chicago. 

Rabbi  Levy  has  also  written  a  se- 
ries of  articles  on  "The  Development 
of  Written  Language."  His  articles 
were  published  in  the  American  Israel- 
ite during  the  months  of  May,  June 
and  July,  1886. 

The  career  of  Dr.  Levy  in  Chicago 
is  well  known.  He  Is  a  true  friend 
of  the  poor,  diligently  studying  their 
wants  and  always  ready  to  help  to 
the  utmost  of  his  ability.  He  has 
made  charity  his  life's  aim  and  his 
means  and  his  might  are  always  at 
the  service  of  his  poor  brethren,  who 
come  to  him  for  counsel  and  help  in 
all  their  troubles  and  trib_ulatipns.  He 
devotes  much  of  his  time  to  this  kind 
of  work  and  his  house  is  very  fre- 
quently thronged  with  poor  people, 
who  seek  his  aid.  He  willingly  and 
readily  listens  to  their  appeals  and 
always  has  a  kind  word,  a  good  advice 
and  practicable  suggestions  for  every- 
one. He  is  an  enthusiast  on  the  ques- 
tion of  Jewish  farming.  During  the 
influx  of  Russian  Jewish  immigrants 
to  this  country  he  served  for  a  time, 
gratuitously,  as  superintendent  of  the 


Russian  Refugee  Society,  working  with 
great  zeal  and  indefatigable  devo- 
tion for  the  betterment  of  the  condi- 
tion of  the  poor  refugees.  He  succeed- 
ed in  placing  a  number  of  them  on 
farms  and  has  continued  to  take  an 
active  interest  in  their  welfare  up  to 
the  present  time,  helping  them  with 
advice  and  money  whenever  called 
upon  by  his  proteges. 

He  recently  paid  a  personal  visit  to 
a  number  of  farmers  who  mainly 
through  his  instrumentality  were  en- 
abled to  establish  themselves  on  prom- 
ising farms  and  was  happy  to  find  that 
his  labor  in  their  behalf  was  not  in 
vain.  Through  his  efforts  the  Jewish 
Agriculturists'  Aid  Society  of  America 
was  established  in  Chicago,  of  which 
he  is  the  corresponding  secretary.  His 
devotion  to  the  idea  of  Jewish  agricul- 
ture in  America  is  so  deeply  rooted  in 
his  soul  that  his  only  hope  is  to  be 
able  to  retire  to  the  country  as  soon 
as  possible  and  to  make  his  home  in 
the  midst  of  Jewish  farmers,  to  lead 
them  to  success  in  their  agricultural 
pursuit  and  to  guide  them  spiritually 
to  a  better,  purer  and  clearer  under- 
standing of  Judaism.  The  practical 
business  man  may  call  him  a  dreamer, 
a  wild  enthusiast,  but  all  these  epithets 
cannot  wipe  out  the  positive  facts,  the 
real  accomplishments  of  the  so-called 
dreams  of  Rabbi  Levy.  The  results  of 
his  work  speak  for  themselves  if  only 
the  too  materialistically  inclined 
doubters  would  once  condescend  to 
heed  their  import  and  evidence. 

Fortunately  his  congregation  seems 
to  understand  him,  to  appreciate  his 
endeavors  in  behalf  of  his  poor  breth- 
ren, and  encourages  him  in  his  good 
work.  He  is  highly  respected  and  be- 
loved by  his  congregation,  and  he  en- 
joys the  full  confidence  of  the  entire 
Jewish  community  of  Chicago. 


IGNATZ  S.  LURlIE. 
Pres.   B'nai  Abraham   Congregation. 

IGNATZ  S.  LURIE. 

Mr.  Lurie  is  a  son  of  Solomon  and 
Kattie  Lurie,  and  was  born  Sept.  6th, 
1854,  in  Bohemia,  where  he  received 
his  early  education,  later  attending  the 
schools  in  Chicago.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica at  the  age  of  fourteen.  He 


was  married  to  Miss  Julia  Dubetz 
and  has  two  children  living,  Harry 
and  Willie.  He  has  taken  much 
interest  in  congregational  work,  hav- 
ing served  as  secretary  and  at  present 
is  president  of  B'nal  Abraham  Congre- 
gation. He  is  a  member  of  the  B'nai 
Brith  and  Free  Sons  and  a  contributor 
to  the  Associated  Charities  of  Chicago. 
Mrs.  Lurie  is  president  of  the  B'nai 
Abraham  Ladies'  Association,  and  is 
an  active  worker  for  the  charities. 

CONGREGATION     BETH-EL,      FOR- 
MERLY RODEF  SCHOLOM. 

Up  to  the  year  1871  there  was  no 
Jewish  congregation  in  the  entire 
northwest  side  of  Chicago,  although 
quite  a  Jewish  population  dwelt  in 
that  part  of  the  city.  The  nearest 
synagogue  to  the  the  Jewish  people  liv- 
ing in  that  division  was  Temple  B'nai 
Scholom,  Fourth  avenue  and  Harrison 
street,  and  thither  those  who  felt  in- 
clined, went  to  worship.  But  the 
transportation  facilities  in  those  days 
were  by  far  not  so  comfortable  as  they 
are  today.  Moreover,  the  synagogue 
on  Fourth  avenue  was  not  large 
enough  to  accommodate  all  who  came 
to  worship  there,  especially  on  the 
great  fall  holidays,  and  so  the  Jews  of 
Milwaukee  avenue  and  adjacent  streets 
decided  to  organize  a  congregation  of 
their  own. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1871,  a  small 
number  of  Jews  met  by  agreement  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Moses  Hirsch,  on  Mil- 
waukee avenue.  Rabbi  Norden,  min- 
ister of  the  North  Chicago  Hebrew 
Congregation,  happened  to  be  present 
and  kindly  recited  the  evening  prayer 
before  this  small  congregation.  On 
Simhas  Torah  eve  of  that  year,  the 
very  night  of  the  great  Chicago  fire 
which  consumed  the  greater  part  of  the 
city,  those  present  at  these  services 
at  the  house  of  Moses  Hirsch,  organ- 
ized a  congregation  under  the  name  of 
Rodef  Scholom,  the  name  of  which  was 
afterwards  changed  to  Beth-El.  The 
following  were  present  at  this  meet- 
ing: Moses  Hirsch,  L.  Schwartz,  J.  Tau- 
sig,  M.  Tausig,  Z.  Sinsheimer,  D.  S.  Eis- 
endrath,  L.  Weil.L.Schulhof,  Schandig, 
B.  Schram,  S.  Richter,  Simon  Klee,  Abe 
Klee,  J.  Gruener,  M.  Solomon  and  Her- 
man Renberg,  only  the  last  five  of 
whom  are  still  living;  the  rest  sleep 
in  their  silent  graves.  The  first  officers 
were,  as  follows:  President,  Moses 
Hirsch;  Vice-President,  Z.  Sinsheimer; 
Treasurer,  David  Eisendrath;  Secre- 
tary, Herman  Renberg.  The  first  serv- 
ices of  the  new  organization  were  held 
the  following  Saturday  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Ohnstein  and  a  Sepher  Torah,  the 
scroll  of  the  law,  a  present  of  Mr.  D.  S. 
Eisendrath,  was  then  dedicated.  Two. 
weeks  later  the  congregation  rented  a 
hall  on  Peoria  and  Ohio  streets,  where 
regular  Saturday  services  were  held, 
and  six  months  later  the  little  but 
zealous  congregation  purchased  a 
double  lot  on  May  and  Second  streets,' 
upon  which  they  moved  a  frame  church 
building  which  they  bought  from  a 
Norwegian  congregation,  which  church 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


347 


stood  on  the  corner  of  Huron  and  May 
streets.  For  the  next  two  years  the 
congregation  had  no  regular  minister. 
Rev.  Ignatz  Kunreuther,  who  lived  on 
the  North  Side,  and  frequently  walked 
the  long  distance  on  Saturdays  and 
holidays  to  attend  the  services  at  the 
Rodef  Sholoin  synagogue,  volun- 
tarily officiated,  and  a  Mr.  D.  Gottlieb, 
an  old  Bohemian  lamden,  also  officiat- 
ed from  time  to  time. 

In  March,  1873,  H.  Eliassof,  the 
writer,  came  to  Chicago  from  Ogdens- 
burg,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  officiating  as 
minister  and  teacher  during  the  year 
1872.  Mr.  Eliassof  was  then  a  very 
young  man,  hardly  25  years  of  age. 
Upon  the  recommendation  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Machol,  the  Rabbi  of  Congregation 
K.  A.  M.,  Mr.  Eliassof  was  elected  as 
the  first  Rabbi  of  Congregation  Rodef 
Sholom. 

From  March  until  June  of  the  same 
year  the  affairs  of  the  congregation 
continued  very  satisfactorily.  The 
membership  was  increasing  and  the  fu- 
ture prospects  seemed  very  promising, 
indeed.  But  on  the  22nd  of  June,  1873, 
all  the  rosy  hopes  and  the  promising 
prospects  of  Congregation  Rodef  Sho- 
lom were  completely  destroyed  almost 
in  the  twinkle  of  an  eye. 

It  was  on  a  Sunday  afternoon;  the 
day  was  bright  and  the  sky  was  clear. 
The  trustees  of  the  congregation  were 
assembled  in  meeting  in  the  syna- 
gogue. They  had  just  finished  their 
business  and  were  filing  out  of  the 
structure,  they  had  hardly  reached  the 
sidewalk  when  suddenly  a  violent  wind 
storm  arose.  With  almost  the  force  of 
a  cyclone  it  caught  the  synagogue  at 
the  base,  lifted  the  structure  from  its 
foundations  and  hurled  it  a  distance 
away  reducing  it  to  splinters.  It  was 
the  work  of  a  short  moment  and  the 
trustees  who  witnessed  the  demolition 
of  their  synagogue  could  hardly  real- 
ize it.  It  was,  indeed,  a  calamity  for 
the  little  congregation,  for  all  the 
storm  had  left  them  was  an  indebted- 
ness of  $7,000.  But  the  little  band  of 
men  who  had  the  courage  to  undertake 


courage.  That  very  evening  a  meet- 
ing was  called  at  the  house  of  the 
treasurer,  D.  S.  Eisendrath,  and  by 
voluntary  subscriptions  a  fund  was 


BETH-EL  TEMPLE. 

to  establish  a  congregation  in  defiance 
of  a  sweeping  conflagration  that  laid 
the  city  of  Chicago  in  ashes,  was  not 
so  easily  daunted.  The  members, 
though  few  in  numbers,  did  not  lose 


HERMAN  ELIASSOF. 

First  Rabbi  of  Rodef  Sholom  Beth-el- 

Congregation. 

raised  for  the  building  of  a  new  tem- 
ple. Under  the  conditions  the  congre- 
gation was  unable  to  pay  the  contract- 
ed salary  to  its  minister,  and  Mr. 
Eliassof  voluntarily  relinquished  his 
claim  and  canceled  his  contract  with 
the  congregation. 

The  new  temple  was  erected  at  the 
corner  of  May  and  Huron  streets.  The 
congregation  changed  the  name  to 
Beth-El  and  at  the  same  time  it  issued 
bonds  of  ten  dollars  each,  which  found 
ready  sale  among  the  members,  though 
such  bonds  are  not  very  popular  on 
the  Chicago  Stock  Exchange. 

A  modest  frame  structure  was  soon 
raised  on  its  present  site  and  ever  sinc« 
Congregation  Beth-El  held  their  serv- 
ices there.  The  following  gentlemen 
ministered  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  the 
congregation  after  Mr.  Eliassof  severed 
his  connection  with  them:  Lippman- 
sohn,  Bonheim,  Bien  and  Danek,  the 
last  named  of  whom  served  the  con- 
gregation up  to  March,  1891,  when  he 
died  in  the  prime  of  his  useful  life, 
deeply  mourned  by  all  the  members 
of  Beth-El.  During  all  these  years  it 
required  a  heroic  struggle  on  the  part 
of  the  members  to  keep  up  their  be- 
loved congregation.  When  the  pres- 
ent incumbent  of  the  pulpit  of  Con- 
gregation Beth-El,  Rabbi  J.  Rappaport, 
took  charge,  in  July,  1891,  the  congre- 
gation had  a  very  small  membership, 
but  gradually  the  membership  has  been 
increased.  The  indebtedness  accumu- 
lated through  a  number  of  previous 
years  has  been  paid  off.  A  cemetery 
valued  at  $800  has  been  bought  and 
paid  for.  The  congregation  has  seven- 
ty-five members  today  and  the  syna- 
gogue property  is  clear  of  all  incum- 
brances.  Three  lots  on  Crystal  and 
Hoyne  avenues  have  been  bought  and 
paid  for,  where  the  congregation  con- 
templates erecting  a  new  temple  in 
modern  style.  The  present  location  is 
nearer  to  the  center  of  the  Jewish  pop- 
ulation of  the  Northwest  Side,  and  it 


is  hoped  that  the  congregation  will  add 
considerably  to  its  membership  by 
having  their  temple  in  that  location. 
The  plans  for  the  new  synagogue  have 
been  drawn  and  the  congregation  is  in 
good  hopes  soon  to  begin  building. 
The  congregatoin  consists  mainly  of 
southern  German  and  Bohemian  Jews; 
and  has  drifted  from  orthodoxy  to- 
wards a  rational  conservatism. 

Beth-El  Congregation  had  from  the 
start  family  pews,  and  though  organ 
and  choir  were  introduced  in  1889, 
Minhag  Ashkenaz  with  the  Roedel- 
heimer  Tephillah  was  retained  until 
1892,  and  then,  in  the  face  of  a  strong 
opposition,  "Minhag  America"  was 
adopted. 

On  Sim'hath  Torah  evening,  Tues- 
day, September  29th,  1896,  Beth-El 
Congregation  celebrated  its  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary,  with  a  jubilee  service 
and  a  banquet. 

Rabbi  Julius  Rappaport  of  Congrega- 
tion Beth-El  has  suggested  to  his  con- 
gregation a  novel  idea  of  disposing  of 
the  old  edifice  to  be  abandoned  when 
the  congregation  moves  into  its  new 
house  of  worship  on  Chrystal  street. 

After  consulting  with  the  Board  of 
Trustees  it  was  decided  to  dispose  of 
the  'Old  church  property  by  raffling  it 
off  at  $1.00  a  chance,  using  enough 
numbers  to  realize  $10,000. 

The  present  officers  of  Beth-El  Con- 
gregation are:  President,  H.  Molner; 
Vice-President  S.  Kaufman;  Treasurer, 
M.  Drozdowitz;  Secretary,  I.  Gottlieb; 
Financial  Secretary,  B.  Klatscher; 
Trustees,  M.  Friend,  H.  Nathan  and 
R.  Gottlieb. 

LEADER  OF  BETH-EL  CONORE- 
QA  •  ION. 

RABBI  JULIUS  RAPPAPORT. 

Rev.  Rappaport  was  born  January 
10th,  1863,  in  a  little  Hungarian  vil- 
lage near  Debreczin,  to  which  latter 
place  his  parents  removed  soon  after 


REV.  JULIUS  RAPPAPORT. 
Beth-el  Congregation. 

he  was  born,  and  where  they  still  re- 
side. He  was  sent  to  "Heder"  at  the 
age  of  five  years,  where  he  learned  to 
read  Hebrew,  to  interpret  the  Bible  and 
the  Talmud.  In  addition  to  this  he  was 


348 


THE  REIKORM  ADVOCATE. 


Instructed  by  his  father,  who  was  a 
highly  learned  Talmudlcal  scholar, 
every  evening  and  morning  before  and 
after  "Heder"  to  augment  his  knowl- 
edge in  Talmud.  At  the  age  of  ten  he 
was  sent  to  the  "Jeshiba,"  where 
he  was  a  very  diligent  stu- 
dent, and  having  good  teach- 
ers, he  progressed  very  rapidly. 
Among  his  teachers  were  Meir  Perls 
and  Dr.  M.  Diamant.  Dr.  Diamant  was 
a  man  of  academic  training,  and  he 
helped  the  young  student  in  the  study 
of  Hebrew  grammar,  the  Hungarian 
language,  history  and  mathematics. 
His  father  objected  to  his  studies  and 
sent  him  away  to  Pressburg — the  mec- 
ca  of  the  Hungarian  Bachur.  Stealthily 
he  continued  his  secular  studies  even 
there,  not  neglecting  his  Talmudical 
studies,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
received  there  his  "Moreno,"  also  a 
Rabbinical  diploma.  In  the  meanwhile 
his  time  to  serve  in  the  army  had  ar- 
rived, he  was  summoned  before  the 
military  commission  for  conscription 
and  was  pressed  into  active  service, 
though  on  the  strength  of  his  certifi- 
cate of  graduation  from  the  Pressburg 
Rabbinical  school,  the  only  one  offi- 
cially recognized  institute,  he  only 
served  one  year  in  an  infan- 
try regiment.  This  was  suffi- 
cient to  invalidate  him  further 
as  a  Rabbinical  aspirant,  and  he  emi- 
grated to  America.  For  some  time  he 
lived  in  New  York,  and  when  a  Chica- 
go friend  of  his  urged  him-to  apply  for 
the  vacant  Beth-El  pulpit  in  Chicago, 
he  applied  for  the  position  and  was 
elected.  Here  he  went  to  work  with  a 
will,  gradually  introducing  changes  in 
the  mode  of  worship.  He  induced  the 
congregation  to  adopt  "Minhag  Amer- 
ica," the  trl-aanual  cycle  of  reading 
the  Torah,  and  he  hopes  to  continue 
the  improvements. 

Rev.  Rappaport  is  the  favorite  Rab- 
bi on  the  Northwest  Side,  very  popu- 
lar and  respected.  He  has  earnestly 
applied  himself  to  the  study  of  the  ver- 
nacular arid  has  advanced  very  quick- 
ly. Sevural  articles  from  his  pen  have 
appeared  in  the  Reform  Advocate  and 
they  were  well  written. 

XIII. 
THE  DEBORAH  VEREIN. 

The  Deborah  Verein,  a  ladies'  benev- 
olent association,  was  established  in 
Chicago  in  1872.  The  first  president 
was  Mrs.  L.  Schoenfeld.  During  the 
twenty-nine  years  of  its  existence  it 
has  done  much  good  among  the  poor 
Jews  of  Chicago.  It  was  always  a 
great  assistance  to  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities.  The  society  is  now  contem- 
plating the  opening  of  a  "Creche"  in 
co-operation  with  the  U.  H.  Sewing 
Room. 

The  present  officers  are:  Mrs.  H. 
Brady,  President;  Mrs.  L.  Newberger, 
Vice-President;  Mrs.  A.  Hoefeld,  Sec- 
retary; Mrs.  C.  Hefter,  Treasurer,  and 
Mrs.  A.  White,  Financial  Secretary. 

THE  CHICAGO  RABBINICAL  AS- 
SOCIATION. 

As  the  name  of  this  association  in- 
dicates, it  is  a  society  whose  members 


are  Rabbis  in  Chicago.  The  association 
numbers  at  present  seventeen  mem- 
bers. It  was  founded  in  the  fall  of 
1873  and  was  established  for  the  pur- 
pose of  fostering  friendly  sentiments 
between  the  colleagues,  of  deliberating 
on  matters  of  general  Jewish  interest, 
of  acting  co-jointly,  and  as  a  body,  in 
practical  Jewish  matters  whenever  ne- 
cessity arises  for  such  a  united  action, 
and  for  other  kindred  objects. 

The  association  meets  during  the 
winter  season  once  in  every  month. 
For  the  first  year  of  its  existence  Dr. 
B.  Felsenthal  had  been  elected  as 
president  and  Rabbi  A.  Norden  as  sec- 
retary. Since  then  both  these  gentle- 
men have  been  re-elected  annually, 
and  they  are  still  occupying  their  re- 
spective offices. 

INDEPENDENT  ORDER  BICKUR 
CHOLEM    UKADISHU. 

This  order  was  established  in  1875. 

They  have  adopted  the  following 
preamble: 

"We,  the  members  of  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  Bickur  Cholem  Ukadishu, 
have  adopted  the  following  cardinal 
doctrines,  for  the  furtherance  and 
maintenance  of  its  time-honored  prin- 
ciples. The  moral  support  of  all  means 
tending  to  educate  and  elevate  the 
Hebrew  race,  charity  and  universal 
benevolence,  and  we  adopt  as  our 
motto:  'Truth,  Love  and  Justice.'  In 
order  to  carry  out  the  above  doctrines 
we  have  adopted  the  following:  . 

"1.  To  unite  socially  all  acceptable 
Israelites  between  21  and  50  years  of 
age. 

"2.  To  provide  means  from  the  pro- 
ceeds of  dues  and  assessments  of  its 
members  wherewith  to  assist  its  sick 
and  disabled  members,  and  for  the  re- 
lief and  aid  of  the  families,  widows 
and  orphans  of  its  deceased  members. 

"3.  To  encourage  them  in  the  pursuit 
of  their  professsions,  business,  trade  or 
occupation. 

"4.  To  hold  entertainments,  and  to 
give  moral,  instructive  and  scientific 
lectures." 

,  The  first  ofiicers  were  N.  J.  Stern, 
Moses  Harris,  Nathan  Davis,  Jacob 
Williams,  L.  Lewinsohn,  A.  Bernstein 
and  W.  Holdstein.  The  membership 
numbers  165.  The  society  meets  every 
first  and  third  Sunday  in  each  month. 
The  present  officers  are:  President, 
Abe  Bernstein;  Vice-President,  Thos. 
Piser;  Recording  Secretary,  Simon  S. 
Ziv;  Financial  Secretary,  B.  Lyon; 
Treasurer,  M.  Gutkowsky;  Superinten- 
dent, Ben  Greengard;  Monitor,  Joseph 
Werb;  Assistant  Monitor,  Louis  Stup- 
ner;  Guide,  Louis  Raike;  Outside 
Guard,  S.  Nierman;  Inside  Guard,  A. 
Harris;  Trustees,  Moses  Hecht,  Jonas 
Ziv  and  W.  Goldstein. 

A  similar  association  under  the  name 
of 

CHEBRA  KADISHA  UBIKUR 
CHOLIM 

was  established'  in  Chicago  November 
24th,  1861.  The  older  Chebra  has  a 
membership  at  present  of  eighty-three. 


It  meets  the  first  Sunday  of  the  month. 
It  provides  doctor  and  medicine  for 
sick  members  and  buries  the  dead.  Its 
present  officers  are:  President,  Henry 
S.  Goldsmith;  Vice-President,  Ignatz 
Weinfield;  Secretary,  D.  Brown;  Fi- 
nancial Secretary,  H.  Hirsch;  Treasur- 
er, Sam  Witkowsky;  Trustees,  I.  Van 
Baalen,  Henry  Cohn,  Chas.  G.  Fox  and 
Adolph  Klein. 

JEWISH     EDUCATIONAL     SOCIETY 
OF  CHICAGO. 

In  September,  1876,  a  number  of 
high-minded  Jews  of  the  Chicago  Jew- 
ish community  established  this  asso- 
ciation for  the  purpose  of  fostering 
Jewish  learning  in  the  midst  of  the 
community. 

Dr.  Kohler,  minister  of  Sinai  Con- 
gregation; Dr.  B.  Felsenthal,  Rabbi  of 
Zion  Congregation;  Rev.  Liebman  Ad- 
ler,  of  Congregation  K.  A.  M.;  Rev.  A. 
Norden,  of  the  North  Chicago  Hebrew 
Congregation,  and  a  number  of  other 
prominent  Jews  issued  a  printed  ap- 
peal to  the  Israelites  of  Chicago  In 
which  they  urged  the  necessity  of  such 
a  society. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  this  ap- 
peal: 

"Israelites  of  Chicago!  When,  with 
their  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands, 
our  fathers  were  assembled  around 
Mount  Sinai  to  receive  the  Law,  God — 
as  the  Rabbis  tell  us — wanted  to  have 
security  for  the  sacred  treasures, 
whose  guardians  they  were  to  be.  They 
pointed  to  Abraham  and  Isaac,^  Jacob 
and  Joseph,  their  noble  ancestors,  but 
God  refused  to  take  them  as  security, 
saying:  'I  want  witnesses  for  the  fu- 
ture, not  for  the  past.  I  want  to  see 
prospects  of  a  good  growth,  not  mere 
seeds.'  Whereupon  the  people  held 
forth  their  children  and  said:  'Let 
these  young  ones  vouch  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  Law!  Let  them  warrant 
for  the  future!'  And  God  was  satisfied, 
and  ever  since  the  strength  of  Judaism 
consisted  in  the  instruction  of  the 
young. 

To  the  Roman  Emperor  besieging 
Jerusalem,  Rabbi  Jochanan  ben  Sak- 
kai  said:  "Take  the  city  with  its  gor- 
geous temple,  but  leave  me  a  place, 
where  I  can  teach  the  Jewish  religion," 
and,  this  having  been  granted,  Juda- 
ism outlived  Rome.  The  teaching  of 
the  children,  being  imposed  as  a  sacred 
duty  on  every  Jewish  parent, 
shielded  our  people  and  the  purity  of 
our  religion  against  the  fiercest  on- 
slaught of  a  barbarous  world.  The 
propagation  of  knowledge  of  the  Law, 
amidst  centuries  of  abhorring  vice  and 
ignorance,  once  made  of  every  Jew  a 
brave  soldier  in  the  warfare  for  truth 
and  of  each  Jewish  household  a  fort- 
ress of  virtue.  To  raise  children  well 
versed  in  the  Jewish  lore  was  the 
highest  ambition  of  the  Jewish  mother, 
while  the  ignorant  was  a  disgrace  to 
his  family  in  spite  of  his  wealth.  The 
pursuit  of  knowledge,  fostered  private- 
ly and  publicly,  made  the  Jews  a  peo- 
ple of  thinkers,  instead  of  blind  be- 
lievers. Hence  their  enlightenment 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


349 


and  progress  in  religion  as  well  as 
their  material  success  and  prosperity. 
And  if  Judaism  has,  as  we  believe,  a 
mission  to  fulfill,  and  truths  to  teach 
unto  mankind,  its  force  and  redeeming 
power  surely  lies  in  the  thorough 
knowledge  of  its  religion  and  of  its 
world-wide  history.  Without  it,  it 
sinks  to  the  level  of  a  small  sect,  in- 
stead of  widening  into  the  religion  of 
humanity.  For  Hebrew  literature  is 
the  key  to  the  mysterious  shrine  of 
religion,  entrusted  to  Israel. 

Israelites  of  Chicago!  What  have 
you  done  for  preserving  our  faith  and 
transmitting  the  noble  bequest  of  ages 
to  posterity?  True,  you  have  in  the 
different  parts  of  this  city  formed  con- 
gregations and  erected  beautiful  houses 
of  worship,  redounding  to  the  honor  of 
the  God  of  our  fathers.  You  have  min- 
isters preaching  to  you  every  Sabbath 
and  festival  day,  well  accredited  by 
the  surrounding  world.  You  have  Sab- 
bath schools  and  teachers,  besides,  to 
imbue  the  youth  with  all  the  elements 
of  Jewish  religion  and  history.  But 
are  you  satisfied  thereby  to  have  done 
all  in  your  power  to  maintain  the  re- 
ligion of  our  fathers  in  its  pristine 
glory  and  purity?  True,  you  have 
raised  your  children  as  Jews,  but  do 
you  believe,  that  they,  after  having  at- 
tended the  Sabbath  school  up  to  the 
time  of  their  confirmation,  will  be  able 
to  expound  and  to  defend  Judaism  be- 
fore the  world?  Or  do  you  know  of 
any  one  of  them  desirous  of  pursuing 
the  study  of  Jewish  lore  and  history, 
in  order  to  know  what  Judaism  is,  and 
what  it  has  accomplished  in  its  won- 
derful march?  And  suppose  there  are 
such  people,  what  opportunities  have 
they  of  studying  the  Hebrew  and  ac- 
quiring the  knowledge,  indispensable 
for  a  thorough  understanding  of  Juda- 
ism? Where  are  the  schools,  from 
which  you  expect  your  future  Rabbis 
and  teachers  and  the  well-read  lay- 
men to  come?  The  latter  can  certainly 
not  be  imported  from  the  old  country 
for  the  purpose  of  upholding  your  Jew- 
ish institutions. 

Indeed,  indifference  and  dissension, 
ignorance  and  shallowness  have  long 
enough  eaten  the  very  marrow  and 
root  of  our  sacred  inheritance.  Com- 
pare the  zeal  and  devotion,  the  gener- 
osity and  sympathy  manifested  in 
Christian  Churches  by  young  and  old, 
with  the  indolence  and  lethargy,  which 
have  estranged  the,  young  particularly 
to  our  holy  cause,  so  as  to  make  every 
attempt  of  enlisting  their  interests  fail 
at  the  very  outset.  Christian  Mission 
Societies  send  forth  their  soul-hunting 
agents  to  ensnare  Jewish  young  men 
and  to  tear  them  away  from  the  breast 
of  their  mother  religion,  while  the 
Jewish  community,  for  want  of  reli- 
gious education  and  protection,  leaves 
them  to  spiritual  starvation. 

You  are,  no  doubt,  aware  of  the  call 
issued,  both  in  the  East  and  West,  for 
establishing  a  Jewish  Theological  Sem- 
inary, in  response  to  which  several 
congregations  of  this  city  have  joined, 
either  the  one  or  the  other  movement. 
Yet  this  undertaking  must  be  regarded 


premature  as  long  as  in  the  various 
'centers  of  American  Judaism,  there  are 
neither  pupils  imbued  with  the  spirit 
of  Jewish  lore,  so  as  to  feel  induced  to 
enter  upon  a  theological  career,  nor 
high  schools,  where  talented  youths 
could  prepare  themselves  for  such  a 
course. 

We  must  have  a  Jewish  High  School 
in  every  large  community,  where  es- 
pecially gifted  young  people  from  their 
eleventh  or  twelfth  year  are  to  be  ad- 
vantageously taught  in  Hebrew  litera- 
ture and  Jewish  history,  in  addition  to 
the  various  branches  of  a  general  high 
school  training,  the  Hebrew  forming 
an  organic  part  of  the  entire  school 
system;  where,  moreover,  lessons  in 
Jewish  Religion,  History  and  Litera- 
ture are  given  twice  or  thrice  during 
the  week  to  such  young  people,  who 
are  anxious  to  receive  information 
about  Judaism,  while  pursuing  their 
mercantile  or  scientific  course  during 
the  day. 

In  view  of  this  urgent  need,  several 
members  of  our  different  congregations 
met  and  consulted  about  the  feasibility 
of  establishing  such  a  school  in  this 
city,  and  after  due  consideration  of  the 
matter,  organized  a  society  for  this 
purpose,  under  the  name  of 

JEWISH   EDUCATIONAL   8OCIKTY   OF 
CHICAGO. 

Israelites  of  Chicago!  A  great  and 
noble,  though  difficult  task  is  before 
you,  and  only  by  united  efforts,  and 
by  the  good  will  and  generous  support 
of  each  and  every  one  of  you,  it  can 
be  accomplished.  Setting  aside  your 
views  differing  in  regard  to  the  modes 
of  worship,  or  the  higher  conception 
of  the  demands  and  aims  of  Judaism  at 
the  present  age,  we  expect  you, 
whether  members  of  Reform  or  Ortho- 
dox Congregations,  whether  married  or 
single,  old  or  young,  to  unite  and  co- 
operate in  the  work  before  us. 

Let  us  bring  the  necessary  sacrifices 
for  the  good  cause.  Let  no  one  fail  to 
join  this  society.  Ladies  and  gentle- 
men, young  and  old,  are  alike  wel- 
come. 

"It  is  time  to  act  for  God,  as  destruc- 
tion threatens  thy  law." 

The  Committee  on  Publication. 

Chicago,  Sept.  15th,  1876. 

The  undersigned  members  will  be 
pleased  to  receive  your  subscriptions: 
Rev.  Liebman  Adler,  Dr.  B.  Pelsenthal, 
Dr.  K.  Kohler,  Rev.  A.  Norden,  M.  M. 
Gerstley,  B.  Loewenthal,  D.  Simon,  B. 
Schoeneman,  L.  Buxbaum,  Henry  Hart, 
Henry  L.  Frank,  Dr.  Gustave  Fisher, 
Tobias  Goldschmidt,  H.  Felsenthal, 
Julius  Rosenthal,  H.  Snydacker,  O. 
Foreman,  Ellas  Greenebaum,  M.  A. 
Meyer,  L.  W.  Reiss,  S.  F.  Leopold,  Ab- 
raham Hart,  D.  Lissberger,  M.  Hirsh, 
F.  Kiss,  J.  Pieser,  Henry  Greenebaum, 
Jacob  Roseberg,  Lazarus  Silverman, 
Nathan  Eisendrath,  L.  F.'  Leopold,  C. 
Kozminski,  L.  Hefter,  August  Blum, 
Adolph  Moses,  M.  Cornhauser,  L.  Salo- 
mon, N.  Hefter,  E.  Rubovits. 

The  object  of  the  society  was  more 
clearly  set  forth  in  a  number  of  arti- 


cles of  organization  which  were  adop- 
ted at  the  regular  meeting  held  August 
31st,  1876.  The  three  sections  of  Ar- 
ticle 2,  which  we  copy  below,  will  give 
the  reader  a  clear  idea  of  the  scope  of 
the  work  laid  out  by  the  organizers  for 
the  Educational  Society: 

ARTICLE  II. 

Sec.  1.  The  object  of  the  society  shall 
be:  To  establish  a  school  at  Chicago, 
in  which,  in  addition  to  the  regular 
branches  taught  in  our  grammar  and 
high  schools,  also  instruction  be  given 
in  Hebrew  language  and  literature, 
and  in  Jewish  religion  and  history. 

Sec.  2.  To  encourage  the  establish- 
ment of  Sabbath  schools,  and  to  assist, 
if  necessary,  in  the  establishing  and 
maintaining  of  such  schools  in  those 
parts  of  the  city  where  heretofore  re- 
ligious instruction  had  been  utterly 
neglected. 

Sec.  3.  To  create  a  system  of  instruc- 
tion, by  means  of  lectures,  lessons,  dis- 
cussion and  the  like,  and  to  devise 
other  means  by  which  our  youth  can  be 
interested  for  Judaism. 

The  writer  was  a  member  of  this  as- 
sociation, and  at  one  time  he  received 
a  letter  from  the  late  Herman  Felsen- 
thal, one  of  the  directors,  in  which  he 
was  requested  to  become  a  candidate 
for  the  position  of  instructor  in  the 
school  to  be  established  by  that  asso- 
ciation, but  the  school  was  never  es- 
tablished. Several  meetings  were  held 
afterwards  and  suddenly  the  associa- 
tion died  a  natural  death  and  nothing 
was  heard  of  it. 

THE  ZION  LITERARY  SOCIETY. 

One  of  the  most  important  and  most 
influential  literary  associations  In  the 
city  of  Chicago  in  Jewish  circles,  from 
the  time  of  the  origin  of  the  Jewish 
settlement  up  to  the  present  time  was 
the  Zion  Literary  Society,  which  was 
formed  in  1877.  The  first  officers  were: 
Michael  Greenebaum,  who  might  just- 
ly be  called  the  father  and  founder  of 
this  once  popular  organization.  To  him 
belongs  the  credit  of  having  given  the 
first  thought  and  impetus  for  its  cre- 
ation. For  nearly  thirteen  years  the 
Zion  Literary  Society  was  the  great 
social  and  literary  feature  of  the  Chi- 
cago Jewish  community. 

The  first  board  of  directors  was: 
Miss  Hannah  Greenebaum,  now  Mrs. 
H.  Solomon;  Mr.  H.  Solomon,  A.  G. 
Becker,  H.  Ci.  Frank,  Lev!  Mayer,  Mrs. 
T.  Klein,  Flora  Unna,  Mary  Greene- 
baum, now  Mrs.  Chas.  Haas,  and  To- 
bias Ruborvlts.  It  had  about  100  mem- 
bers, and  met  every  Friday  evening  at 
the  old  Zion  Temple,  corner  Green  and 
Sangamon  streets.  The  programs  were 
very  carefully  arranged  and  the  de- 
bates, lectures,  musical  numbers,  and 
readings  were  of  a  nature  tending  to 
instruct  and  elevate.  The  refining  In- 
fluence of  this  model  association  was 
felt  even  for  many  years  after  the  so- 
ciety had  ceased  to  exist.  The  lectures 
delivered  before  the  association  by  men 
like  Salter,  Adler,  Felsenthal,  Henry 
Greenebaum  and  later  by  our  inimlt- 


350 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


able  Dr.  Hirsch  were  a  joy  and  a  de- 
light, and  when  this  society  went  out 
of  existence  it  left  a  void  which  was 
never  filled  to  this  day. 

The  writer  was,  from  the  beginning 
to  the  last  year  of  the  existence  of  the 
Zion  Literary  Society,  an  active  mem- 
ber of  it,  and  to  this  day  he  regrets 
that  we  have  no  such  institution  in 
our  midst,  and  this  is  the  prevailing 
sentiment  among  all  who  ever  belonged 
to  the  Zion  Literary  Society.  Why  a 
•  community  like  Chicago  should  not  be 
able  to  maintain  an  institution  of  such 
importance  is  hard  to  understand. 
Other  cities  have  their  Young  Men's 
Hebrew  Associations,  and  their  liter- 
ary societies;  they  are  forming  cen- 
ters where  the  Jewish  young  men 
can  cultivate  their  minds  and  become 
acquainted  with  the  illustrious  masters 
of  Jewish  thought,  with  the  priceless 
pearls  of  Jewish  literature,  with  the  in- 
imitable effusions  and  creations  of  Is- 
rael's bards,  singers  and  minstrels. 

The  Jewish  community  of  Chicago 
alone  seems  to  be  impotent  to  estab- 
lish and  to  maintain  even  one  institu- 
tion of  this  nature.  What  is  the  cause 
Of  this  deplorable  inability?  Do  the 
Jewish  young  men  of  Chicago  possess 
less  capacity  for  union,  less  social  co- 
hesiveness,  or  less  understanding  and 
desire  for  such  lofty  aims?  No,  this 
cannot  be  the  cause. 

Congregation  K.    A.    M.,    with    its 
galaxy   of    noble    rabbis    who    have 
taught  the  love  of  Judaism  for  over  a 
half  century,  and  her  daughter    con- 
gregation,  Sinai,   with   its   lofty   aims 
and  aspirations  in  the  field  of  enlight- 
ened and  progressive  Judaism,  with  its 
great  expounder  of  Jewish  thought  and 
learning,    Zion   Congregation    and    all 
the     other      rabbis       and      teachers, 
cannot     have     worked     these     many, 
many    years    in    vain.    Surely,    their 
teachings   must    have    made    a   deep 
impression.    What,  then,  is  the  cause 
of  this  lethargy  and  indifference?    Is  it 
not  time  for  us  to  do  something  in  this 
direction  and  give  a  satisfactory  an- 
swer to  the  world  and  to  our  sister 
cities  who  look  inquiringly  and  won- 
deringly  at  our  inactivity  and  neglect- 
fulness?  Perhaps  when  Dr.  Hirsch  will 
succeed  in  establishing  a  central  syna- 
gogue in  the  downtown  district,  things 
will  change  for  the  better.     For  the 
present  we  have  only  so  many  congre- 
gations in  so  many  different  parts  of 
the  city  for  a  certain  small  number  of 
members   who   are   able  to* pay   their 
dues,  rent  a  pew  and  vote  at  the  an- 
nual or  semi-annual  elections,   caring 
very  little  for  the  outsider,  for  the  one 
who  has  no  desire  or  is  unable  to  join 
a  congregation.    Is  it  not  to  the  inter- 
est of  our  congregations  to  endeavor 
to  create  a  Jewish  sentiment  among 
our  Jewish  young  men  and  not  to  per- 
mit them  to  lose  all  connection  with 
and  understanding  of  Jewish  life?    If 
Judaism  is  to  endure  in  the  midst  of 
American  Israel,  if  the  Jewish  institu- 
tions are  to  continue  to  exist  in  the 
future,  must  we  not  raise  and  influence 
men  to  be  In  sympathy  with  us,  men 


who  will  have  the  desire  to  follow  in 
our  footsteps  and  carry  on  our  work 
with  the  same  devotion  and  the  same 
enthusiasm  as  their  fathers  did?    Ah,  * 
the  anxiety   and   fear,   perchance   the 
sons  will  desert  the  ways  of  the  fath- 
ers, perchance  the  younger  generations 
will  not  have  the  love  for  Judaism  as 
we  would  like  them  to  possess,  is  find- 
ing expression  in  almost  every  Jewish 
pulpit  in  the  land.     It  is  the  burden 
of  every  thought  of  the  true  friend  of 
Judaism   today,    and  still  we  fold  our 
hands  in  inactivity  and  do  not  even 
make  the  attempt  to  ameliorate  con- 
ditions!    Whose  fault  will  it  be,  then, 
if,  God  beware,  our  fears  and  anxieties 
are  realized?    Who  will  be  to  blame  for 
it  but  ourselves  and  our  lamentable  in- 
difference?    For  Judaism     to     endure 
there  must  be  a  union  of  Israel,  a  un- 
ion of  fundamental  thoughts  and  cardi- 
nal  principles.     Young   and   old   must 
alike  stand  within  the  pale  of  this  un- 
ion.   Only  then  the  future  of  Judaism 
can  be  safe.    Have  our  congregations 
succeeded  in  establishing  such  a  union 
in  America?     It  is  doubtful.     A  thou- 
sand  congregations   working     in     the 
narrow  and  limited  way  we  are  doing 
today  will  never  unite  the  House  of 
Israel.  A  disjointed,  disunited,  and  dis- 
rupted house  will  never  endure.     We 
may  continue  to  have  congregations, 
but  no  united  Israel  that  stands  ready 
to   defend   Judaism,   the   light   of   the 
world,  from  annihilation,  as  our  heroic 
fathers  did  in  days  of  yore.     To  ac- 
complish this,  other  institutions  whose 
fundamental  purpose  and    paramount 
aim  and  object  is  to  instill  in  the  minds 
of  the  young,  respect  and  love  for  Jew- 
ish sentiment;  Jewish  life  and  Jewish 
literature,  must  be  established.    If  we 
are  in  earnest  in  our  wish  for  the  per- 
petuation of  Judaism  we  must  establish 
such  institutions  without  hesitation. 

The  writer  has  often  heard  the  foun- 
der of  the  Zion  Literary  Society  ex- 
press his  ardent  wish  that  the  associa- 
tion may  succeed  in  establishing  such 
a  union  among  the  young  Jewish  gen- 
eration of  Chicago,  and  he  used  his  in- 
fluence to  bring  about  the  consumma- 
tion of  his  desire  and  to  turn  the  work 
of  the  leaders  of  Zion  in  that  direction. 
Perhaps  if  the  Zion  Literary  Society 
would  have  continued  to  exist  the  re- 
sults would  have  been  more  gratify- 
ing. But  we  have  preached  too  long; 
we  must  return  to  the  history  of  the 
Zion  Literary  Society. 

Among  those  who  succeeded  Michael 
Greenebaum  in  the  office  of  President 
were:  Henry  L.  Frank,  Jacob  New- 
man and  Lev!  Mayer. 

One  of  the  literary  features  was  the 
weekly  newspaper,  edited  by  Mr.  Levi 
Mayer  and  Mrs.  Henry  Solomon. 

The  public  entertainments  given  by 
the  Zion  Literary  Society  were  very 
popular  and  attended  by  the  leading 
citizens  of  Chicago.  They  enjoyed  the 
same  popularity  as  did  later  the 
Young  Men's  Hebrew  Charity  balls. 

The  Zion  Literary  Society  was  con- 
nected with,  and  was,  so  to  say,  a 
branch  of  the  Zion  Congregation,  and 


no  Temple  society  of  this  city  ever 
equaled  the  Zion  Literary  in  number 
of  members  or  in  general  features. 

MICHAEL  GREENEBAUM. 

FOUNDER  OF  THE  ZION  LITERARY 
SOCIETY. 

Michael  Greenebaum,  the  first  pres- 
ident of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  Soci- 
ety, fully  deserved  a  place  of  honor  in 
the  history  of'  the  Jewish  community 
of  Chicago.  At  home,  in  Germany, 
he  had  learned  a  trade  and  supported 
himself  by  the  work  of  his  hands.  He 
was  a  son  of  Jacob  Greenebaum,  who 
had  given  to  Chicago  five  good  sons, 
all  of  whom  became  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  Chicago  Jewish  communi- 
ty. Michael  Greenebaum  did  not  have 
the  opportunities  for  a  liberal  edu- 
cation like  his  other  brothers,  especi- 
ally Henry,  but  he  never  lost  sight 
of  the  intelligent  Greenebaum  family 
traditions.  He  loved  education  and  de- 
voted much  of  his  time  to  the  work 
of  spreading  enlightenment  among  his 
co-religionists  in  Chicago. 

He  came  to  America  in  1845  and  set- 
tled in  Chicago  a  year  later.  He  helped 
to  establish  the  Hebrew  Benevolent 
society  and  became  its  first  president. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Anshe 
Maarab  and  Sinai  congregations  and 
one  of  the  first  to  join  the  Zion  congre- 
gation, in  each  of  which  he  held  office. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  to  advocate 
Sunday  services  in  Jewish  congrega- 
tions. He  was  also  the  originator  and 
the  first  president  of  the  Zion  Literary 
society,  which  flourished  in  Chicago 
for  twelve  years,  contributing  much 
during  its  existence  to  intellectual 
progress,  education,  enlightenment  and 
refinement  in  the  midst  of  the  Chicago 
Jewish  community. 

Mr.  Greenebaum  married  Miss  Sarah 
Spiegel  at  New  York  and  when  they 
died  they  left  ten  children,  four  sons  and 
six  daughters,  Moses  S.,  Gustave  M., 
Ben  and  Henry,  Mrs.  Theresa  S.  Les- 
em,  Mrs.  Henrietta  Frank,  Mrs.  Mary 
Haas,  Mrs.  Hannah  Salomon,  Mrs. 
Helene  Kuh  and  Mrs.  Rose  Eisen- 
drath.  He  gave  all  his  children  a  lib- 
eral education  and  some  of  his  daugh- 
ters he  sent  to  Germany  to  the  private 
school  of  Mr.  Herman  Reckendorf,  at 
Frankfort-on-the-Main.  This  Mr. 
Reckendorf  gained  some  fame  as  a 
writer  by  his  work,  in  six  volumes. 
"Die  Gehelmnisse  der  Yuden"  (The 
Mysteries  of  the  Jews).  One  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  Greenebaum,  Mrs.  Hannah 
Salomon,  is  the  president  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  Jewish  Women  of  America  and^ 
is  considered  one  of  the  brightest 
daughters  of  Israel  in  the  State  of  Ill- 
inois. 

EMANUEL    CONGREGATIONAL. 

Congregation  Emanuel  was  estab- 
lished in  1880.  It  first  worshiped  in  a 
hall  corner  Blackhawk  and  Sedgwick 
streets.  It  was  started  with  fourteen 
members.  The  first  President  was 
Zacharius  Sinzheimer.  From  the 
start  it  was  an  orthodox  congregation. 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


351 


In  1886  they  bought  a  church  building 
from  a  Swedish  congregation  at  280 
Franklin  street,  for  which  they  paid 
410,500.  The  membership  had  grown 
to  the  number  of  thirty.  The  services 
were  gradually  reformed,  and  in  1889 
Minhag  America  was  introduced.  In 
1893  Mr.  Adolph  Krauss  was  elected 
President.  Minhag  America  was  su- 
perseded by  Minhag  Jastrow.  In  1894 
Congregation  Or  Chodosh  (New  Light) 
joined  in  a  body  and  amalgamated  with 
Emanuel. 

In  the  spring  of  1897  the  congrega- 
tion found  that  many  of  its  members 
had  moved  further  north,  and  that  the 
location  of  the  temple  was  no  longer 
desirable.  The  congregation  therefore 
rented  the  Baptist  church,  corner  Bel- 
den  avenue  and  Halsted  street,  where 
they  still  worship. 

In  1893  the  congregation  adopted  the 
Binhorn  prayer  book  and  resolved 
to  worship  with  uncovered  heads.  In 
April,  1899,  Mr.  Leopold  Sonnenschein 
was  elected  President  which  office  he 
still  holds.  In  the  fall  of  1896,  a 
site  for  a  new  temple  was  purchased 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  Burling  and 
Belden  avenue.  It  is  the  intention  of 
the  congregation  to  erect  upon  this  site 
in  the  near  future  a  modern  temple. 

Since  1885  the  congregation  owns  the 
cemetery  at  Waldheim.  The  present 
membership  consists  of  about  130 
names.  During  the  first  years  of  the 
congregation's  existence  Messrs,  Red- 
lich  and  Sinzheimer  officiated  as  read- 
ers, during  divine  service.  In  1890 
Rev.  Mr.  Austrian  was  elected  minister, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  Rabbi  E. 
Brown,  whose  successor  was  Rev.  Ju- 
lius Newman.  In  November,  1899,  Dr. 
Emanuel  Schreiber,  the  present  incum- 
bent of  the  pulpit  was  elected  and  was 
installed  in  his  office  by  Dr.  Emil  G. 
Hirsch  of  Sinai  Temple. 

Dr.  Schreiber  immediately  inaugu- 
rated Friday  evening  services,  follow- 
ed by  English  discourses.  These  serv- 
ices are  very  popular  and  are  attend- 
ed by  the  young  people  and  all  those 
of  the  congregation  who  cannot  at- 
tend the  Saturday  morning  services, 
when  the  services  are  conducted  and 
the  sermon  delivered  in  the  German 
language. 

The  membership  of  the  congregation 
is  steadily  increasing.  The  Sabbath 
school  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condi- 
tion. Since  Dr.  Schreiber  has  taken 
charge  the  number  of  pupils  has  almost 
doubled.  About  150  children  are 
in  attendance.  The  Rabbi  who  is  su- 
perintendent of  the  school  is  assisted 
by  six  teachers  and  a  faithful  school 
board  is  always  in  attendance. 

Since  last  fall  the  post-confirmation 
class  meets  twice  a  month  for  instruc- 
tion by  the  Rabbi  in  Jewish  history 
and  literature. 

At  the  last  annual  meeting  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected:  Presi- 
dent, L.  Sonneschein;  Vice-President, 
G.  Stein;  Treasurer,  L.  Franklin; 
Secretary,  S.  Espen. 

Connected  with  the  congregation 
are  two  societies,  first  the  Eman- 


uel Gemeinde  Frauenverein,  which 
was  established  in  1897,  anl 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 
Mrs.  M.  T.  Strauss  was  presi- 
dent for  three  years,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Mrs.  S.  Schulhof.  This  society  has 
eighty- members.  In  January,  1900,  the 
Emanuel  Auxiliary  Society,  consisting 
of  thirty  young  people,  was  established. 
This  Society  is  doing  excellent  work 
for  the  congregation. 

LEADER  OF   THE  CONGREGATION 
EMANUEL. 

DR.  E.   SCHREIBER. 

Dr.  E.  Schreiber  was  born  December 
13th,  1853,  in  Leipnik,  Maehren,  a  his- 
toric seat  of  Jewish  learning.  After  a 
thorough  preparation  in  Hebraicis  by 
his  learned  father  Herman  and  grand- 
father Levi  Schreiber,  he  attended,  at 
the  age  of  11,  the  then  flourishing  Je- 
shiba  (Rabbinical  school)  of  his  native 


DR.  E.  SCHREIBER. 

town,  presided  over  by  Moses  Bloch, 
the  present  venerable  director  of  the 
Landes-rabbiner  seminar  In  Budapest, 
and  he  received  from  him,  at  the  age 
of  13,  the  title  of  "Chabar."  Rabbis 
Klein,  Kremsier,  where  Dr.  Schreiber 
attended  the  Gymnasium,  Dr.  Hilde- 
sheimer,  Eisenstadt,  Hungary,  and 
Rabbi  Hirsch,  Altofen,  at  present  chief 
Rabbi  at  Hamburg,  were  also  his  teach- 
ers in  Talmud.  In  1870,  he  finished  his 
studies  in  the  Gymnasium  and  went  to 
Berlin.  There  he  attended  the  Uni- 
versity and  for  a  short  time  also  the 
Rabbinical  school  of  his  former  teach- 
er, Dr.  Hildesheimer.  Becoming  dis- 
satisfied with  Hildesheimer's  orthodox 
school  of  theology,  he  left  and  attached 
himself  to  the  school  of  Abraham  Gei- 
ger  and  reform.  He  first  attended  the 
lectures  on  science  of  Judaism  in  the 
Ephraim-Veitel  Heine  Lehranstalt, 
held  by  Lebrecht,  M.  Steinschneider, 
Aub,  Geiger,  Haarbruecker  and  D. 
Cassel.  On  May  6th,  1872,  the  Hoch- 
schule  Fuer  die  Wissenschaft  des  Ju- 
denthum's  was  opened.  Felix  Adler, 
New  York;  Immanuel  Loew,  Szegedien, 
and  Schreiber,  were  the  first  three  stu- 
dents matriculated.  His  contact  with 
Felix  Adler  and  Rosenfeld  of  New 
York,  and  particularly  with  Emil  G. 


Hirsch,  who  came  a  little  later  to  Ber- 
lin, ripened  then  already  his  plan  to  go 
to  the  United  States.  After  receiving 
the  Doctor  diploma,  July  1873,  he  con- 
tinued for  another  year  his  theologi- 
cal studies  in  Berlin,  and  received  his 
diploma  as  Rabbi  from  Geiger,  Lazar- 
us Adler,  chief  Rabbi  of  Hessen  Cas- 
sel, and  Ellas  Greenebaum,  district 
Rabbi  of  Landau-Pfalz.  In  1874  Dr. 
Schreiber  accepted  the  position  of  pro- 
fessor of  modern  languages,  history 
and  Latin  at  the  Samson-Schule  in 
Wolfenbuettel,  which  is  historic 
through  Zunz  and  Jost,  who  were  edu- 
cated there. 

In  1875  he  received  a  call  as  Rabbi 
to  Elbing,  West  Prussia,  and  three 
years  later  to  the  old,  renowned  con- 
gregation of  Bonn.  Through  his  out- 
spoken advocacy  of  reform  and  especi- 
ally on -account  of  his  introduction  of 
the  second  edition  of  Geiger's  prayer 
book  (1871)  which  is  more  radical  than 
the  edition  of  1854,  Dr.  Schreiber  en- 
countered a  strong  opposition  in  Bonn, 
and  antagonism  on  the  side  of  the 
press  and  Rabbinate  of  Germany.  This 
was  aggravated  by  the  publication  of 
books  and  his  weekly  paper,  "Die  Re- 
form," which,  under  great  difficulties, 
he  continued  for  five  years.  In  No- 
vember, 1881,  Dr.  Schreiber  came  to 
this  country  as  Rabbi  of  Mobile,  Ala. 

Prior  to  his  arrival  in  this  city  he 
was  Rabbi  in  Denver,  Los  Angeles,  Lit- 
tle Rock,  and  Toledo,  where  he  un- 
swervingly and  consistently  labored  In 
the  cause  of  reform.  The  doctor  has 
been  a  fertile  author  in  the  German 
and  English  languages.  Among  his 
larger  works  are:  "Die  Principien  des 
Judenthums  verglichen  mit  denen  des 
Christenthum's"  (Leipzig,  1877),  "Ab- 
raham Geiger"  (1879),  "Die  Selbst- 
kritik  der  Juden"  (Berlin,  1880,  Second 
Edition  Leipzig*  1890) ,  "Graetz'  Gesch- 
ichtsbauerei"  (Berlin,  1881).  This 
book,  strongly  criticising  Professor 
Graetz'  historiography  on  account  of 
its  biased  and  unjust  treatment  of  Re- 
form Judaism,  has  been  endorsed  by 
leading  Jewish  scholars.  "Reform  Ju- 
daism and  Its  Pioneers,"  (1892).  From 
1893  to  1896,  he  was  editor  of  the  "Oc- 
cident" of  this  city.  Dr.  Schreiber  has 
been  a  prolific  contributor  to  the  Jew- 
ish press  of  the  country,  particularly 
to  the  Reform  Advocate.  He  is  consid- 
ered a  forcible  speaker. 

XIV. 

FREE  SONS'  CEMETERY  ASSOCIA- 
TION. 

The  Free  Sons'  Cemetery  Associa- 
tion was  established  by  the  Chicago 
Lodges  of  the  Independent  Order  of  the 
Free  Sons  of  Israel  on  November  2d, 
1875.  The  first  trustees  of  the  Associa- 
tion were:  Simon  Greenebaum,  Abra- 
ham Abrams,  Henry  Greenburg,  H. 
Eliassof,  Abraham  Diamond. 

The  original  purchase  at  Waldheim 
comprised  five  acres,  to  which  six  and 
a  half  acres  were  recently  added.  The 
ground  is  used  for  the  burial  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Order  and  their  families 
in  Chicago.  The  present  membership 
in  Chicago  today  is  eleven  hundred. 


352 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


The  cemetery  is  under  the  supervision 
of  four  officers  and  five  trustees,  each 
of  the  nine  local  lodges  elect  three  del- 
egates to  the  Association,  who  in  turn 
elect  annually  officers  and  trustees. 

The  officers  elected  at  the  last  an- 
nual meeting  are:  President,  B.  C. 
Hamburgher;  vice  president,  I.  R. 
Gardner;  secretary,  Adolph  Pike; 
treasurer,  Louis  Levin;  trustees,  M. 
Pflaum,  R.  Feidelberg,  A.  Cappels,  J. 
Moll,  B.  J.  Frank. 

A  JEWISH  FARMER. 

About  fifty  years  ago,  or  perhaps 
earlier,  there  settled  on  a  farm  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Lincoln,  Ills.,  a  Hol- 
landish  Jew  toy  the  name  of  Hinrich- 
sen.  He  was  of  the  sturdy  old  stock, 
a  hard  worker,  economic  in  his  ways, 
and  naturally  he  was  successful.  He 
developed  a  model  farm,  took  to  him- 
self for  a  wife  a  daughter  of  a  Gentile 
neighbor,  raised  an  interesting  family 
and  was  highly  respected  by  the  entire 
neighborhood.  Until  advanced  in  years 
he  attended  strictly  to  his  agricultural 
work  and  lived  the  life  of  a  genuine 
farmer,  not  wishing  to  be  anything 
else.  One  of  his  sons,  G.  Hinrichsen, 
applied  about  the  year  1888  for  admis- 
sion to  the  B'nai  B'rith  Lodge  at  Lin- 
coln, 111.  Some  of  the  members  ob- 
jected to  him  on  account  of  the  mixed 
marriage  of  his  father,  claiming  that 
according  to  the  laws  of  the  order 
only  sons  whose  parents  were  both 
Jews  and  married  according  to  Jewish 
rites  are  eligible  to  membership  in 
the  order. 

The  friends  of  the  candidate  finally 
brsught  the  question  before  the  Court 
of  Appeals  of  the  Order  and  the  court 
decided  in  favor  of  Mr.  Hinrichsen. 
He  was  admitted  and  ^initiated  and  is 
now  a  good  standing  member  of  the 
Order  of  B'nai  B'rith. 

We  understand  that  the  son  is  con- 
tinuing to  work  on  his  father's  farm, 
and  has  met  with  the  same  success. 
The  family  is  noted  for  their  hospital- 
ity, as  no  one  is  turned  away  who  ap- 
plies at  the  Hinrichsen  farm  for  a 
night's  lodging,  a  meal,  or  any  other 
help  that  is  within  their  power  to  ex- 
tend. 

Perhaps  it  would  be  a  good  thing  if 
the  consent  of  Mr.  Hinrichsen  could 
be  obtained  to  place  with  him  a  few 
Jewish  boys  to  learn  farming.  We 
believe  it  worth  while  to  try. 

The  Jewish  Orphans'  Home  or  the 
Elizah  Frank  Orphan  Society  should 
make  an  attempt  to  interest  Mr.  Hin- 
richsen in  this  matter. 

THE  SOUTH   SIDE   HEBREW  CON- 
GREGATION. 

Congregation  Anshe  Dorom,  or  the 
South  Side  Hebrew  Congregation,  was 
organized  Sept.  10th,  1888.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  the  charter 
members:  L.  Marks,  L.  Rosenbaum, 
Louis  Levin,  N.  Levy,  F.  A.  Somerfeld, 
A.  Josiephi,  S.  Mendelsohn,  M.  S.  Co- 
hen, H.  Silver,  A.  L.  Katlinsky,  A. 


Swarts,  H.  Levy,  M.  Cohen,  M.  Brun- 
newasser,  John  Markus,  L.  Brenner,  M. 
H.  Ephraim,  M.  Ephraim,  George  H. 
Rosenbaum,  Ben  Davis,  Ike  Levy,  J. 
Stern. 

The  congregation  at  first  had  ser- 
vices in  rented  halls.  Subsequently  a 
lot  was  acquired  for  the  erection  of  a 
synagogue  on  Indiana  avenue,  near 


who  has  accepted  a  call  to  the  South 
Side  Hebrew  Congregation  of  Chicago, 
is  only  27  years  of  age  and  has  lived 
in  America  but  ten  years.  He  has  re- 
signed an  excellent  pastorate  in  Terre 
Haute,  at  a  sacrifice  of  about  $700  per 
year,  and  comes  to  Chicago,  where  he 
will  be  enabled  to  attend  the  Univer- 
sity of  Chicago.  He  was  born  in  Rus- 


TEMPLE  OF  THE  SOUTH  SIDE   HEBREW  CONGREGATION. 


Thirty-fifth  street,  and  ground  was 
broken  in  March,  1899.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  in  May  of  the  same 
year.  The  exterior  of  the  building 
was  finished  about  October,  1899,  when 
a  'bazaar  was  held  in  the  vestry  room 
to  raise  the  necessary  funds  for  the 
clearing  of  all  debts.  Since  then  the 
congregation  has  been  holding  its  ser- 
vices in  this  vestry  room.  The  con- 
gregation expects  to  finish  the  interior 
during  this  summer.  In  1893  the  con- 
gregation purchased  one  and  a  quarter 
acres  in  Forest  Home  to  be  used  as  a 
cemetery.  The  Rabbis  who  have  been 
connected  with  this  congregation  are: 
Rev.  Farber  and  Rev.  Ungerleider. 
The  present  incumbent  is  Rabbi  S.  N. 
Deinard.  Its  present  officers  are: 
President,  L,  Rosenbaum,  who  has 
been  at  the  head  of  the  congregation 
from  the  time  of  its  organization  to 
the  present  day;  vice-president,  K. 
Lewis;  secretary,  L.  Levin;  treasurer, 
Herman  Hirsch;  trustees,  B.  Rosen- 
thai,  B.  Davis,  J.  Lang,  G.  Hitzel  and 
M.  H.  Ephraim. 

RABBI  S.  N.  DEINARD. 
Rabbi  S.  N.  Deinard  of  Terre  Haute, 


sia  in  1873,  and  spent  his  early  boy- 
hood in  Jerusalem,  where  he  studied 
Jewish  theology.  After  coming  to 
America  he  entered  the  Dixon  Univer- 


RABBI  S.  N.  DEINARD. 
S.  S.  Hebrew  Congregation. 

sity,  at  Dixon,  Pa.,  completing  the 
course  about  four  years  ago,  when  he 
accepted  a  call  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


353 


He  is  a  very  able  young  minister,  ami 
is  master  of  several  languages.  The 
South  Side  Hebrew  Congregation 
has  erected  a  new  church  build- 
jng  on  Indiana  avenue,  near  Thir- 


L.  Wedeles,   Max  Mayer,  A.  H.  Wolf, 
Joseph     Weissenbach,    Max    J.   Riese, 
3.  B.  Kohner,  Win.  B.  Wolf,  M.  J.  Slo- 
man  and  Max  Aaron. 
The  Lakeside  entertainments  are  fa- 


IDEAL  CLUB— 300   LA  SALLE  AVENUE. 


ty-fifth  street,  and  chose  Rabbi  Dein- 
ard  a  year  ago,  when  he  visited  Chi- 
cago and  conducted  services  in  the 
South  Side  synagogue,  which  had  been 
vacant  for  about  three  months.  Rev. 
Deinard  is  now  Rabbi. 

THE  IDEAL  CLUB. 

This  Club  was  organized  for  social 
purposes  in  1883  with  Dr.  Simon 
Strausser  as  president,  William  Loeb 
as  vice-president,  Jacob  Metzler  treas- 
urer, and  E.  C.  Hamburger  secretary. 
The  present  officers  are  Benjamin  M. 
Engelhard,  president;  Jacob  H.  Mahl- 
er, vice-president;  Henry  Waterman, 
secretary,  and  Sol  Kingsbaker,  treas- 
urer. 

The  Club  is  situated  on  the  North 
Side,  at  300  LaSalle  avenue. 

LAKESIDE  CLUB. 

Tb.e  Lakeside,  the  second  Jewish 
Club  on  the  South  Side,  ranks  next  to 
the  Standard  in  membership,  influence 
and  importance.  It  was  chartered 
June  2d,  1884.  The  first  board  was: 
Officers,  Morris  Beifeld,  president;  S. 
W.  Rosenfels,  vice-president;  Jacob  L. 
Cahn,  treasurer;  Samuel  J.  Kline,  re- 
cording secretary,  and  N.  A.  Mayer, 
financial  secretary.  Directors:  Jacob 
Weil,  Max  Wolff,  Conrad  Witkowsky. 
E.  B.  Pelsenthal,  Martin  Meyer  and 
Charles  Liebenstein. 

The  present  officers  are:  Samuel 
Despres,  president;  Adolph  Hirsch, 
vice-president;  Solms  Marcus,  treasur- 
er; L.  Witkowsky,  financial  secretary, 
and  Leo  W.  Wheeler,  recording  secre- 
tary. Directors:  M.  L.  Freiberger,  E. 


mous  for  their  elegance  and  other  fine 
social    features. 

XV. 
JEWISH   •  AGRICULTURISTS'      AID 

SOCIETY  OF  AMERICA. 
This  society  was  organized  in  the  fall 
of  the  year  1888.    Its  object  is  to  en- 


G.  Hirsch,  vice-president;  Adolph 
Moses,  treasurer;  Rabbi  J.  Rappaport, 
recording  secretary,  Rabbi  A.  R.  Levy, 
corresponding  secretary.  Board  of  di- 
rectors: Israel  Cowen,  Dr.  B.  Felsen- 
thal,  Marcus  Freund,  Henry  N.  Hart, 
Dr.  Emil  G.  Hirsch,  Samuel  Klausner, 
Abraham  R.  Levy,  Adolph  Loeb, 
Adolph  Moses,  Julius  Rappaport  and 
Jacob  Simon. 

We  quote  from  the  report  of  the 
secretary  of  the  society  the  following 
in  order  to  give  the  reader  a  plainer 
idea  of  the  work  of  this  organization. 
The  secretary  says:  "In  the  fall  of  the 
year  1888  four  families  were  assisted 
to  purchase  each  eighty  acres  of  virgin 
prairie  land  in  Southwestern  Minne- 
sota and  locate  there  as  farmers. 
Since  that  time  we  have  encouraged 
and  assisted  from  two  to  ten  families 
annually  to  leave  the  enslaving  sweat- 
shop or  unpromising  and  degrading 
"peddling"  in  the  city  and  start  out  as 
farmers.  During  the  twelve  years  of 
our  operations  we  have  dealt  with 
seventy-six  individual  parties.  These 
came  to  us  on  their  own  initiative.  We 
encouraged  and  assisted  them  in  their 
endeavor,  and,  with  but  one  single  ex- 
ception, they  are  all  today  engaged  in 
their  new  and  chosen  vocation,  some 
more  and  some  less  successful,  but  all 
alike  putting  forth  their  best  efforts 
to  establish  themselves  and  their  fam- 
ilies as  agriculturists. 

"One  man,  the  head  of  a  family,  died 
on  his  farm  in  Minnesota  and  his 
widow  and  children  joined  the  Hirsch 
Colony  in  Canada.  Others,  who  at 
first  located  on  small  tracts  of  land 
near  Chicago,  have  gone  farther  west 


LAKESIDE  CLUB— 42D  STREET   AND  GRAND  BOULEVARD. 


courage  and  aid  Jewish  people  to  em- 
bark as  agriculturists  in  any  section  of 
this  country  and  in  the  Dominion  of 
Canada.  The  officers  of  the  society 
are:  Adolph  Loeb,  president;  Dr.  Emil 


and  have  located  on  larger  and  more 
extensive  farms.  In  this  connection 
special  mention  must  be  made  of  the 
families  Nudelman  and  Lloyd.  They 
went  from  Dakota  westward  and  lo- 


354 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


cated  in.  Smith's  Valley,  Lyons  county, 
Nevada,  where  they  are  successfully 
working  a  large  farm.  With  a  capital 
of  about  $100  Joseph  Nudelman  started 
farming  in  Dakota  some  twelve  years 
ago,  and  when  he  went  west  eight 
years  ago  he  had  a  capital  of  less  than 
$600.  Today  his  livestock  consists  of 
thirty  head  of  cattle  and  from  forty 
to  fifty  horses  and  colts.  He  has  all 
the  implements  and  machinery  neces- 
sary to  work  a  large  farm.  His  lands 
and  the  water  rights  he  owns  are  val- 
ued at  $20,000  and  on  all  of  that  there 
is  an  incumbrance  of  about  $14,000. 
Sam  Nudelman,  the  son  of  the  farmer, 
and  Jacob  Lloyd  are  also  successful 


these  homesteads  there  are  high  priced 
berry  and  fruit  farms,  for  which  was 
paid  from  $100  to  $150  per  acre. 

There  are,  secondly,  lands  which 
have  been  under  cultivation  when  pur- 
chased by  our  people  and  which  were 
purchased  as  "ready  farms,"  and  third- 
ly, farms  made  by  our  people  from  vir- 
gin prairie  or  wood  lands,  purchased  at 
low  figures,  from  $5  to  $8  per  acre. 

After  giving  an  exhaustive  account 
of  the  homesteads  established,  of  the 
present  needs,  of  the  struggles  and 
hardships,  and  dwelling  upon  the 
higher  benefits  derived  from  the  move- 
ment, pointing  out  the  favorable  con- 
ditions the  enthusiastic  secretary  en- 


happy  and  contented  life?  The  an- 
swer to  this  question  must  come  from 
those  who  are  able  to  give  financial 
aid  to  the  work  of  promoting  agri- 
cultural pursuits  among  the  poor  Jews. 
Hundreds  of  poor  Jews,  physically 
and  mentally  well  fitted  for  the  pur- 
pose, desire  to  become  farmers.  They 
are  anxious  to  leave  the  city  and  try 
to  make  homes  for  their  families  in 
the  country,  by  either  filing  a  home- 
stead claim  on  government  land  or  by 
purchasing  at  a  reasonable  price  -a 
piece  of  good  fertile  soil,  and  work 
on  the  same  as  agriculturists.  Will 
they  be  assisted  to  carry  out  their  good 
intentions?  Will  the  work  which  has 


FIVE  FAMILIES  OF  JEWISH  FAR  MERS  IN  SMITH  VALLEY. 


Jewish  farmers  located  in  Smith's  Val- 
ley. 

Seventy-one  of  our  Jewish  farmer 
families,  comprising  314  persons — 151 
adults  over  the  age  of  sixteen  years, 
and  163  children  and  youths — are  lo- 
cated in  the  middle-west  in  the  states 
of  Illinois,  Michigan,  Iowa,  Wiscon- 
sin, Minnesota  and  the  Dakotas.  Eight 
of  .these  families  are  working  rented 
farms;  twenty-four  filed  homestead 
claims  on  government  land,  and  the 
other  thirty-nine  families  are  located 
on  thirty  separate  homesteads.  These 
homesteads,  an  aggregation  of  2,987 
acres  of  land,  have  been  purchased  by 
the  respective  owners  at  a  cost  of 
$38,980,  and  with  the  improvements 
put  in  by  our  people  the  lands  today 
represent  a  value  of  $63,970.  Among 


deavors  to  point  out  the  duty  of  the 
American  Israelite,  and  he  says: 

"With  these  changed  conditions  in 
favor  of  the  work  in  hand,  may  we 
not  look  for  a  favorable  answer  to  the 
question  of  farming  among  the  Jews 
as  at  least  a  partial  solution  of  the 
economic-  problem  that  confronts  us 
now?  Can  the  Jew  make  a  farmer? 
This  has  been  demonstrated,  though  in 
a  small  yet  in  a  most  effective  way  by 
our  farmers.  Will  the  Jew  make  a 
farmer?  Will  the  many  who  push  and 
cut  and  crush  one  another  in  an  un- 
promising struggle  for  a  livelihood 
carried  on  in  the  over-congested  quar- 
ters in  our  cities  'be  helped  to  seek 
the  wide  and  open  country  and  there 
find  the  God-blessed  avenue  that  leads 
through  honest  and  useful  labor  to  a 


for  its  purpose  the  assisting  of  these 
people  in  their  endeavor,  be  upheld? 
Surely,  if  pre-eminence  in  usefulness 
entitles  any  undertaking  to  marked 
consideration,  this  work  of  assisting 
our  poor  Jewish  brethren  to  become 
farmers  makes  good  its  claim." 

YOUNG  MEN'S  HEBREW  CHARITY 
ASSOCIATION. 

The  name  of  this  association  should 
be  written  in  gold  and  its  praises 
should  be  sung  in  rhythmic  rhyme. 
The  plain  every-day  prose  which  alone 
stands  to  our  disposal  is  too  feeble  to 
do  justice  to  its  glorious  achievements. 
Since  January,  1881,  the  time  when 
this  society  was  established,  until  the 
year  1900,  when  the  Associated  Char- 
ities were  called  into  existence,  this 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE/ 


355 


association  has  raised  and  distrib- 
uted among  the  charity  institutions  of 
Chicago,  without  distinction  of  creed 
and  nationality  the  munificent  sum  of 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars. 
And  all  this  was  done  without  much 
ostentation,  but  with  great  dignity,  so 
that  every  act  reflected  honor  on  the 
Jewish  name.  What  more  should  there 
be  said,  and  what  more  could  we  say 
in  commendation  of  an  institution 
whose  members  acquitted  themselves 
so  gloriously,  as  citizens,  as  Jews,  and 
as  champions  of  sweet  charity.  We 
are  satisfied  under  the  circumstances 
to  let  their  acts  speak  for  themselves. 
We  will  only  mention  a  few  of  the 
names  of  the  leaders.  The  first  presi- 
dent was  Mr.  D.  Heidelberger,  and  the 
first  secretary  Mr.  James  Rosenthal. 
Among  those  who  have  always  taken 
an  active  interest  in  the  work  of  the 
association  are  the  following:  Louis 
Kuppenheimer,  Levi  Mayer,  Jacob 
Newman,  Joseph  Schaffner,  Maurice 
Rosenfield,  Bernard  Cahn,  Herbert  L.' 
Hart.  Sydney  Lowenstein,  Oscar  J. 
Friedman,  Norman  Florsheim,  Alfred 
M.  Snydacker,  David  Prank,  Louis  M. 
Stumer,  Harry  Pflaum,  Henry  X. 
Straus,  Edward  A.  Rosenthal,  A.  H. 
Kohn,  Frank  E.  Mandel,  Sydney  Loefa, 
Sol  DeLee,  Simon  W.  Strauss,  Jacob 
Ringer. 

•  Although  the  institution  of  the  As- 
sociated Charities  has  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent taken  the  work  out  of  their  hands, 
yet  the  very  young  men  who  danced 
for  charity  at  the  famous  annual  balls 
arranged  by  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew 
Charity  Association  .have  not  folded 
their  hands  In  idleness.  They  still 
carry  a  heavy  part  of  the  burden,  anJ 
still  work  in  the  interest  of  benevo- 
lence in  the  ranks  of  the  newly  formed 
association,  and  it  is  their  zeal,  their 
devotion  that  are  helping  and  will 
help  to  make  the  Associated  Charities 
a  grand  and  glorious  success. 

j.»_  *  I, 

JEWISH   TRAINING   SCHOOL. 

The  Jewish  Training  School  of  Chi- 
cago was  founded  >by  a  number  of  no- 
ble-minded and  intelligent  people, 
Jews  of  Chicago.  Its  main  purpose 
was  "to  foster  self-help  and  self-re- 
liance, to  enable  the  needy  to  lift 
themselves  beyond  the  need  of  an- 
other's assistance,  to  educate  the  poor 
in  thrift  and  honesty,  independence 
and  self  respect;  to  lend  a  helping 
hand  to 'those  who  begin  the  struggle 
for  existence  handicapped  by  adverse 
circumstances.  There  existed,  indeed 
a  great  need  for  such  an  institution 
on  account  of  the  thousands  and 
thousands  of  Jewish  emigrants  from 
the  most  benighted  and  degraded  sec- 
tions of  Europe. 

The  school  was  dedicated  and  opened 
on  October  19th,  1890.  It  consisted 
from  the  beginning  of  three  depart- 
ments— kindergarten,  primary  and 
grammar  departments.  The  schools 
received  pupils  of  tooth  sexes  and  all 
nationalities,  between  the  ages  of  three 
to  fifteen  years,  furnishing  them  free 


education,  the  course  covering  a  period 
of  eleven  years.  The  institution  is 
unsectarian.  There  are  about  700 
children  enrolled  in  school  and  kinder- 
garden;  admitted  are  only  the  children 
of  the  poor. 

The  intention,  however,  is  to  estab- 
lish trade  school  for  boys  and  girls 
after  they  have  graduated  from  the 
school,  and  have  shown  and  developed 
their  innate  faculties.  One  branch  of 
trade  school  has  been  established  al- 
ready— a  school  for  gold  and  sil"«- 
engraving. 

The  expense  of  maintaining  this  in- 
stitution are  about  $25,000.00  annually. 
The  school  is  located  at  199  West 
Twelfth  place,  right  in  the  center  of 
the  Jewish  settlement. 

The  first  meeting  for  the  establish- 
ment of  this  school  was  held  at  Sinai 
Temple  in  1888,  and  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion is  to  a  great  extent  the  father  of 
this  institution.  A  number  of  tho 


tects,  and  is  well  adapted  for  its  pur- 
pose. It  is  a  four-story  brick  struc- 
ture, 60x110  feet  in  dimension.  It 
has  two  entrances  and  stairways,  and 
its  twenty-two  rooms,  capable  of  seat- 
ing 800  pupils,  are  all  light  and  airy, 
and  furnished  with  the  latest  and  most 
improved  school  apparatus.  The  ma- 
chine shop,  in  which  thirty  boys  can 
work  conveniently,  is  arranged  in  reg- 
ular workshop  style,  and  is  supplied 
with  the  lathes,  benches,  vises  and  an- 
vils necessary  for  wood  and  metal 
turning.  The  joining  shop,  in  which 
thirty-five  boys  can  work  simultane- 
ously, is  equipped  with  a  complete 
outfit  of  the  best  tools  and  latest  Im- 
proved vises.  The  molding,  drawing, 
sewing  and  kindergarten  rooms  are 
furnished  with  the  best  of  the  neces- 
sary appurtenances.  The  laboratory  is 
supplied  with  the  apparatus  and  chem- 
icals commonly  used  in  schools  to  il- 
lustrate the  principles  of  elementary 


JEWISH  TRAINING  SCHOOL. 


members  of  Sinai  Congregation  and 
others  have  donated  large  sums  of 
money  to  this  institution.  During  the 
year  1888  to  1889  Mr.  Leon  Mandel 
gave  $20,000.00,  Emanuel  Mandel  $5,- 
000.00,  H.  A.  Kohn  $5,000.00,  Max  A. 
Mayer  $10,000.00,  Charles  H.  Schwab 
$5,000.00.  The  Young  Men's  Hebrew 
Charity  Association  gave  $9,500.00. 

The  first  officers  were:  President, 
Charles  H.  Schwab;  vice-president, 
Mrs.  Emanuel  Mandel;  treasurer,  J.  L. 
Gatzert;  recording  secretary,  Rabbi 
Joseph  Stolz;  'financial  secretary,  Mrs. 
J.  Wedeles.  Directors:  Henry  L. 
Frank,  Henry  Greenebaum,  Dr.  E.  G. 
Hirscb,  H.  A.  Kohn,  Julius  Rosenthal, 
Mrs.  M.  Loeb,  Mrs.  B.  Loewenthal, 
Mrs.  Harry  Mayer,  Mrs.  Lee  Mayer, 
Mrs.  Joseph  Spiegel,  Mrs.  M.  Rosen- 
baum. 

The  building  located  on  Judd  street 
Jefferson  and  Clinton  streets,  was  de- 
signed by  Adler  &  Sullivan,  archi- 


physlcs  and  general  chemistry.  The 
large  assemibly-room  is  fitted  for  ex- 
hibitions and  gatherings,  and  the 
class-rooms  contain  the  usual  school 
appliances.  There  is  an  ample  supply 
of  wash  and  bath  rooms.  Pasteur  fil- 
ters purify  the  drinking  water,  and  a 
thirty-horse  power  horizontal  engine 
drives  the  machinery  and  furnishes 
power  for  supplying  the  building  with 
heat  and  ventilation. 

The  school  was  opened  October  20th, 
1890,  with  a  corps  of  twenty  paid 
teachers  and  five  volunteers,  under  the 
superintendence  of  Prof.  Gabriel  Bam- 
'berger. 

At  the  opening  of  the  school  1,600 
children,  ranging  from  three  to  fifteen 
years  of  age,  applied  for  admission. 
Only  1,100  were  accepted,  though  the 
seating  capacity  was  but  800.  The 
classes  were,  however,  so  overcrowded 
that  it  was  found  absolutely  necessary 
to  dismiss  about  200  more  and  such 


356 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


were  then  chosen  for  dismissal  and 
sent  to  the  neighboring  public  schools 
as  were, 'upon  careful  investigation, 
found  to  be  generally  in  better  circum- 
stances. Of  these  about  150  were  re- 
cent arrivals  from  Russia,  who  had 
never  before  attended  an  English 
school. 

The  aim  of  the  school's  instruction 
is  to  unite  training  in  the  industrial 
and  mechanical  arts  with  the  very 
best  methods  of  teaching  the  usual 
school  studies,  in  order  to  develop  har- 
moniously the  mental,  moral  and  phys- 
ical powers  of  the  pupils,  prepare 
them  for  the  active  duties  of  life  and 
fit  them  for  good  citizenship.  To  re- 
alize this  aim  the  course  of  study  de- 
signed to  cover  twelve  years  is  divided 
into  three  departments,  namely:  the 
Kindergarten,  the  Primary  department 
and  the  Grammar  department. 

The  secretary,  Dr.  Joseph  Stolz,  fin- 
ishes the  executive  report  of  that  year 
with  the  following  words:  "We  need 
the  best  teachers  we  can  get,  and  the 
'best  appliances  to  assist  them,  and 
these  teachers  and  appliances  cost 
money.  The  building  stands.  The 
school  is  thoroughly  organized  and  in 
excellent  working  order.  The  pupils 
have  shown  a  marked  moral  and  in- 
tellectual progress.  The  girls  have 
shown  skill  in  dress-making,  and  those 
whose  environment  has  not  been  such 
as  to  foster  manual  labor,  have  shown 
aptitude  in  the  handling  of  tools.  The 
difficult  lesson  of  cleanliness  has  been 
learned  and  through  mothers'  meet- 
ings we  have  won  the  confidence  and 
co-operation  of  the  parents.  The 
Night  school,  that,  under  the  charge 
of  our  superintendent  and  in  our 
building  educates  some  300  adults  in 
the  elements  of  our  language  and  in 
the  history  of  our  country  as  well  as 
In  bookkeeping,  has  accomplished  in- 
calculable good.  Everything  augurs 
well  for  the  future.  What  has  been 
done  is  but  a  pledge  of  what  can  be 
done  and  we  appeal  to  your  love  of 
humanity  to  aid  us.  We  need  your 
co-operation.  We  need  you  to  help  us 
secure  a  sufficient  number  of  patrons 
and  members  to  put  the  institution  on 
an  independent  footing. 

This  is  more  than  sentiment — this 
Is  duty.  We  owe  it  to  the  unhappy 
children  of  Russia  that  have  found  a 
home  in  our  midst.  We  owe  it  to 
those  most  needy  of  all  the  needy, 
those  of  our  co-religionists  who  are 
now  groaning  under  the  heartless 
tyranny  of  the  Czar,  many  of  whom 
will  soon  be  with  us.  We  owe  It  to 
that  "New  Education"  whose  cause  we 
have  espoused.  We  as  Jews,  pioneers 
in  the  cause  of  humanity,  owe  it  to  the 
world  that  when  two  years  hence  peo- 
ple will  flock  hither  from  every  coun- 
try and  clime,  we  shall  be  able  to  di- 
rect them  to  the  model  educational  in- 
stitute of  this  city,  the  Jewish  Train- 
ing School. 

What  the  Jewish  Training  School  has 
accomplished  during  the  twelve  years 
of  its  existence  among  the  children  of 


the  poor,  what  benefit  and  what  bles- 
sing the  work  of  the  very  able  super- 
intendent, Prof.  Bamberger  and  the 
efficient  corps  of  teachers  have  been 
to  thousands  and  thousands  of  the 
dwellers  of  the  Ghetto  district,  can 
hardly  be  told  In  the  limited  space 
which  we  have  at  our  disposal.  Suf- 
fice it  to  say  that  it  is  the  best  institu- 
tion of  the  Jewish  community  and  en- 
joys the  moral  and  financial  support 
of  the  very  best  and  the  most  intelli- 
gent classes  of  the  Chicago  Jews. 

PROF.  GABRIEL  BAMBERGER. 
Superintendent  of  the  Jewish  Training 
School. 

Professor  Gabriel  Bamberger,  one  of 
the  foremost  educators  of  this  coun- 
try, was  born  in  the  small  village  of 
Angerod  in  the  Grand  duchy  of  Hes- 
sen-Darmstadt,  on  June  3d,  1845.  One 
of  a  large  family  of  professional  peo- 
ple, his  father  being  a  successful  teach- 
er and  his  sisters  and  brothers  in  that 
or  allied  professions,  the  young  lad 


PROF.   G  BAMBERGER. 

also  was  destined  to  a  similar  calling. 
The  profession  of  Rabbi  was  chosen 
for  him  and  for  this  purpose,  after 
having  received  instruction  in  the  ele- 
mentary schools  of  his  home,  he  was 
early  sent  to  Breslau  to  take  prepara- 
tory work  in  the  famous  Rabbinical 
Seminary  of  that  city.  But  the  career 
of  Rabbi  was  very  shortly  abandoned, 
as  the  'boy  showed  other  tastes.  He 
entered  the  Gymnasium  of  Breslau, 
from  which  he  was  graduated. 

Prof.  Bamberger  enjoyed  the  privi- 
lege of  being  a  pupil  of  the  great  edu- 
cator, Wilhelm  Curtmann,  in  the  Ped- 
agogical Seminary  of  Friedberg,  Hes- 
sen.  After  graduating  from  there  he 
continued  his  pedagogical  work  by 
taking  a  post-graduate  course  in  the 
University  of  Giessen  (Hesen).  Im- 
mediately after  finishing  his  prepara- 
tions as  an  educator,  the  professor  be- 
came one  in  actuality.  He  entered  the 
services  of  the  German  government 
and  soon  was  made  the  principal  of  a. 
preparatory  and  business  college  in 
Hessen. 

In  1879  a  call  from  across  the  ocean 


was  sent  to  the  rising  young  peda- 
gogue. He  was  asked  to  and  did  or- 
ganize and  become  principal  of  the 
Workingman's  School  of  New  York, 
which  was  maintained  by  the  Society 
for  Ethical  Culture  of  that  city.  In 
doing  so,  Prof.  Bamberger  became  the 
first  pedagogue  in  this  country  to  in- 
troduce Manual  Training  in  the  gram- 
mar and  primary  grades.  He  gave  the 
first  exhibit  of  Manual  Training  work 
of  these  grades  at  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  National  Educational  Associa- 
tion in  Saratoga  in  1883,  and  was  en- 
couraged in  his  propaganda  by  but 
three  men  of  the  whole  assembly.  But 
those  men  were  Col.  F.  Parker  of  Chi- 
cago, Dr.  Woodworth  of  St.  Louis,  and 
Dr.  H.  H.  Fick  of  Cincinnati. 

Whatever  strides  Manual  Training 
has  taken  in  the  country  at  large  since 
then  owes  its  first  impetus  to  Prof. 
Bamberger's  pioneer  work. 

In  1890,  after  being  principal  of  the 
Workingman's  School  for  eleven  years, 
Chicago  demanded  the  services  of  this 
exceptional  educator.  The  Jewish 
Training  School  of  Chicago,  at  whose 
head  he  now  is,  owes  its  whole  suc- 
cess and  its  superior  rank  as  a  school 
almost  wholly  to  Prof.  Bamberger. 

What  Prof.  Bamberger  has  done  for 
the  school  is  another  story  and  could 
not  possibly  be  confined  to  the  short 
space  of  this  sketch.  Suffice  it  to  say 
that  Prof.  Bamberger  has  taken  an 
active  part  in  all  the  important  educa- 
tional associations  of  the  country  as 
well  as  being  a  somewhat  prolific 
writer  of  pedagogic  literature.  He 
has  written  and  published  many  pam- 
phlets and  'brochures  on  subjects  of 
Manual  Training,  as  well  as  many 
other  phases  of  education.  A  Phonetic 
Reader,  the  first  of  its  kind  in  this 
country,  was  written  and  published  by 
him,  as  also  a  course  of  Manual  Train- 
ing now  published  in  book  form  under 
the  name,  "Head,  Heart  and  Hand." 

However,  Prof.  Bamberger's  field  of 
education  has  'been  even  broader  than 
his  activity  in  the  lines  mentioned 
above.  He  has  also  'been  a  power  in 
the  religious  education  of  the  Jewish 
youth  of  this  city.  Always  a  deep  and 
scholarly  student  of  the  literature  of 
his  people,  Prof.  Bamberger  is  an  au- 
thority upon  the  methods  of  imparting 
such  knowledge.  To  this  end  he  has 
written  much,  most  notably  a  series 
of  articles  on  the  way  to  teach  Bible 
History,  which  appeared  in  the  pages- 
of  the  Reform  Advocate  some  years 
ago,  as  well  as  many  other  articles  in 
our  American  Jewish  papers. 

But  'better  than  writing  of  the  way 
to  teach  Prof.  Bamberger  has  done  the 
actual  teaching  and  became  a  living 
example  for  all  to  follow. 

He  has  been  a  most  valuable  adjunct 
to  Sinai  Temple's  well-conducted  Sab- 
bath School  and  as  a  leader  organized 
and  was  the  president  for  many  years 
of  the  Jewish  Sabbath  School  Teachers' 
Association. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  professor, 
who  is  admired  and  beloved  by  all  who 


REFORM  ADVOGATK. 


357 


have  had  the  privilege  of  knowing 
him,  will  be  spared  for  many  years  to 
help  the  community  of  Chicago  in  4ts 
onward  march  toward  the  highest  civ- 
ilization. 

XVII. 
A  JOINED  CONFERENCE. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1890,  an 
unique  conference  of  Jews  and  Gen- 
tiles was  conducted  in  the  main  hall  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  block, 
corner  Clark  and  Washington  streets. 
The  instigator  of  that  meeting  was  the 
Rev.  Wm.  E.  Blackstone,  a  well-known 
missionary  of  the  Christian  church. 
We  have  before  us  a  copy  of  the  pro- 
gram of  this  conference,  which  con- 
sist§d  of  four  sessions,  the  first  meet- 
ing taking  place  on  Monday,  November 
24th,  in  the  afternoon.  The  second 
session  was  held  in  the  evening  of  the 
same  day  at  7:30  p.  m.  On  Tuesday 
afternoon  the  third  meeting  took  place, 
and  the  fourth  and  last  session  was 
held  in  the  evening  of  that  day  at  7:30. 
Rev.  Mr.  Blackstone  makes  a  state- 
ment in  this  program  in  explanation  of 
the  object  of  this  conference  in  the 
following  words:  "The  object  of  this 
conference  is  to  give  information  and 
promote  a  spirit  of  inquiry  therefor  on 
the  basis  of  mutual  kindness  between 
Jews  and  Christians. 

Admission  free.  Israelites  and 
Christians  cordially  invited.  (Signed) 
Wm.  E.  Blackstone,  chairman  of  com- 
mittee. 

The  writer  attended  all  the  sessions 
of  this  strange  conference  and  could 
perhaps  give  a  lengthy  account  of  the 
proceedings  and  transactions,  but  pre- 
fers to  give  an  exact  copy  of  this  pro- 
gram, as  it  is  in  his  estimation  a  very 
rare  document  in  the  history  of  re- 
ligion. In  course  of  time  many  meet- 
ings have  taken  place  where  disputes 
between  Jews  and  Christians  on  re- 
ligious topics  have  been  the  main  fea- 
tures. But  none  of  these  conferences 
of  former  days  were  anything  like  this 
one  arranged  by  Rev.  Blackstone.  The 
following  is  a  copy  of  the  program: 
CONFERENCE 
on  the 

Past,  Present  and  Future  of  Israel, 

To  be  held  in  the 
MAIN  HALL,  OF  THE  M.  E.  CHURCH 

BLOCK, 
Corner  Clark  and  Washington  streets. 

Chicago,  111. 

MONDAY     AND      TUESDAY,      NOV. 
24TH  AND  25TH,  1890. 

Jews  and  Christians  to  Participate. 

PROGRAMME. 

Monday,  Nov.  24th. 

Chairman — Wm.   E.   Blackstone. 

Afternoon  Session. 
2:00— Psalm    122.     Prayer  by  Rev.  Dr. 

C.  Perren. 

2:15— Address,  Rev.  E.     P.     Goodwin, 

D.  D. 

"The  Attitude^  of  the  Nation  and 
of  Christian  People  Toward  the 
Jews." 

3:00 — Address,  Rev.  Dr.  B.  Felsenthal, 
Rabbi. 


"Why   Israelites   do   not  accept 
Jesus  as  their  Messiah." 


Evening  Session. 
7:30— Psalm  25.    Prayer  by  Rev.  Lieb- 

man  Adler.  Rabbi. 

7:45— Address,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch, 
Rabbi. 

"The  religious  Condition  of  the 
Jews  today  and  their  attitude 
toward  Christianity." 
Song,  Mr.  Joseph  J.  Schnadig. 
8:30— Address,    Rev.     J.    H.   Barrows, 
D.  D. 

"Israel  as  an   evidence  of     the 
truth   of   the   Christian     reli- 
gion." 
Aaronic  Benediction. 


Tuesday,  Nov.  25th.    . 
Afternoon  Session. 
2:00— Psalm  53.   Prayer  by  Rev.  Chas. 

M.  Morton. 
2:15 — Address,  Joseph  Stolz,  Rabbi. 

"Post  Biblical  History  of  Israel." 
3:00 — Address,   Rev.     J.  M.  Caldwell, 
D.  D. 

"Jerusalem  and  Palestine  as  they 
are  today,  and  the  restoration 
of  Israel." 

Song,  "The  Hebrew  Captive." 
3:45 — Explanation  of  maps  and  charts. 
Communications. 


Evening  Session. 
7:30 — Psalm  98.     Prayer. 
7:45 — Address,  Prof,  David  C.  Marquis, 
D.  D. 

"Israel's  Messiah." 
8:30— Address,  by  an  Israelite. 

"The  Anti-Semitism  of  Today." 
9:00— Address,  Prof.  H.  M.  Scott,  D.  D. 
"Israelites  and  Christians.  Their 
Mutual  Relations  and  Welfare, 
or  Lessons  of  this  conference." 

BENEDICTION. 
The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  keep 

thee. 

The  Lord  make  His  face  shine 
upon  thee,  and  be  gracious 
unto  thee; 

The  Lord  lift  up  His  countenance 
upon  thee,  and  give  thee 
Peace. 


A  selection  of  ten  hymns  from  the 
church  hymnals  were  printed  with 
the  programme  and  sung  by  the  audi- 
ence. The  address  of  Dr.  B.  Felsen- 
thal was  afterwards  published  in  pam- 
phlet form,  reprinted  from  the  Reform 
Advocate  by  the  Publishers,  Messrs. 
Bloch  &  Newman.  The  Doctor  prefaces 
the  printed  address  with  the  following 
remarks:  "A  few  years  ago,  on  No- 
vember 24th  and  25th,  1890,  a  confer- 
ence of  -Israelites  and  Christians  was 
held  in  the  First  Methodist  Church  in 
the  city  of  Chicago,  and  each  of  its 
four  sessions  was  very  largely  attend- 
ed. It  was  mainly  Mr.  William  E. 
Blackstone,  by  whose  efforts  this  con- 
ference was  brought  about.  Among  us 
Jews  it  was  not  known  at  that  time 
that  Mr.  Blackstone  is  actively  en- 
gaged in  missionary  work  among  the 
Jews,  and  so  he  succeeded  in  persuad- 


ing some  Chicago  rabbis  to  take  part 
in  his  conference.  To  me  Mr.  Black- 
stone  has  assigned  the  subject  indi- 
cated in  the  question  at  the  head  of 
this  discourse.  Upon  the  request  of 
some  friends  my  discourse  is  here 
again  published." 

A  Hebrew  paper,  under  the  title  of 
"B'akharith  Hayamim"  (in  the  last 
days,  a  dialogue  between  Father  anclSon 
concerning  Isreal's  hopes),  was  pre- 
pared for  the  occasion  by  Rabbi  A. 
I.  G.  Lesser,  Rabbi  of  congregation 
B'eth  Hamidrash  Hagodol  Ubnai  Ja- 
cob. This  paper  was  later  translated 
at  the  request  of  the  author  by  Her- 
man EJiassof  and  was  published  in 
book  form,  English  and  Hebrew,  in 
1897.  The  Rabbis  who  participated  in 
this  Conference  learned  with  regret 
that  it  was  more  the  missionary  than 
the  messenger  of  peace  who  arranged 
this  conference. 

HOME  FOR  AGED  JEWS. 

The  Home  for  Aged  Jews  of  Chicago 
was  established  in  1891.  The  first  an- 
nual meeting  of  patrons  and  members 
was  held  May  8th,  1892.  The  Presi- 
dent, Mr.  Morris  Rosenbaum,  read  his 
report,  from  which  we  quote  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"To  Abraham  Slimmer  is  due  the 
gratitude  of  the  community  for  his 
munificence  and  liberality,  for  his 
lofty  example  and  for  the  privilege  of 
joining  him  in  this  noble  work." 

And  he  was  right,  for  it  was  Mr. 
Abraham  Slimmer  of  Waverly,  Iowa, 
who  by  his  donation  of  $50,000.00  for 
a  home  for  the  aged  Jews  in  Chicago 
on  condition  that  the  -Jews  of  Chicago 
raise  an  equal  amount  made  it 
possible  for  this  home  to  become  a  re- 
ality. Mr.  Slimmer  was  an  intimate 
friend  of  Mr.  Rosenbaum,  and  when 
he  one  day  confided  to  his  friend,  Ro- 
senbaum, his  intention  of  donating  a 
large  amount  of  money  to  some  insti- 
tution, for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a 
home  for  aged  Jews,  Mr.  Rosenbaum 
at  once  advised  him  to  make  the  Chi- 
cago Jewish  community  the  recipient 
of  his  bountiful  gift.  Mr.  Slimmer 
took  the  advice  of  his  friend  and  made 
the  offer,  on  condition  that  the  Chi- 
cago Jews  raise  an  equal  amount. 
Mr.  Rosenbaum  interested  a  num- 
ber of  the  rich  members  of  the 
Jewish  community  and  the  necessary 
$50,000  were  soon  raised.  Mrs.  Elizah 
Frank  donated  $10,000,  Nelson  Morris, 
$5,000,  H.  A.  Kohn,  $5,000,  Jacob 
Rosenberg  and  Mrs.  Henrietta  Roseu- 
feld  each  donated  $5,000,  Mr.  M.  Ro- 
senbaum and  his  brother  Joseph  Ro- 
senbaum each  gave  $1,000,  and  a  num- 
ber of  others  smaller  amounts. 

The  Israelitische  Altenheim  Verein, 
a  society  of  Jewish  ladies,  established 
some  years  previous  for  the  purpose  of 
aiding  in  the  founding  of  a  Home  for 
Aged  Jews,  turned  over  $3,000  to  the 
Board  of  the  Home. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1891,  the  follow- 
ing officers  and  directors  were  elected: 
Mr.  Morris  Rosenbaum,  President; 
Mr.  E.  Frankenthal,  Vice-president;  B. 


358 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


Loewenthal,  Treasurer;  H.  E.  Greene- 
baum,  Recording  Secretary;  Mrs.  Irv- 
ing S.  Bernheimer,  Financial  Secre- 
tary. 

DIRECTORS. 
(To  serve  one  year.) 
Henry  L.  Frank,  David  A.  Kohn,  A. 
Loeb,  Nelson   Morris,   Simon   Mandel, 


May,  1897,  there  were  54  inmates,  26 
men  and  28  women,  representing  the 
following  nationalities:  Germany,  32; 
Hungary,  6;  Russia,  5;  Bohemia-Aus- 
tria, '4;  Galicia- Austria,  3;  Holland,  2; 
Poland,  1,  and  America  1. 

The  expenditures  of  the  fiscal  year 
ending    January,    1899,    amounted     to 


HOME   FOR  AGED  JEWS. 


H.   A.   Kohn,   Mrs.   J.  K.   Frank,  Mrs. 

Henry  Kloffer,  and  Mrs.  Aaron  Stern. 

(To  serve  two  years.) 

H.  E.  Greenebaum,  Bernard  Cahn,  A. 
Kuh,    B.    Loewenthal,    Joseph    Rosen- 
baum,  Mrs.  I.  S.  Bernheimer,  Mrs.  Max 
Hart,  and  Mrs.  M.  A.  Meyer. 
(To  serve  three  years.) 

Morris  Rosenbaum,  Abram  Slimmer, 
B.  Kuppenheimer,  Harry  Hart,  E. 
Frankenthal,  Mrs.  L.  Newberger,  Mrs. 
Chas.  H.  Schwab,  and  Mrs.  B.  J.  Da- 
vid. 

The  board  secured  the  services  of 
S.  B.  Eisendrath,  architect,  who  sub- 
mitted plans  for  a  building.  The  plans 
were  adopted  and  the  contracts  let. 
The  following  (building  committee  was 
appointed:  E.  Frankenthal,  Chair- 
man; Henry  L.  Frank,  Bernard  Kahn, 
Joseph  Rosenbaum,  and  Harry  Hart. 
The  lot  on  which  the  building  was 
to  .be  erected  was  bought  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  Sixty-second  street  and 
Drexel  avenue,  having  a  frontage  of 
347  on  Drexel  avenue  and  207  on  Sixty- 
second  street,  with  a  16-foot  alley.  The 
Home  was  dedicated  on  Sunday,  April 
30th,  1893,  and  seven  applicants  had 
been  admitted  to  the  home. 

During  1893  there  were  44  inmates 
at  the  home.  According  to  the  Re- 
port of  the  Superintendent,  Mrs.  B.  J. 
David,  dated  May  12th,  1895,  donations 
to  the  Home  had  been  numerous  and 
liberal.  The  Women's  Home  Society 
were  very  zealous  in  their  endeavors 
in  behalf  of  the  home  during  the  year. 
The  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Charity  As- 
sociation rendered  generous  material 
assistance.  The  largest  number  of  in- 
mates at  any  time  up  to  May,  1896, 
was  49. 

At  the  time  of  the  annual  meeting, 


J14.912.64.  The  number  of  inmates  at 
the  home  was  71.  The  library  of  the 
home  gained  about  175  volumes  of 
excellent  literature. 

The  officers  elected  at  the  last  annu- 
al meeting,  January,  1900,  are  the  fol- 
lowing: M.  Rosenbaum,  president,  re- 
elected;  Mrs.  Chas.  H.  Schwab,  vice- 
president;  Rabbi  Abram  Hirschberg, 
recording  secretary;  Herman  Hefter, 
financial  secretary;  B.  Loewenthal, 
treasurer. 

The  Home  for  Aged  Jews  is  a  neces- 
sity in  a  community  like  Chicago.  The 


MORRIS  ROSENBAUM. 

Chicago  Israelites  know  it,  and  have 
taken  good  care  of  this  institution. 
The  management  is  in  good  hands,  and 
the  future  of  the  Home. is  assured. 

THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  HOME. 
MORRIS  ROSENBAUM. 

Morris     Rosenbaum     was     born     in 
Schwabach,     Germany,     January     20, 


1837,  being  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Ba- 
bette  Rosenbaum.  He  received  a  lib- 
eral education.  In  the  schools  of  Ger- 
many and  being  of  a  studious  turn  of 
mind  made  rapid  progress  in  all  his 
studies.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  school,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  July,  1850,  cross- 
Ing  the  Mississippi  river  at  Dubuque, 
Iowa,  in  December,  1850,  at  which  place 
he  made  his  home  until  the  year  185S. 
Obtaining  a  position  in  a  large  grocery 
store,  he  at  once  acquired  the  good 
will,  confidence  and  respect  of  his  em- 
ployer and  his  employer's  family,  by 
his  energetic  and  attentive  application 
to  the  interests  of  his  employer.  Dur- 
ing Mr.  Rosenbaum's  service  in  the 
grocery  business  he  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  Mr.  A.  Mularky,  from  Cedar 
Falls,  Iowa,  whose  confidence  and 
friendship  won  for  Mr.  Rosenbaum  the 
start  of  his  business  life,  as  Mr.  Mu- 
larky sold  to  Mr.  Rosenbaum  in  1858 
the  entire  stock  of  merchandise,  of 
about  ?3,600,  and  this  all  on  credit  and 
without  any  security. 

At  this  time  Mr.  Rosenbaum  was  a 
poor  lad  of  but  twenty-one  years,  but 
he  possessed  that  untiring  energy,  push 
and  modesty  that  go  so  far  in  making 
the  successful  man. 

With  a  determination  and  a  will  that 
knew  not  of  failure,  he  started  in  this 
new  enterprise  by  giving  his  brother 
Joseph  (then  not  20  years  old)  a  third- 
interest  in  the  business,  and  to  his 
Dubuque  benefactor  (who  had  been 
swamped  during  the  financial  crisis  of 
1857),  one-third  interest,  retaining  for 
himself  one-third  interest.  Such  is  the 
disposition  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
and  these  the  sterling  qualities  that 
characterize  his  every  action  all 
through  life. 

From  Cedar  Falls  Mr.  Rosenbaum 
moved  to  Nashua,  Iowa,  in  the  year 
1867,  and  established  himself  in  the 
banking  business.  In  1874  he  came  to 
Chicago  and  established  the  grain  com- 
mission business  which  is  now  carried 
on  under  the  firm  name  of  Rosenbaum 
Bros.,  of  which  Mr.  Morris  Rosenbaum 
was  at  the  head,  and  is  to  the  present 
day. 

Mr.  Rosenbaum  is  a  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
son, a  member  and  ex-director  of  Sinai 
Congregation  and  a  member  of  the 
Standard  Club.  Mr.  Rosenbaum  has 
always  been  interested  in  all  charities, 
giving  liberally  to  anything  that  per- 
tained to  the  comfort  and  welfare  of 
others. 

In  the  spring  of  1891  Mr.  Rosenbaum 
induced  Mr.  Abram  Slimmer  of  Iowa 
to  donate  $50,000  for  a  home  for  Aged 
Jews  in  Chicago,  this  liberal  donation 
being  the  start  for  others  to  follow, 
and  thus  was  this  worthy  institution 
founded.  Mr.  Rosenbaum  has  been 
president  of  the  home  since  its  incep- 
tion, and  through  foresight  and  care- 
ful management  the  sinking  fund  has 
never  lost  a  dollar  of  its  principal,  and 
through  the  personality  of  its  presi- 
dent the  Home  for  Aged  Jews  has  a 
large  following  and  today  ranks  among 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


859 


the  best  and  most  worthy  institutions 
of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Rosenbaum  married  Miss  Sophia 
Bloch,  October  11,  1871.  They  have 
four  daughters — Etta  (Mrs.  Edward  L. 
Glaser),  Stella  (Mrs.  M.  W.  Kozmin- 
ski),  Maude  (Mrs.  Dr.  D.  N.  Eisen- 
drath),  and  Miss  Alma. 

Mr.  Rosenbaum  has  preached  and 
practiced,  in  his  home  and  elsewhere, 
the  motto  of  "Plain  living,  and  high 
thinking,"  of  modesty  and  unostenta- 
tiousness. 

XVIII. 

THE  RUSSIAN  REFUGEE  SOCIETY. 

The  Society  in  Aid  of  Russian  Refu- 
gees ,  was  established  in  September, 
1891.  Officers  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee were  as  follows:  Adolph  Loeto, 
President;  Jacob  Rosenberg,  First 
Vice-President;  Henry  Greenebaum, 
Second  Vice-President;  Oscar  G.  Fore- 
man, Treasurer;  Rev.  A.  Norden,  Sec- 
retary. Members  of  the  Executive 
Committee:  Dr.  B.  Felsenthal,  Dr.  E. 
G.  Hirsch.  Dr.  I.  S.  Moses,  Julius  Ro- 
senthal  H.  A.  Kohn,  Nelson  Morris, 
Abraham  Hart,  Jos.  Beifeld,  Abrahm 
Kuh,  Adolph  Kraus,  Sam  Nathan,  Au- 
gust Gatzert,  Advisory  Board:  Leo 
Schlossman,  Chairman,  Dr.  B.  Felsen- 
thal, Dr.  Jos.  Stolz,  A.  J.  Frank,  Is- 
rael Cowen,  J.  Lewis,  J.  Berkson,  D. 
Godstein,  Albert  Weil,  Adolph  Bondy, 
L.  Zolotkoff,  A.  Bernstein,  Dr.  A.  Levy, 
Superintendent;  H.  Eliassol,  Manager. 

On  the  4th  day  of  September  of  the 
above  year  an  office  was  opened  on 
Jefferson  street,  right  in  the  heart  of 
the  Ghetto  district  and  close  to  the 
Sheltering  Home.  The  office  was 
placed  in  charge  of  Supt.  Dr.  Levy  and 
Manager  H.  Eliassof.  From  the  very 
start  it  was  understood  that  the  offi- 
cers in  charge  of  the  office  of  the  Ex- 
ecutive Committee  should  work  hand 
in  hand  with  the  officers  of  the  Shel- 
tering Home,  which  was  established 
and  maintained  for  some  time  before 
the  Executive  Committee  organized, 
in  that  district.  When  the  new  ar- 
rivals had  rested  for  a  few  days  the 
Executive  Committee  was  to  attend 
to  them.  A  short  time  after,  the  of- 
fice was  removed  from  Jefferson  street 
to  82  Wilson  street.  The  work  was 
carried  on  in  such  a  manner  that  ev- 
ery cent  disbursed,  every  move  made, 
every  order  given,  and  every  step 
taken  in  the  interest  of  the  Refugees 
was  thoroughly  accounted  for.  The 
manager  had  to  present  at  each  week- 
ly meeting  of  the  Advisory  Board  and 
Executive  Committee  a  written  statis- 
tical report,  which  had  to  be  approved 
by  both  bodies.  During  the  first  five 
and  a  half  months  of  the  existence  of 
this  Association  the  number  of  appli- 
cations received  at  the  office  was  309. 
These  applications  came  from  150  fam- 
ilies, comprising  250  adults  and  350 
children,  85  married  men  who  left 
their  families  in  Russia,  67  single  men, 
7  unmarried  women,  and  12  widows, 
a  total  of  671  persons.  Eighty-one  per- 
sons were  sent  away  to  other  cities, 


where  they  either  had  relatives  who 
were  willing  to  take  care  of  them,  or 
were  given  letters  of  recommendation 
to  parties  who  had  agreed  to  look  out 
for  their  interests;  102  persons  were 
provided  with  work.  The  children  of 
the  widows  and  some  orphan  children 
who  came  along  with  some  of  the 
families  were  provided  with  homes 
and  their  board  paid  out  of  the  funds 
of  the  committee.  Some  of  the  men 
who  had  learned  a  trade  were  provided 
with  tools,  some  with  sewing  machines, 
and  others  were  sent  to  learn  a  trade, 
and  the  committee  paid  for  the  teach- 
ing and  also  for  the  board  of  the 
applicant  for  several  weeks.  Nearly 
all  the  families  who  remained  in  Chi- 
cago received  the  necessary  furniture, 
stoves,  and  one,  or  in  some  instances, 
several  months'  rent.  During  the  cold 
weather  many  of  the  families  living 
here  received  coal.  Hundreds  of  bun- 
dles of  warm  clothing  for  men,  women 
and  children  were  received  at  the  of- 
fice of  the  Executive  Committee  from 
all  parts  of  the  city,  and  distributed 
among  the  needy  applicants.  Shoes 
were  also  given  to  a  great  many  who 
were  in  need  of  them.  The  kind- 
hearted  Jewish  physicians  of  the 
neighborhood  had  volunteered  their 
medical  services,  and  the  Executive 
Committee  paid  for  medicine.  Dr. 
Levy  having  resigned  the  office  of 
Superintendent,  Mr.  H.  Eliassof  was 
appointed  his  successor. 

The  writer  could  fill  a  large  volume 
with  the  heart-rending  stories  told  by 
the  Russian  Refugees  of  the  inhuman 
treatment  they  had  to  undergo  at 
their  so-called  homes  in  darkest  Rus- 
sia. In  most  of  the  cases  the  state- 
ments of  the  Refugees  were  support- 
ed by  documents  and  witnesses  whose 
veracity  could  not  be  doubted.  During 
the  entire  time  of  the  existence  of  the 
Society,  which  was  once  reorganized, 
thousands  of  unfortunate  Refugees 
were  helped  and  aided  to  become  self- 
sustaining.  It  was  the  aim  of  the  en- 
tire committee,  as  well  as  the  paid 
help,  to  exert  a  beneficial  influence 
upon  the  Refugees,  and  to  help  them  to 
become  good  American  citizens.  There 
were  among  them  many  good,  honest, 
hard-working  men,  whose  happiness 
knew  no  bounds  when  they  were  in 
the  course  of  a  few  months  able  to  pay 
back  to  the  Society  the  money  which 
they  had  received,  even  in  small  in- 
stallments. The  sum  expended  by  tho 
Society  in  this  good  work  reached 
nearly  $30,000,  the  greater  part  of 
which  was  collected  from  the  good  and 
benevolent  Jews  of  Chicago. 

President  Loeb  in  his  final  report 
says: 

"Glancing  at  these  figures  we  have 
every  reason  to  be  proud  of  our  Chi- 
cago Jewish  community,  who  have  re- 
sponded so  magnificently  to  our  call, 
and  I  may  add  that  our  resources 
were  iby  no  means  exhausted,  and  if 
the  emergency  would  have  been  con- 
tinued I  think  the  donations  would 
have  been  duplicated  by  a  great  many, 


and  those  who  have  not  been  ap- 
proached at  all  would  have  come  for- 
ward with  their  gifts." 

In  regard  to  the  services  of  the  Su- 
perintendent, Mr.  H.  Eliassof,  Presi- 
dent Loeb  makes  the  following  state- 
ment: 

"It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  criti- 
cal times  produce  the  mea  who  can 
cope  with  them,  and  so  in  our  case. 
The  Society  has  been  exceedingly  for- 
tunate in  finding  a  man  like  our  su- 
perintendent, who  was  in  every  way 
fitted  to  this  most  responsible,  and,  I 
may  say,  awkward  position.  It  took 
a  man  of  nerve,  tact,  patience  and  en- 
durance, one  who  could  understand 
the  language  of  the  exiles,  and  know 
their  habits  and  their  vices  and  their 
virtues.  I  am  free,  on  this  occasion, 
to  say,  and  the  Executive  Committee 
will  join  me  in  it,  that  Mr.  Eliassof 
has  served  the  Society  conscientiously 
and  faithfully.  He  has  sacrificed  much 
personally,  but  when  he  accepted  this 
position  I  knew  that  he  did  it  more 
for  the  cause  than  for  the  remunera- 
tion that  was  attached  to  it.  He  is 
entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  the  com- 
munity whom  he  served  so  well." 

THE  SISTERS  OF  AID. 

The  Sisters  of  Aid  was  organized 
November  15th,  1891,  with  a  member- 
ship of  15,  and  the  following  officers: 
Mrs.  Hyman  Rosenbaum,  President; 
Mrs.  Morris  Ephraim,  Vice-President; 
Mrs.  Henry  Rosenbaum,  Secretary; 
Miss  Anna  Stiner,  Treasurer.  The  So- 
ciety now  numbers  80  members,  with 
the  following  officers:  Mrs.  N.  Mos- 
kovitz,  President;  Mrs.  H.  Stone,  Vice- 
President;  Anna  Stiner,  Secretary; 
Mrs.  L.  Levin,  Treasurer. 

The  Society  was  formed  for  the  ob- 
ject of  assisting  the  South  Side  He- 
brew Congregation  and  for  general 
charity  work. 

CHICAGO  HOME  FOR  JEWISH  OR- 
PHANS. 

One  of  the  youngest  beneficiaries  of 
the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Charity  As- 
sociation was  the  Chicago  Home  for 
Jewish  Orphans.  It  was  during  the 
latter  part  of  1892  that  a  number  of 
Jewish  women  who  constantly  visited 
the  office  of  the  United  Hebrew  Chari- 
ties saw  the  necessity  of  establishing 
an  Orphans'  Home  in  this  city,  and  not 
to  continue  to  rely  any  longer  upon 
the  overtaxed  home  in  Cleveland  to 
take  care  of  its  orphan  children.  The 
late  Mr.  Kiss,  superintendent  of  the 
Hebrew  Charities,  encouraged  and 
urged  these  women  to  accomplish  the 
work,  and  upon  the  advice  of  Mr.  A. 
Slimmer  of  Waverly,  Iowa,  who  has 
proven  a  true  friend  of  the  cause,  they 
organized  and  applied  for  a  charter  in 
the  spring  of  1893.  The  charter  mem- 
bers were:  Mesdames:  Radzinski, 
Newberger,  Hamburger,  and  Yondorf. 
An  enthusiastic  meeting  was  held 
April  7th  of  that  year,  and  the  first  do- 
nation of  $100  was  received  from  -Mr. 
Peabody  of  New  York.  The  member- 
ship of  the  Orphans'  Home  Society 


360 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


steadily  increased,  and  at  the  end  of 
the  year  400  names  were  enrolled.  It 
was  then  decided  to  rent  a  house,  fur- 
nish it  and  take  care  of  as  many  chil- 
dren as  their  means  would  permit. 
This  was  done,  and  the  home  was  op- 
ened in  the  house  No.  3601  Vernon  ave- 
nue, October  7th,  1894.  The  Society 
made  this  .beginning  free  from  debt, 


following:  Directors'  Room,  Baron 
Hirsch  Ladies'  Aid  Society;  Study 
Room,  Free  Sons  of  Israel;  Sewing 
Room,  Orphans'  Helpers;  Parlors,  the 
Deborah  Verein;  Assembly  Room, 
North  Side  Ladies'  Sewing  Society; 
Gymnasium,  Mr.  Lowenberg;  Manual 
Training  Room,  I.  Baumgartl;  Indus- 
trial Kitchen,  Mrs.  M.  Hecht;  Library, 


CHICAGO  HOME  FOR      JEWISH  ORPHANS. 


and  with  a  cash  balance  in  the  treas- 
ury. Rev.  A.  Lowenheim  and  his  good 
wife  were  engaged  as  superintendents. 
Soon  30  children  were  in  their  charge, 
and  healthier  and  happier  little  ones 
were  seldom  seen. 

Two  years  later  a  piece  of  property 
was  donated  to  the  Home  by  Mr. 
Henry  Siegel  and  others.  Through  the 
activity  of  its  officers  and  Board  of 
Directors  the  membership  had  stead- 
ily increased,  and  it  then  reached  700. 
Mrs.  L.  Newberger  again  sought  the 
advice  of  our  friend,  Mr.  A.  Slimmer, 
who  offered  to  donate  $25,000,  provid- 
ed a  like  sum  be  collected  in  Chicago. 
The  energetic  and  indefatigable  Presi- 
dent of  the  Association,  Mrs.  C.  L. 
Strauss,  and  a  very  able  committee, 
soon  collected  the  stipulated  amount, 
and  the  Home  was  built  on  the  Drexel 
avenue  site,  and  dedicated  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  April  23d,  1899. 

Simeon  B.  Eisendrath  was  the  suc- 
cessful architect.  The  present  home 
consists  of  three  dormitories,  and 
cloths  linen  and  mending  rooms,  etc. 
The  attic  •  contains  a  large  Assembly 
Hall,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  500; 
also  necessary  cloak,  toilet  and  other 
accessory  rooms. 

The  Hospital  Annex  is  equipped 
with  the  necessary  nurses'  rooms,  phy- 
sician office  and  dispensary,  diet  kitchen 
and  other  essential  accessories,  includ- 
ing a  separate  small  laundry  for  hos- 
pital use  only. 

The  rooms  and  the  persons  and  so- 
cieties that  have  endowed  them  are  the 


Mrs.  C.  L.  Strauss;  Office,  Mrs.  A.  I. 
Radzinski;  Reception  Room,  Mrs.  F. 
W.  Strauss;  Physicians'  Main  Office, 
Mrs.  H.  Steele;  Superintendent's  Room, 
Mrs.  E.  C.  Hamburgher  and  Wendell 
family;  Dining  Room,  Mrs.  Chas. 
Schwaib;  Chapel,  Sydney  Mandel  and 
Mrs.  Solomon  Klein;  Care-takers' 


MRS.  CARRIE  LEOPOLD  STRAUSS. 

Rooms,  Mrs.  Leo  Strauss;  Care-takers' 
Room,  Mrs.  Max  L.  Falk;  Care-takers' 
Room,  Mrs.  Ignatz  Stein;  Care-takers' 
Room,  Mrs.  J.  Hess;  Physicians'  Room, 
North  Side  Auxiliary;  Diet  Kitchen, 
Congregation  Rodfay  Emunah  Diet 
Kitchen,  Mrs.  Leopold  Loewensteln; 
Dispensary,  Mrs.  Tobias  Newman; 
Nurses'  Room,  Mrs.  Rose  Steele; 


Nurses'  Room,  Mrs.  E.  Rheinstrom; 
Two  Sick  Wards,  Mrs.  Frank  Vogel; 
Girls'  Sick  Ward,  Miss  Florence  Lu- 
cile  Siegel;  Boys'  Sick  Ward,  Mrs. 
Isaac  Wedeles. 

A   WORKER   FOR   THE   ORPHANS' 
HOME. 

MRS.   CARRIE   LEOPOLD  STRAUSS. 

Mrs.  Strauss  was  born  in  Germany, 
May  11,  1847,  and  her  maiden  name 
was  Meyer.  She  was  two  years  old 
when  her  parents  brought  her  to 
America,  in  1849.  She  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Philadelphia.  She  retains 
the  membership  of  her  departed  hus- 
band in  Sinai  Congregation  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Deborah  Verein.  She 
has  always  found  pleasure  and  satis- 
faction in  charitable  work,  but  since 
the  death  of  her  husband  she  has  par- 
ticularly espoused  the  cause  of  the 
Jewish  Orphans'  Home,  which  she 
helped  to  organize  and  to  carry  to  suc- 
cess. For  four  years  she  was  its  Pres- 
ident, and  when  she  surrendered  the 
reins  of  office  to  masculine  hands  she 
had  the  great  gratification  of  seeing  the 
Orphans'  Home  established  on  a 
sound  and  firm  basis.  She  is  still  In- 
terested in  its  welfare,  and  her  moth- 
erly influence  is  a  blessing  to  the  in- 
mates. 

Mrs.  Strauss  has  six  children — Mil- 
ton, Albert,  Leis,  Dennie,  Morris  and 
Mrs.  Edward  Hillman. 

WORLD'S  FAIR  YEAR. 

The  Jewish  citizens  of  Chicago 
showed  their  liberality  by  substantial 
subscriptions  to  the  stock  of  the 
World's  Fair  Company.  The  Jews 
were  represented  on  the  Directory  by 
Mr.  Adolph  Nathan  and  A.  M.  Roths- 
child. A  very  Interesting  feature  of 
the  many  congresses,  conferences,  and 
gatherings,  which  took  place  during 
the  time  of  the  Exposition,  was  the 
Jewish  Denominational  Congress, 
which  took  place  in  the  Memorial  Art 
Palace,  from  August  27th  to  30th,  1893. 
The  joint  committee  of  the  World's 
Congress  Auxiliary  of  the  Jewish  De- 
nominational Congress  consisted  of  the 
following:  B.  Bettman,  Cincinnati, 
President;  Hon.  Jacob  H.  Schift,  New 
York,  Vice-President;  Adolph  Moses, 
Chicago,  Vice-President;  Julius  Frei- 
burg, Cincinnati,  Vice-President;  Isi- 
dore Busch,  St.  Louis,  Vice-President; 
Hon.  Solomon  Hirsch,  Portland,  Ore., 
Vice-President;  and  Rabbi  Joseph 
Stolz,  Chicago,  Vice-President;  Judge 
Simon  Rosendale,  Albany,  N.  Y.;  Hon. 
Oscar  W.  Strauss,  New  York;  Hon. 
Simon  Wolf,  Washington,  D.  C.;  Josl- 
ah  Cohen,  Pittsburg,  Pa.;  Mayer  Sulz- 
berger,  Philadelphia;  Gen.  Lewis  Sea- 
songood,  Cincinnati;  Rabbi  Isaac  M. 
Wise,  Cincinnati;  Rabbi  Joseph  Sil- 
verman,  New  York;  Rabbi  Tobias 
Shanfarber,  Baltimore;  Rabbi  Emil 
G,  Hirsch,  Chicago;  Rabbi  Isaac  S. 
Moses,  Chicago. 

The  next  grand  feature  was  the 
World's  Parliament  of  Religions,  In 
which  a  good  many  of  the  Jewish  Rab- 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


361 


bis   of  the   country  participated,   and 
'Chicago  was  well  represented. 

THE  MAXWELL  STREET  SETTLE- 
MENT. 

The  Maxwell  Street  Settlement  was 
opened  November  18th,  1893.  Jesse 
Loewenhaupt  and  'Jacob  J.  Abt,  two 
noble  Jewish  young  men,  were  the 
first  residents.  They  settled  In  the 
house,  185  Maxwell  street,  and 
were  joined  in  February,  1894,  by 
Moritz  Rosenthal,  of  the  law  firm  of 
Moses,  Rosenthal  and  Kennedy. 

These  were  highly  educated  young 
men,  fresh  from  college,  and  filled 
"with  p.  noble  ambition  to  serve  their 
fellowmen  and  to  use  their  utmost 
endeavors  to  lift  up  the  lowly  and  help 
wherever  their  aid  was  needed. 

The  Settlement  was  neatly  fitted  up 
and  it  was  made  the  social  rendezvous 
for  young  people  of  the  neighborhood. 
Evening  classes  were  introduced  for 
working  boys  and  girls.  Mr.  Abt  lived 
there  until  February,  1898,  but  Mr. 
Loenwenhaupt  left  December,  1896. 
Mr.  Rosenthal  stayed  until  April,  1897. 
Then  Mr.  Aaron  E.  Rosenthal,  from 
Cincinnati,  lived  there  for  awhile  with 
Joseph  Weisenfoach. 

About  15  non-resident  workers  as- 
sisted the  residents,  led  classes,  and 
helped  generally.  A  circulating  li- 
brary was  introduced,  containing 
mostly  books  for  children.  Isaac  Sol- 
omon Rothschild  officiated  as  librari- 
an. 

From  a  paper  written  by  Mrs.  Abt 
we  quote  the  following,  which  will  give 
the  reader  a  good  insight  in  the  nature 
of  the  work  and  the  beneficial  results 
•of  the  same.  Mrs.  Abt  says:  "My  ex- 
perience has  'been  limited  to  the  Max- 
well Street  Settlement,  which,  as  you 
Tcnow,  lies  well  within  the  Ghetto.  It 
is  an  indisputed  fact  that  the  Russian 
Jew  has  a  highly  developed  intellectual 
sense,  so  you  must  understand  that  a 
great  many  young  people  who  fre- 
quent the  house  are  as  well  educated 
as  we  are,  and  almost  all  of  them  have 
a  tremendous  capacity  for  assimilat- 
ing knowledge.  A  number  of  our  boys 
are  University  students.  One  has  re- 
cently passed  the  civil  service  exami- 
nation and  is  now  employed  in  the 
Postoffice.  One  young  neighbor  of  ours 
teaches  the  sixth  grade  in  Grammar 
School,  teaches  night  school,  and  at- 
tends afternon  classes  at  a  Univer- 
sity as  well.  One  young  man  who 
came  to  the  house  as  a  sign  painter 
was  urged  and  encouraged  to  develop 
a  marked  talent  for  art,  and  now  holds 
a  good  position  as  illustrator  on  one 
of  the  New  York  newspapers. 

I  think  you  will  be  interested  In  the 
history  of  a  young  man  who  has  been 
closely  associated  with  the  Settlement 
for  the  past  six  years.  One  evening, 
in  the  second  year  of  its  existence,  a 
boy  twenty  or  twenty-one  years  old, 
came  to  the  Settlement  and  asked  in 
broken  English  whether  he  could  learn 
medicine  there.  When  told  no,  he 
-started  to  leave  immediately,  but  was 


stopped  by  one  of  the  residents  and 
asked  what  foundation  he  had  on 
which  he  could  ibuild  a  study  in  medi- 
cine. A  few  questions  showed  that  he 
had  received  nothing  in  the  way  of  an 
education  but  the  usual  Russian  boy's 
knowledge  of  the  Talmud.  He  was 
at  this  time  making  a  living  by  ped- 
dling rags  and  old  iron,  an  occupa- 
tion thoroughly  uncongenial  to  him. 
He  was  all  alive  with  the  desire  and 
determination  to  learn  and  had  chosen 
medicine  as  his  profession.  He  was 
easily  convinced  that  some  prepara- 
tion was  necessary,  and  consented  to 
come  to  the  house.  A  faithful,  earnest 
worker  and  a  regular  evening  atten- 
dant, he  was,  the  first  year,  put 
through  elementary  mathematics,  al- 
gebra and  geometry,  and  given  a  fail- 
start  in  English  grammar.  At  the  end 
of  this  time  he  took  his  examinations 
for  Lewis  Institute  and  was  admitted. 
His  work  was  so  satisfactory  the  first 
year  that  his  tuition  was  remitted  the 
second.  At  the  end1  of  this  time  he 
grew  restless  and  in  spite  of  advice  to 
the  contrary  he  determined  to  try  for 
admission  to  Rush  Medical  College, 
and  to  the  surprise  of  his  friends  passed 
very  creditably.  His  reports  during 
the  year  were  remarkable.  In  anato- 
my, which  students  consider  the  hard- 
est and  dryest  subject,  his  average  was 
99.  The  second  year  and  at  the  begin- 
ning of  this,  his  third  year,  he  was 
permitted  to  work  off  $100  of  his  tui- 
tion. During  all  this  time  of  study 
he  supported  himself  by  keeping  books 
for  a  small  ragdealer  on  Canal  street, 
earning  from  $3  to  }4  a  week.  Out  of 
this  he  paid  board  to  a  poor  brother, 
with  whose  numerous  family  he  lived, 
clothed  himself  and  bought  his  books. 
You  can  imagine  how  poorly  clothed 
he  was,  yet  he  refused  to  accept  any- 
thing that  was  not  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  the  continuance  of  his  stud- 
ies. Until  three  months  ago  we  were 
under  the  impression  that  he  was  do- 
ing some  clerical  work  to  pay  his  way 
through  college,  and  it  was  only 
•through  some  outside  way  that  we 
learned  that  all  this  time  he  had  been 
scrubbing  four  hours  a  day.  It  was 
impossible  to  let  him  continue  for  fear 
of  his  health  breaking  down.  Recently 
a  South  Side  physician  has  become  In- 
terested in  him  and  has  given  him 
enough  employment  in  his  office  to  per- 
mit him  to  give  up  the  scrubbing.  He 
still  does  his  bookkeeping,  travels  ev- 
ery day  to  the  West  Side  to  college 
and  works  or  studies  most  of  the  night. 
Who  can  doubt  that  such  effort  will 
meet  with  success? 

FIRST     RESIDENT    OF    THE    SET- 
TLEMENT. 

MR.  JACOB  J.  ABT. 

Mr.  Abt  is  a  son  of  Lev!  and  Henri- 
etta Hart  Abt  and  was  born  in  Wil- 
mington, 111.,  Dec.  18,  1867.  He  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Chicago,  completing  his 
course  of  study  at  Yale  University. 


Mr.  Abt  has  taken  considerable  inter- 
est in  charitable  work  and  was  one  of 
the  instigators  of  the  Maxwell  Street 
Settlement.  He  lived  at  the  settlement 
up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage,  and  his 


JACOB  J.  ABT. 

educational  work  among  these  poor 
people  was  of  great  value  and  assist- 
ance to  them.  He  is  a  member  Df 
Sinai  Cong,  and  the  Standard  Club. 
Mr.  Abt  married  Mildred  Shire  of  this 
city  and  they  have  one  child,  Marlon 
Maxwell  Abt. 

COUNCIL  OF  JEWISH  WOMEN. 

This  grand  organization  was  estab- 
lished September,  1893.  It  has  now 
49  sections  in  18  states  of  the  Union, 
and  one  section  In  the  Dominion  of 
Canada.  The  membership  has  reached 
the  number  of  5,000. 

The  aim  and  abject  of  the  Society 
can  be  learned  from  the  following 
Preamble  to  the  Constitution: 

"Preamble. 

"We,  Jewish  women,  sincerely  be- 
lieving that  a  closer  fellowship,  a 
greater  unity  of  thought  and  purpose, 
and  a  nobler  accomplishment  will  re- 
sult from  a  widespread  organization, 
do  therefore  -bind  ourselves  together  in 
a  union  of  workers  to  further  the  best 
and  highest  interests  of  humanity  In 
fields  religious,  philanthropic,  and  edu- 
cational." 

Three  of  our  Chicago  Jewish  women 
are  main  leaders  in  this  great  organi- 
zation. Mrs.  Henry  G.  Solomon  has 
been  President  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  Miss  Sadie  American  Is  Recording 
Secretary,  and  Mrs.  Leo  Loeb,  Audi- 
tor. 

The  Chicago  section  of  the  Council 
of  Jewish  Women,  of  which  Miss  Julia 
Felsenthal  is  President,  has  a  large 
membership,  consisting  of  the  best 
daughters  of  Israel  in  the  community. 
Their  meetings  are  well  attended  and 
their  programs  highly  entertaining 
and  instructive.  They  meet  in  the 
vestry  rooms  of  Sinai  Temple  and  Dr. 
Hirsch  has  frequently  lectured  before 
them  on  Hebrew  Biblical  topics,  and 
other  speakers  have  delivered  address- 
es on  economical  and  kindred  ques- 


362 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE, 


tions.  The  Society  Is  becoming  more 
influential  and  more  prominent  as  the 
years  roll  by.  They  may  yet  prove  a 
blessing  to  Judaism  in  America. 

PRESIDENT  OP  THE  COUNCIL  OF 
JEWISH  WOMEN. 

HANNAH  GREENEBAUM  SOLOMON. 

Mrs.  Solomon  is  a  native  Chicagoan. 
Her  parents  were  Michael  and  Sarah 
(Spiegel)  Greenebaum,  two  of  the  early 
Jewish  residents  of  this  city.  Mrs. 


MRS.  HANNAH  GREENEBAUM 

SOLOMON. 
Pres.  of  the  Council  of  Jewish  Women. 

Solomon  Is  one  of  the  best  known 
women  in  Chicago  and  perhaps  in  the 
United  States.  She  has  been  identified 
prominently  with  numerous  literary 
and  women's  organizations  in  which 
she  has  always  been  considered  a  lead- 
er. She  is  a  woman  of  considerable  in- 
tellect, has  an  excellent  flow  of  lan- 
guage and  her  words  are  always  lis- 
tened to  with  interest.  She  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Zion  Literary  So- 
ciety and  has  been  a  member  and  offi- 
cer of  the  Chicago  Women's  Club.  She 
served  as  vice-president  of  the  Illinois 
State  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs, 
and  is  now  treasurer  of  the  Women's 
Council  of  the  United  States.  Mrs. 
Solomon  is  also  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Council  of  Jewish  Women  of 
which  she  was  the  first  president,  con- 
tinuing in  office  up  to  the  present  day. 
She  has  exerted  great  influence  in  this 
organization  and  her  efforts  have  ad- 
ded materially  to  the  success  of  the 
council.  She  is  vice-president  of  the 
Jewish  Publication  Society  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  executive  board  of  the  Civic 
Federation.  She  has  also  taken  an  ac- 
tive part  in  charitable  societies  and  is 
today  the  only  woman  member  on  the 
board  of  the  Associated  Charities  and 
of  the  Seventh  Ward  Bureau  of  Chari- 
ties. No  woman  is  more  deserving  of 
public  appreciation  than  Mrs.  Solo- 
mon, and  perhaps  none  is  held  in 
higher  esteem  by  all  who  know  her. 

THE  SEVENTH  WARD  BUREAU 

was  established  by  members  of  the 
Council  of  Jewish  Women  for  the  pur- 


pose of  creating  a  center  for  the  wom- 
en of  the  different  organizations  for 
charitable  purposes.  The  money  was 
first  raised  at  a  festival  which  netted 
about  $1,200.  The  Council  contributed 
$1,000  at  one  time  and  $427  at  another 
—•beside  sufficient  for  the  work  room 
for  one  season.  The  rest  of  the  money 
was  contributed  directly,  as  well  as 
were  clothing,  coal  and  groceries,  or 
other  necessities.  It  was  not  intended 
that  this  Bureau  should  be  a  Relief 
Office,  as  will  be  readily  seen  by  the 
financial  statement  that  no  more  than 
$2,000  was  expended  per  year,  out  of 
which  salaries  were  paid  to  two  em- 
ployes, rent,  fuel  and  other  incidental 
office  expenditures.  The  district,  ac- 
cording to  a  census  taken  by  the  of- 
fice, contains  about  19,000  Jews,  and 
as  the  majority  of  these  were  very 
poor,  much  could  be  done  without 
money.  The  Bureau  finds  its  work  in 
the  following  lines:  Legal  aid — This 
included  support  cases,  suits  to  recov- 
er damages  against  different  compa- 
nies, lodges,  children  and  women  who 
had  been  deserted,  criminal  cases,  jus- 
tice and  police  court  cases,  juvenile 
court  cases.  But  little  money  was  ex- 
pended for  these  directly,  as  our  law  • 
work  was  always  done  for  us  free  of 
charge,  we  paying  costs,  'but  in  many 
instances  emergency  relief  while  cases 
were  pending  was  necessary.  The  Ju- 
venile court  work  has  during  the  last 
year  grown  so  large  that  it  requires 
the  attention  of  three  employes  and  a 
number  of  volunteers.  From  January, 
1901,  to  May,  1901,  more  than  125  boys 
were  placed  under  our  guardianship. 
These  are  dependents  or  delinquents. 
Law  investigations — All  cases  for  the 
Women's  Loan  are  investigated  by  our 
Bureau.  Their  capital  is  $1,300  and 
the  business  large. 

Investigations  for  the  School  Chil- 
dren's Aid. 

After  Christmas  this  organization 
will  supply  the  needy  children  with 
clothing.  We  have  five  schools  in  our 
District  for  which  we  investigate.  In 
addition  the  teachers  are  constantly 
seeking  our  assistance  for  the  unruly 
boys  and  habitual  truants. 

Investigations  for  the  distribution 
in  our  district  of  coal  given  away  by 
Mr.  Lytton. 

Investigations  for  the  Social  Settle- 
ments, with  which  we  co-operate — Hull 
House  and  Henry  Booth  House. 

Summer  outings — Last  year  125  out- 
ings were  secured  for  our  district  at 
the  Evanston  camp. 

Securing  relief  through  the  proper 
agencies. 

We  co-operated  with  the  Association 
for  Improved  Housing,  the  Small 
Parks  Commission  and  other  organi- 
zations attempting  improvement  in  the 
district. 

Personal  Service— A  large  part  of  our 
work  consists  in  friendly  visiting. 

Legislation — We  have  endeavored  to 
secure  better  laws  and  in  enforcing 
those  that  exist  to  decrease  need  for 
charities. 


The  Work  Room  connected  with  the- 
Bureau  was  an  outlet  lor  many  wha 
needed  assistance.  It  was  not  a  work- 
shop which  gave  a  means  of  earning 
a  living,  but  a  charity,  and  was  con- 
ducted as  such.  It  was  economical, 
because  it  utilized  the  waste  of  ona 
part  of  the  community  to  supply  the 
wants  of  another,  bought  the  best  at 
lowest  prices,  and  did  not  give  more 
work  to  anyone  than  would  supply 
absolute  necessities.  This  obliged  the 
beneficiaries  to  seek  work  at  other 
sources  part  of  each  week. 

THE  PHOENIX   CLUB. 

The  Phoenix  Club  was  incorporated 
by  the  sons  of  South  Side  Jews.  The 
clubhouse  was  located  first  at  Calu- 
met avenue  and  Thirty-first  street.  The 
membership  gradually  increased  and 
larger  quarters  were  sought.  The  mem- 
'  bers  then  rented  a  'building  on  Michi- 
gan avenue,  near  Fortieth  street,  aft- 
erwards amalgamating  with  the  Boule- 
vard Club  under  the  name  of  the 
Phoenix-Boulevard  Club.  Some  of  the 
nicest  affairs  for  young  people  in  this 
city  were  given  by  the  Phoenix  Club, 
and  for  a  long  time  it  was  considered 
the  leading  social  club  for  young  peo- 
ple. After  its  amalgamation  with  the 
Boulevard  Club  a  number  of  married 
men  were  admitted,  and  talk  of  a  down- 
town club  was  prevalent,  and  subse- 
quently the  quarters  of  the  Iroquois 
Club  in  the  old  Columbia  Theater  was 
rented  for  a  clubhouse.  The  new 
venture  was  not  as  popular  as  was 
expected,  and  the  Phoenix  could  not 
survive  the  heavy  cost  of  maintaining 
down-town  headquarters,  and  it  was 
finally  wound  up  after  considerable 
difficulty,  and  nothing  remains  of  the 
club  but  the  memory  of  its  early  days, 
which  often  recurs  to  the  younger  gen- 
eration as  the  scene  of  many  an  en- 
joyable evening. 

THE  WEST  CHICAGO  CLUB. 

The  West  Chicago  Club  was  the  first 
Jewish  Club  formed  on  the  West  Side 
and  for  years  the  clubhouse  on  Throop 
street  was  the  scene  of  many  an  en- 
joyable social  and  literary  function. 
Among  the  early  members  of  the  club 
were  such  well-known  people  as  Judge 
Stein,  Adolph  Kraus,  M.  M.  Hirsch, 
and  many  others.  When  the  exodus  to 
the  South  Side  began,  most  of  the 
founders  and  energetic  workers  of  the 
club  removed  to  that  section  of  the  city 
and  the  membership  grew  smaller  as 
time  passed.  Many  of  the  early  resi- 
dents of  the  West  Side  will  long  re- 
member the  West  Chicago  Club  House, 
the  many  enjoyable  evenings  spent 
therein,  the  entertainments,  amateur 
and  professional,  for  the  pleasure  of  its 
members,  its  convenience  as  a  meet- 
ing place,  and  the  cozy  parlors  and 
ballroom  in  which  many  of  the  West 
Siders  were  married. 

THE   LESSING  CLUB. 

While  this  club  is  no  longer  in  ex- 
istence it  at  one  time  had  a  large  mem- 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


363 


bership,  comprised  largely  of  the  Jews 
living  on  the  Southwest  Side.  Enter- 
tainments and  hops  were  given  at  fre- 


mum  amount  was  $10  and  the  mini- 
mum amount  of  loans  was  $3,  but 
during  the  last  year  they  have  raised 


WEST  CHICAGO  CLUB      50  THROOP  STREET. 


quent  intervals,  but  like  most  of  the 
West  Side  social  institutions  it  also 
suffered  from  removals,  and  eventual- 
ly was  obliged  to  wind  up. 

WOMAN'S   LOAN  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Woman's  Aid  Loan  Association 
was  organized  in  December,  1897,  for 
the  purpose  of  loaning  money  to  needy 
deserving  persons,  thus  assisting  them 
to  become  self-supporting,  and  at  the 
same  time  repay  the  loan  in  small 
weekly  installments  without  interest. 
The  association  works  in  the  district 
covered  by  the  Seventh  Ward  Bureau 
of  Associated  Charities,  who  investi- 
gate all  applications  for  loans,  as  well 
as  the  guarantors.  With  but  few  ex- 
ceptions the  organizers  of  the  loan  so- 
ciety were  residents  of  the  West  Side 
and  had  been  connected  with  the  Wom- 
an's Aid,  a  charity  society  which  ex- 
isted for  two  years,  as  there  were  a 
great  many  charity  organizations 
working  independently  of  each  other 
in  the  same  district,  they  left  the  field 
and  confined  themselves  to  loaning 
money,  with  the  result  that  in  1898 
they  loaned  $748  without  any  loss,  and 
in  1899  $1,020,  with  a  loss  of  $7,  and 
in  1900  $2,915,  with  a  loss  of  $18.  The 
money  used  was  raised  by  several  suc- 
cessful entertainments  given  by  the  as- 
sociation, and  on  October  last  they 
received  $500  from  the  Associated  Jew- 
ish Charities. 

During  the  first  two  years  the  maxi- 


the  amount,  and  in  exceptional  cases 
they  loan  as  much  as  $25. 

The  officers  in  1898  were:  President, 
Miss  Jennie  H.  Norden;  vice-president, 
Miss  Fannie  Dattelbaum;  correspond- 
ing secretary,  Miss  S.  L.  Berman; 
financial  secretary,  Mrs.  D.  J.  Seilin; 


October  last  the  association  changed 
its  name  from  the  Woman's  Aid  Loan 
Association  to  the  "Woman's  Loan 
Association."  The  loan  committee 
meet  severy  Monday  evening  from  7:30 
to  10  o'clock  in  the  Porges  Building, 
195  Maxwell  street,  where  applications, 
loans  and  payments  are  made.  Miss 
M.  P.  Low,  who  is  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  association  and  superintend- 
ent of  the  Seventh  Ward  District  of 
Associated  Charities,  investigates  both 
the  borrower  and  guarantor,  as  loans 
are  made  on  notes  only,  and  must  be 
signed  by  two  people.  Loans  are  pay- 
able in  twenty  weekly  installments. 
The  officers  serving  at  present  are: 
President,  Mrs.  B.  Pirosh;  vice-presi- 
dent, Miss  Lena  Barren;  correspond- 
ing secretary,  Miss  Minnie  Lippert; 
financial  secretary,  Mrs.  D.  J.  Seilin; 
treasurer,  Mrs.  Joseph  Werb;  chair- 
man of  loan  committee,  Mrs.  I.  J.  Rob- 
in; secretary  of  loan  committee,  Miss 
Jennie  H.  Norden. 

It  is  pleasant  to  note  the  change  that 
has  taken  place  in  the  attitude  toward 
the  needy.  When  the  Woman's  Aid 
Loan  Association  was  organized  friends 
of  the  members  insisted  that  the  associ- 
ation would  be  bankrupt  within  a  year, 
thinking  they  would  not  be  able  to  col- 
lect the  amount  loaned.  The  figures 
quoted  above  show,  that,  given  a 
chance,  our  Jewish  poor  will  be  able  to 
get  along  and  in  time  be  self-support- 
ing, and  that  they  appreciate  aid  given 
them  in  a  way  in  which  they  are  not 
robbed  of  their  self-respect. 

ISAIAH  CONGREGATION. 

Isaiah  Congregation,  the  offshoot  of 
Zion  Congregation,  was  organized  Oc- 
tober 24, 1895,  and  the  following  offlc'ers 
were  elected:  Joseph  Stolz,  rabbi;  Hen- 
ry Greenebaum,  president;  E.  Rubovits, 
vice-president;  Simon  L.  Rubel,  secre- 


TEMPLE  OF  ISAIAH  CONGREGATION. 


treasurer,  Mrs.  A.  I.  Movitt.  These, 
with  Mrs.  I.  J.  Robin  as  chairman,  con- 
stituted the  first  loan  committee. 


tary;  Fred  Oberndorf,  financial  secre- 
tary; M.  Haber,  treasurer;  S.  Daniels, 
Jacob  Hart,  L.  Buxbaum,  Mark  Simon, 


364 


THE.  RRFORM  ADVOCATE. 


Jacob  Dreyfus,  A.  Well,  L.  Wessel,  Jr., 
S.  M.  Becker,  directors. 

The  first  services  were  held  Jan.  4, 
1896,  at  the  Oakland  Club  Hall,  corner 
Ellis  avenue  and  Thirty-ninth  street, 
addresses  being  delivered  by  Rabbis 
Stolz  and  Hirsch  and  by  Rev.  Jenkin 
Lloyd  Jones.  For  three  years  services 
were  held  in  this  hall  on  Saturdays  and 
Sundays,  and  during  a  few  months  the 
congregation  worshiped  in  the  Oakland 
Methodist  Church,  corner  Oakwood 
boulevard  and  Langley  avenue.  In 
May,  1898,  the  lot  on  the  corner  of 
Vincennes  avenue  and  Forty-fifth 
street  was  purchased  for  |12,500  cash. 
Sept.  11,  1898,  Dr.  Isaac  M.  Wise  laid 
the  corner-stone  of  the  temple  designed 
by  the  architect,  Dankmar  Adler;  Jan. 
14,  1899,  the  schoolhouse  was  dedicated, 
and  March  17,  1899,  Dr.  Wise  of  Cin- 
cinnati dedicated  the  handsome  temple, 
which  cost  about  $50,000.  Rabbis 
Stolz,  Felsenthal,  Hirsch,  Arnold,  Mes- 
sing, Norden,  Hirshberg,  Moses,  Rap- 
paport,  Jacobson  of  Chicago,  Berkowitz 
of  Philadelphia,  Heller  of  New  Orleans 
and  Revs.  J.  L.  Jones,  A.  R.  White,  W. 
W.  Fenn,  S.  J.  McPherson  and  A.  Mc- 
Intyre  of  Chicago  participated  in  the 
dedicatory  services,  which  spread  over 
three  days. 

The  congregation  now  numbers  205 
members;  the  Sabbath  school  has  320 
children  enrolled;  the  annual  budget 
is  $10,000.  The  present  officers  are: 
Dr.  Joseph  Stolz,  rabbi;  Adolf  Kraus, 
president;  E.  Rubovits,  vice-president; 
Rudolf  Wolfner,  secretary;  Jacob 
Frank,  financial  secretary;  S.  M. 
Becker,  treasurer;  L.  Buxbaum,  J. 
Franks,  D.  May,  A.  Weil,  M.  Haber,  S. 
G.  Harris,  Joseph  M.  Wile,  J.  Dreyfus, 
directors. 

The  rapid  growth  and  prosperity  of 
the  congregation  are  largely  due  to  the 
active  and  zealous  co-operation  of  the 
Isaiah  Woman's  Club,  whose  officers 
are:  Mrs.  Garson  Meyers,  president; 
Mrs.  Bertha  Powell,  vice-president; 
Mrs.  S.  G.  Harris,  treasurer;  Mrs.  Jo- 
seph Stolz,  secretary. 

DR.  JOSEPH  STOLTZ. 

Dr.  Joseph  Stolz,  Rabbi  of  Isaiah 
Congregation,  was  born  at  Syracuse,  N. 
Y.,  November  3,  1861.  After  campleting 
his  studies  at  the  Syracuse  High  School 
and  receiving  private  Hebrew  instruc- 
tions from  Rabbi  Birkenthal,  he  en- 
tered the  Hebrew  Union  College  in 
1878.  He  received  his  degree  from  the 
University  of  Cincinnati  in  the  class  of 
'83,  and  in  1884  the  title  "Rabbi"  was 
bestowed  upon  him  by  his  Alma  Mater, 
and  in  1898  he  was  honored  with  the 
degree  of  "Doctor  of  Divinity."  Three 
years  he  served  the  B'nai  Israel  Con- 
gregation of  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  as  Rab- 
bi, and  in  1887  he  was  called  to  Chicago 
to  succeed  Dr.  B.  Felsenthal  in  Zion 
Congregation.  Since  January,  1896,  he 
has  been  in  charge  of  Isaiah  Congrega- 
tion which  was  organized  for  him  by 
his  former  West  side  members. 

Dr.  Stolz  Is  vice  president  of  the 
Jewish  Publication  Society,  and  Di- 
rector of  the  Jewish  Chautauqua  So- 


ciety, the  Central  Conference  of  Amer- 
ican Rabbis,  the  Sabbath  School  Union, 
the  Liberal  Congress  of  Religions,  and 
the  Home  For  Aged  Jews.  For  ten 





L 


DR.  JOSEPH  STOLZ. 


years  he  was  secretary  of  the  Jewish 
Training  School.  In  1898  Mayor  Har- 
rison appointed  him  a  member  of  the 
Educational  Commission,  and  in  1899  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  to 
serve  three  years. 

MR  ADOLPH  KRAUS. 
Mr.  Kraus  was  born  in  Blowitz,  Bo- 
hemia, and  at  the  age  of  15  came  to 
the  United  States.  He  began 
life  in  the  new  world  as  a 
farm  hand  and  in  Connecticut  he 
worked  as  a  factory  hand,  finally  go- 
ing into  a  dry  goods  house  as  a  clerk. 
In  1871  he  came  to  Chicago,  just  when 
the  great  fire  left  it  in  chaos.  Here  he 
again  worked  as  a  clerk  and  saved  his 
money.  Studying  at  odd  hours  in  his 
time  as  a  salesman  and  then  working 
in  a  law  office  he  succeeded  in  passing 
the  supreme  court  examination  in  1877 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was 
then  the  only  Bohemian  lawyer  in 


ADOLPH  KRAUS, 
Pres.  Isaiah  Cong. 

Chicago.  His  first  partner  was  William 
S.  Brackett,  now  of  Peoria.  After  Mr. 
Brackett  left  the  firm  Mr.  Kraus  first 
took  in  Lev!  Mayer,  then  Philip  Stein 


and  then  Thomas  A.  Moran  and  the 
law  firm  of  Kraus,  Mayer,  Moran  and 
Stein  became  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent in  the  West.  In  January,  1900,  Mr. 
Kraus  withdrew  from  the  firm  and  as- 
sociated himself  with  C.  R.  Holden. 
Last  February  he  admitted  into  the 
firm  Sam  Alschuler  of  Aurora,  the  last 
Democratic  candidate  for  governor  of 
Illinois. 

In  1881  Mr.  Kraus  was  appointed  to 
the  school  board,  where  he  served  until 
1887,  being  president  of  that  body  for 
two  years.  His  services  to  the  schools 
of  Chicago  were  of  great  value,  his 
judgment  gaining  in  one  instance  an 
annual  income  of  $42,000  for  fifty  years 
to  the  school  fund.  In  1893  Mr.  Kraus 
was  campaign  manager  for  Mayor  Car- 
ter H.  Harrison,  and  when  Mr.  Harri- 
son was  elected  he  appointed  Mr. 
Kraus  as  corporation  counsel. 

When  the  elder  Carter  H.  Harrison 
decided  to  buy  the  Chicago  Times  in 
1891,  Mr.  Kraus  'became  financially  in- 
terested. When  Mr.  Harrison  was  as- 
sassinated Mr.  Kraus  took  editorial 
charge  of  the  paper. 

In  1897  Mr.  Kraus  was  appointed 
president  of  the  Civil  Service  Commis- 
sion, but  finding  that  the  unsettled 
condition  of  the  law  prevented  him 
from  accomplishing  all  that  which  he 
set  out  to  do,  he  resigned. 

Mr.  Kraus  is  President  of  Isaiah  Con- 
gregation, a  member  of  a  number  of 
the  most  prominent  clubs  of  Chicago, 
political  as  well  as  social,  and  a  con- 
tributing member  of  nearly  all  the 
charity  organizations.  He  was  married 
in '1877.  His  wife  was  Miss  Matilda 
Hirsch  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  four 
children,  Paula,  Albert,  Harry  and  Mil- 
ton. 

CONG.  TEMPLE  -ISRAEL. 

Congregation  Temple  Israel  was  or- 
ganized Sunday  after  Yom  Kippur, 

1896,  at  Oakland  Music  Hall,  same  be- 
ing the  outcome  of  divine  services  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  I.  S.  Moses  on  the  pre- 
vious Rost  Hashonah  and  Yom  Kippur. 
At  said  meeting  the  following  officers 
were    elected:    President,    H.    Kahn; 
vice-president,     H.     Hart;     secretary, 
George    Werthan;     treasurer,    A.    L. 
Weil,  and  a  board  of  fifteen  directors, 
including  the  officers. 

At  the  same  meeting  by-laws  and  a 
constitution  were  adopted  and  applica- 
tion made  for  a  charter,  which  was 
granted  September,  1896. 

The  dues  for  membership  were  made 
at  $1  a  month,  and  Rev.  I.  S.  Moses 
was  elected  minister,  and  from  that 
day  divine  services  were  held  every 
Friday  evening  and  Saturday  morning 
and  the  holidays  at  the  Oakland  Music 
Hall.  First  directors'  meeting  took 
place  Oct.  21,  1896.  August  1,  1897,  the 
Baptist  Memorial  Church  was  rented  • 
for  a  place  of  worship  and  same  was 
continued  there  until  the  dedication  of 
the  temple.  March,  1897,  five  acres  of 
ground  were  purchased  for  cemetery  at 
Dunning.  General  meeting,  April  18, 

1897,  elected  H.  Salomon,  president;  H. 
Hart,  vice-president;  A.  L.  Well,  treas- 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


365 


urer;  Sam  Gerstly,  secretary;  B.  Zach- 
arias,  finansial  secretary.  Three-year 
officers  were  elected  April  10,  1898: 
Sam  Schweitzer,  president;  H.  Hart, 
vice-president;  S.  S.  Jones,  secretary; 
I.  M.  Solomon,  financial  secretary;  S. 
Wise,  treasurer. 

May  10,  1898,  the  congregation  de- 
cided to  purchase  a  lot  for  a  temple 
and  a  proposition  from  the  Bank  of 
Commerce  for  the  property  at  Forty- 
fourth  street  and  St.  Lawrence  avenue 
was  presented  and  finally  accepted,  the 
price  being  $12,500.  June  22,  1S98,  a 


choir  and  organ.  Services  are  held 
every  Friday  evening  at  8  and  Satur- 
day morning  at  10.  Sabbath  school 
every  Sunday  morning  at  10,  about  120 
children  attending. 

REV.  EDWARD  M.  BAKER 

Was  born  at  Erie,  Pa.,  Aug.  18,  1875; 
graduated  from  Erie  high  school  in 
1893;  came  to  University  of  Chicago  in 
1894;  during  college  life  he  was  the  re- 
cipient of  many  honors;  was  president 
of  the  Junior  College  Council;  presl- 


SYNAGOGUE   OF   TEMPLE   ISRAEL. 


building  committee  was  appointed, 
with  Max  L.  Wolff  as  chairman,  and 
the  contract  was  let.  Corner-stone  W3S 
laid  Sunday,  July  3,  1898,  and  dedicated 
Friday  before  Rosh  Hashannah,  same 
year. 

The  first  congregation  meeting  in  the 
temple  was  held  Oct.  2,  1898,  S. 
Schweitzer  presiding,  and  the  dues 
were  raised  from  $1  to  f2  a  month. 

The    annual    meeting    on    April    2, 

1899,  elected  the  following  officers:   S. 
Wise,  president;  A.  L.  Weil,  vice-presi- 
dent;   I.   M.   Solomon,   financial  secre- 
tary; H.  Wagner,  recording  secretary; 
Max  L.   Wolff,     treasurer.     April     15, 

1900,  new  officers  were  elected  as  fol- 
lows:  L.  Lewinsohn,  president;    H.  B. 
Stern,  vice-president;   M.  Cohn.  treas- 
urer;   I.   M.   Solomon,   financial   secre- 
tary;   H.  Wagner,   secretary. 

Dec.  -16,  1900,  Rev.  I.  M.  Moses  re- 
signed. Dec.  27,  1900,  President  Lew- 
insohn resigned. 

At  a  special  congregation  meeting, 
Feb.  10,  Sam  Schweitzer  was  elected 
president  and  Mr.  E.  M.  Baker  was 
elected  minister. 

The  congregation  has  82  members; 
owes  $10,000  on  the  temple,  valued  at 
$25,000;  owes  $1.500  on  cemetery,  worth 
$7,000.  It  has  no  other  debts.  Serv- 
ices are  conducted  according  to  the  re- 
form ritual,  the  Union  prayer-book 
being  used.  The  congregation  has  a 


dent  of  the  University  Debating  Club; 
twice  in  open  competition  won  uni- 
versity prize  in  debating;  represented 
university  in  two  inter-collegiate  de- 
bates; was  chairman  of  executive  com- 
mittee of  senior  class;  was  class  orator 
and  graduated  in  1898  with  honorable 
mention.  Spent  1898  and  1899  in  busi- 


REV.  EDWARD  M.  BAKER. 

ness  at  Erie,  during  that  time  being 
also  teacher  of  Sunday  school  and  sec- 
retary of  the  congregation.  Returned 
to  Chicago  in  September,  1899,  to  pur- 
sue Semitic  studies  at  the  university 


and  special  work  under  Prof.  Hlrsch. 
In  April,  1900,  was  chosen  to  succeed 
Prof.  Cohn  on  the  Sinai  Congregation 
teaching  staff;  assisted  Dr.  Hirsch  at 
Sinai  temple  at  holiday  services;  on 
Feb.  15,  1901,  he  was  installed  as  Dr. 
Moses'  successor  at  Temple  Israel,  Chi- 
cago. He  is  still  pursuing  post-gradu- 
ate work  at  the  university. 

XIX. 
THE  RUSSIAN  JEWS. 

The  Jews  from  the  Slavic  countries 
of  Europe,  who  emigrated  to  America 
in  great  numbers  since  1881,  have  set- 
tled in  many  towns  in  the  state  of  Il- 
linois. Wherever  they  settle  they  soon 
establish  their  religious  institutions, 
and  in  many  a  town  even  where  they 
are  in  the  minority  in  regard  to  their 
co-religionists  who  came  from  other 
countries,  they  are  the  first  to  have 
their  little  shul,  their  hazan  and  their 
shokhet.  'In  Chicago  they  now  form 
the  majority  of  the  Jewish  population 
and  they  have  a  large  number  of  in- 
stitutions and  organizations  which  in 
regard  to  membership,  financial  stand- 
ing and  usefulness  will  favorably  com- 
pare with  many  of  the  institutions  of 
the  Jews  of  other  nationalities.  The 
best  thing  to  prove  our  assertion  Is,  in 
our.  estimation,  to  simply  give  a  sum- 
mary of  their  institutions  and  organi- 
zations, and  tell  what  we  know  about 
them.  Facts  are  convincing  and  deeds 
speak  louder  than  words. 
CONG.  BETH  HAMIDRASH  HAGO- 
DOL  UBNAI  JACOB. 

Congregation  Beth  Hamidrash  Hag- 
odol  Ubnai  Jacob. — This  congregation 
was  started  and  a  charter  obtained  in 
March,  1867,  with  the  following  offi- 
cers: President,  Marks  Simon;  vice- 
president,  B.  Stern ;  secretary  and  treas- 
urer, I.  Weinberg;  trustees,  N.  B.  Et- 
telsohn,  B.  Oinsburg,  S.  Feldstein; 
rabbi,  Todras  Ticktin. 

The  congregation  is  an  amalgama- 
tion  of  the  Chebra  B'nai  Jacob  and 
Chebra  Beth  Hamedrash  Hagodol. 
CONG.  OHAVAI  SHOLOM  MARIAM- 
POL. 

Cong.  Ohavai  Sholom  Mariampol.— 
This  cong.  was  established  in  1870.  The 
synagogue  is.  located  corner  Canal  and 
Liberty  streets,  and  their  property  is 
estimated  to  .be  worth  $30,000.  They 
also  own  a  large  burial  ground.  In 
the  synagogue  is  to  be  found  an  ex- 
tensive library  of  Hebrew  books.  A 
loan  association  is  connected  with  the 
congregation,  which  is  doing  much 
good.  The  first  president  was  Mr. 
Louis  Levin,  and  the  present  is  Mr. 
J.  M.  Berkson.  They  have  also  an  en- 
dowment clause  in  their  constitution, 
according  to  which  the  widow  of  a 
member  is  entitled  to  the  sum  of  $300 
from  the  treasury  of  the  congregation. 

CONG.  MISHNA  UGMORO. 
Congregation  Mlshna  Ugmoro. — A 
charter  was  granted  to  this  congrega-- 
tlon  in  1899.  B.  Sager  was  the  first 
president.  The  congregation  is  com- 
posed of  members  who  are  learned  in 


366 


•THE 


ADVOGATS. 


the  Mlshna  and  the  Gemarah,  which 
they  study  every  evening  under  the 
leadership  of  their  learned  rabbi,  H.  S. 
Album.  It  is  the  most  strictly  Jew- 
ish orthodox  congregation  in  Chicago. 
.  A  loan  association  is  also  connected 
with  this  congregation,  which  loans 
money  to  worthy  Jews  on  their  note 
without  interest.  They  have  a  capital 
of  $3.000. 

CONG.     ANSHE     KENESSETH     IS- 
RAEL. 

Congregation  Anshe  Kenesseth  Israel 
— The  place  of  worship  of  this  con- 
gregation is  in  the  synagogue  corner 
Clinton  and  Judd  streets.  It  was  es- 
tablished in  1875.  In  1896  it  united  with 
Congregation  Suvalk.  The  latter  turn- 
ed over  to  the  first  a  burial  ground  in 


Ohavay  Emunah. 

Tifereth  Israel,  Anshe  Luknik. 

Anshe  Kalwaria. 

Ahavath  Achim. 

Bnai  Yitzchok. 

Libowitz. 

Shomre  Hadas. 

Bnai  Israel  Anshe  Zitomir. 

Bais  Joseph. 

Anshe  Tels. 

Poalay  Zedek. 

Agudas  Achim  Anshe  Ungarn. 

B'nai  Abraham  Kehillas  Sefardlm. 

Anshe  Wilna. 

Bais  Hakenesses  Hagodol. 

Ezras  Israel. 

B'nai  David. 

Nussach  Sforad. 

B'nai  Moshe. 


SYNAGOGUE  BETH  HAMIDRASH  HAGODOL  UBUAI JACOB. 


Waldheim  and  several  Sphorim.  Con- 
gregation Kenesseth  Israel  has  now 
over  200  good  standing  members.  Four 
auxiliary  societies  are  connected  with 
the  congregation.  Their  synagogue  li- 
brary contains  16  complete  sets  of  the 
Talmud  and  a  great  number  of  other 
valuable  Hebrew  books.  The  first  pres- 
ident was  Marks  Swartz  and  the  pres- 
ent is  H.  Kaplan. 

These  are  the  main  congregations  and 
following  is  a  list  of  the  rest  of  the 
congregations  and  some  of  their  char- 
ity institutions  in  the  different  divi- 
sions of  the  city. 

CONGREGATIONS. 

Anshe  Kenesses  Israel. 
Ohavoy  Sholom  Mariampol. 
Ohel  Jacob  Kowno. 
Anshe  Drahitzin. 


Englewood  Congregation. 

Ohev  Zedek. 

B'nai  Israel. 

Anshe  Ernes. 

Ahavas  Zion  Anshe  Tiktin. 

Tiferes  Zion. 

Dorshey  Tov. 

B'nai  Abraham. 

Breighton  Park  Congregation. 

B'nai  Jechezkel. 

Bais  Israel. 

Bais  Jacob. 

Rodfay  Zedek. 

Anshe  Shavel. 

CHARITIES. 

Gomlay  Chessed   Shel   Ernes. 
Moses      Montefiore      Hebrew 
School. 

Lechem  Lorealvlm. 
Rabbi  Yitchok  Elchanan. 
Gemllas  Chassodim. 


Free 


BETH  MOSHAB  ZKENIM. 

The  Beth  Moshab  Zkentm  of  Chi- 
cago was  organized  Sept.  7th,  1899, 
after  a  call  issued  by  twelve  public- 
spirited  Jewish  citizens  of  the  West 
Side,  who  had  previously  met  in  the 
office  of  H.  S.  Wolf  of  the  "Jewish 
Courier." 

The  first  officers  were:  President, 
Harris  Conn;  vice  president,  Jacob 
Berkson;  treasurer,  Joseph  Phillip- 
son;  recording  secretary,  Wm.  Cohn; 
financial  secretary,  S.  E.  Newberger. 

The  object  of  the  association  is  to 
establish  and  maintain  a  home  for 
po'or  and  helpless  aged  Jews,  which 
shall  be  conducted  according  to  the 
requirements  of  traditional  or  ortho- 
dox Judaism. 

This  is  primarily  a  movement  of 
Russian-Polish  Jews  to  assist  those 
who  would  rather  suffer  great  hard- 
ships than  transgress  the  laws  that 
they  have  adhered  to  throughout  their 
lives.  They  desire  to  publicly  contra- 
dict the  assertion  that  they  are  only 
recipient  of  charity;  they  have  enlisted 
the  co-operation  of  some  noble  men 
and  women  of  other  nationalities.  The 
membership  increased  rapidly  and 
branch  organizations  were  formed  for 
the  purpose  of  spreading  a  knowledge 
of  the  movement  more  effectually.  In 
January,  1900,  a  northwest  side  branch 
was  formed,  and  in  May  a  south  side 
branch  was  started,  which  did  much  ta 
popularize  the  movement. 

Two  ladies'  Societies,  the  Queen  Es- 
ther Old  Age  Benevolent  and  the 
Malbish  Arumim  also  assisted  the 
movement  materially. 

June  5th,  1900,  a  site  was  purchased 
corner  of  Albany  and  Ogden  avenues, 
opposite  Douglas  Park,  for  $5,125.  This 
was  fully  paid  for  before  the  stipulated 
time  and  Sept.  30th,  1900,  the  ground 
was  dedicated,  amid  great,  enthusiasm, 
to  its  noble  purpose.  The  income  up 
to  Jan.  1st,  1901,  when  the  annual  re- 
port was  issued  amounted  to  $9,368.51, 
and  consisted  of  donations  from  city 
and  country,  from  orthodox  congrega- 
tions, lodges  and  societies,  of  dues 
from  members  and  offerings  at  the  ded- 
ication and  elsewhere.  After  paying 
for  the  site  and  other  expenditures 
there  remained  in  the  treasury  a  cash 
balance  of  $1,351.86. 

A  bazaar  for  the  purpose  of  raising 
funds  for  the  erection  of  a  building 
took  place  from  Dec.  22d  to  31st,  1900. 
Strenuous  exertions  had  been  made  by 
the  Board  of  Managers  to  present 
something  unique  and  the  result  was 
the  "Streets  of  Jerusalem,"  in  which 
the  booths  were  located.  The  net  pro- 
ceeds were  over  $11,000  and  this  grat- 
ifying result  was  largely  due  to  the- 
untiring  energy  of  Louis  Ziv,  chair- 
man; H.  Agat,  assistant;  Mrs.  Benj. 
Davis  and  H.  S.  Wolf,  press  and  pub- 
lication; Dr.  Kate  Levy,  corresponding 
and  financial  secretary;  Moses  Kreeger, 
donations;  Mrs.  M.  E.  Gordon,  raf- 
fles; Miss  R.  Kanter,  refreshments;  J. 
Negrescon,  reception;  Myer  Lesser, 
printing;  S.  Rosenthal,  treasurer,  and: 
Alex.  L.  Levy,  architect. 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


367 


SYNAGOGUE  CONGREGATION   A  NSHE  KENESSETH  ISRAEL. 


The  present  year  opened  auspicious- 
ly for  the  B.  M.  Z.  Association,  with  a 
new  and  excellent  'board  of  directors, 
with  nearly  $14,500  in  the  treasury  and 
property  valued  at  $5,500  and  with  a 
paying  membership  of  about  1,500, 
which  is  continually  increasing  and 
will  probably  reach  3,000  as  soon  as 
building  operations  are  begun. 

The  officers  for  the  current  year: 
President,  Harris  Cohn;  vice  presi- 
dent, Rev.  S.  N.  Deinard;  treasurer, 
B.  Baumgarden;  secretary,  H.  Agat; 
corresponding  secretary,  Mrs.  Benj. 
Davis;  trustees,  A.  J.  Frank,  Moses 
Kreeger,  Joseph  Rothschild. 

UNITY  CLUB. 

This  club  is  toe  outgrowth  of  the 
former  Concord*  Club,  which,  at  its 
annual  meeting  in  January,  1897,  voted 
to  disband.  In  the  month  of  January, 
1897,  former  members  of  the  Concordia 
organized  under  the  leadership  of  Joe 
Straus  the  present  Unity  Club,  its  first 
officers  being:  Joseph  Straus,  presi- 
dent; Dan  Guthman,  vice-president;  H. 
J.  Eliel,  secretary,  and  G.  L.  Klein, 
treasurer.  The  present  officers  of  the 
Unity  Club  are:  B.  B.  Bonheim,  presi- 
dent; D.  Davis,  vice-president;  Louis 
E.  Sostheim,  secretary,  and  Max  L. 
Wolff,  treasurer. 

XX. 

CONCLUSION. 

The  last  chapters  of  the  history  of 
the  Jews  of  Illinois  were  written  by 
the  author  under  tremendous  pressure 
and  in  a  great  hurry.  The  publishers 
were  very  anxious  to  meet  their  con- 
tract obligations  to  issue  this  special 


number  of  the  Reform  Advocate  in 
time,  and  they  rushed  the  work  with 
might  and  main.  A  number  of  sub- 
jects which  we  intended  to  treat  more 
elaborately  had  to  be  abbreviated.many 


facts  could  not  be  stated  at  all.  We 
will  therefore  mention  here  briefly  a 
few  items  which  should  not  be  left  en- 
tirely unnoticed. 

In  the  rush  two  pictures  were  Inad- 
vertently omitted.  One  Is  the  por- 
trait of  Rabbi  Henry  Gersonl  and  the 
other  of  Mr.  Isaac  Wolf.  Rabbi  Ger- 
soni  left  a  number  of  friends  In  Chi- 
cago who  will  be  glad  to  behold  an 
imprint  of  his  intelligent  countenance 
in  the  pages  of  this  journal.  Mr.  Isaac 
Wolf  is  an  old  settler  in  this  neighbor- 
hood, and  it  was  upon  our  urgent  re- 
quest that  he  had  his  picture  taken, 
specially  for  this  work.  These  half- 
tone pictures  appear  here  In  order  to 
complete  the  articles  written  about 
these  men  in  the  main  part  of  the 
book. 

•In  regard  to  Jewish  papers  published 
in  Chicago,  we  will  state  that  the  first 
Jewish  paper  published  In  Chicago  in 
the  English  language,  was  the  "Occi- 
dent." It  was  started  In  the  begin- 
ning of  the  seventies  by  Hoffman  & 
Silversmith.  Mr.  Hoffman  soon  re- 
tired and  Mr.  Silversmith  became  the 
sole  owner.  For  a  number  of  years  he 
was  the  publisher,  editor,  advertising 
agent,  collector,  and  a  good  many  other 
things,  which  we  cannot  now  re- 
member, all  in  one  person.  He  was 
surely  entitled  to  use  the  pluralis 
majestatis  of  the  mighty  ruler  of  the 
editorial  sanctum.  In  later  years  he 
was  compelled  to  engage  editors  to 
write  decent  articles  for  his  paper.  Dr. 
E.  Schreiber  was  editor  of  the  Occident 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  so  was  the 
writer.  When  he  could  no  longer  In- 


SYNAGOGUE  OHAVAY    SHOLOM  MANIAMPOL. 


368 


REFORM  ADVOCATE! 


duce  respectable  writers  to  take  charge 
of  the  editorial  pages  of  his  publica- 
tion, the  "Occident"  died  a  quiet  and 
peaceful  death.  Nobody  mourned  and 
nobody  wept  over  its  death:  silently 
it  went  to  its  grave,  and  no  one  ever 
missed  it. 

About  the  same  time  the  Occident 
was  started,  there  appeared  here  an- 


"Jewish  Advance"  was  a  •well-edited 
Jewish  paper.  Had  Gersoni  been  left 
unmolested  and  unattacked,  he  would 
perhaps  not  have  filled  his  pen  with 
such  bitterness,  but  be  this  as  it  may, 
the  "Advance"  could  not  exist  and 
Gersoni  had  to  quit.  He  tried  it  with 
the  "Maccabean,"  a  monthly  magazine 
which  he  published  for  five  or  six 


UNITY   CLUB,    3140    INDIANA   AVE. 


other  Jewish  paper  in  the  jargon,  un- 
der the  name  and  title  of  "Israelit- 
ische  Presse."  It  was  published  on 
South  Clark  street  by  a  Mr.  N.  D.  Et- 
telsohn.  Sometimes  an  article  or  two 
written  in  Biblical  Hebrew  would  ap- 
pear in  the  pages  of  this  little  weekly. 
It  was  indeed  a  "weakly"  paper.  All 
we  can  remember  about  it  is  that  it 
once  contained  a  bitter  and  malicious 
attack  on  our  esteemed  Dr.  B.  Felsen- 
thal. The  writer  of  this  history  sent 
an  article,  written  in  Hebrew,  to  the 
publishers,  in  which  he  defende.d  • Dr. 
Felsenthal  against  the  brutal  and  un- 
called for  attack.  Well,  our  article 
was  published  in  the  "Israelitische 
Presse,"  a  fact  which  caused  us  much 
regret  for  many  years  after.  For  in- 
stead of  attacking  one,  this  paper  now 
attacked  two,  and  all  the  invectives, 
curses,  vulgar  scolding  and  ugly  names 
of  the  powerful  jargon  vocabulary 
were  thrown  with  doubled  force  at  the 
head  of  poor  Dr.  Felsenthal  and  our 
humble  selves.  We  fully  believe  the 
paper  died  of  its  own  venom  a  short 
time  after. 

In  1878  Henry  Gersoni  issued  the 
first  number  of  his  "Jewish  Advance," 
a  weekly  paper  of  which  Gersoni  was 
the  editor  and  Max  Stern  the  pub- 
lisher. Gersoni  wielded  a  pointed  pen, 
his  wit  was  keen,  his  sarcasm  bitter 
and  'biting.  He  was  always  fighting 
someone.  But  his  editorials  were 
scholarly  and  -well  written.  In  fact, 
it  was  the  opinion  of  many  that  the 


months,   and   was   then   compelled   to 
discontinue  it  for  lack  of  support. 

Then  came  the  "Chicago  Israelite," 
issued  by  Leo  Wise  of  Cincinnati,  pub- 
lisher of  the  "American  Israelite."  Dr. 
Julius  Wise,  a  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Wise, 
has  now  charge  of  this  paper.  Dr. 


succeeded  in  keeping  up  the  excellent 
standard  and  has  attained  a  wide  in- 
fluence. 

The  "Reform  Advocate"  made  its 
first  appearance  in  February,  1891,  and 
no  other  venture  in  the  line  of  Jewish 
journalism  was  made  since.  The  "Re- 
form Advocate"  and  the  "Chicago  Is- 
raelite" are  the  only  two  Jewish  pa- 
pers in  the  English  language  published 
in  Chicago.  In  the  jargon  there  appear 
here  "The  Daily  and  Weekly  Jewish 
Courier,"  "Der  Blumengarten"  and  the 
"Jewish  Press."  The  former  was  es- 
tablished here  many  years  ago  by  Leon 
Zolotkoff,  who  subsequently  sold  it  to 
Messrs.  Sarahson  &  Son  of  New  York. 
It  is  still  owned  by  the  New  York  pub- 
lishers and  printed  here  under  the 
management  of  Mr.  H.  S.  Wolf. ' 

In  1889  the  Hebrew  Literary  Asso- 
ciation of  Chicago,  a  society  organized 
by  a  number  of  Russo-Jewish  "maski- 
lim,"  so-called  reformers,  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  Hebrew  language  and  liter- 
ature, made  an  attempt  to  publish  a 
monthly  magazine  in  Hebrew.  Two 
numbers  of  this  magazine  appeared  un- 
der the  name  ot  "Keren  Or"  (Ray  of 
Light).  These  two  numbers  contained 
articles  written  by  Dr.  Felsenthal,  Mr. 
Peretz  Wiernik,  H.  Eliassof,  and  oth- 
ers. But  it  seems  that  no  Hebrew  pa- 
per can  exist  for  any  length  of  time 
in  this  country.  Even  in  New  York 
City  not  one  of  the  many  Hebrew 
journals  and  magazines  reached  the 
age  of  maturity.  They  all  died  young, 
some  even  in  their  infancy. 

In  Chicago  appeared  for  several 
years  a  Hebrew  weekly  by  the  name 
of  "Hapisgah"  (The  Summit).  This 
journal  was  ably  edited  by  the  well- 
known  Hebrew  writer,  Mr.  W.  Schur, 
but  this  journal;  too,  had  to  succumb 


OLD  PEOPLE'S  HOME— ORTHODOX. 


Julius   Wise    was    formerly   a  promi- 
nent physician  at  Memphis,  Tenn. 

The  "Reform  Advocate"  is  the  lat- 
est addition  to  Jewish  journalism  of 
Chicago,  and  although  it  was  th« 
youngest  paper,  it  at  once  assumed  the 
dignified  tone  and  the  imposing  posi- 
tion of  a  hoary-headed  mentor.  It  has 


at  last.    It  was  discontinued  last  year 
and  is  no  more. 

A  new  Jargon  daily  and  weekly  un- 
der the  name  of  "The  Jewish  Call" 
was  started  here  a  few  months  ago 
in  the  Jewish  settlement  on  the  West 
Side.  Morris  Rosenfeld,  the  celebrated 
poet  of  the  Ghetto,  was  engaged  by 


THEI  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


369 


the  publisher  to  assist  in  editing  the 
new  paper.  Mr.  Rosenfeld  carne  to 
Chicago,  and  here  he  wrote  a  number 
of  good  editorials,  and  some  of  his  in- 


REV.  HENRY  GERSONI. 

imitable  poems.  The  name  of  Rosen- 
feld and  his  poems  gained  for  the  pa- 
per a  good  circulation.  But  we  hear 
that  Mr.  Rosenfeld  had  a  disagree- 


ment with  somebody  connected  with 
the  paper  and  has  left  Chicago. 

GENERAL  JEWISH  PUBLICATIONS. 

Of  general  Jewish  publications,  be- 
sides those  which  have  ibeen  men- 
tioned before,  appeared  here  the  fol- 
lowing: Israelitlsche  Tempel  Gesaen- 
ge,  Hymnen,  Otto  Loeb,  in  1876;  second 
edition  In  1887.  Mr.  Loeb  was  for 
many  years  the  organist  of  the  Zlon 
Congregation.  He  returned  to  Europe 
about  12  years  old.  "L'ma-an  Yilme- 
doo,"  a  Hebrew  Reader,  Dr.  B.  Fel- 
senthal,  In  1886.  "Songs  of  Zlon," 
Souvenir  of  Jewish  Women's  Con- 
gress, Rev.  Alois  Kaiser  and  Rev.  Wm. 
Sparger,  In  1893;  T.  Rubovits,  pub- 
lisher. Sabbath  School  Hymns,  I.  S. 
Moses,  1894.  "Hebrew  Primer,"  second 
edition,  Aaron  J.  Messing.  "Torath 
Emeth,"  Catechism  for  Instruction  in 
the  Mosaic  Religion,  Third  Edition, 
Aaron  J.  Messing.  "Souvenir  of  the 
Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  Birth  of 
Sir  Moses  Montefiore,"  a  Hebrew 
Poem,  H.  Eliassof.  1884.  "In  Memori- 
am."  Address  delivered  at  the  memo- 
rial service  held  in  Zion  Temple,  Feb. 
25,  1894,  in  memory  of  Abraham  Gott- 
lieb, Rabbi  Joseph  Stolz.  "Mizrakh," 


an  explanation  of  the  mizrakh  picture, 
H.  Eliassof.  There  appeared  besides 
a  number  of  sermons  of  the  Chicago 


ISAAC  WOLF. 

Raibbis  and  sonre  Hebrew  works  which 
are  of  great  interest  to  scholars.  We 
must  not  forget  to  mention  Dr.  Kohl- 
er's  "Jewish  Reader,"  for  Sabbath 
schools,  which  appeared  in  1876,  In 
several  parts. 


The    J  e 


f    o_f    Illinois. 

fart  Second. 

Communities  Outside  o_f  Chicago. 


PEORIA. 
I. 

The  very  early  history  of  the  Jews 
of  Peoria  cannot  be  ascertained. 

The  earliest  authentic  Information 
that  can  be  obtained  is  that  in  about 
the  year  1847  Simon  Lyon,  Hart 
Ancker,  Abraham  Frank,  A.  Rosen- 
blatt; A.  Ackerland  and  Arnold  Good- 
heart  came  to  Peoria,  about  in  the  or- 
der mentioned. 

At  that  time  there  had  been  several 
Jewish  families  here,  but  their  names 
cannot  be  ascertained,  and  they  took 
no  prominent  part  in  any  Jewish  af- 
fairs. 

In  1848  Jacob  Liebenstein  came  to 
Peoria,  and  in  1849  rfenry  Ullman  and 
Leopold  Rosenfeld  arrived  here.  These 
were  about  all  the  Israelites  in  the 
city  of  Peoria  at  that  time.  In  1851 
Abraham  Schradski  and  Leopold  Bal- 
lenberg  arrived,  and  in  1852  the  Ull- 
man brothers,  consisting  of  Aaron, 
Harry  and  David  Ullman  came  to  the 
city  of  Peoria. 

Simon  Lyon  is  supposed  to  be  the 
first  Israelite  who  arrived  in  1847  in 
the  city  of  Peoria,  as  far  as  is  known. 
He  did  not  engage  in  active  business. 
His  wife  still  lives  here,  and  also  his 
two  sons,  Louis  and  Henry  Lyon;  his 
two  daughters,  one  now  a  widow,  and 
the  other  the  wife  of  Mr.  Jacob  Schwa- 
bacher,  reside  in  Chicago. 


With  Simon  Lyon  came  his  brothers- 
in-law,  Sol  Solomon,  Wolf  Solomon 
and  Joe  Solomon.  Senator  Solomon  pf 
the  Illinois  legislature  was  born  in 
Peoria  and  is  a  son  of  one  of  these 
brothers. 

His  sons  are  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business  in  this  city,  and  are  prosper- 
ous in  business. 

The  first  Jewish  firm  in  business 
was  Myer  &  Ackerland  in  1848.  Myer 
died  of  cholera  in  1849.  A.  Ackerland 
moved  to  Cincinnati  soon  afterward 
and  became  a  prominent  Jewish  citi- 
zen of  Cincinnati.  Associated  with 
them  was  Jacob  Goodheart,  who  lived 
in  Cincinnati.  He  sent  to  Peoria  in 
1847  his  brother,  Arnold  Goodheart, 
who  took  charge  of  the  business,  and 
he  and  his  brother,  Wolf  Goodheart, 
continued  the  business  until  about 
about  1857.  John  Warner,  a  Gentile, 
was  associated  with  Meyer  &  Acker- 
land  here.  He  became  Interested  in 
the  Jews.  Having  made  considerable 
money  with  Myer  &  Ackerland,  he 
made  it  his  business  to  help  all  the  Jews 
he  could.  Any  number  of  later  set- 
tlers owe  their  start  to  John  Warner. 
He  either  gave  them  goods  or  went  se- 
curity for  them  for  goods  which  he  did 
not  have.  He  was  a  great  friend  of  the 
Jews.  John  Warner  was  elected 
mayor  of  Peoria  at  least  ten  different 
times,  almost  always  through  Jewish 
influence,  and  can  at  any  time  get  the 


support  of  every  Jew  for  his  past  as- 
sistance to  them. 

Hart  Ancker  lived  in  this  city  for 
some  twenty-two  years,  and  died  Jan. 
10,  1871,  leaving  surviving  him  his 
widow  and  several  children.  His 
widow  is  still  alive,  and  now  resides 
with  her  daughter  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
and  is  about  87  years  old.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Brinah  De  Young;  they 
were  married  at  Richmond,  Va.,  In  the 
year  1836,  and  subsequently  moved  to 
Shelbyville,  Ky.,  and  from  thence  to 
this  city.  Their  oldest  daughter,  Vir- 
ginia, was  born  In  Richmond,  Va., 
Sept.  27,  1837,  and  was  married  in  Pe- 
oria to  Mr.  Henry  Schwabacher,  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Peoria,  on  the 
9th  of  September,  1859.  He  had  quite 
a  number  of  other  children,  none  of 
whom  now  reside  In  Peoria.  Mrs. 
Henry  Schwabacher  bears  In  her  stat- 
ure the  true  English  type  of  the  beauty 
of  her  ancestors,  although  64  years  of 
age.  She  has  been  a  true  Jewess,  reg- 
ular attendant  at  services,  a  member 
of  all  the  Jewish  charitable  societies, 
and  also  a  prominent  member  in  all 
sectarian  societies  outside  of  the  Jew- 
ish. She  Is  a  good,  true,  loving  mother 
of  nine  living  children,  and  is  a  de- 
voted wife. 

Abraham  Frank,  one  of  the  pioneers, 
remained  in  Peoria  until  about  1864. 
His  family  has  become  renowned  in 
the  commercial  world,  Frank  Brothers 
of  Chicago  being  among  them;  and  the 


370 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


youngest,  Nathan  Frank,  who  has  been 
elected  as  a  representative  in  Congress 
from  St.  Louis,  and  a  leading  lawyer 
there,  was  among  the  first  Jews  born  in 
this  city. 

Jacob  Liebenstein  was  married  in  the 
city  of  Cincinnati  to  Rebecca  Berg- 
man in  1848.  The  result  of  that  mar- 
riage was  seven  sons,  all  of  whom  oc- 
cupy first-class  positions,  and  a  num- 
ber of  whom  still  reside  in  the  city  of 
Peoria.  His  widow,  Rebecca  Lieben- 
stein, now  Rebecca  Lowenthal,  has 
been  one  of  the  most  ardent  workers 
in  congregational  affairs  in  the  city  of 
Peoria  ever  since  her  coming  to  Peoria, 
following  the  example  of  her  husband, 
whose  soul  was  imbued  with  the  ideas 
of  true  Judaism.  As  he  worked  for  its 
cause,  so,  during  his  life  and  after  his 


holidays  at  various  halls,  which  seiv- 
ices  were  conducted  by  various  mem- 
bers of  the  commmunity;  and  this 
continued  until  1859.  During  that  year 
there  arrived  in  the  city  of  Peoria  a 
"little  giant"  named  Max  Newmman; 
enthusiastic  in  the  cause  of  Judaism, 
willing  to  serve  that  cause  with  his 
time  and  energy.  He  had  been  here 
but  a  few  months  when  he  aroused  the 
minds  of  the  Israelites  residing  here 
to  the  necessity  of  building  a  house  of 
worship.  Being  a  brother-in-law  of 
the  various  Ullman  brothers,  he  found 
in  them  ready  assistants  in  calling  that 
edifice  into  life.  With  the  assistance 
of  Leopold  Rosenfeld,  the  Ullman 
brothers  and  Abraham  Frank,  he 
started  out,  and  in  one  day  raised  $1,- 
500  towards  the  erection  or  purchase 


the  congregation  and  a  very  valued  of- 
ficer. He  has  been  connected  with  ev- 
ery Jewish  charity  and  also  every 
other  charity,  almost,  in  the  city  of 
Peoria.  On  the  death  of  Henry  Ull- 
man, his  brother-in-law,  a  few  years 
ago,  he  was  appointed  by  the  mayor 
of  this  city  a  director  of  the  public  li- 
brary. He  and  Harry  Ullman,  his 
brother-in-law,  who  have  been  co-part- 
ners since  1859,  and  are  today  the  old- 
est original  firm  in  the  city  of  Peoria, 
without  any  change  in  the  firm.  He  is 
an  honored  and  respected  citizen  of 
this  city.  Stands  high,  not  only  in  the 
Jewish  community,  but  in  the  general 
community,  and  the  appellation  of  "Lit- 
tle Giant"  is  still  applied  to  him,  be- 
cause of  the  soundness  of  his  views 
and  his  indomitable  will  in  carrying 


TEMPLE  OF  ANSHAI  EMETH   CONG.,   PEORIA. 


death,  did  she  follow  in  his  footsteps. 
In  anything  that  was  Jewish  Mrs.  Re- 
becca Lowenthal  was  the  first,  and  by 
work  and  act  encouraged  and  did  ev- 
erything within  her  power  to  support 
and  maintain  the  Jewish  congrega- 
tions. 

He  was  the  first  to  instigate  the  idea 
of  a  Jewish  burying-ground  in  this 
city,  and  through  his  persuasion  the 
first  cemetery  was  purchased. 

In  the  year  1852,  mainly  through  the 
efforts  of  Jacob  Liebenstein  and  his 
brother,  who  came  to  this  city  after 
him,  the  first  Jewish  cemetery 
was  purchased,  and  was  deeded  in  trust 
to  Leopold  Rosenfeld,  Hart  Ancker  -and 
Abraham  Frank.  This  was  the  begin- 
ning of  Jewish  organization  in  the  city, 
and  all  of  the  above-named  persons 
•were  members  of  that  society.  After 
that  time  services  were  held  during  the 


of  a  temple.  At  that  time  the  Jews  of 
this  city  were  very  poor,  and  it  re- 
quired the  confidence  of  the  Christians 
to  assist  them.  In  this  task,  our  "Lit- 
tle Giant"  came  to  the  front,  and  be- 
fore he  had  been  here  one  year,  he  had 
raised  sufficient  money  to  purchase  a 
church  building  for  $3,000  and  had  the 
same  all  paid  for.  This  was  known  as 
Anshai  Emeth  Congregation. 

Max  Newman  was  the  son  of  Abra- 
ham Newman  of  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many. He  was  born  May  28,  1834,  and 
was  educated  at  Bamberg,  Bavaria.  He 
came  to  America  the  17th  day  of  June, 
1856,  and  has  ever  since  that  time,  up 
to  the  present,  been  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits.  From  1859  until  1879 
he  was  secretary  of  the  congregation 
without  compensation,  and  as  such  did 
noble  work  for  the  cause.  Since  that 
time  he  has  always  been  a  trustee  of 


out  whatever  is  good  and  noble,  both 
for  the  community  and  for  charities. 

After  the  organization  of  the  congre- 
gation in  1859  the  Rev.  F.  Rosenfeld 
was  elected  the  Hahzen  of  the  congre- 
gation. He  was  followed  by  Rev. 
Isaac  Moses,  who  in  turn  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  J.  Block.  Then  Rev. 
Dr.  David  Stern  and  subsequently  Rev. 
F.  Becker  officiated  as  the  ministers  of 
the  congregation  about  the  year  1871, 
and  the  congregation  flourished  in  a 
way  until  1880. 

Along  about  the  year  1872  quite  a 
number  of  orthodox  Israelites  had 
gathered  in  the  city,  largely  from  Rus- 
sia, Hungary  and  Poland,  and,  being 
dissatisfied  with  the  reform  ideas  of 
congregation  Anshai  Emeth,  held  serv- 
ices in  a  hall,  and  in  January,  1873, 
purchased  a  cemetery,  the  trustees 


REFORM 


371 


thereof  being  Israel  Bennett,  Jacob 
Conigisky,  Levy  Meiers,  Lewis  Brln 
and  Aaron  Mittenthal. 

These  trustees  continued  to  hold 
such  cemetery  for  the  orthodox  Jews 
until  about  the  second  day  of  October, 
1874,  when  congregation  Beth  Israel 
organized  as  an  orthodox  congregation, 
•was  formed,  and  the  said  trustees  con- 
veyed said  property  to  the  trustees  of 
said  congregation.  This  cemetery  is 
still  used  by  the  orthodox  and  is  under 
the  charge  of  I.  Levinson  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  Peoria  Hebrew  Relief 
Society.  They  continued  to  worship  in 
halls  during  holidays  until  about  1879, 
when  some  of  the  members  of  the 
Anshai  Emeth  congregation,  dissenting 
from  certain  views  of  that  congrega- 
tion, and  especially  from  certain  views 
maintained  by  the  then  minister,  Rev. 
David  Stern,  left  that  congregation, 
and,  together  with  a  large  portion  of 
what  was  called  the  Beth  Israel  con- 
gregation, arranged  to  build  a  temple 
for  themselves,  which  they  did,  at  a 
cost  of  something  like  $4,000.  Minag 
America  formed  the  ritual,  and  Rev. 
Dr.  I.  M.  Wise  of  Cincinnati  was  called 
to  dedicate  the  temple.  Rev.  M.  Mes- 
sing, now  of  Chicago,  was  its  first  min-  ' 
ister.  He  was  succeeded  by  his 
nephew,  Rev.  Henry  Messing,  now  of 
St.  Louis,  and  he,  in  turn,  by  Rev.  P. 
Fisher. 

About  the  year  1879,  congregation 
Anshai  Emeth,  having  served  in  a  lit- 
tle church  for  twenty  years,  seeing  the 
need  of  advancement,  became  enthu- 
siastic in  the  establishment  of  a  better 
house  of  worship,  and  they,  too, 
started  out  for  the  purpose  of  building 
a  new  edifice.  This  was  accomplished, 
through  David  Ullman  and  others,  and 
in  the  year  1880  both  congregation 
Anshai  Emeth  and  Beth  Israel  dedi- 
cated their  temples.  Rev.  David  Stern 
presided  over  congregation  Anshai 
Emeth  and  Rev.  Fisher  over  Beth 
Israel. 

Dissensions  arose  then  In  Jewish 
ranks.  The  strictly  orthodox  wor- 
shiped in  halls.  Each  of  the  other  two 
congregations  were  pulling  and  at- 
tempting to  extract  members  from  the 
other.  Dissensions  grew  further,  until 
they  entered  the  social  life;  so  much  so 
that  the  Israelites  of  the  city  were  so 
divided  as  to  .be  at  daggers'  ends.  Sev- 
eral attempts  had  been  made  to  settle 
the  difficulties.  The  dissensions  then 
entered  into  the  B'nai  B'rith  organiza- 
tion, which  at  that  time  was  composed 
of  the  members  of  both  congregations. 
The  officers  of  the  District  Grand 
Lodge  were  called  to  Peoria  for  the  pur- 
pose of  settling  the  difficulties,  but  of 
no  avail.  While  they  quieted  them  for 
a  time,  it  was  impossible  to  create 
peace  and  harmony.  Finally  Rev. 
Fisher  left  Beth  Israel  congregation. 
For  the  holidays  there  was  called  here 
for  the  year  1886  a  student  of  the  He- 
brew Union  College,  young  Ed.  N.  Cal- 
isch,  and  to  the  glory  of  the  Jewish 
cause  of  this  city,  Edward  N.  Calisch 
was  sent  here.  He  became  the  peace- 
maker. Through  his  efforts,  assisted 
by  tact,  Isaac  J.  Levinson,  Henry  Ull- 


man and  Samuel  Woolner,  peace  was 
restored  in  the  Jewish  community,  and 
the  following  year,  upon  the  consecra- 
tion of  Edward  N.  Calisch  as  minister, 
and  through  his  efforts,  the  two  con- 
gregations united,  and  Rev.  Edward  N. 
Calisch  was  elected  as  minister  of  the 
joint  congregation.  Since  then,  peace 
and  harmony  have  prevailed,  both  in 
congregational  and  social  life.  The 
temple  of  Beth  Israel  Congregation 
was  sold,  the  proceeds  turned  over  to 
the  Congregation  Anshai  Emeth,  and 
but  one  reformed  congregation  was  in 
the  city  of  Peoria.  And  so  it  has  re- 
mained. 

In  the  year  1896  the  temple  of  Anshai 
Emeth  Congregation  was  destroyed  by 
fire.  For  two  years  various  Christian 
houses  of  worship  were  used  by  the 
congregation  to  hold  its  services. 
Finally,  through  the  urgent  persist- 
ency of  Henry  Ullman,  who 
had  for  about  twenty-five  years  been 
the  president  of  Congregation  Anshai 
Emeth,  assisted  by  that  noble  philan- 
thropist, Samuel  Woolner,  and  his 
brother,  the  noble-hearted  Jacob  Wool- 
ner, the  present  magnificent  temple 
which  is  now  occupied  by  the  congre- 
gation was  erected  at  a  cost  of  upwards 
of  $35,000. 

On  March  2,  1898,  the  corner-stone  of 
this  new  edifice  was  laid.  It  was  at- 
tended by  hundreds  of  Christian 
friends,  besides  the  members  of  the 
congregation.  Though  a  heavy  snow 
was  falling  during  the  entire  ceremony, 
the  weather  in  no  way  interfered  with 
the  services  nor  (he  audience.  A  canopy 
covered  the  platform,  and  the  exercises 
proceeded  as  though  the  sun  were 
shining. 

Worthy  President  Henry  Ullman  had 
just  recovered  from  a  sereve  illness 
and  was  unable  to  act  in  that  capacity. 
He,  however,  introduced  Mr.  Isaac  J. 
Levinson,  who  delivered  the  historical 
address  in  behalf  of  the  president  as 
follows: 

"My  friends:  The  honor  of  occupy- 
ing this  sacred  position  upon  such  an 
occasion  is  one  little  dreamed  of  by 
me.  To  be  delegated  as  the  represent- 
ative of  your  worthy  president,  who 
for  twenty-five  years  has  presided  over 
the  destinies  of  this  congregation, 
who,  during  that  time  has  met  every 
manner  of  the  vicissitudes  of  congre- 
gational life,  and  has  never  swerved 
from  the  path  of  duty,  is  an  honor  that 
neith  my  labors  for  the  congrega- 
tion nor  the  zeal  for  my  religion  has 
merited. 

"Unfortunately  for  you,  the  indispo- 
sition on  the  part  of  your  worthy 
president  throws  the  mantle  of  his  of- 
fice, for  today,  upon  me.  Would  to 
God  that  I  possessed  a  heart  so  full  of 
love  and  devotion  to  our  congregation 
as  he,  so  that  it  would  inspire  within 
me  eloquence  to  speak  to  you  as  he 
would  speak  to  you,  in  words  of  fire  to 
kindle  your  hearts  to  renewed  activity 
in  completing  this  grand  edifice  so 
nobly  begun,  and  place  it  when  com- 
pleted, in  the  hands  of  the  trustees,  un- 
plastered  with  a  mortgage.  This  is  the 


burning  heart's  desire  of  our  worthy 
president." 

"This  congregation  was  organized  in 
the  year  1859,  when  but  a  handful  of 
Israelites,  inspired  by  the  energy  and 
zeal  and  work  of  our  "Little  Giant," 
Max  Newman,  they  built  and  paid  for 
the  house  of  worship  erected  on  Fulton 
street  in  this  city,  and  occupied  the 
same  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years. 
They  worshiped  there  under  the  old 
orthodox  doctrines,  forms  and  cere- 
monies. Enlightened  by  the  true  light 
of  liberty,  they  were  soon  transformed 
from  the  orthodox  and  became  a  part 
of  American  Judaism.  They  have  kept 
up  with  the  rapid  stride,  and  when  the 
new  ritual  and  the  Union  prayer-book 
was  presented  it  was  immediately 
adopted  by  the  congregation,  being  one 
of  the  first  in  this  country  to  adopt  the 
same. 

"Through  the  noble  efforts  of  our 
ladies,  particularly  assisted  by  David 
Ullman,  a  magnificent  temple  was 
erected  on  Liberty  and  Jefferson 
streets,  where  the  congregation  wor- 
shiped for  fourteen  years.  This  build- 
ing was  destroyed  by  fire  Jan.  10, 
1896.  Since  that  time  we  have  been 
homeless  wanderers,  beggars,  for  a 
house  of  worship.  The  zeal,  energy 
and  devotion  of  our  venerable  presi- 
dent, assisted  by  the  noble  Samuel 
Woolner  and  his  brother,  Jacob  Wool- 
ner, and  that  Prince  of  Jews,  William 
Wolfner,  soon  pushed  the  building  of 
the  temple  to  a  completion. 

"And  now,  my  friends,  at  the  laying 
of  the  cornerstone  of  this  edifice,  erect- 
ed to  the  Most  High,  it  behooves  us, 
like  all  others  about  to  enter  upon  new 
work,  to  lay  out  our  plans.  Let  us  do 
so  by  means  of  firm  resolution  engraft- 
ed into  our  hearts.  Let  us  first,  then, 
resolve  that  this  edifice  shall  be  the 
house  of  God.  Let  it  be  a  house  of 
prayer.  Let  it  be  a  house  of  rest  for 
suffering  humanity,  whether  mentally 
or  physically  afflicted.  All  shall  be 
welcomed  under  its  roof  and  partake  of 
its  ever-flowing  blessings. 

"Let  it  be  a  home  of  peace;  within 
its  walls  let  no  discord  enter.  Let  it 
be  a  house  in  which  we  will  all  con- 
gregate weekly  and  oftener,  to  offer  our 
thanksgivings  to  Him,  the  Giver  of  all 
Good.  Let  it,  above  all,  be  a  home, 
devoted  and  consecrated  to  the  en- 
lightenment of  the  world,  wherein 
shall  be  taught  the  one  cardinal  prin- 
ciple of  Judaism — one  God,  one  Hu- 
manity; and  until  that  day  will  Israel 
ever  strive." 

The  ceremony  of  the  dedication  and 
also  the  prayer  were  delivered  by  Rab- 
bi J.  Thorner  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  in  a 
most  feeling  address. 

But  a  short  time  afterwards,  at  the 
following  meeting  of  the  congregation, 
held  in  the  month  of  April,  President 
Henry  Ullman,  owing  to  ill  health,  was 
forced  to  decline  a  re-election  as  presi- 
dent, and  Mr.  Samuel  Woolner,  who 
had  been  vice-president  since  1887,  was 
elected  in  his  stead.  An  appropriate 
solid  silver  water  set  was,  on  behalf  of 
the  congregation,  presented  by  Mr. 
Samuel  Woolner  to  the  retiring  presi- 


372 


REFORM  ADVOGATB.. 


dent,    and    the    following    resolutions 
were  adopted: 

Whereas,  Our  venerable  president. 
Mr.  Henry  Ullman,  has,  owing  to  poor 
health,  declined  a  re-election  as  presi- 
dent of  the  congregation,  and 

Whereas,  The  said  Henry  Ullman  for 
more  than  twenty-fire  years  guided  the 
welfare  of  this  congregation,  and  has 
sacrified  his  time,  money  and  health 
for  the  congregation,  and  has  with 
earnest  zeal  and  with  the  utmost  in- 
tegrity, midst  the  greatest  of  hard- 
ships, successfully  devoted  himself  to 
its  welfare;  therefore,  be  It 

Resolved,  That  we,  as  a  congrega- 
tion, recognize  the  sterling  worth  of 
onr  worthy  president,  and  of  the  many 
obligations  that  it  owes  to  him  for  his 
self-sacrifice. 

Resolved,  further,  that  this  congre- 
gation extends  to  him  its  utmost  sin- 
cere thanks  and  best  wishes.  May  the 
all-wise  Providence  in  his  supreme 
mercy  guide  him  in  health  and  pros- 
perity throughout  life.  May  his  de- 
clining years  be  full  of  happiness, 
health  and  plenty.  May  his  devotion 
to  this  congregation  and  the  cause  of 
Judaism  never  cease.  And  be  it  fur- 
ther 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  thereof  be 
engrossed  and  presented  to  our  es- 
teemed president,  and  that  a  copy 
thereof  be  spread  upon  the  records  of 
this  congregation,  and  when  the  same 
are  presented  to  him,  the  Board  of 
Governors  of  this  Congregation  shall 
do  so,  together  with  a  substantial  and 
suitable  token  of  the  recognition  of 
this  congregation,  and  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  reso- 
lutions be  printed  in  The  American 
Israelite  and  The  Jewish  Guide. 

ISAAC  J.  LEVINSON, 
MAX  RITZWOLLER. 
JOSEPH  SZOLD, 

Committee. 

Elaborate  preparations  were  made 
for  the  dedication  services  of  the  tem- 
ple, which  occurred  on  Sept.  9,  1897; 
but  a  few  days,  however,  before  these 
services,  the  venerable  ex-president  of 
the  congregation,  Henry  Ullman,  was 
called  to  his  last  resting  place.  This 
created  a  deep  mourning  over  the  en- 
tire household  of  Israel  in  this  city. 
His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Edward  N.  Calisch  of  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  S. 
Levi  of  this  city,  who  had  just  been 
elected  the  minister  of  the  congrega- 
tion, the  former  having  been  the  in- 
strument who,  with  the  deceased  and 
a  few  others,  united  the  reformed 
Israelites  into  one  congregation  in  this 
city.  The  obituary  of  his  life  will  be 
found  hereafter. 

Midst  the  deep  sorrow  of  the  con- 
gregation, the  day  having  been  set  for 
Sept.  9  and  the  approaching  holidays 
so  close,  it  was  decided  that  the  dedi- 
cation services  should  be  carried  out, 
and  the  temple  was  dedicated  with  due 
solemnity.  » 

That  venerable  grand  old  rabbi,  I. 
M.  Wise,  for  the  third  time,  appearing 
in  the  city  of  Peoria  for  the  purpose 


of  dedicating  the  Jewish  temple.  As 
he.  in  the  eighteenth  year  of  his  age, 
towered  before  the  public,  though  tot- 
tering and  bent  with  years,  yet.  with  a 
clear  voice,  gave  the  benediction  to  the 
congregation,  it  was  a  sight  that  will 
never  be  wiped  out  from  the  memory 
of  those  who  heard  it  Dr.  Wise  was 
assisted  in  this  Work  of  dedication 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  X.  Calisch  and 
Rev.  A.  Messing.  Montgomery.  Ala., 
both  of  whom  had  been  ministers  of 
the  congregation,  and  the  Rev.  Charles 
S.  Levi,  the  newly  elected  minister  of 
the  congregation,  participated. 

Rev.  Edward  N.  Calisch  was  the 
first  minister  of  the  united  congrega- 
tion, and  served  for  four  years,  and  al- 
though re-elected  for  a  further  term  of 
three  years,  owing  to  illness  and  seek- 
ing a  warmer  climate,  he  determined  to 
leave  for  Richmond,  Va..  where  he  still 
remains  at  the  .head  of  Congregation 
Beth  A'Hava. 

His  administration  in  the  city  of 
Peoria  was  a  glorious  one.  Services 
were  well  attended,  his  eloquence 
drawing  crowded  audiences.  and 
brought  to  the  Jews  of  this  city  a  name 
which  the  effect  of  time  cannot  efface. 

He  was  followed  by  Rev.  S.  Green- 
field, and  he,  in  turn,  by  Rev.  L.  Isen- 
berg,  each  of  whom  served  for  two 
years.  Rabbi  A.  Messing,  ripe  from 
the  Union  Hebrew  College,  was  then 
elected,  but  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
congregation  had  no  home,  having 
been  burned  out,  he,  at  the  end  of  the 
first  year,  resigned  and  accepted  the 
position  at  Montgomery,  Ala. 

Rev.  Charles  S.  Levi,  the  present 
minister,  took  charge  of  the  congrega- 
tion at  the  completion  of  the  temple. 
His  term  of  office  has  been  a  very 
fruitful  one  for  the  congregation. 
When  he  entered  the  pulpit  the  con- 
gregation numbered  about  fifty,  but 
since  has  a  membership  increased  to 
ninety-four,  consisting  of  almost  every 
reformed  Israelite  in  the  city — young 
and  old.  His  Sabbath  school  has  be- 
come a  model  one,  and  being  a  learned, 
conscientious,  energetic  and  faithful 
rabbi,  he  has  become  beloved  and  en- 
deared to  all  the  members,  as  well  as 
the  whole  community.  He  is  assisted 
in  hi?  Sabbath  school  work  by  five  lady 
teachers  anc  Dr.  Sandor  Horwitz,  who 
teaches  Hebrew.  The  Sabbath  school 
is  attended  by  upwards  or  ninety  chil- 
dren. All  the  children  of  the  orthodox 
school  attend  his  Sabbath  school.  Offi- 
cers of  the  Sabbath  school:  1886-1896, 
L  J.  Levinson,  president;  1896-1900, 
Henry  Woolner,  president;  present  of- 
ucers.  W.  B.  Woolner,  president;  Mil- 
ton Newman,  secretary;  A.  Raff  man 
and  Henry  Wooiner.  The  congrega- 
tion maintains  a  paid  choir,  consisting 
of  a  quartette,  at  a  t-o^t  of  $1,200  per 
annum;  .md  is  composed  of  the  best 
voices  in  the  city.  It  hag  a  debt  of 
about  $7,000.  which  the  Ladies'  Auxil- 
iary Society  is  attempting  to  pay  off, 
having  paid  during  the  past  two  years 
$1,000  yearly. 

The  present  officers  of  Congregation 
Anshai  Emeth  are  as  follows:  Samuel 


Woolner.  president:  David  Ullman, 
vice-president;  A.  Raff  man,  secretary; 
M.  Salzenstein,  treasurer;  Jacob  Wool- 
ner,  William  F.  Wolfner  and  Jacob 
Heim,  trustees. 

The  Sabbath  school  library  was 
founded  in  1899  by  tnp  children  of  the 
school.  The  nam«>b  of  the  lady  teach- 
ers of  the  Sabbath  school  are  Mrs.  I.  L. 
Fraxer,  Mr^.  \V.  B.  Woolner,  Mrs.  M. 
Xevman  an<!  Miss  Hattie  Ullman. 

II. 

CONGREGATION  AGUDAS  ACHIM 
was  organized  in  Sept.,  1897.  It  is  a 
strictly  orthodox  congregation,  minhag 
Poland.  It  has  about  thirty-five  mem- 
bers and  about  115  additional 
seat  holders,  who  attend  services 
during  the  holidays.  They  hold 
regular  services  twice  daily  and 
also  on  Friday  evening  and  Saturday 
morning.  Mr.  Charles  Brill  acts  as 
Hazan  and  Shochet,  and  is  assisted  by 
'  Julius  Frankel  and  Max  Oppenheim  in 
services.  The  congregation  purchased 
a  church  building,  formerly  occupied 
by  one  of  the  Christian  churches,  on 
Monso  street,  in  this  city,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1897,  for  $3,000.  They  renovated 
and  improved  the  same  at  a  cost  of 
$1.200.  The  building  is  all  paid  for 
except  about  $700,  which  they  owe. 
The  congregation  is  about  to  purchase 
the  cemetery  of  the  old  Beth  Israel 
congregation,  which  they  now  use. 

The  first  officers  of  the  congregation 
were:  Julius  Frankel,  president;  Max 
J.  Cohen,  vice-president;  Abraham 
Jacobson,  secretary;  Jacob  Conigisky, 
treasurer. 

The  present  officers  are:  Nathan 
Friedman,  president;  P.  Blumenthal, 
vice-president;  Samuel  Lanski,  secre- 
tary; Marks  Gumbiner,  treasurer. 

There  are  probably  six  or  eight  mem- 
bers of  this  congregation  who  are  also 
members  of  Congregation  Anshai 
Emeth. 

In  connectitn  with  Agudas  Achim 
Congregation  are  two  charity  societies, 
one  composed  of  the  male  members, 
known  as  the  Home  of  Shelter,  who  at- 
tempt to  take  care  of  all  the  traveling 
poor  who  come  to  the  city,  giving 
night's  lodging  and  meals  to  them 
temporarily.  They  also  loan  small 
sums  of  money,  without  interest,  to 
some  of  their  poor.  Considering  that 
they  are  themselves  composed  of  the 
poorer  classes,  they  are  doing  good 
work  in  that  line,  and  are  quite  an  as- 
sistant to  the  Peoria  Hebrew  Relief  As- 
sociation, which  does  the  main  Jewish 
Charities  of  the  c'ty. 

The  officers  of  this  society  are:  Ju- 
lius Frankel,  preEident;  Nathan  Fried- 
man, secretary  and  treasurer. 

The  Ladies'  Hebrew  Aid  Society, 
also  an  adjunct  of  that  temple,  was  or- 
ganized about  the  same  time  as  the 
congregation.  Its  officers  are:  Mrs. 
Max  J.  Cohen,  president;  Mrs.  N. 
Friedman,  secretary;  Mr.  S.  Lidwin- 
oski,  treasurer. 

This  society  expends  considerable 
money,  and  is  among  the  active  char- 
ity societies  of  this  city. 

While  speaking  of  charities,  in  addi- 
tion to  those  already  mentioned,  and 


Turn  REFORM 


373 


as  adjuncts  of  the  Anshai  Emeth  Con- 
gregation, are  the  Sisters  of  Peace,  a 
society  organized  in  the  year  1876, 
largely  through  the  influence  of  those 
three  sainted  women,  Mrs.  Rosa  Wool- 
ner,  Mrs.  J.  Schradzki  and  Mrs.  I.  A. 
Weil,  who,  thank  God,  still  is  alive. 
This  society  has  been  foremost  in  the 
charitable  work  of  this  city  of  any  of 
the  ladies'  societies.  The  founders  of 
this  society  were  true,  noble  Jewish 
women,  who  devoted  their  time  and 
money,  seeking  naught  else  but  the  re- 
lief of  the  poor.  Inspired  by  the  ex- 
amples of  these  noble  women,  it  has 
protected  and  cared  for  hundreds  of 
families  during  its  existence,  and  is 
now  about  to  celebrate  its  twenty-fifth 
anniversary.  The  najnes  of  the  above, 
its  founders,  are  used  in  every-day 
life,  with  expressions  of  gratitude  for 
their  noble  work. 

This  society  was  originally  organized 
when  Congregation  Beth  Israel  was  in 
existence,  and  its  membership  formed 
from  the  wives  and  daughters  thereof. 
Its  present  officers  are:  Mrs.  Jacob 
Woolner,  president;  Mrs.  I.  Steckel, 
secretary;  Mrs.  A.  Schradzki,  treas- 
urer. 

THE  LADIES'     HEBREW    BENEVO- 
LENT SOCIETY, 

organized  from  among  the  wives 
and  daughters  of  the  original  Congre- 
gation Anshai  Emeth,  has  also  done 
good  and  noble  work,  both  for  the  con- 
gregation and  for  the  poor.  For  many 
years  it  devoted  itself  entirely  to  the 
welfare  of  the  congregation,  but  in 
later  years  has  become  a  general  char- 
ity society.  Mrs.  Henry  Ullman,  who 
has  been  its  president  almost  since  the 
society  has  been  organized,  1861 — the 
widow  of  the  lamented  Henry  Ullman 
— has  done  noble  services,  not  only  for 
this  society,  but  has  been  an  active 
solicitor  for  the  Cleveland  Orphan 
Asylum  ever  since  the  orphan  asylum 
was  built.  She  has  been  active  in  con- 
gregational work,  and  a  personal 
worker  among  the  poor  of  this  city. 
Its  present  officers  are:  Mrs.  Henry 
Ullman,  president;  Mrs.  S.  Silver- 
stone,  secretary;  Mrs.  Max  Newman, 
treasurer. 

THE  PEORIA  JEWISH  LADIES' 
SEWING  SOCIETY 

was  organized  ten  years  ago. 
Its  members  devote  one  afternoon  each 
week  for  the  purpose  of  sewing  for  the 
poor.  It  has  distributed  all  the  clothes 
necessary  for  poor  women  and  children 
that  have  been  required  by  the  various 
relief  societies  during  that  time.  It 
counts  among  its  members  our  wealthi- 
est as  well  as  our  poorest  ladies,  all  of 
whom  actively  engage  in  the  work  of 
sewing  weekly.  Its  present  officers 
are:  Mrs.  William  B.  Woolner,  presi- 
dent; Mrs.  A.  Schradzki,  vice-presi- 
dent; Mrs.  S.  Horwitz,  secretary;  Mrs. 
H.  V.  Finkelstein,  treasurer. 

In  addition  to  the  societies  before 
mentioned,  there  is  also  a  ladies'  so- 
ciety, known  as  the  Ladies'  (Anshai 
Emeth)  Auxiliary  Society,  who  give 


entertainments  and  bazars,  etc.,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  congregation.  At  the 
head  of  this  society  is  Mrs.  W.  B. 
Woolner,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Wool- 
ner, Esq.,  through  whose  labors,  as- 
sisted by  Mrs.  L.  Lowenthal  and  other 
members  of  the  society,  the  congrega- 
tional debt  has  been  reduced  upwards 
of  $2,000  within  the  past  two  years. 
During  the  last  Christmas  week  this 
society  held  a  doll  bazar  in  one  of  the 
leading  stores  in  the  city,  and  in  one 
week  realized  from  dolls  alone,  up- 
wards of  $300.  The  noble  work  of  the 
present  officers  of  this  society  is 
worthy  of  emulation.  It  is  now  con- 
templating a  grand  fair,  to  be  given 
during  the  next  spring,  at  which  time 
they  intend  to  wipe  out  a  large  portion 
of  the  debt.  Mrs.  W.  B.  Woolner  is 
ever  active  and  loses  no  chance  to  get 
money  for  the  congregation. 

THE  PEORIA  HEBREW  RELIEF 
ASSOCIATION      • 

was  originally  organized  in  the 
year  1881,  at  the  time  of  the  Russian 
immigration  to  this  city.  Prior  to 
that  time  the  main  charities  of  the  city 
had  been  done  by  Progress  Lodge,  No. 
113,  I.  O.  B.  B.,  which  acted  up  to  that 
time  as  the  relief  society  of  this  city; 
but,  when  some  twenty  odd  families  of 
Russian  Jews  came  to  this  city,  it  was 
found  necessary  to  start  a  separate  or- 
ganization, and  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  the  late  Adolph  Woolner, 
assisted  by  Isaac  J.  Levinson,  this  so- 
ciety was  organized,  and  a  fund  of 
over  $1,500  raised  at  once.  Mr.  Adolph 
Woolner  was  elected  president  and  Mr. 
Isaac  J.  Levinson  superintendent  and 
secretary.  During  the  first  four  years 
of  its  existence  it  required  much  of  the 
time  of  the  officers  to  take  care  of 
these  poor,  but  the  president  and  su- 
perintendent of  the  organization,  de- 
voted to  the  cause  of  charity,  never  al- 
lowed a  case  to  go  unheeded.  At  day 
or  night,  no  matter  how  inclement  the 
weather,  they  were  always  ready  to  at- 
tend to  the  duties,  which  as  president 
and  superintendent  of  such  organiza- 
tion were  demanded  of  them,  and  when 
the  funds  of  the  society  were  inade- 
quate for  the  relief  of  these  sufferers, 
the  president  was  ever  ready  to  supply 
the  necessary  means. 

In  every  case  it  has  been  the  rule  of 
this  society  never  to  give  alms  except 
for  an  emergency,  but  to  endeavor  to 
place  every  poor  man  upon  a  self-sus- 
taining basis,  so  as  to  prevent  pauper- 
ism, and  no  matter  what  the  cost,  if 
the  proper  end  could  be  attained,  poor 
people  were  kept  from  pauperism. 

This  society  continued  ever  since 
1881,  and  the  two  original  officers  re- 
mained at  the  helm  until  the  death  of 
Adolph  Woolner,  in  1891,  when  Wil- 
liam F.  Wolfner  was  elected  to  succeed 
him  as  president,  and  has  continued  as 
its  president  ever  since. 

The  requirements  of  this  society 
after  the  Russian  immigrants  were 
established  were  not  very  great,  owing 
to  the  fact  that  each  poor  person  was 
put  upon  a  substantial  footing. 


During  the  past  year  the  calls  upon 
the  society  funds  have  been  large, 
greatly  owing  to  the  immigration  of 
the  Roumanian  Jews.  Some  fifteen 
families,  or  heads  of  families,  arrived 
here,  and  through  the  work  of  the 
superintendent,  assisted  by  the  presi- 
dent and  Dr.  Charles  S.  Levi,  the  sec- 
retary, all  of  them  have  been  placed 
upon  a  substantial  basis.  Notwith- 
standing that  the  winter  has  been 
harsh  and  a  great  many  of  our  older 
poor  Peoria  citizens  were  out  of  work, 
all  have  been  provided  for.  A  night 
school  was  established  for  their  benefit 
under  the  auspices  of  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  society,  and  a  paid  teacher 
employed,  where  the  English  language 
is  taught  to  them  free  of  charge,  at  the 
expense  of  the  society.  This  society 
has  collected  annually  about  $900,  and 
in  off  years  as  high  as  $1,500,  all  of 
which  has  been  used  in  the  directions 
indicated.  It  has  largely  been  assisted 
by  the  noble  women  in  our  midst, 
among  whom  may  be  mentioned 
Mrs.  Clara  B.  Greenhut,  Mrs.  Jacob 
Woolner,  Mrs.  William  B.  Woolner, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Woolner,  Mrs.  Henry  Ull- 
man, Mrs.  Tillie  Newman,  Mrs.  Max  J. 
Cohen  and  Mrs.  Ida  Z.  Frazer,  who  not 
only  by  their  donations;  but  by  hard1 
work,  have  helped  the  society  in  carry- 
ing out  its  work.  Present  officers: 
William  F.  Wolfner,  president;  Max 
Newman,  vice-president;  Rabbi  Charles 
S.  Levi,secretary;I.  J.  Levinson,  super- 
intendent; Jacob  Woolner,  treasurer. 
Mrs.  Frazer  was  born  Christian,  but, 
inspired  by  the  love  of  truth  and  devo- 
tion to  what  she  considered  her  duty, 
under  the  teachings  of  Rev.  Edward  N. 
Calisch,  and  afterwards  of  Rev.  S. 
Greenfield,  this  noble  woman  left  the 
city  of  Peoria  some  seven  years  ago, 
went  to  Richmond,  Va.,  and  there,  in 
Temple  Beth  A'Hava,  under  Rev.  Ed- 
ward N.  Calisch,  was  confirmed  and 
became  a  member  of  the  Jewish 
faith.  No  more  devoted  Jewish  wom- 
an lives.  Entirely  wrapped  up  in 
our  religion,  and  desiring  to  devote  her 
life  to  its  cause,  teaching  the  Sabbath 
school,  a  worker  for  all  Jewish  charity 
organizations,  she  devotes  her  life  to 
everything  that  is  good  and  noble. 
She  lives  at  home  with  her  Christian 
husband,  yet  her  candles  are  burning 
every  Friday  evening.  No  services  at 
the  temple  are  unattended  by  her.  No 
sick  or  poor  who  are  not  visited  by  her. 
She  is  an  honor,  and  should  be  an  ex- 
ample to  many  of  our  Jewish  women. 
She  is  the  best-informed  Jewess  is  Pe- 
oria. 

PROGRESS  LODGE  NO.  113,  I.  O.  B.  B. 

Officers:  Isaac  J.  Levinson,  presi- 
dent; A.  S.  Kreisman,  vice-president; 
Abraham  Jacobson,  secretary;  Charles 
Gumbiner,  treasurer.  Organized  Au- 
gust, 1868,  first  lodge  under  District 
No.  6.  David  Ullman  first  president; 
Jacob  Helm,  secretary.  Has  115  mem- 
bers. Within  the  last  year  68  were 
admitted,  principally  young  men. . 

Samuel  Woolner  is  an  ex-president 
of  District  Grand  Lodge-  No.  6,  so  was 
Henry  Ullman. 


374 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


I.  J.  Levinson  was  ten  times  elected 
president  of  court  of  appeals  of  the  dis- 
trict. 

This  lodge  bears  the  record  that  no 
member  has  ever  been  suspended  from 
the  lodge  because  of  inability  to  pay 
dues  or  assessments,  the  lodge  paying 
for  each  poor  member  until  such  mem- 
ber could  pay  himself. 

HENRY    ULLMAN    AUXILIARY 
LODGE  NO.  2,  I.  O.  B.  B. 

Officers:  Miriam  Szold,  preceptor; 
Nathan  Weiss,  vice-preceptor;  Max 
Woolner,  financial  secretary;  Sadie 
Cohen,  recording  secretary;  Jerome- 
Levinson,  treasurer;  Isaac  J.  Levinson, 
mentor.  Organized  June,  1900,  through 
efforts  of  I.  J.  Levinson;  has  32  mem- 
bers between  15  and  20  years.  Gives 
monthly  entertainments  devoted  to 
Jewish  essays  and  history,  also  lec- 
tures and  music.  Gave  a  Purln 
play  and  dance  March  5  for  benefit  of 
Jewish  Orphan  Aslyum  and  Denver 
Hospital  for  consumptives.  They  are 
doing  nicely. 

THE  CIRCLE  OF  JEWISH  WOMEN. 

Officers:  Mrs.  Milton  Newman,  presi- 
dent; Mrs.  Samuel  Woolner,  vice-presi- 
dent; Mrs.  S.  Horwitz,  secretary;  Mrs. 
Samuel  Jellinek,  treasurer.  First 
organized  under  the  auspices  of  Coun- 
cil of  Jewish  Women,  but  dissented, 
and  about  a  year  ago  left  the  mother 
organization  and  became  independent. 
They  devote  their  time  to  study  of 
Jewish  history  and  literature  and  char- 
ity. They  also  assist  in  temple  work. 
They  include  almost  all  Jewish  ladies 
of  both  congregations. 

Regina  Wise  was  born  in  the  year 
1803,  in  Steingrup,  near  Ager,  Bohe- 
mia. Died  at  Peoria,  111.,  June  11, 
1880.  Her  mother's  name  was  Regina 
Wise;  her  husband's  name  was  Leo 
Wise.  She  came  to  Peoria  in  1871  and 
resided  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Caro- 
line Korsoski,  up  to  the  time  of  her 
•death.  She  was  the  mother  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Isaac  M.  Wise,  and  is  now 
buried  in  Mount  Sinai  Cemetery, 
Springdale,  Peoria,  111.,  upon  the  fam- 
ily lot  of  John  Korsoski,  and  among 
the  other  members  of  Anshai  Emeth 
Congregation. 

True  Fit  Manufacturing  Company, 
manufacturers  of  overalls,  pants,  etc., 
employs  over  150  girls  and  women.  It 
is  owned  by  Solomon  Bennett  and  his 
son-in-law,  H.  T.  Bloom.  Mr.  Ben- 
nett came  to  Peoria  in  1860  with  his 
father,  mother  and  family.  He  was  at 
one  time  the  leader  in  business  and 
charity  affairs  In  the  city.  Misfortune 
In  business  overtook  him  in  1888  and 
since  that  time  he  has  not  taken  any 
active  part.  He  is  a  member  of  Anshai 
Emeth,  I.  O.  B.  B.  and  Peoria  He- 
brew Relief.  He  has  raised  a 
large  family  of  orphans,  rela- 
tives of  his,  all.  of  whom 
are  honorable  citizens  in  this  commun- 
ity. He  was  married  to  Delia  Freiden- 
berg  in  1865.  He  has  two  children, 
Charles  Bennett  and  Gertie  Bloom. 
Charles  is  connected  with  the  business. 


OBITUARY. 
HENRY  ULLMAN,  PEORIA,  ILL. 

On  the  5th  inst,  Sept.  5,  1898,  there 
passed  away  in  Peoria,  111.,  one  of  the 
most  respected  members  of  the  whole- 
sale liquor  trade,  Henry  Ullman,  of 
Ullman  &  Son,  whose  demise  is  sin- 
cerely mourned  by  a  wide  circle  of 
friends. 

Mr.  Ullman  was  born  July  16,  1832, 
in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  came  to 
this  country  when  fourteen  years  of 
age,  settling  first  in  Lacon,  111.,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  the  clothing  busi- 
ness. He  removed  to  Peoria  in  the  early 
sixties  (1856),  and  carried  on  business 
there  until  about  twenty  years  ago, 
when  he  became  the  head  of  the  house 
of  Ullman  &  Co.,  taking  in  as  part- 
ner his  brother  David. 

He  left  a  widow,  two  sons  and  two 
daughters.  One  son,  Edward  H.,  is 
engaged  in  business  in  Chicago,  and 


HENRY  ULLMAN. 

the  other  son,  Morris,  has  been  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  business. 

The  deceased  took  a  deep  interest  in 
the  development  of  the  Jewish  peo- 
ple, in  which  he  enjoyed  a  national 
reputation.  He  was  at  one  time  presi- 
dent of  the  grand  lodge  of  the  B'nai 
B'rith,  and  for  twenty-five  years  presi- 
dent of  the  Congregation  Anshai 
Emeth;  of  the  public  library  he  was  a 
director  from  the  foundation,  and,  in 
short,  there  was  no  good  and  benevo- 
lent cause  in  which  he  was  not  warm- 
ly interested.  He  was  a  true  type  of 
the  large-hearted  and  public-spirited 
man. 

As  showing  the  esteem  in  which  he 
was  held  by  his  fellow  citizens,  we 
cannot  do  better  than  give  the  closing 
words  of  a  eulogy  to  his  memory  by 
the  Peoria  Evening  Star:  "He  was 
very  popular,  for  he  possessed  one  of 
those  natures  that  made  him  the  very 
genius  of  benevolence.  Sincerity  and 
honesty  were  stamped  upon  his  feat- 
ures. He  took  a  fatherly  interest  in 
his  friends,  and  when  misfortune  over- 
took any  of  his  acquaintances  he  was 
one  of  the  first  to  come  to  their  as- 


sistance. There  was  no  deception 
about  Henry  Ullman.  He  was  deeply 
religious,  not  in  the  narrow  view  that 
limited  his  acts  to  a  set  and  particular 
creed,  but  in  the  larger  and  loftier 
sense  of  looking  upon  all  men  as  breth- 
ren, so  that  while  he  kept  the  faith  of 
Israel,  he  exhibited  in  his  own  walk 
and  conversation  a  widespread  char- 
ity that  embraced  mankind  itself. 
The  sentiments  of  his  soul  shone  in  his 
face,  for  his  very  lineaments  exhibited 
benevolence,  uprightness,  charity  and 
kindly  feeling.  He  was,  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  scriptures,  'a  very  present 
help  in  time  of  trouble.'  There  was 
about  him  a  noble  disinterestedness 
that  sympathized  with  misfortune  and 
gave  him  a  moral  power  that  encour- 
aged the  weak  and  imparted  new 
strength  to  the  downcast  and  sorrow- 
ful. While  he  was  a  good  business 
man,  he  was  not  so  absorbed  In  the  toil 
for  gain  that  he  had  no  leisure  for  the 
living.  His  house  was  the  abode  of  sen- 
sible and  healthful  happiness.  The 
domestic  virtues  were  daily  exemplified 
at  his  abode.  He  enjoyed  all  that  life 
can  give  a  man  as  the  reward  for  his 
own  right  living — an  affectionate  help- 
meet, a  family  of  loving  and  appreci- 
ative children,  troops  of  friends,  an 
honored  place  in  the  community,  and 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  whole 
city.  We  have  known  Mr.  Ullman  in- 
timately for  almost  forty  years,  and 
we  write  these  lines  with  sadness  at  his 
death,  but  with  the  feeling  that  after 
all  his  was  a  perfect  life,  for  all  that 
is  joyous  in  existence  he  obtained  with 
fewer  clouds  than  fall  to  the  lot  of 
most  of  us,  and  now  he  has  solved  the 
last  and  greatest  problem,  for  he  has 
been  gathered  to  his  fathers.  Hail 
and  farewell." 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Clara 
Newman,  sister  of  Max  Newman, 
in  August  of  that  year,  and  they  lived 
happily  together  ever  since,  celebrating 
their  forty-second  anniversary  on  Aug- 
ust 12th  last.  Mr.  Ullman  leaves  be- 
sides his  sorrowing  widow,  two  sons. 
Edward  H.,  who  is  engaged  in  business 
in  Chicago,  and  Morris,  who  has  been 
associated  with  his  father  in  business, 
and  two  daughters,  Misses  Hattie  and 
Lorena. 

Mr.  Ullman  was  a  man  of  the  strict- 
est integrity,  of  positive  convictions 
based  upon  a  pure  conception  of  right, 
self-made,  but  of  rare  refinement  and 
self-acquired  intellectual  attainments. 

In  social  circles  he  was  an  acknowl- 
edged leader,  as  also  in  charitable 
work,  and  in  his  religion  he  always 
took  the  keenest  interest,  having  been 
the  president  of  the  Congregation  of 
Anshai  Emeth  for  over  twenty-five 
years,  only  a  few  months  ago  insisting 
upon  his  declination  of  a  re-election  in 
consequence  of  his  enfeebled  physical 
condition,  though  not  relaxing  his  in- 
terest in  the  completion  of  the  new 
temple,  to  assist  in  the  dedication  of 
which,  an  all-wise  Providence  denied 
him.  He  was  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  Peoria  Public  Library,  when  it 


REFORM  ADVOCATE.. 


375 


was  established,  and  has  continued 
ever  since,  a  respected  member  of  that 
board.  His  advice  was  frequently  so- 
licited, and  was  freely  given.  His 
judgment  was  appreciated,  and  his  dis- 
position was  universally  kind.  So  he 
left  no  enemies,  but  all  who  knew 
him  were  his  friends.  He  assisted  in 
organizing  Schiller  Lodge,  A.,  F.,  &  A. 
M.,  of  which  he  served  as  master  in  his 
customary  able  manner,  as  he  acquit- 
ted himself  in  any  function  which  he 
ever  undertook.  He  was  universally 
spoken  of  as  a  most  exemplary  hus- 
band and  father,  and  his  memory  will 
long  be  fondly  cherished. 

ORDER  BRITH  ABRAHAM, 
Peoria  City  Lodge  No.  138. 

Officers:  -I.  Weinstein,  President;  I. 
Meyers,  Vice-President;  Dr.  S.  Hor- 
witz,  Secretary;  Harry  Frankel,  Treas- 
urer. 

I.  Weinstein,  who  was  formerly  a 
member  of  the  organization  in  St. 
Louis,  came  to  Peoria  and  organized 
the  Lodge  in  March,  1893.  There  are 
now  fifty-four  members  of  the  organi- 
zation. It  is  a  purely  insurance  or- 
ganization, and  charitable  among  its 
members.  It  insures  both  the  mem- 
bers and  their  wives. 

Twice  since  that  time  has  the  organi- 
zation been  called  upon  to  pay  an  as- 
sessment of  five  hundred  dollars  each, 
for  the  wives  of  members.  None  of  the 
members  have  been  unfortunate 
enough  to  die.  They  provide  sick 
benefits  and  funeral  expenses  for  mem- 
bers and  their  family. 

PEORIA  LADIES'  LODGE  NO.  41. 

Officers:  J.  Weinstein,  President; 
Mrs.  Brotha  Cohen,  Vice-President; 
Mrs.  S.  Horwitz,  Secretary;  Mrs.  N. 
Meyer,  Treasurer. 

This  association  was  organized  about 
two  years  ago;  has  about  thirty 
members,  the  wives  of  the  Order  Brith 
Abraham. 

ADOLPH  WOOLNER. 

In  the  year  1871  Adolph  Woolner,  de- 
ceased, secured  a  patent  through  the 
department  at  Washington,  for  cook- 
ers' uses  in  the  manufacture  of  whis- 
ky. This  patent  was  somewhat  incom- 
plete, lacking  a  few  of  the  scientific 
ideas  necessary  to  make  it  perfect,  but 
it  formed  the  nucleus  in  the  distilling 
business  o£  making  full  quantities  of 
whiskey  out  of  a  bushel  of  corn.  Thir- 
teen quarts  of  whisky  was  considered 
in  those  times,  a  large  quantity  to  be 
made  from  a  bushel  of  corn.  Through 
the  assistance  of  a  scientific  machinist, 
the  invention  of  Adolph  Woolner  added 
to  the  production  of  upwards  of  fifteen 
quarts  to  the  bushel.  Estimated  In 
dollars  and  cents,  amounted  to  at  least 
ten  cents  on  every  bushel  of  corn.  In 
Peoria  alone  there  was  distilled  at  least 
twenty  thousand  bushels  a  day,  making 
an  average  gain  of  at  least  two  thou- 
sand dollars  a  day  for  the  corn  at  that 
time  distilled  in  Peoria. 

This  revolutionized  the  entire  whis- 
ky business,  and  though  Adolph  Wool- 


ner's  patent  in  itself — he  not  being  a 
scientific  man — did  not  alone  do  this, 
yet  the  ideas  for  the  scheme  arose 
from  his  brain,  and  he  was  recog- 
nized as  the  theoretical  distiller  of 
America.  As  soon  as  the  patent  was 
fully  developed,  he  became  the  recog- 
nized head  in  distilling  interests.  Upon 
the  formation  of  the  whisky  pool,  he 
was  its  acknowledged  head,  but  owing 
to  his  bashfulness,  Buffalo  Miller  was 
placed  as  its  president.  He  conducted 
the  business  of  the  association  with  a 
great  deal  of  zeal.  Adolph  Woolner 
was  the  Vice-President;  Buffalo  Miller, 
President,  received  the  credit,  but  in 
all  of  the  work,  Adolph  Woolner  was 
the  fountain,  and  when  the  whisky 
trust  was  started,  Adolph  Woolner  was 
elected  its  Vice-President;  J.  B.  Green- 
hut,  President,  and  his  conservative 
ideas  and  thorough  practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  business  did  more  for  the 
promotion  of  the  whisky  rfrust  than 
any  member  thereof.  He  was  indeed 
the  power  behind  the  throne,  and  his 
wise  judgment  made  more  money  for 
the  members  of  the  whisky  trust  than 
they  have  ever  made  since  his  death. 

Unfortunately,  while  in  the  zenith  of 
his  career,  he  was  cut  off,  and  died  in 
May,  1891;  just  at  the  time  when  the 
whisky  trust  was  in  its  glory  and  mak- 
ing very  much  money  for  its  stock- 
holders. 

Adolph  Woolner  was  a  noble,  gen- 
erous soul,  a  friend  and  adviser  to 
everybody,  a  member  of  every  Jewish 
organization,  a  liberal  donor  to  charity, 
and  president  of  Peoria  Hebrew  Relief 
Society  for  ten  years. 

in: 

SOME  PROMINENT  PEORIA  JEWS. 

REV.  CHAS.  S.  LEVY. 

Rev.  Chas.  S.  Levy  was  born  in  Lon- 
don, England,  May  20,  1868.  He  was 
educated  in  the  schools  of  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  graduating  from  the  Hebrew 


cepted  a  call  to  Peoria,  111.  He  acted  as 
secretary  of  the  Central  Conference  Of 
American  Rabbis,  compiling  all  of  the 
year  books  from  1889  to  1898,  and  is  at 
present  treasurer  of  the  organization. 
Rabbi  Levy  was  secretary  of  the  He- 
brew Sabbath  School  Union  of  America 
for  nine  years  prior  to  1898.  Since  oc- 
cupying the  pulpit  of  Anshai  Emeth  he 
has  been  invited  to  contribute  a  num- 
ber of  articles  on  Jewish  history  and 
literature  for  the  Jewish  encyclopedia. 

MR.  SAMUEL  WOOLNER. 

Mr.     Samuel     Woolner     was     born 
March  llth,  1845,  in  Szenitz,  Hungary. 


REV.  CHAS.   S.    LEVY.      . 

Union  College  as  valedictorian  and 
from  the  University  of  Cincinnati  with 
high  honors  in  1889.  He  was  elected 
associate  Rabbi  to  Dr.  I.  M.  Wise  and 
assistant  professor  at  the  Hebrew 
Union  College  in  1889,  in  which  office 
he  continued  until  1898  when  he  ac- 


SAMUEL  WOOLNER. 

His  parents  were  Solomon  and  Sallie 
Woolner,  both  natives  of  Hungary. 
After  receiving  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  city  he  left  his 
ancestral  home  to  come  to  this  coun- 
try, arriving  here  in  1867.  He  has 
since  lived  in  Peoria,  where  he  has 
played  an  important  part  in  the  build- 
ing up  of  that  city,  having  erected  the 
Woolner  building  (in  connection  with 
his  brother  Adolph),  the  largest  office 
block  in  Peoria,  several  distilleries  and 
a  number  of  dwelling  houses.  Also 
has  been,  and  is  now,  active  in  a  good 
many  enterprises  in  this  city.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Pe- 
oria, and  at  one  time  had  been  its 
president,  and  has  been  a  member  of 
the  city  council  for  four  terms.  He  is 
vice-president  of  the  German-Ameri- 
can National  Bank,  director  of  the  Na- 
tional Bank  of  the  Republic  of  Chi- 
cago, and  vice-president  of  the  Stand- 
ard Distilling  and  Distributing  Com- 
pany. 

Mr.  Woolner  has  always  taken  a 
great  interest  in  congregational,  char- 
itable and  benevolent  society  work,and 
is  now  the  president  of  the  Anshai 
Emeth  Congregation  of  this  city,  vice- 
president  of  the  Union  of  American 
Hebrew  Congregations,  a  director  of 
the  Denver  Hospital  for  Consumptives, 
trustee  of  the  Cleveland  Orphan  Asy- 
lum and  ex-president  of  the  Sir  Moses 
Monteflore  Home  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
He  is  past  president  of  Progress  Lodge 
No.  113,  I.  O.  B.  B.,  and  the  past  presi- 
dent of  the  Grand  Lodge  No.  6,  I.  O. 


376 

B.  B.,  as  well  as  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
No.  4,  O.  K.  S.  B.  He  has  given  in- 
valuable aid  to  the  charities  and  is  an 
honored  and  respected  member  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lives.  His  wife 
was  a  Miss  Miriam  Sternbach,  and 
they  have  two  children  living. 

MR.  HENRY  S.  OTTENHEIMER. 

Mr.  Ottenheimer  was  born  in  Yebea- 
hausen,  Germany.  His  parents  came  to 
America  in  1859  and  he  received  his 
early  education  in  the  schools  of  Cin- 
cinnati. He  has  been  for  some  years 
a  resident  of  Peoria,  in  which  commun- 
ity he  is  well  known  and  held  in  high 
esteem.  Mr.  Ottenheimer  was  secre- 
tary of  Anshai  Emeth  Congregation 
and  of  Progress  Lodge  No.  113,  I.  O. 
B.  B.,  and  was  one  of  the  first  and 
youngest  trustees  of  the  Cleveland  Or- 
phan Asylum.  In  business  life  he  Is 
associated  with  his  brother,  Mr.  S.  W. 
Ottenheimer,  in  the  clothing  business. 
Mr.  Ottenheimer  married  Millie  Weil 
of  Evansville,  Ind.,  and  has  one  child, 
Clifford  H.  Ottenheimer. 

HENRY    SCHWABACHER, 
Mr.     Schwabacher     is     a  native     of 


REFORM 


and  has  been  an  active  and  influential 
member  of  Anshai  Emeth  congrega- 
tion, assisting  materially  in  the  build- 


HENRY  SCHWABACHER. 

Felheim,  Germany,  and  was  born  Jan. 
11,  1829.  He  came  to  America  in  1850 
and  embarked  in  the  business  of  whis- 
ky distilling  in  Peoria  in  1856,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  eminently  suc- 
cessful. He  is  a  trustee  of  Anshai 
Emeth  Congregation,  and  a  member  of 
the  Peoria  Hebrew  Relief.  In  1875  and 
3876  he  served  the  city  as  alderman, 
and  is  considered  one  of  the  public 
spirited  citizens  of  Peoria.  He  is  a  di- 
rector of  the  Electric  Light  Works. 
Mr.  Schwabacher  is  married  to  a  Miss 
Virginia  Anker. 

JACOB  WOOLNER. 

Mr.  Woolner  is  a  native  of  Hungary, 
and  was  born  in  Buda  Pesth,  thatbeau- 
tiful  modern  city  on  the  Danube.  He 
came  to  America  in  1873  going  direct  to 
Peoria,  where  his  younger  brothers  had 
preceded  him.  They  embarked  in  the 
distilling  business  and  have  been  emin- 
ently successful.  Mr.  Woolner  has 
done  a  great  deal  of  work  for  charity 


J*.COB  WOOLNER. 

ing  of  the  new  temple,  which  was  dedi- 
cated in  September,  1898.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  B'nal  Brith  and 
be  relied  on  to  lend  his  aid  for  char- 
itable or  other  work  necessary  for  the 
general  good.  He  is  an  honored  and 
respected  member  of  the  community  in- 
which  he  lives. 

JOLIET. 

About  150  Jews  live  in  Joliet.  The 
first  Jewish  settlers  in  Joliet  were  Joe 
and  Morris  Einstein  and  Isaac  Wolf, 
who  staid  there  only  a  few  years  and 
then  moved  to  Chicago.  Prominent 
Jewish  business  men  of  Joliet  are  the 
following:  Henry  and  Robert  Alexan- 
der, M.  A.  Felman,  David  Rosenheim, 
B.  Weiner,  A.  Adler  and  Dr.  Chas. 
Kahn.  The  name  of  the  congregation 
is  "the  Jewish  Congregation  of  Joliet." 
It  was  established  in  October,  1900.  The 
first  officers  were  Henry  Alexander,  M. 
Robinson  and  S.  Berger.  Present 
membership  is  40.  There  is  one  La- 
dies' Society  under  the  name  of  Debo- 
rah Society. 


WM.    F.   WOLFNER,    PEORIA. 

BLOOMINGTON. 

The  first  Jewish  settler  was  a  Mr. 
Stern,  who  came  about  1850.  He  was 
followed  by  Samuel  Livingston,  In 
1856.  He  died  in  1892,  and  left  two 


sons,  now  living  in  Bloomington, 
Aaron  and  Abraham.  Samuel  Living- 
ston was  followed  a  year  later,  in  1857, 
by  his  brother,  Aaron,  who  died  in 
1881.  Then  came  Meyer  Heldman,  Ja- 
cob and  Nathan  Heldman,  who  have 
since  moved  to  Cincinnati. 

The  next  was  Michael  Livingston, 
who  is  a  farmer  near  Bloomington. 
Then  came  Aaron  Livingston,  in 
1865,  a  cousin  of  the  aforementioned 
Livingstons.  He  is  still  living,  but 
afflicted  with  illness.  His  two_sons 
are  in  the  dry  goods  business  in 
Bloomington.  His  brother,  Resiel  Liv- 
ingston, who  came  to  Bloomington 
about  the  same  time  that  Aaron  did, 
is  now  living  in  Michigan.  Other  pio- 
neer settlers  of  Bloomington  were: 
Morris  Nathan,  who  now  lives  at  Farm- 
er City;  another,  Mr.  Alex.  Alexander, 
is  a  farmer  near  Bloomington. 
Wolf  Griesheim  came  in  1864;  Sigmund 
Heldeman,  1866,  both  living;  Emanuel 
Gantz,  1865.  Then  came  the  father  of 
all  the  Livingstons,  Hirsh  Livingston, 
from  Danbringen,  Hessen  Darmstadt, 
Germany,  in  1881,  and  this  same  year 
his  other  two  sons,  Myer  and  Isaac 


I.  J.   LEVINSON,  PEORIA. 

Livingston,  now  living  in  Blooming- 
ton. 

The  first  congregation,  "Moses  Mon- 
tifiore,"  was  started  in  1882,  with 
eighteen  members.  Isaac  Livingston 
served  as  reader  for  some  time; 
others  who  took  charge  of  the  congre- 
gation were  C.  Livingston,  Sig.  Held- 
man et.  al.  Oscar  Mandel  now  has 
charge  of  the  congregation.  They 
have  a  fine  choir;  the  leader  is  Sam 
Livingston,  son  of  Aaron  Livingston. 

Aaron  Livingston,  then  living  in  the 
south,  was  drafted  into  the  confederate 
army.  In  the  late  civil  war  he  was  cap- 
tured by  the  federal  troops,  enlisted 
and  served  the  union  cause  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Nathan  was  also 
a  union  soldier  in  the  late  civil  war; 
also  Samuel  Hammerslag  was  a  union 
soldier.  Wolf  Greisheimer  has  been  a 
county  supervisor  for  ten  years. 

Fannie  Livingston,  sister  of  Myer 
and  Isaac  Livingston,  is  living  in 
Bloomington,  she  is  the  widow  of  Isaac 
Strauss,  now  dead. 

The  congregation  has  no  regular 
Rabbi  at  present,  but  during  the  holi- 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


377 


•days  a  senior  student  from  the  Hebrew 
Union  College  takes  charge  of  the 
congregation.  The  present  member- 
ship of  the  congregation  is  33. 

Regular  Sunday  school  is  taught 
hy  Mattie  Bacharach,  Miss  Cora 
Griesheim,  and  Guida  Livingston.  The 
Abraham  Lincoln  Lodge  of  B'nai  Brith 
is  in  a  flourishing  conditon,  with  about 
sixty  members.  There  is  also  a  Jew- 
ish Ladies'  Benevolent  Society,  of 
about  15  members.  The  B'nai  Brith 
Lodge  has  taken  care  of  and  placed  in 
good  circumstances  many  Roumanian 
and  Russian  Jewish  immigrants. 

The  first  16  members  of  Moses 
Monteflore  Congregation  were:  Hirsch 
Livingston,  D.  Winter,  Resiel  Living- 
ston, Sigmund  Heldman,  Jacob  Held- 
man,  William  Freeland,  Sam  Altmann, 
J.  Friedmann,  Wolf  Griesheim,  Michael 
Livingston,  Jacob  Freeland,  Sam  Liv- 
ingston, Aaron  Livingston,  S.  E.  Bias, 
S.  Marks,  Myer  Livingston. 

The  first  services  were  according  to 
Minhag  America  and  took  place  New 
Year's  day,  1882,  in  the  Unitarian 
church.  Later  services  were  conducted 


who  lived  at  Pleasant  Plains,  Eli  at 
Saulsbury,  and  Louis  at  Athens.  Mr. 
M.  A.  Lange  came  in  1864.  Mr.  B.  A. 


TEMPLE  OF 
MOSES  MONTEFIORE  CONG. 

in  the  Independent    church  May     1st, 
1899.     The  temple  cost  $15,009. 

SPRINGFIELD. 

The  Jewish  population  of  Springfield 
will  not  exceed  150.  Three  brothers, 
Julius,  Louis  and  Edward  Hammer- 
slaugh,  came  here  about  1856  and  start- 
ed in  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Hammerslaugh  brothers.  The  next  one 
was  Mr.  S.  Rosenwald,  who  arrived  in 
1860  or  1861.  Mr.  Hirschbach  also 
came  about  that  time.  This  Mr. 
Hirschbach  was  private  secretary  to 
the  War  Governor  Richard  Yates.  Then 
came  Mr.  Louis  Benjamin.  Congrega- 
tion B'rith  Sholom  was  started  in  1863. 
Mr.  Julius  Hammerslaugh,  now  living 
in  New  York,  was  the  first  president. 
The  first  members  were:  Chas.  Stern, 
S.  Leon,  Wolf  Bergmann,  Chas.  Kusel, 
Morris  Myers;  also  a  number  of  Israel- 
ites from  adjacent  villages,  notably  the 
numerous  family  of  Salzenstein.  Jacob, 


TEMPLE  OF 
B'RITH  SCHOLOM  CONG. 

Lange,  who  had  kindly  furnished  us 
the  information,  came  in  1866.  D. 
Gottlieb,  from  Hanover,  was  grand 
president  of  District  No.  6  I.  O.  B.  B., 
in  1884,  and  treasurer  of  the  con- 
gregation for  the  past  twenty-five 
years.  He  came  from  Hamburg,  Ger- 
many. Congregation  B'rith  Sholom 
worshiped  in  a  rented  hall  until  1876, 
when  the  temple  was  dedicated  before 
the  fall  holidays  by  Dr.  Wolfenstein, 
•then  of  St  Louis,  and  now  su- 
perintendent of  the  Cleveland  Or- 
phan Asylum.  The  first  ritual 
adopted  by  the  congregation  was 
Minhag  Jastrow.  Two  years  ago 
it  was  changed  to  Minhag  Einhorn. 
The  congregation  has  a  membership  of 
about  50,  including  some  of  the  resi- 
dents of  some  of  the  suburban  villages. 
The  following  gentlemen  officiated  as 
Rabbis  in  Congregation  B'rith  Sho- 
lom: Schaffner  came  about  1856,  the 
next  one  was  Rev.  B.  Deutsch,  he  was 
succeeded  by  Chas.  Austrian,  who  died 
in  Chicago.  The  next  one  was  A.  Ru- 
binstein, then  came  Sugenheimer,  and 
he  was  succeeded  by  Sigmund  Frey. 
Then  Joseph  Leiser  occupied  the  pul- 
pit. The  present  minister  is  Rev.  A. 
Traugott.  The  congregation  owns  a 
cemetery,  which  was  bought  in  1863.  In 
1866  an  addition  to  the  cemetery  was 
purchased  and  again  an  addition  in 
1880. 

MOLINE. 

The  first  Jewish  settler  in  Moline, 
111.,  was  Simon  Hirsch,  a  native  of 
Germany,  who  came  to  this  city  in 
1866,  and  there  is  no  record  of  any 
other  Jewish-resident  until  1881,  when 
Louis  Rosenstein  made  Moline  his 
home.  The  present  Jewish  population 
numbers  twenty  people,  most  of  whom 
are  members  of  Congregation  B'nai 
Israel  of  Davenport,  Iowa.  The  Jew- 
ish residents  of  Moline  are  contributors 
to  the  charitable  organizations  of  Rock 


Island  and  Davenport,  having  no  local 
societies  of  their  own.  Two  children 
attend  the  Sabbath  school  of  the  Dav- 
enport Congregation. 

PONTIAC. 

The  first  Jewish  families  that  settled 
in  Pontiac  were  the  Greenebaums  and 
Bruckers,  who  came  to  this  city  in 
1856.  They  came  from  Gelnhausen  and 
Allsie,  Germany.  There  is  at  present 
a  Jewish  population  numbering  48 
people,  among  whom  are  the  following 
busines  men:  J.  Spiro,  cashier  of  the 
National  Bank  of  Pontiac;  Max  Dia- 
mond, in  the  boot  and  shoe  business; 
M.  Rose  and  S.  H.  Herzberg,  clothing; 
M.  H.  Greenebaum  Co.,  investment 
bankers,  and  H.  G.  Greenebaum,  attor- 
ney. While  the  Jewish  population  of 
Pontiac  is  small*  nevertheless  they  oc- 
cupy an  important  part  in  the  busi- 
ness community  of  Pontiac.  There  are 
no  congregation  and  no  organizations 
or  societies  that  we  can  learn  of. 

AURORA. 

The  first  Jewish  settler  of  Aurora 
was  one  Jacob  Alschuler.  Three  sons 
of  this  first  settler  are  now  living  in 
Aurora.  They  are  Charles,  Harry  and 
Louis,  of  the  firm  of  Alschuler  Bros. 
Mr.  Leon  Hirsch,  uncle  to  Samuel  Al- 
schuler.candidate  for  governor.came  to 
Aurora  about  1861.  Mrs.  Jacob  Al- 
shuler,  mother  of  Sam  Alschuler,  and 
Mrs.  Leon  Hirsch  are  sisters,  and  both 
are  still  living  in  Aurora.  The  first 
Jewish  service  took  place  in  Mr.  Wolf's 
house,  in  1868.  Through  the  efforts  of 
this  Mr.  Wdlf  the  Jews  of 
Aurora  closed  their  stores-  and 
held  services  on  New  Year's 
day  and  the  Day  of  Atonement. 
Mr.  Leon  Hirsch  and  Jacob  Alschuler, 
father  of  Samuel  Alschuler,  and  Isaac 
Wolf  and  Morris  Henoch,  the  latter 
now  living  in  La  Porte,  Ind.,  officiated 
during  the  holidays.  The  following  at- 
tended the  services  and  constituted  the 
necessary  minyan:  Leon  Hirsch,  Ja- 
cob Alschuler,  Nathan  Goldsmith,  Sam 
Goldsmith,  David  Goldsmith,  Isaac 
Wolf,  Arnold  Wolff  (now  living  in  Chi- 
cago), Morris  Henoch,  Simon  Felsen- 
held,  Herman  Felsenheld,  Aaron  Gold- 
smith, now  a  prominent  attorney  in 
Cincinnati;  Mark  Aronson  and  a 
young  man  named  Goldsmith,  who  was 
clerking  for  Mr.  M.  Hirsch.  Mr.  Isaac 
M.  Wolff  was  aided  in  his  endeavor  to 
induce  the  Jews  to  close  their  stores 
during  New  Year's  and  Day  of  Atone- 
ment,by  Messrs.  Henoch,  Alschuler  and 
Hirsch.  Some  of  the  Jews  objected  to 
that  as  it  was  a  very  unusual  proceed- 
ing in  that  town,  at  that  time. 

In  Cairo,  Urbana,  Champaign  and 
Frankford  Station  are  also  a  number 
of  Jews.  Mr.  M.  B.  Saddler  of  Cairo, 
was  once  mayor  of  Centralia,  Ills.,  for 
seven  consecutive  years,  and  Mr.  Solo- 
mon was  Mayor  of  Duquoin,  Ills.,  for 
two  or  three  years  in  succession.  Mr. 
Michaells,  a  co-religionist,  is-  now 
postmaster  in  Mound  City,  Ills.  Solo- 
mon Bernstein  came  to  Urbana  in  1855 


378 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


and  was  at  that  time  the  only  Jew  in 
Champaign  county.  He  came  from 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  Thirty-two  Jews  are 
now  living  at  Urbana,  J.  Blng  and  son, 
Nathan  H.  Cohen,  M.  Lowenstern  and 
son,  and  L.  L.  Bing  are  well  known 
business  men  of  Urbana.  In  1866  a 
burial  ground  association,  under  the 
name  of  "Ahavath  Achim,"  was  estab- 
lished. The  first  officers  were,  M.  Eich- 
berg,  President;  S.  Bernstein,  Secre- 
tary; M.  Lowenstern,  Sr.,  Treasurer. 
The  society  does  no  longer  exist. 
There  Is  one  B'nai  Brlth  lodge  in  the 
city  and  a  ladies'  social  circle.  A  co- 
religionist by  the  name  of  Nathan  H. 
Cohen  is  president  of  the  Illinois  State 
Fish  Commission. 

QUINCY,  ILLINOIS. 

The     Congregation  Bnai  Shalom  of 
Quincy,   111.,  was  organized     Oct.     20, 


TEMPLE  OF 
CONGREGATION     B'NAI     SHOLOM. 

1864,  by  a  small  number  of  Jews  who 
desired  to  establish  Reform.  In  Sept. 
1869,  the  young  society  had  purchased 
a  site  for  a  temple  and  called  upon  the 
Rev.  Dr.  I.  M.  Wise  from  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  to  lay  the  foundation.  That  was 
a  gala  day  for  Quincy.  The  Masonic 
fraternity  took  a  prominent  part  in  the 
exercises.  Sept.  22,  1870,  the  new  Tem- 
ple was  dedicated  by  the  resident  Rab- 
bi, Rev.  Dr.  Fluegel.  In  1871  the  Or- 
thodox Congregation  that  had  existed 
here  since  1857,  joined  Bnai  Shalom. 
Oct.  11,  1895,  the  congregation  celebrat- 
ed its  twenty-fifth  anniversary.  It  was 
the  last  time  that  Hon.  Isaac  Lesem, 
who  presided  over  the  destiny  of  the 
congregation  since  Oct.  2,  1870,  officiat- 
ed in  his  capacity  as  president.  He 
died  in  Europe  in  1897. 

The  following  rabbis  officiated  in 
Quincy  since  the  dedication  of  the 
Temple:  Rev.  Drs.  M.  Fluegel,  S.  Ros- 
enspitz,  I.  S.  Moses,  V.  Caro,  E.  Epp- 
stein.  Rabbi  Eppstein,  the  present  in- 
cumbent, was  called  to  the  rabbinate 
Sept.  1,  1890. 

Among  the  very  prominent  Jews  of 
Quincy  the  brothers  Jonas  occupied  a 


very  high  position.  There  were  five 
of  them — Abraham,  Joseph,  Samuel, 
Edward  and  George.  Abraham  was 
born  in  Davenport,  England,  Sept.  12, 
1801.  He  came  to  Quincy  in  1843,  and 
died  there  June  8th,  1864.  Joseph  was 
born  in  Teignmouth,  England,  May  C, 
1792.  He  was  the  first  Jew  to  cross 
the  Alleghany  mountains.  He  lived  for 
a  time  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  died 
in  Mobile,  Ala.,  May  5th,  1869.  Samuel 
was  also  born  in  Davenport,  England, 
August  6,  1807.  Died  in  Quincy  March 
20,  1878.  Edward  was  born  at  Tergu- 
mouth,  England,  Jan.  29,  1817.  He 
died  in  Quincy,  Oct.  13,  1867.  George 
was  born  in  Davenport,  England,  Sept. 
22,  1813,  and  died  in  New  Orleans,  La. 
He  was  a  prominent  lawyer,  and  if  we 
are  not  mistaken  he  was  U.  S.  senator 
for  that  state. 

We  also  mention  Dr.  Lewin  Henry 
Cohen,  who  was  a  prominent  physician 
of  Quincy,  at  one  time  a  member  of 
the  National  Board  of  Health.  He 
was  born  at  Glasgow,  Scotland,  Sept. 
5,  1842,  and  died  in  Aiken,  S.  C.,  Sept. 
27,  1888. 

MR.  J.  D.  LEVY. 

Mr.  J.  D.  Levy  was  born  in  Hechin- 
gen,  Hohenzollern,  Germany,  where  he 
received  his  early  education  and  was 
considered  an  excellent  linguist.  He 
came  to  America -in  1850  and  in  1870 
settled  in  Quincy,  where  he  became  a 
highly  esteemed  and  respected  member 
of  the  community.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  several  large  business  en- 
terprises and  always  took  a  great  deal  ' 
of  interest  in  religious  and  charitab'.e 


J.   D,  LEVY. 


institutions.  He  was  in  his  67th  year 
when  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest, 
leaving  a  widow  and  ten  children.  His 
demise  was  mourned  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

CAIRO. 

Monteflore  Congregation  was  organ- 
ized November  4th,  1894,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  President,  H.  Meyers; 
Vice- President,  A.  Marx;  Secretary, 
Abe  Messing;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Leo 


Levi.  Services  were  to  be,  conducted 
every  other  Sunday  evening  at  7:30 
p.  m.  by  Mr.  B.  Sadler.  All  the  Jew- 
ish citizens  of  Cairo  became  members 
of  the  Congregation.  The  meetings 
were  held  in  Bristol  Hall.  In  May, 
1897,  the  Congregation  was  chartered 
and  Mr.  B.  Sadler  re-elected  as  the 
regular  rabbi.  In  1899  Mr.  Sadler  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Central  Con- 
ference of  American  Rabbis  upon  the 
recommendation  of  Rabbis  I.  M.  Wise 
and  Dr.  H.  G.  Enelow  of  Paducah,  Ky. 
There  is  a  good  attendance  at  every 
one  of  the  services,  many  traveling 
men,  staying  here  over  Sunday,  par- 
ticipating in  the  same.  On  the  high 
holidays  of  the  autumn  many  non- 
Jews  come  to  attend  the  services, 
which  are  then  generally  held  in  the 
Cairo  Baptist  Church,  the  hall  being 
inadequate  to  seat  all  the  attendants. 
The  congregation  has  contributed  to 
the  Hebrew  Union  College  endowment 
fund  and  also  to  the  relief  of  the  Rou- 
manian Jews,  and,  considering  the 
limited  number  of  Jewish  families  re- 
siding in  Cairo,  has  done  much  good 
work  for  the  cause  of  Judaism  and  hu- 
manity. Prominent  rabbis  who  ad- 
dressed the  congregation  were:  Rev. 
Dr.  E.  G.  Hirsch  (on  the  occasion  of 
a  High  School  commencement  to 
which  he  was  invited  as  orator);  Mr. 
Alexander  H.  Leismar,  Rabbi  Joseph 
Leiser,  and  Dr.  Hyman  T.  Enelow,  of 
Paducah  Ky. 

There  exists  also  a  B'nai  Berith 
Lodge,  Egypt  Lodge  No.  168,  which 
was  organized  in  1876,  and  which  meets 
the  first  and  third  Sunday  afternoons 
of  each  month.  This  lodge  owns  tho 
Jewish  burial  ground,  which  was 
transferred  to  it  by  an,  orthodox  con- 
gregation, Benai  Israel,  that  was  start- 
ed here  during  the  war,  when  as  many 
as  75  Jewish  families  resided  here; 
after  the  war  most  of  them  left  and 
the  congregation  was  dissolved  shortly 
after  the  organization  of  the  lodge. 

Monteflore  Congregation  maintains 
a  Sunday  school,  attended  by  about 
18  children  every  Sunday  afternoon. 
Mr.  B.  Sadler  is  the  superintendent. 
Miss  Stella  Cohn,  assistant. 

The  present  officers  of  the  congre- 
gation are:  President,  S.  K.  Cohn; 
Vice-President,  Sam  White;  Secretary, 
I.  Cohen;  Treasurer,  F.  S.  Haas,  Di- 
rectors, M.  Hyman,  A.  Kaufman  and 
J.  Solomon. 

There  are  a  few  Jewish  families  re- 
siding in  Mound  City,  111.,  about  six 
miles  north  of  Cairo,  and  a  few  in 
Murphysboro,  Du  Quoin,  Anna  and 
Centralia,  111.,  but  none  are  members 
of  the  congregation  and  but  few  of 
them  take  any  interest  in  Jewish  af- 
fairs. 


There  are  Jews  almost  In  every  little 
town  or  village  In  the  state,  but  in  most 
of  those  places  there  is  as  yet  no  per- 
manent congregation  nor  a  house  of 
worship.  These  smaller  places  we  can 
only  mention  briefly,  giving  a  few  names 
here  and  there,  and  once  in  a  while  a 
few  brief  outlines  of  incidents  and  facts 
which  are  of  especial  interest. 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


379 


THE  BOHN  PATENT  DRY  AIR  SYPHON  SYSTEM 


Adopted  by  the  fol- 
lowing railroads  for 
the  dining  Buffet  cars : 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  & 
St.  Paul  Ry. ;  Chicago, 
St.  Paul,  Minneapolis 
&  Omaha  Ry. ;  Chica- 
go, Burlington  &  Quiu- 
cy  Ry. ;  Great  North- 
ern Ry. ;  Boo  Line; 
Wisconsin  Central; 
Northern  Pacific; 
Pennsylvania  Ry. ;  Il- 
linois Central;  Union 
Pacific,  and  the  Pull- 
man Co.  and  others. 
N  o  contaminating 
odors  in  ours.  Write 

F_- — -. for  catalogue  or  call. 

She  says  it's  "THE  BEST." 

While  Enamel  Refrigerator  Co.  m  Dearborn  St.,  oid  colony  BU{.  Chicago. 


Woods  Motor  Cab  Co. 


545-7-9  Wabash  Avenue 

electric  Cab 
Service, 


A.  E.  DATTELZWEIQ,  Manager 


TELEPHONES— 

Harrison  2301,  2302 


sw  STRAUS*- 

114  La  Salle  Street 


LARGE     AMOUNT    OF 


MONEY 

TO  LOAN  AT  5  PER 
CENT  and  5±  PER  CENT 

ON    CHICAGO     REAL     ESTATE 


Gilt  Edge  First  Hortgages  for  sale  in  any  amounts 


BUILDING  LOANS 
COLLATERAL  LOANS 


Telephone  flaln  3624.... 


4* 


Otis 


Elevator  Compaivy 

York— Chicago 


Passenger 
and  Freight 


Eleva.tors 


"THE  STANDARD  OF  THE  WORLD." 


380  THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


G6e  CHICAGO 
DAILY  NEWS 


has  a  greater  circulation  than  any  other 
newspaper  in  the  United  States — nearly 
300,000  a  day. 

'•Printer's  Ink/' 

the  well-known  journal  for  advertisers,  has 
pronounced  The  Chicago  Daily  News  to 
be  the  newspaper  "that  gives  advertisers 
the  best  service,  in  proportion  to  the  price 
charged,  among  all  the  publications  of  what- 
ever name  or  degree  among  the  entire  twenty 
thousand  which  are  put  forth  in  the  territory 
embraced  in  the  United  States.'1 


fart  Ghird. 


THE   JEWS   OF   ILLINOIS  AS   SOL- 
DIERS. 

The  most  prominent  names  of  Jew- 
ish soldiers  who  have  lived  or  are  still 
living  in  the  state  of  Illinois  are:  Gen. 
Edward  S.  Solomon,  Col.  Marcus  M. 
Spiegel,  Capt.  Mayer  Frank,  Capt.  Mil- 
ton J.  Foreman,  Capt.  J.  Lyons  and 
Lieut.  Max  Polachek  of  Chicago  and 
Capt.  J.  B.  Greenhut  of  Peoria.  There 
were  many  others,  such  as  Frederick 
B.  Hart,  First  Lieut.  Adolph  Rosen- 
thai,  Lieut.  Benjamin  J.  Moore,  Capt 
Alexander  M.  Daniels  and  Capt.  Fred- 
erick E.  Koehler.  We  can  only  give 
here  short  biographical  sketches  of  a 
few. 

COL.  MARCUS  M.  SPIEGEL 
Was  born  in  Abenheim,  Germany,  in 
1829.  His  parents'  names  were  Moses 
and  Regina.  In  his  native  country  his 
father  was  a  religious  teacher.  In  1848 
he  came  to  America  and  settled  in  New 
York  city  and  from  there  he  moved  to 
Union  Town,  Ohio.  He  moved  to  Chi- 
cago in  1855,  with  his  wife,  who  was 
a  Miss  Hamlin,  born  and  raised  in 
Christianity.  In  Chicago  his  wife  was 
converted  to  Judaism  by  a  regular  rab- 
binical court  of  three  men  versed  in 
the  law.  Col.  Spiegel  clerked  here 


COL.  MARCUS  SPIEGEL. 

with  Francis  Clark.  He  helped  to 
start  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  Society 
in  Chicago,  and  was  one  of  those  who 
bought  the  society's  cemetery  in  Grace- 


land.  He  moved  from  here  to  East 
Liberty,  near  Akron,  Ohio,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  dry  goods  business.  When 
the  civil  war  broke  out  he  raised  a 
company  in  Homes  county,  Ohio,  and 
became  the  captain  of  the  same.  He 
served  all  through  the  campaign  of  the 
Southwest,  was  present  at  the  taking 
of  Vicksburg,  and  was  then  promoted 
colonel  of  the  120th  Ohio  regiment, 
for  bravery  on  the  battlefield.  He  was 
sent  home  wounded,  but  was  too  brave 
to  stay  away  from  the  scene  of  the  war 
and  returned  to  active  service.  He  was 
then  sent  on  the  Red  River  expedition 
to  reinforce  Gen.  Banks.  He  was  on 
the  boat  City  Belle  as  commander  of 
the  troops,  when  a  bullet  from  the  en- 
emy ended  his  life.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  recommended  to  the  war 
office  at  Washington  for  promotion  for 
his  great  bravery  and  the  papers  pro- 
moting him  to  a  brigadier  generalship 
were  just  ordered  to  be  made  out  when 
he  died.  One  of  his  daughters  married 
Mr.  Martin  Barbe,  a  well-known  Jew- 
ish citizen  of  Chicago,  and  Col.  Spie- 
gel's widow  is  now  living  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Barbe.  A  son,  Hamlin 
L.,  is  now  representing  the  5th  sena- 
torial district  of  Chicago  in  the  legisla- 
ture of  the  state  of  Illinois. 

JOSEPH    GREENHUT. 

Mr.  Greenhut  is  a  son  of  Benedict 
and  Minna  Greenhut,  and  was  born  In 
Feinitz,  Austria,  coming  to  this  coun- 
try in  1852.  He  is  a  man  of  consider- 
able education  and  marked  executive 
ability.  He  married  Clara  Wolfner 
and  three  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  Fanny,  Ben.  J.,  and  Nelson  W. 

There  is  perhaps  no  epoch  in  Mr. 
Greenhut's  life  of  which  he  is  more 
proud  than  his  army  record.  He  en- 
listed as  a  private  at  Chicago  in  April, 
1861,  In  the  12th  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
was  the  second  Chicago  man  enrolled. 
He  was  promoted  to  sergeant  in  Aug. 

1861,  and  in  1862  was  appointed  Cap- 
tain Company  K,  82nd  Illinois  Infan- 
try. He  participated  in  the  memorable 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  under  the    com- 
mand of  Brig.  Hecker,  being  appointed 
Adjutant  General  of  the  Brigade.    Mr. 
Greenhut  was  shot  in  the  right  arm  at 
the  battle  of  Fort    Donaldson  in    Feb. 

1862,  which  caused  his  retirement  un- 
til August  of  the  same  year,  when  he 

381 


joined  the  82d.    While  with  this  regi- 
ment   he  passed  through    the  various 


J.  B.  GREENHUT. 
Peoria. 

campaigns  and  battles  in  Virginia. 
Capt.  Greenhut  resigned  his  position 
in  the  army  in  1864,  after  three  long 
and  hard  years  of  service,  since  which 
time  he  has  resided  in  Peoria.  He  is 
now  in  the  distilling  business  and  is 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  In  the 
state.  Mr.  Greenhut  has  played  an  1m- 


GEN.  EDWARD  S.  SALMON. 

portant  part  in  the  building  up  of  Peo- 
ria. He  Is  a  liberal  contributor  to  all 
charities  and  is  an  active  and  honored 
man  in  society.  Mr.  Greenhut  had  the 


ADVOCATE. 


distinction  of  entertaining  at  dinner  at 
his  residence  in  Peorla,  President  Mc- 
Kinley  and  his  entire  cabinet  during 
their  visit  at  Peoria,  Oct.  1899.  Presi- 
dent McKinley  and  Mr.  Greenhut  have 
been  close  personal  friends  for  many 
years. 

GENERAL  EDWARD  S.  SALOMON. 

Brigadier  General  E.  S.  Salomon  en- 
listed at  Chicago  and  marched  out  -with 
the  company  which  he  raised.  His 
bravery  on  the  battlefield  soon  won  for 
him  the  admiration  of  his  superiors, 
and  was  recognized  at  Washington. 
He  quickly  rose  to  the  high  rank  of 
brigadier  general,  and  after  the  war  he 
was  appointed  governor  of  Washing- 
ton Territory. 

CAPT.  FRANK. 

Simon  Wolf  of  Washington  tells  In 
his  book  that  Capt.  Mayer  Frank  was 
elected  lieutenant  of  Company  C  of  the 
Eighty-second  regiment,  in  which  he 
served  about  two  years,  when  he  was 
promoted  to  captain.  He  enlisted  at 
Chicago.  He  was  at  Chancellorsville 
and  Gettysburg  from  first  to  last.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  appointed  brigade 
inspector  and  ordered  West.  He  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Wauhatchie  and 
at  Missionary  Ridge,  commanding  the 
Eightieth.  He  went  with  Sherman  to 
Knoxville  to  relieve  Burnside.  Capt. 
Frank's  deeds  entitle  him  to  a  place 
among  the  ibravest  captains  in  tho 
service  of  the  United  States.  Whe» 
Capt.  Frank  volunteered  to  dislodge 
Confederate  sharpshooters,  his  whole 
company  to  a  man  followed  him.  It 
was  subsequent  to  this  act  that  he  was 
appointed  brigade  inspector.  Two 
horses  were  shot  from  under  him  at 
the  first  day's  battle  at  Gettysburg.  He 
scouted  for  some  time  in  Georgia,  Ten- 
nessee and  Alabama  against  guerrilla 
chief  "Roddy." 

MAX  POLACHEK. 

Mr.  Polachek  was  born  in  Kaschau 
(Hungary)  in  the  year  of  1840.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  Gymnasi- 
um of  his  native  town,  had  passed  his 
examination  for  admission  to  the  Uni- 
versity in  1856,  entered  the  Polytech- 
nic School  at  Vienna  in  the  same  year, 
and  graduated  in  the  year  1859.  In  the 
same  year  the  war  rumors  between 
Austria  and  Italy  had  induced  him  to 
escape  military  conscription,  and  emi- 
grate to  America,  where  he  arrived  in 
April,  1859.  After  a  hard  struggle  for 
existence  in  this  country  he  was 
engaged  to  teach  the  German  language 
in  a  private  school  in  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
When  the  civil  war  began  he  enlisted 
In  the  thirty  days'  service,  and  after 
the  expiration,  he  was  commis- 
sioned second  lieutenant  in  the  58th 
Ohio  regiment.  The  regiment  seemed 
to  be  long  in  filling  up  its  rank,  and 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Ninth  Ohio 
regiment.  He  had  just  arlrved  in  camp 
when  the  first  battle  was  fought 
which  gave  victory  to  the  Union  arms. 
This  was  the  battle  at  Somerset,  Ky., 


where  Gen.  Zollikofter,  the  first  rebel 
general,  was  killed.  After  several 
months  of  service  he  was  com- 
pelled to  resign  his  commission  on  ac- 
count of  sickness,  being  confined  in 
the  hospital  for  over  three  months,  re- 
turning to  Chicago  in  January  of  1863, 
establishing  himself  in  business  as  op- 
tician, continuing  successfully  in  busi- 
ness until  the  year  of  1883,  when  he 
was  appointed  U.  S.  consul  general  to 
Zanzibar  (Africa).  The  climate  of  Zan- 
zibar frightened  his  family  to  such 
an  extent  that  he  was  compelled 
to  resign  his  commission,  yet  after  a 
few  months  he  received  again  an  ap- 
pointment as  U.  S.  consul  at  Ghent 
(Belgium),  where,  he  was  during 
the  administrations  of  President  Ar- 
thur and  Cleveland,  receiving  the  offi- 
cial commendation  of  the  secretary  of 
state  for  the  proper  discharge  of  the 
onerous  duties  of  the  U.  S.  consulate. 

MAJOR  MILTON  J.  FOREMAN. 

Milton  J.  Foreman  was  born  in  the 
City  of  Chicago,  January  26,  1863.    His 


MAJOR  M.  J.  FOREMAN. 

father,  Joseph  Foreman,  had  emigrated 
from  Germany  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
the  city  which  had  attracted  so  many 
of  his  countrymen.  His  mother  Mary 
Hoffman,  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia. 

The  necessity  of  assisting  to  provide 
for  his  family  cut  short  his  schooling 
at  the  age  of  thirteen,  when  he  had 
completed  his  course  at  the  public 
schools. 

He  entered  the  employ  of  Keith 
Bros.,  a  wholesale  hat  concern,  as  er- 
rand boy,  and  in  the  intervals  allotted 
for  rest  the  boy  could  be  found, 
book  in  hand,  trying  to  improve  his 
mind.  He  remained  with  Keith  Bros, 
almost  twenty  years,  and  from  the  po- 
sition of  errand  boy,  he  worked  his 
way  up  through  all  the  stages  until  he 
became  the  most  prominent  salesman 
in  the  concern  and  hold  an  interest  in 
the  corporation. 

At  a  time  of  life  when  most  young 
men  consider  themselves  too  old,  Major 
Foreman  commenced  the  study  of  the 
law  and  after  the  required  period  of 
study,  passed  with  credit  his  examina- 
tion to  the  bar.  While  he  was  still 


studying  law,  the  call  came  from  Pres- 
ident McKinley  for  volunteers  to  es- 
pouse the  cause  of  down-trodden  Cuba. 
Mr.  Foreman,  who  at  that  time  was  a 
captain  in  the  First  Illinois  Cavalry, 
enlisted  in  the  United  States  volunteer 
army,  being  commissioned  captain  and 
quartermaster.  It  was  while  he  was 
gtill  with  his  command  at  Springfield, 
waiting  for  the  call  to  go  to  the  front, 
that  the  bar  examination  took  place, 
and  he  was  granted  leave  of  absence 
so  as  to  take  such  examination.  After 
seven  months'  service  in  the  volunteer 
army,  at  the  close  of  hostilities,  he  re- 
turned to  Chicago. 

When  President  McKinley  was  look- 
ing for  officers  to  send  to  the  Philip- 
pines, without  any  solicitation  on  the 
part  of  Major  Foreman,  and  solely  on 
account  of  his  record  in  the  depart- 
ment, he  was  offered  the  position  of 
captain  in  the  30th  United  States  in- 
fantry. The  offer  was  a  tempting  one, 
but  Mr.  Foreman  was  just  starting  In 
the  professional  work  which  he  had 
so  long  desired  to  engage  in,  and  was 
compelled  to  decline.  Soon  after  his 
admission  to  the  bar  he  associated 
himself  with  Mr.  Eli  B.  Felsenthal, 
and  is  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Felsenthal  and  Foreman,  which  firm 
occupies  a  conspicuous  place  at  the  Il- 
linois bar. 

In  1900  he  was  elected  major  of  the 
First  Calvalry,  Illinois  National  Guard. 
He  was  elected  as  alderman  of  what 
is  now  the  Third  Ward  in  the  city  of 
Chicago  in  1899  and  re-elected  this 
year.  He  has  received  the  unqualified 
indorsement  of  the  Municipal  Voters' 
League,  of  his  constituents  and  of  the 
public  press  of  the  city.  Possessed  of 
an  excellent  mind,  great  activity  and 
fearlessness,  he  has  made  his  influence 
felt  for  good  in  the  City  Council.  He 
was  elected  chairman  of  the  judiciary 
committee,  one  of  the  most  important 
committees  in  the  City  Council.  He 
was  also  made  chairman  of  the  Street 
Railway  Commission,  a  special  com- 
mittee engaged  in  solving  one  of  the 
most  difficult  problems  now  confront- 
ing the  city — the  question  of  intra- 
mural travel. 

Major  Foreman  is  a  member  of  Sinai 
Congregation,  and  of  the  Standard, 
Union  League.Hamilton  and  Marquette 
Clubs,  having  been  at  one  time  vice- 
president  and  director  of  the  Standard. 
He  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest 
in  Jewish  charities  and  occupied  the 
positions  of  president,  vice-president 
and  director  of  the  Young  Men's  He- 
brew Charity  Association,  and  was  a 
director  of  the  Jewish  Training  School 
and  Home  for  Aged  Jews. 

Added  to  his  ability,  restless  activity 
and  fearlessness,  Mr.  Foreman  pos- 
sesses undoubted  qualities  of  leader- 
ship. This  combination  of  qualities, 
together  with  his  public  record  as  al- 
derman and  in  the  army,  have  won  for 
him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  a  still  more  bril- 
liant future  is  predicted  for  him. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


383 


n. 

AN  INTERESTING  FAMILY  HIS- 
TORY. 

The  two  families  of  Austrian  and 
Leopold  have  been  prominent  In  Chica- 
go for  many  years.  They  came  to 
Chicago  from  the  Lake  Superior  region 
and  formed  the  Lake  Michigan  and 
Lake  Superior  Transportation  Co.,  en- 
gaging in  freight  and  passenger  trans- 
portation on  Lake  Michigan  and  Lake 
Superior,  to  Mackinac,  Sault  Ste.  Marie 
and  Duluth  and  did  an  extensive  busi- 
ness. For  a  number  of  years,  until  re- 
cently, their  luxuriously  furnished  pas- 
senger boat,  Manitou,  has  been  exten- 
sively patronized  by  summer  pleasure 
seekers,  who  wished  to  enjoy  the  cool 
and  delightful  climate  of  the  Lake  Su- 
perior region.  The  boat  was  then  sold 
to  a  company,  in  which  Mr.  Nathan  F. 
Leopold  still  holds  the  largest  interest. 
Mr.  N.  F.  Leopold  is  the  son  of  one  of 
the  Leopold  brothers  who  settled  in 
Mackinac  in  the  early  forties,  and  were 
the  first  Jews  in  that  region.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  the  late  Mr. 
Gerhard  Foreman,  who  is  related  to 
the  Greenebaum  family,  and  who  was  a 
prominent  banker  of  Chicago,  the 
founder  of  the  Foreman  Bros.  Banking 
Co.,  a.  very  popular  financial  institution 
of  today. 

The  history  of  this  old  Jewish  fam- 
ily, favorably  known  as  successful  mer- 
chants in  the  Lake  Superior  region  and 
in  Chicago,  appeared  in  1866,  in  the 
Portage,  Mich.,  Gazette,  and  was  copied 
in  the  American  Israelite  under  date 
of  April  13th,  1866.  We  believe  that 
the  history  of  this  popular  and  high- 
ly respected  family  will  be  read  with 
interest  by  their  many  relatives  and 
friends,  and  we  therefore  publish  it 
here.  They  were  brave,  honest  and 
upright  business  men,  and  the  story 
of  their  pioneer  life  in  a  sparsely  set- 
tled region,  of  their  struggles,  hard- 
ships and  ultimate  success.will  serve  as 
^n  enouraging  example  for  many  a 
young  beginner. 

Following  is  their  history  as  we  find 
it  in  the  Amerian  Israelite: 

A  BAND  OF  BROTHERS. 
Dissolution    of    the  Oldest    Merchant 
Firm  on    Lake    Superior — The  Leo- 
pold   Brothers — Sketch  of    their  Op- 
erations— A  Pioneer  History. 
In  our  last  issue  we  made  a  brief  no- 
tice   of    the  dissolution  of    the    well 
known  firm  of  Leopold  &  Brothers,  do- 
ing business  in  Hancock,  Chicago    and 
Eagle  River,  the  oldest  business    firm 
on  Lake    Superior— af£*er  a    successful 
existence  of  over    twenty    years.    The 
firm  has  been    composed  of    Louis  F.t 
Henry  F.,    Aaron  F.,  and    Samuel    F. 
Leopold  and  Joseph,  Julius  and  Samuel 
Austrian,  the  latter  being  the  last  ad- 
mitted partner,  and  not  so  intimately 
connected  with  the  history  of  the  firm. 
From  the  very  inception  of  business 
transactions  within  the  wilds  of  Lake 
Superior  down  to  the  present  day,  the 
firm  of  the  brothers  has  been  identified 
with  the  struggles,  hardships,  success- 
es, and  all  the  varyinglnterests  of  the 
country,  have  participated     with     its 


good  and  ill  fortunes,  many  times  car- 
rying burdens  that  less  confident  com- 
petitors shrank  from  bearing;  never 
once  fearing  that  all  would  be  well  in 
the  end,  and  after  gathering  a  rich  re- 
ward retired  from  the  field,  leaving  an 
untarnished  history,  and  brilliant  rec- 
ord as  an  incentive  to  their  successors. 

The  Messrs.  Leopold  are  natives  of 
the  little  town  of  Rlchen,  in  the  Great 
Duchy  of  Baden,  Germany,  and  there 
received  the  .  elementary  education 
which  fitted  them  to  become  the 
shrewd  and  successful  merchants  they 
have  proven  to  be.  They  first  began 
business  life  as  clerks  in  an  ordinary 
country  store,  as  it  may  not  be  inaptly 
termed,  as  .Richen  was  but  a  small 
place,  having  a  less  population  than 
either  Hancock  or  Houghton,  here  on 
Portage  Lake. 

Early  in  the  year  1842,  Louis,  the 
elder  brother,  who  has  since  become 
the '"father"  of  the  firm,  left  his  home 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  New  World, 
with  a  stout  heart,  and  but  a  very 
moderate  amount  of  means  whereon 
to  build  up  a  fortune,  upon  arriving  in 
this  country  he  very  shrewdly  foresaw 
that  the  great  West,  then  but  just  at- 
tracting attention,  was  the  most  prom- 
ising field  for  men  of  enterprise  and 
limited  capital,  and  instead  of  joining 
in  the  precarious  struggle  for  position 
and  existence,  even  so  peculiar  to  the 
crowded  cities  of  the  Eastern  states, 
he  at  once  wended  his  way  to  Michi' 
gan,  then  considered  one  of  the  West- 
ern states. 

Early  in  the  year  1843  he  opened  a 
small  depot  for  fishermen's  supplies  on 
the  island  of  Mackinac,  providing  for 
them  provisions,  salt,  barrels,  etc.,  and 
purchasing  the  fish  caught,  and  for- 
warding them  by  vessels  to  better  mar- 
kets. The  business  could  not  have 
been  a  very  extensive  one,  for  when 
joined  by  his  brothers  three  years 
afterward,  their  united  capital  is  stated 
as  being  but  little  more  than  $3,000, 
but  which  has  since  been  increased  by 
their  energy,  prudence  and  foresight, 
at  least  one  hundred  fold. 

In  the  year  1844,  Louis  was  joined  by 
his  brother  Henry  (Aaron  and  Samuel 
serving  their  time  in  the  store  of  Rich- 
en),  who  for  a  short  time  became  his 
assistant  at  Mackinac.  At  that  time 
there  was  but  one  steamboat  plying  on 
the  headwaters  of  Lake  Huron  and 
Michigan,  the  old  General  Scott,  which 
made  regular  trips  between  Mackinac 
and  Sault  Ste.  Marie. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  at  Mackinac, 
Henry  conceived  the  idea  of  going  to 
La  Pointe  with  a  small  stock  of  goods, . 
and  attending  the  Indian  payment,  an 
enterprise  never  before  undertaken  by 
a  trader  from  below  the  Sault.  At 
that  time  Lapointe  was  a  much  larger 
place  than  it  is  now,  was  the  principal 
station  of  Lake  Superior,  of  the  Ameri- 
can Fur  Company  ^and  the  leading 
business  point  above  the  Sault.  Every 
fall,  the  government  disbursed  among 
the  Indians  some  $40,000  to  $50,000, 
which  before  the  arrival  of  the  Leopold 
Brothers  found  its  way  almost  entirely 
into  the  coffers  of  the  Fur  Company. 


In  the  latter  part  of  the  spring  the 
brothers  left  Mackinac  on  the  old  Gen- 
eral Scott,  and  went  to  the  Sault  with 
their  goods,  and  after  much  difficulty 
succeeded  in  chartering  the  schooner 
Chippewa,  Captain  Clark,  to  take  them 
to  Lapointe  for  $300.  There  were  but 
four  small  schooners  on  Lake  Superior 
that  season,  the  Chippewa,  Uncle  Sam, 
Allegonquin  and  Swallow.  The  trip 
from  the  Sault  to  Lapointe  occupied 
some  three  weeks,  but  one  stop  being 
made  at  Copper  Harbor,  which  was 
then  beginning  its  existence.  The 
building  of  Ft.  Wilkins  was  then  go- 
ing on.  Little  or  no  thought  of  mining 
then  occurred  to  the  inhabitants,  and 
did  not  until  two  or  three  years  sub- 
sequently. 

Arrived  safely  at  Lapointe,  they  at 
once  opened  a  store  in  opposition  to 
that  of  the  Fur  Company,  and  were, 
much  to  the  surprise  of  the  latter,  the 
first  white  traders  who  undertook  an 
opposition  trade  with  the  Indians. 
They  sold  their  goods  for  furs,  fish, 
etc.,  and  prospered  well.  In  the  fall 
they  were  joined  by  Julius  Austrian 
(now  at  Eagle  River)  and  Louis  leav- 
ing him  with  Henry,  returned  to 
Mackinac. 

In  the  summer  of  1845  Henry  also  re- 
turned to  Mackinac,  leaving  Julius  to 
attend  to  the  business  at  Lapointe.  He 
remained  in  Mackinac  until  the  year 
1846,  when  Aaron  and  Samuel  came  out 
from  Germany  and  joined  them  at  that 
place.  The  four  brothers  at  once 
united  their  fortunes;  in  fact  in  all 
their  business  career  they  do  not  ap- 
pear to  have  thought  of  dividing  them. 
Everything  they  had  was,  from  the 
outset,  common  property,  and  each 
labored  for  the  genera1!  welfare.  They 
appeared  to  have  fully  understood  the 
truthfulness  of  th«  adage,  that,  in 
"Unity  there  is  strength,"  and  however 
varied  and  scattered  may  have  been 
their  operations,  the  profits  went  into 
the  general  fund. 

In  the  season  of  1846  Henry  and 
Samuel  went  to  Green  Bay,  and  opened 
a  store  in  Follett's  block,  remained 
there  until  early  in  1848,  but  did  not 
succeed  as  well  as  they  anticipated. 
Green  Bay  was  then  a  miserable  place 
in  comparison  with  what  it  is  now, 
and  its  growth  very  much  retarded 
by  the  grasping  policy  of  the  site  own- 
ers, John  Jacob  Astor  and  Mr.  Whit- 
ney, a  brother  of  the  present  postmas- 
ter. They  would  not  sell  lots  at  any- 
thing near  what  was  considered  a  rea- 
sonable figure,  and  the  result  was  that 
after  many  vain  endeavors  to  secure 
property  very  many  business  men  left 
for  other  places,  holding  out  better  in- 
ducements for  settlement.  While  at 
Green  Bay,  Samuel  began  tjie  study  of 
the  English  language,  under  the  tute- 
lage of  a  young  Methodist  minister 
who  considered  himself  liberally  re- 
warded by  return  instruction  in  the 
German  language. 

Early  in  1847,  Joseph  Austrian,  the 
subsequent  brother-in-law  of  the  Leo- 
polds, came  out  from  Germany,  and 
joined  his  brother,  Julius,  at  Lapointe, 
where  he  remained  until  the  next 


384 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


spring,  when  he  joined  Henry  Leopold 
at  Eagle  River,  who  had  opened  a 
small  store  In  an  old  stable,  the  habita- 
tion of  one  cow.  A  partition  was  put 
up,  and  about  two-thirds  of  her  lady- 
ship's parlor  fitted  up  for  the  sale  of 
dry  goods,  groceries,  etc.  The  shanty 
stood  on  the  lot  now  owned  by  John 
Hocking,  the  second  from  the  corner 
in  the  turn  of  the  road  down  to  the 
old  bridge  across  Eagle  River. 

There  was  then  but  one  opposition 
store  in  Eagle  River,  that  of  Messrs. 
Senter  and  Mandlebaum,  with  whom 
Henry  and  Joe  entered  into  lively 
competition  for  the  trade  of  the  place. 

The  same  season  Samuel  joined  Aaron 
and  Louis  at  Mackinac,  where  their 
business  had  materially  increased, 
and  remained  there  until  the  season 
of  1855,  when  they  left  and  returned 
to  Lake  Superior.  Louis  had  previous- 
ly left  and  established  himself  at 
Cleveland,  where  he  remained  until  he 
went  to  Chicago  in  the  fall  of  1862. 
During  this  period  he  acted  as  the  pur- 
chasing agent  of  the  brothers  on  the 
lake. 

In  the  fall  of  1855  Samuel  started  a 
branch  store  at  Eagle  Harbor  in  a 
small  shanty  not  more  than  twenty 
feet  square,  situated  on  the  lot  now 
owned  by  Hoffenbecker,  and  the  shan- 
ty now  forms  a  part  of  his  building. 
At  the  time  there  were  five  mines 
working  in  that  vicinity,  as  follows: 
Copper  Falls,  S.  W.  Hill,  agent;  North- 
western (Pennsylvania),  M.  Hopkins, 
agent;  Summit  (Madison),  Jonathan 
Cox,  agent;  Connecticut  (Amygdaloid), 
C.  B.  Petrie,  agent. 

The  Copper  Falls  and  Northwest 
were  the  two  great  mines  of  the  Dis- 
trict, the  others  doing  but  little  beyond 
exploration  at  that  time. 

In  1856  Samuel  bought  out  Upson 
and  Hoopes,  who  had  been  doing  a 
good  business  in  the  building  now  oc- 
cupied by  Messrs.  Raley,  Shapley  & 
Co.,  and  was  that  season  joined  by 
Aaron,  who,  since  leaving  Mackinac, 
had  been  spending  his  time  with  Louis, 
in  Cleveland.  Samuel  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Eagle  Harbor,  and  ac- 
ceptably filled  the  office  till  his  depart- 
ure in  1859. 

The  three  brothers,  Henry,  Sam- 
uel and  Aaron,  and  their  brother-in- 
law,  Jos.  Austrian,  might  now  be  said 
to  be  operating  in  the  same  field  with 
the  elder  brother,  Louis,  at  Cleveland, 
as  their  ever  wide-awake  purchasing 
agent.  For  a  year  or  two  they  pros- 
pered as  well  as  they  could  desire,  but 
the  hard  times  of  1857-8  tried  them 
pretty  severely,  but  by  the  most  adroit 
management  they  came  through  safe- 
ly. At  Eagle  River,  in  1857, 
there  were  four  mines  at  work, 
the  Garden  City,  Phoenix,  Bay  State 
and  Cliff.  This  was  after  the  great  sil- 
ver excitement  at  the  Phoenix,  and 
when  the  reaction  had  fully  set  in. 
The  assessments  were  grudgingly  paid, 
if  at  all,  and  the  workmen  at  the  mine 
that  winter  were  paid  in  orders  on  Leo- 
pold Brothers,  who  paid  them  in  goods 
and  currency.  To  enable  the  company 


to  get  along  as  easily  as  possible  they 
took  thirty  day  drafts  on  the  treasurer 
in  Boston,  which  were  paid  when  due 
and  presented.  As  the  winter  passed, 
the  time  of  the  drafts  were  extended 
from  thirty  to  sixty,  ninety,  and  finally 
to  one  hundred  and  twenty  days,  and 
in  the  spring,  the  firm  was  astonished 
by  a  notification  that  the  drafts  had 
gone  to  protest.  The  mine  then  owed 
them  about  $20,000,  a  large  sum,  especi- 
ally when  it  is  considered  that  they 
were  also  carrying  nearly  $10,000  for 
the  Garden  City  Mine,  which  was  also 
struggling  along  like  the  Phoenix. 

The  first  news  received  by  the  pub- 
lic of  the  protesting  of  the  drafts  was 
communicated  by  the  clerk  of  one  of 
the  steamboats,  and  created  no  small 
amount  of  excitement,  especially 
among  the  employes  of  the  mine,  who 
naturally  became  fearful  and  clamor- 
ous for  their  back  pay.  The  Leopold 
Brothers  told  them  to  go  on  and  work, 
and  they  would  be  responsible  for  their 
pay.  This  quieted  them,  and  the  work 
of  the  mine  continued  as  before. 

Upon  receiving  information  of  the 
protesting  of  the  Phoenix  drafts,  Sam- 
uel was  at  once  dispatched  to  Boston 
to  consult  with  the  company  about 
their  payment.  To  secure  themselves 
they  could  have  attached  the  mining 
property,  improvements  and  machin- 
ery, but  such  was  their  confidence  in 
the  integrity  of  the  agent,  Mr.  Farwell, 
President,  Mr.  Jackson,  and  Secretary, 
and  Treasurer,  Mr.  Coffin,  that  this 
was  not  done.  Upon  his  arrival  in 
Boston,  Samuel  found  that  Mr.  Far- 
well  had  held  a  consultation  with  the 
Directors,  and  in  his  most  emphatic 
manner  demanded  that  Messrs.  Leo- 
pold should  be  reimbursed  the  money 
they  had  advanced  for  the  mine. 

Another  meeting  was  called  and 
Samuel  presented  a  statement  of  the 
amount  due  his  firm,  and  inquired 
what  they  intended  to  do.  It  was  dif- 
ficult for  them  to  say,  and  after  many 
long  consultations  no  definite  course 
of  action  was  decided  upon.  Believ- 
ing that  delays  were  dangerous  Samuel 
proposed  that  he  and  his  brothers 
would  take  the  property  in  satisfaction 
of  their  demand,  pay  off  the  Company's 
indebtedness,  amounting  to  nearly 
$10,000,  and  perjiaps  pay  them  a  few 
thousand  dollars  on  the  head  of  the 
bargain. 

Another  consultation  followed  this 
offer,  and  it  was  finally  concluded  that 
if  a  merchant  firm  considered  the  prop- 
erty sufficiently  valuable  to  pay  there- 
for nearly  $40,000,  it  must  be  worth 
at  least  that  much  to  the  company. 
Some  three  thousand  shares  of  Phoenix 
stock  had  been  forfeited  for  the  non- 
payment of  an  assessment  of  $1.50 
per  share,  and  these  shares  were  offer- 
ed Mr.  Leopold  in  satisfaction  of  his 
claim.  He,  of  course,  declined,  saying 
he  would  take  the  whole  property,  or 
nothing.  Another*  consultation  was 
held  and  a  meeting  of  stockholders  was 
called,  an  assessment  was  levied  and  In 
a  few  days  enough  paid  in  to  liquidate 
his  demands,  and  he  started  for  home 


mentally  determining  that  in  future 
the  Phoenix  should  give  sight  drafts 
for  all. future  orders,  and  that  they 
would  no  longer  assume,  or  be  identi- 
fied with  its  obligations.  It  required 
no  small  amount  of  finesse  to  make  the 
discouraged  stockholders  of  the  Phoe- 
nix believe  that  there  was  a  sufficiently 
valuable  property  to  further  advance 
$2  or  $3  per  share  on  its  stock,  but  the 
cool  offer  to  take  its  property  for  its 
indebtedness,  completely  assured  them 
and  saved  the  Messrs.  Leopold  their 
$20,000. 

But  it  is  said  ill  fortune  never  comes 
singly;  and  this  was  true  of  the  af- 
fairs of  Leopold  &  Brothers.  Samuel 
had  scarcely  arrived  in  Cleveland 
when  Louis  informed  him  that  their 
Garden  City  drafts  had  been  protested 
and  the  same  night  he  hurried  on  to 
Chicago  to  provide  security  for  the  in- 
debtedness. Arriving  there  he  did  not 
find  the  Company  as  tractable  as  the 
Phoenix,  and  after  much  parleying 
found  the  best  they  were  willing  to  do 
was  to  give  him  a  mortgage  on  their 
stamp  mill,  as  security  for  the  $10,000. 
Very  correctly  deeming  this  insuffici- 
ent, he  returned  home,  and  got  out  an 
attachment  for  the  whole  property  of 
the  Company.  This  had  the  desired  ef- 
fect, and  the  claim  was  secured  by  a 
mortgage  and  the  attachment  with- 
drawn. Shortly  afterward  the  mine 
passed  into  the  hands  of  a  new  party  of 
men,  with  Judge  Canton  at  their 
head,  and  in  a  short  time  the  claim  was 
satisfactorily  adjusted. 

In  1858,  the  firm  had  much  difficulty 
in  collecting  their  orders  on  the  mines 
in  the  vicinity  of  Eagle  Harbor,  and  it 
was  finally  determined  to  sell  out  their 
store  and  build  up  a  business  else- 
where. S.  W.  Hill,  Esq.,  had  then  left 
the  Copper  Falls  and  assumed  the 
direction  of  the  Quincy  Mine  here  at 
this  place.  He  foresaw  that  Portage 
Lake,  possessing  as  it  did  so  many 
natural  advantages,  would  eventually 
become  the  grand  business  point  or 
the  copper  region,  and  with  his  accus- 
tomed energy  began  the  laying  out  of 
the  town  site  now  occupied  by  the  vil- 
lage of  Hancock.  Soon  after  this  was 
done  he  wrote  to  the  Messrs.  Leopold, 
urging  them  to  come  over  and  open  a 
store  there,  but  they  did  not  give  the 
offer  much  consideration  that  year,  as 
nearly  everybody  in  Keweenow  Coun- 
ty ridiculed  the  idea  of  Portage  Lake 
ever  becoming  anything  of  a  place. 

That  year,  however,  they  sold  out 
their  business  at  Eagle  Harbor,  and  re- 
moved to  Eagte  River,  where  Samuel 
was  for  the  second  time  appointed 
Postmaster,  and  their  business  con- 
ducted by  him  and  Jos.  Austrian.  Their 
present  store  site  at  Eagle  River  had 
been  previously  purchased,  and  addi- 
tions annually  made  to  their  main 
building,  as  their  business  demanded, 
until  they  were  of  a  much  greater  ex- 
tent than  the  original  frame. 

In  the  summer  of  1859,  Jos.  Austrian, 
who  was  the  building  man  of  the  firm, 
came  over  from  Eagle  River  to  Han- 
cock with  Geo.  D.  Emerson,  C.  E.,  and 


THE:  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


385 


selected  a  site  for  their  new  store,  and 
chose  the  lots  on  which  now  stands  the 
Mason  House  and  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  the  dock  front  now  owned 
by  Little,  Heyn  &  Eytenbenz,  but 
Louis,  who  came  up  about  that  time, 
changed  to  the  present  site,  deeming 
the  other  too  remote  from  what  would 
be  the  business  center  of  the  town. 
This  was  judged  from  the  line  of  the 
road  coming  down  from  the  mine,  and 
the  location  of  the  Stamp  Mill,  around 
which  he  naturally  concluded  the 
workmen's  dwellings  would  cluster. 
In  this  he  was  slightly  mistaken, 
though  the  real  difference  was  unim- 
portant; we  give  it  merely  to  show 
how  easily  the  most  careful  and  cal- 
culating men  may  make  a  mistake. 

After  the  site  was  determined  upon, 
building  was  commenced,  but  as  their 
faith  in  the  future  growth  of  the  place 
was  small,  they  did  not  propose  to 
erect  a  large  store,  or  even  construct  a 
substantial  cellar  underneath.  Mr. 
Hill,  hearing  of  their  intention,  at  once 
paid  them  a  visit  and  strongly  protest- 
ed against  it.  "This  is  going  to  be  a 
leading  town,"  he  said,  "and  I  want  a 
good  large  store,  and  a  stone  cellar 
underneath  it."  He  carried  the  day, 
and  a  larger  building  was  completed, 
which  two  years  afterward  was  too 
small  for  the  business,  even  with  the 
addition  of  a  large  warehouse  for  stor- 
ing additional  supplies. 

As  soon  as  the  building  was  com- 
menced, Louis  began  to  send  up  goods 
from  Celeveland,  and  Aaron  came  over 
from  Eagle  River  to  take  charge  of  the 
new  business.  He  scarcely  reached 
here  before  the  goods  arrived,  and  were 
stored  in  the  building  before  it  was 
closed  in,  and  he  for  several  weeks  had 
to  make  his  bed  on  the  goods  virtually 
in  the  open  air.  As  this  was  in  the 
fall  of  the  year,  it  was  not  pleasant,  as 
may  be  at  first  supposed.  Since  then 
their  principal  business  has  been  done 
at  Hancock,  the  old  head  concern  at 
Eagle  River  having  been  a  branch. 

In  the  fall  of  1861,  Aaron  concluded 
to  visit  his  home  in  Germany,  to  at- 
tend the  golden  wedding  anniversary 
of  his  parents,  and  Samuel  came  over 
from  Eagle  River  to  take  his  place  in 
the  store.  The  celebration  of  the  gold- 
en wedding  was  the  grandest  event 
which  had  happened  in  the  little  town 
of  Richen  for  fully  one  hundred  years, 
and,  probably,  will  not  be  equaled  in 
the  present  century.  It  would  be  im- 
possible within  the  limits  of  this  ar- 
ticle to  give  a  full  description  of  the 
proceedings  on  that  festival  occasion, 
suffice  it  to  say,  that  all  ihe  inhabi- 
tants of  Richen  and  the  neighboring 
towns,  to  the  number  of  full  five  thou- 
sand assembled,  and  under  the  guid- 
ance of  the  mayor  and  municipal  offi- 
cers, for  three  days  kept  up  a  continu- 
ous round  of  merry-making  and  re- 
joicing. On  the  anniversary  wedding 
day  a  procession  over  a  mile  in  length 
waited  upon  the  "happy  couple,"  and 
escorted  them  to  the  church,  where  ap- 
propriate and  imposing  services  were 
performed.  In  the  name  of  his  broth- 
ers Aaron  presented  the  church  with  a 


copy  of  the  Sacred  Writings,  beauti- 
fully engrossed  on  parchment,  which, 
with  its  ornamented  silver  case,  cost 
over  |600.  All  the  halls  and  hotels 
were  opened  to  the  public,  where  for 
three  days  and  nights  they  feasted, 
drank  and  danced  without  intermis- 
sion and  free  of  expense.  The  celebra- 
tion of  this  golden  wedding  cost  the 
brothers  over  |5,000,  but  which  they 
rightfully  considered  the  grandest 
event  in  their  history. 

In  the  fall  of  1862,  Joseph  Austrian 
joined  the  firm  at  Hancock,  and  Louis 
removed  from  Cleveland  to  Chicago, 
which  point  they  had  concluded  would 
soon  monopolize  the  trade  of  Lake  Su- 
perior. In  the  spring  of  1864  he  com- 
menced a  shipping  business  in  that 
city,  and  early  in  the  following  winter 
was  joined  by  Jos.  Austrian,  and  the 
purchase  of  the  propeller  Ontonagon 
effected,  and  a  forwarding  and  com- 
mission business  regularly  organized. 
Lately  they  have  purchased  the  light- 
draft  propeller  Norman,  intending  it 
to  run  in  connection  with  the  Ontona- 
gon. 

In  1862  their  branch  house  at  La- 
pointe  was  given  up,  and  Julius  Aus- 
trian returned  to  Eagle  River,  and,  in 
connection  with  Solomon,  conducted 
the  branch  at  that  place.  The  firm 
now  is  composed  of  Solomon  and  Jul- 
ius Austrian  and  Moses  G.  Hanauer, 
who  for  several  years  has  acted  as 
bookkeeper  for  the  firm,  under  the 
firm  name  of  S.  Austrian  &  Co.  The 
Hancock  firm  is  composed  of  H.  F. 
Leopold,  Joseph  and  Solomon  Aus- 
trian, under  the  title  of  Leopold,  Aus- 
trian &  Bro.  The  Chicago  firm  is 
composed  of  L.  F.  Leopold  and 
Joseph  Austrian,  under  the  name  of 
Leopold  &  Austrian.  Mr.  S.  F.  Leo- 
pold will  return  to  Germany,  upon 
the  opening  of  navigation,  and  spend 
a  year  in  pleasure  and  relaxation, 
which  he  certainly  merits  after  twen- 
ty years  constant  labor.  Aaron  will 
remain  here  during  the  coming  sum- 
mer, and  in  the  fall  will  go  below 
and  establish  a  wholesale  business  in 
Detroit,  where  it  is  probable  he  will 
be  joined  by  Samuel  after  his  return 
from  Europe. 

That  the  Messrs.  Leopold  have  been 
more  than  ordinarily  successful  in 
their  mercantile  career  of  over  twenty 
years  is  made  evident  from  the  extent 
and  variety  of  their  business  transac- 
tions within  the  past  five  years,  and 
the  very  large  amount  of  capital  re- 
quired to  carry  it  on  successfully  and 
properly.  We  feel  confident  that  the 
joint  capital  of  $3,000,  with  which  they 
commenced  business  in  1843,  had  been 
increased  one  hundred  times  by  tha 
close  of  the  past  year,  and  we  should 
not  be  surprised  if  it  had  augmented 
even  more  than  that.  It  has  been  the 
result  of  no  particularly  good  fortune, 
but  of  persistent  application  in  one 
direction,  and  the  only  exception  to 
the  ordinary  course  of  operation 
which  can  be  said  to  have  contributed 
to  their  success,  has  been  the  remark- 
able unity  which  has  pervaded  all 


their  business  transactions,  whether 
located  at  Mackinac,  Green  Bay,  La- 
pointe,  Eagle  River,  Cleveland,  Eagle 
Harbor,  Portage  Lake  or  Chicago, 
each  member  of  the  firm  has  labored, 
not  for  his  benefit  alone,  but  that  ot 
the  whole  brotherhood. 

And  at  this  partial  termination  of 
their  active  associations,  it  is  with  a 
pride  which  but  few  firms  experience 
after  so  long  connection,  they  can 
say  that  in  all  their  twenty  years'  re- 
lation with  each  other  there  has  never 
been  a  disagreement  to  mar  the  har- 
m6ny  and  unity  of  their  operations. 
Whatever  has  been  done  by  one,  even 
though  it  did  not  result  as  anticipated, 
has  met  with  the  immediate  sanction 
of  the  others,  who  had  unlimited  con- 
fidence in  the  integrity  of  his  inten- 
tions to  benefit  them  all.  Until  now 
there  has  been  no  division  of  the  ac- 
cumulated profits;  a.11  has  been  placed 
in  one  general  fund,  from  which  each 
has  drawn  as  the  wants  or  exigencies 
of  their  business  demanded.  Neither 
of  them  have  indulged  in  any  private 
outside  investments  or  speculations, 
the  profits  of  which  has  resulted  to  his 
own  pecuniary  benefit.  Profit  and 
loss  has  been  shared  alike  by  them 
all.  Such  unanimity  of  action  is  very 
rarely  to  be  met  with,  especially  In 
these  modern  days  of  "every  man  for 
himself  and  the  devil  take  the  hind- 
most," and  is,  therefore,  jthe  more 
commendable.  Although  nominally 
dissolved,  at  present,  we  are  of  the 
opinion  that  after  S.  F.  Leopold  has  re- 
turned from  his  vacation  in  Europe  the 
old  order  of  things  will  again  prevail, 
for,  after  such  a  lengthy  and  intimate 
association,  it  will  be  difficult  for 
either  of  them  to  operate  independent 
of  the  rest,  after  such  a  practical  veri- 
fication of  the  truthfulness  of  the  ad- 
age on  which  they  founded  their  busi- 
ness existence,  that  "In  union  there  is 
strength." — 

We  also  copy  the  following  letter, 
which,  in  our  estimation,  forms  a  part 
of  and  belongs  to  the  history  of  the 
Leopold  family.  We  understand  that 
the  son  of  whose  birth  the  writer  of 
the  letter  to  the  "Israelite"  speaks, 
was  the  first  Jewish  child  born  in 
the  northern  region  of  Michigan: 

"Chicago,  July  18,  1863. 
"Editor  of  The  Israelite: 

I  have  just  now  returned  from 
Lake  Superior,  where  I  have  found  all 
my  brothers  and  friends  and  the  read- 
ers of  The  Israelite  and  Deborah  in 
perfect  good  health.  I  cannot  refrain 
from  giving  you  a  little  history  of  a 
very  noble  act,  the  fruit  of  which  in 
hereby  enclosed,  being  a  draft  for  $30, 
which  you  will  please  to  appropriate 
to  the  purpose  for  which  it  has  been 
destined,  namely — at  a  Berith  which 
took  place  on  a  child  of  my  brother  at 
his  house  in  Hancock,  Lake  Superior. 
After  about  forty  participants  had 
done  justice  to  a  very  luxurious  din- 
ner, with  the  permission  of  Mr.  Hoff- 
man of  Cleveland,  the  operator,  a  mo- 
tion was  made  that  the  saying  of  grace 


386 


THE.  RSFORM  ADVOCATED 


should  be  sold,  and  the  proceeds  appro- 
priated to  some  charitable  purpose, 
whereupon  Brother  Samuel  made  an 
amendment  that  the  proceeds  should 
be  sent  to  Dr.  Wise  of  Cincinnati,  to 
be  appropriated  by  him  for  the  monu- 
ment to  be  erected  for  Dr.  Rothen- 
helm;  the  sheriff,  Mr.  Fechheimer,  sec- 
onded the  motion,  and  the  same  was 
unanimously  carried.  Brother  A.  F. 
was  the  last  bidder  with  $30,  conse- 
quently he  was  the  lucky  purchaser, 
and  bestowed  the  honor  on  your  hum- 
ble correspondent. 

The  act  is  worth  imitating,  and  if 
you  think  it  worth  mentioning  you 
may  give  it  publicity  in  The  Israelite 
and  Deborah. 

"Yours  truly, 

"L.  F.  Leopold." 
III. 

A  SKETCH  OF  THE  CITV    EDITOR 

OF  THE  RECORD-HERALD. 

HERMAN  L.   REIWITCH. 

The  careless  wanderer  through  the 
woods  often  suddenly  reaches  a  garden 


HERMAN  L.  REIWITCH. 

spot  in  a  clearing  where  his  eye  feasts 
on  nature's  beauties,  the  dainty  child- 
ren of  the  forest,  the  laughing  flowers 
of  the  field.  His  refreshed  eye  discov- 
ers in  a  rare  retreat  a  budding  rose 
hidden  among  the  foliage,  diffidently 
turning  its  princely  petals  to  the  light 
and  sunshine.  Unconsciously  its  pow- 
erful perfume  attracts  and  pleases,  and 
the  wanderer  can  hardly  turn  his  gaze 
away  from  its  enchanting  beauty. 

Such  a  feeling  of  delight  the  writer 
experienced  when  for  the  first  time  the 
great  pleasure  was  his  to  make  the  ac- 
quaintance of  the  young  man  whose 
name  stands  at  the  head  of  this  arti- 
cle. The  rare  intellectuality  of  the 
man  at  once  exercised  its  powerful  at- 
traction, making  a  pleasant  impression, 
and  awakening  regret  at  the  parting. 

Mr.  Rei witch  is  a  busy  man;  he  is 
the  city  editor  of  a  great  dally  news- 
paper in  this  metropolis  .of  the  west, 
yet,  in  the  midst  of  all  the  noise  and 
bustle  of  a  great  newspaper  office,  he 
finds  a  cordial  greeting,  a  friendly 
word  and  a  pleasant  smile  for  every- 
body. This  is  a  rare  gift  of  tempera- 
ment betokening  a  sweetness  of  the 


soul,  seldom  granted  by  nature's  boun- 
ty to  mental  workers. 

Mr.  Reiwitch  Is  a  self-made  man  in 
the  truest  sense  of  the  word,  who  rais- 
ed himself  to  the  honorable  position  he 
now  occupies  by  the  strength  of  his 
own  will,  by  his  daughty  determina- 
tion, by  hard  work,  and  constant  appli- 
cation, aided  by  many  glorious  gifts 
of  mind.  He  deserves  to  shine  in  wider 
circles,  but  a  diffident  nature  seems  to 
keep  him  confined  within  the  sphere 
of  his  activity  and  the  limits  of  his 
library. 

By  perusing  "the  fragments  of  his 
life,"  as  he  called  it,  when  he  reluct- 
antly related  to  us  the  few  facts  which 
we  have  endeavored  to  join  together, 
the  reader  will  at  once  feel  that  he  is 
becoming  acquainted  with  the  life  of 
a  rising  man. 

Mr.  Reiwitch  was  born  December 
25th,  1868,  near  Odessa,  Russia.  He 
came  to  this  country  at  the  age  of  five 
years.  His  father  had  preceded  his 
mother  and  this  son  of  two  or  three 
years.  Reiwitch  spent  his  boyhood  in 
New  York  city,  and  was  compelled  to 
quit  school  at  the  age  of  eleven,  for 
he  had  to  help  feed  the  young  mouths 
who  were  making  their  appearance, 
and  who  finally  numbered  four  girls 
and  a  boy.  He  came  to  Chicago  at  the 
age  of  14  and  for  a  little  while  was  an 
A.  D.  T.  messenger.  He  then  found 
a  job  in  the  Tribune  office  as  office  boy, 
carrying  "copy"  from  the  editors  to  the 
printers.  This  was  the  school  where  he 
trained  himself  in  journalism.  A  year 
and  a  half  later  Mr.  R.  W.  Patterson, 
then  managing  editor  of  the  paper, 
urged  him  to  try  reporterial  work.  He 
was  shockingly  young,  almost  a  child, 
but  as  he  found  himself  in  deep  water 
he  resolved  to  swim.  He  was  given  a 
start  and  put  out  in  the  street.  He  was 
often  sent  to  see  people  who  couldn't 
believe  that  the  youngster  who  came  to 
interview  them  was  really  a  reporter; 
he  was  such  a  babyish  looking  boy. 
One  of  his  encounters  was  with  the 
jovial  Bob  Ingersoll,  who  was  so  im- 
pressed by  the  courage  of  the  young 
stripling  that  he  wound  up  by  giving 
him  a  good  interview. 

In  1886,  when  the  eight-hour  labor 
troubles  reached  their  height,  he  was 
labor  reporter  for  the  Tribune,  and  the 
duties  of  his  post  carried  him  through 
the  convulsions  of  that  year  in  Chica- 
go. He  was  a  spectator  In  the  "Black 
Road"  and  "Haymarket  Square  riots," 
and  he  took  part  in  the  last  act  of  the 
tragedy,  when  he  was  assigned  to  the 
hanging.  Miscellaneous  work  followed 
these  assignments,  including  some 
hard  labor  at  the  Johnstown  flood,  and 
Louisville  cyclone;  then  came  police 
work.  For  three  years  he  was  hidden 
in  this  shadowy  side  of  life,  and  he 
thinks  that  this  is  perhaps  the  most 
fascinating  side  of  newspaper  work  for 
one  interested  in  sociology.  He  left 
this  work  reluctantly  to  become  copy- 
reader,  and  after  ten  years  of  service 
on  the  Tribune,  he  left  to  take  a  better 
position  on  the  Herald,  now  the  Rec- 
ord-Herald. After  a  year's  service  as 
assistant  editor  he  was  made  city  edi- 


tor, being  then  the  most  youthful  city 
editor  Chicago  had  had.  This  was  in 
the  fall  of  1893,  and  he  was  then  under 
25  years  of  age.  He  has  been  there 
ever  since.  His  work  is  executive. 

His  personal  tastes  have  run  to  pic- 
torial art  and  music,  neither  of  which 
he  has  been  able  to  indulge  much.  His 
newspaper  work  having  been  too  ex- 
acting to  permit  any  time  for  the  culti- 
vation of  ornamental  accomplishments. 
He  tried  to  attend  night  school  at  the 
Art  Institute,  but  had  to  abandon  that 
owing  to  lack  of  time.  Still  he  did  not 
give  up  entirely  his  musical  studies, 
for  which  art  he  has  quite  a  talent,  and 
he  may  be  called  an  accomplished 
musician. 

Socially  he  is  not  very  ambitious. 
He  prefers  a  quiet  interchange  of  ideal 
with  unpretentious  people.  He  is  not 
a  club  man,  although  he  is  one  of  the 
old  members  of  the  Press  Club. 

His  home  life  has  the  greatest  fas- 
cination for  him;  there  his  whole 
pleasures  are  concentrated.  There  he 
finds  recreation,  inspiration,  invigorat- 
ing entertainment  and  refreshing 
amusement,  in  the  company  of  four 
sisters,  good-natured,  sensible  and 
keen-witted;  in  the  love  of  a  solicitous 
mother  and  in  the  appreciation  of  a 
witty  father.  These  and  a  few  good 
friends  are  his  paradise. 

SOME  WELL-KNOWN  PHYSICIANS 

.     DR.  ISAAC  ARTHUR  ABT. 

Dr.  Abt  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and 
was  born  in  Wilmington.  He  is  a  son 


DR.  ISAAC  ARTHUR  ABT. 

of  Levi  and  Henrietta  Abt  of  this  city. 
His  early  education  was  in  the  schools 
of  Chicago  and  in  1886  he  entered 
Johns  Hopkins  University,  completing 
his  preliminary  course  in  medicine  in 
1889.  He  graduated  from  the  North- 
western University  Medical  School  in 
1891,  and  was  resident  physician  of 
Michael  Reese  Hospital  for  eighteen 
months  subsequent  to  graduation,  and 
afterwards  pursued  a  post-graduate 
course  in  Vienna  and  Berlin. 

Dr.  Abt  is  professor  of  diseases  of 
children  at  the  Northwestern  Univer- 
sity Woman's  Medical  school,  Assist- 
ant Clinical  Professor  for  diseases  of 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE/ 


387 


children  at  Rush  Medical  College,  at- 
tending physician,  diseases  of  children, 
in  Michael  Reese  Hospital,  Cook  Coun- 
ty Hospital,  and  Chicago  Home  for 
Jewish  Orphans,  and  consulting  physi- 
cian for  diseases  of  children  in  the 
Provident  Hospital.  His  wife's  maiden 
name  was  Lena  Rosenberg,  and  they 
have  one  child  living,  Arthur  Abt. 

DR.  EDWIN  J.  KUH. 

Dr.  Kuh  was  born  in  New  York  city, 
June  20,  1858.  His  parents  were  Isaac 
and  Mathilde  Kuh.  He  was  educated  in 


DR.  EDWIN  J.  KUH. 

the  public  schools  of  New  York,  Swit- 
zerland and  in  Germany,  attending  the 
Universities  of  Heidelberg,  Leipzig  and 
Vienna. 

He  is  a  member  of  a  number  of  mu- 
sical societies  and  author  of  many 
valuable  articles  on  medical  topics.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Society  for  Ethical 
Culture.  He  married  Miss  Jennie 
Cahn  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  three . 
children. 

DR.  EMANUEL  FRIEND. 
Dr.   Friend   was   born   in    this   city, 


DR.  EMANUEL  FRIEND. 

where  he  received  his  early  education, 
graduating  from  the  High  School  and 
Rush  Medical  College.  Later  he  went 


abroad,  studying  in  Heidelberg,  Berlin 
and  Vienna,  completing  his  education. 
Returning  to  Chicago  he  ibegan  his 
practice  here,  which  has  since  become 
very  large  and  lucrative.  The  doctor 
is  the  author  of  various  medical  papers 
and  is  at  present  instructor  in  surgery 
at  Rush  Medical  College,  attending  sur- 
geon to  one  department  of  Michael 
Reese  Hospital,  and  pathologist  to  the 
Michael  Reese  Hospital,  attending  sur- 
geon to  the  United  Hebrew  Charity 
Dispensary,  clinical  assistant  professor 
of  surgery  at  Rush  Medical  College, 
and  a  member  of  various  medical  so- 
cieties. 

Dr.  Friend  is  unmarried,  and  is  a 
son  of  Berman  and  'Hannah  Friend, 
both  living  in  Chicago.  Although 
a  young  man,  he  is  known  as  one  of 
the  city's  prominent  physicians. 

SOME  PROMINENT  flEMBER  OF 
THE  BAR. 


questioned.  He  is  an  excellent  public 
speaker  and  deep  thinker,  and  a  man 
whose  council  is  always  sought  by  his 


JACOB  NEWMAN. 


SAMUEL  ALSCHULER. 

Mr.  Alschuler  was  born  in  Chicago, 
Nov.  20th,  1859.  His  parents,  Jacob 
and  Karoline  came  from  Grunstadt, 
Bavaria,  and  when  young  Samuel  was 
but  two  years  of  age  they  removed  to 
Aurora,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since. 
He  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Aurora  and  when 
still  a  young  man  became  prominent  in 
public  affairs.  He  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  legislature  from  his  district 
and  made  such  a  good  and  efficient  rec- 
ord that  he  was  soon  recognized  as  »a 
leader  in  the  lower  house  in  this  state. 
He  has  been  re-elected  several  times 
and  in  the  eyes  of  his  constituents  no 
office  is  too  good  for  him.  He  was  cho- 
sen by  the  Democratic  party  as  their 
nominee  for  Governor  in  the  last  Gu- 
bernatorial election,  making  a  most  re- 
markable run  against  overwhelming 
odds.  His  popularity  ran  him  many 
thousand  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket  and 
his  defeat  was  only  caused  by  the  over- 
whelming majority  obtained  by  Presi- 
dent McKinley  in  this  state,  which  car- 
ried the  balance  of  the  ticket  with  him. 
Mr.  Alschuler  is  a  man  of  sterling 
quality  and  his  honesty  has  never  been 


HON.    SAMUEL   ALSCHULER. 

party.  He  is  a  recognized  leader  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  this  state  and 
his  friends  and  admirers  are  to  be 
found  in  every  county  of  Illinois.  He 
recently  associated  himself  with  Mr. 
Adolph  Kraus,  and  this  new  law  firm 
witji  the  immense  prestige  of  both  of 
these  gentlemen,  forms  one  of  the 
strongest  law  firms  in  Chicago.  Mr. 
Alschuler  still  retains  his  residence  in 
Aurora,  coming  to  and  fro  every  day. 
He  is  still  a  young  man  and  a  great 
future  is  predicted  for  him. 

ISRAEL  COWEN. 

Israel  Cowen  was  born  in  Houston, 
Texas,  December  12,  1861.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Texas  and  completed  his 
education  in  Germany.  On  his  return 
he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  Den- 
ver, Colo.,  coming  to  Chicago  later,  and 
continuing  the  study  at  Union  College 
of  Law.  'He  graduated  therefrom  In 
1881  when  20  years  of  age.  Studied 
code  practice  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin, 


ISRAEL  COWEN. 

until  he  reached  his  majority;  then  re- 
turned to  Chicago  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  January  4th,  1882.  He  was 


388 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATE! 


appointed  master  in  chancery  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Cook  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  served  in  that  capacity  from 
May,  1896,  until  March,  1899.  He  was 
the  Democratic  nominee  for  judge  of 
the  Superior  Court  of  Cook  county  at 
the  election  held  November  6th,  1900. 

He  has  been  identified  prominently 
in  B'nai  B'rith  circles,  being  a  past 
president  of  District  No.  6,  and  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Constitutional  Grand  Lodge 
of  the  Order  for  the  last  twelve  years. 
He  instituted  the  intellectual  advance- 
ment feature  of  District  No.  6,  and  has 
been  chairman  of  the  committee  on  in- 
tellectual advancement  of  said  district 
for  the  last  11  years. 

Mr.  Cowen  has  been  closely  identified 
with  Jewish  interests.  Is  secretary  of 
K.  A.  M.  and  is  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Delegates  on  Civil  and  Religious 
Rights  of  the  Union  of  American  He- 
brew Congregations.  Has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Sabbath  School  Union  of  America  and 
of  the  Jewish  Chautauqua  Society.  He 
was  also  a  member  of  the  executive 
committee  in  aid  of  Russian  refugees, 
at  the  time  the  society  was  in  exist- 
ence, and  of  the  Roumanian  Aid  So- 
ciety. Is  now  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Directors  of  the  Home  for  Aged 
Jews  of  Chicago,  and  also  of  the  Or- 
thodox Home  for  Aged  Jews,  now  be- 
ing projected,  and  of  the  Jewish  Agri- 
culturists' Aid  Society. 

Mr.  Cowen  was  married  to  Miss  Al- 
ma Desenberg  of  Kalamazoo,  Mich., 
March  15th,  1897,  and  has  one  child. 
Though  yet  a  young  mail,  he  has  given 
much  attention  and  time  to  charitable, 
Jewish  and  public  affairs.  He  Is  a 
member  of  the  Lakeside  Club,  the  Sun- 
set Club  and  the  Iroquois  Club. 

ANDREW  JACKSON  HIRSCHL 

Is  a  native  of  Iowa.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hirschl.  The  ancestral  home 
of  the  Hirschl  family  was  Bohemia; 
one  branch  of  the  family  removed  to 
Hungary  and  another  branch  to  Han- 
over, Germany,  and  subsequently  from 
there  to  England.  The  celebrated  Sir 
William  Herschl  was  of  this  branch  of 
the  family. 

Samuel  Hirschl,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  went  to  Hun- 
gary and  married  Theresa  Kohn,  a  na- 
tive of  Vienna.  When  the  political 
agitations  began  in  Hungary  they  em- 
igrated to  the  United  States,  settling 
at  Davenport,  Iowa,  where  Andrew  J. 
was  born. 

A.  J.  Hirschl  received  his  academic 
education  at  Griswold  College,  Iowa, 
and  later  the  full  course  at  Amherst, 
taking  the  Bachelor  of  Arts  degree. 
His  legal  education  was  obtained  at 
the  Iowa  State  University.  He  prac- 
ticed law  for  a  tintfe  in  his  native  city, 
Davenport.  In  1891  he"  came  to  Chi- 
cago and  associated  himself  with  the 
now  well-known  firm  of  Rosenthal, 
Kurtz  &  Hirschl. 

Mr.  Hirschl  Is  the  author  of  "Consol- 
idation of  Corporations."  While  a  res- 
ident of  Iowa  he  held  a  lecture  chair  in 


the  Law  Department  of  the  Iowa  State 
University.  After  coming  to  Chicago 
in  1891  he  assumed  a  like  responsibility 


ANDREW  JACKSON   HIRSHL. 

in  the  Chicago  College  of  Law,  which 
position  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Hirschl 
is  classed  among  Chicago's  ablest  law- 
yers. He  is  a  Republican  in  politics, 
and  always  a  worker  for  his  party,  but 
has  never  held  public  office.  Lately 
he  has  been  much  talked  of  for  a  judge 
of  the  Superior  Court. 

Mr.  Hirschl  has  an  interesting  fam- 
ily, consisting  of  wife,  daughter  and 
two  sons. 

MR.  ELI  B.  FELSENTHAL.      . 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  speci- 
men of  the  native  Chicagoan,  having 
first  seen  the  light  of  day  July  14,  1858, 
in  the  "windy  city."  His  father,  Her- 
man Felsenthal,  came  to  this  city  in 
the  early  fifties,  and  his  mother,  then 
Miss  Gertrude  Hyman,  a  year  or  two 
later.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Chicago,  later  becoming  a  student 
in  the  old  University  of  Chicago,  grad- 
uating with  the  degree  of  B.  A.  in  1878. 
After  a  further  course  of  two  years  at 
the  Union  College  of  Law,  he  received 
his  sheepskin,  together  with  the  Hor- 


gaged  in  the  practice  of  law  and  to- 
day his  name  appears  high  up  in  the 
list  of  prominent  attorneys.  He  is  a 
member  of  Sinai  Congregation,  of  the 
Union  League,  Hamilton  and  Stand- 
ard Clubs,  and  has  been  one  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  University  of 
Chicago  since  its  inception.  He  is  a 
liberal  contributor  to  our  Associated 
Jewish  Charities  and  has  always  taken 
a  keen  and  active  interest  in  public  af- 
fairs and  politics. 

Mr.  Felsenthal  married  Miss  Gold- 
smith of  New  York  in  1883  and  five 
children,  Agatha,  Edward,  Gertrude, 
Herman  and  Robert,  tend  to  make 
their  home  life  serene  and  happy. 

MR.  JAMES  ROSENTHAL. 

Mr.  Rosenthal  is  a  native  of  Chicago, 
where  he  was  born  on  April  10th,  1859. 
Here  he  attended  the  public  schools, 
and  after  graduating  from  the  Western 
Division  High  School,  he  went  to  New 
Haven  to  finish  his  education  at  Yale. 
He  chose  law  as  his  profession,  in 
which  he  has  been  engaged  since  1885. 
He  -was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Y.  M.  Hebrew  Charity  Association  and 


ELI   B.   FELSENTHAL. 

ton  prize  for  the  best  thesis — his  sub- 
ject being  "Limited  Partnerships." 
Since  then  he  has  been  constantly  en- 


JAMES  ROSENTHAL. 

its  first  Secretary.  He  is  a  member  of 
Hamilton  and  Sunset  Clubs,  and  of 
the  Citizens'  Association.  He  married 
Miss  Emma  Friedman,  a  Chicago  girl 
of  high  attainments. 

MAX  PAM. 

Mr.  Pam  was  born  in  1865  in  Tep- 
letz,  Bohemia,  which  is  the  ancestral 
home  of  his  parents,  Alexander  and; 
Cecelia  Oesterreicher  Pam.  He  came  to 
Chicago  when  still  a  boy  and  received 
his  early  education  in  this  city.  He 
chose  law  as  his  profession,  passing 
the  bar  examination  at  the  head  of  his 
class.  He  has  since  attained  a  promi- 
nent position  in  the  legal  world,  at- 
tracting public  notice  by  his  ability, 
which  has  earned  for  him  a  very  high 
standing.  He  is  attorney  for  some  of 
the  largest  corporations  in  this  coun- 
try and  has  engineered  the  amalgama- 
tion of  some  of  the  large  trusts  recent- 
ly formed.  Mr.  Pam  finds  little  time- 
for  social  duties,  and  while  not  active- 
ly identified  with  charity  institutions,. 


THIS  REFORM 


389 


he  is  always  ready  to  contribute  liber- 
ally and  give  such  of  his  time  as  he 
can  spare  for  this  kind  of  work.  He 


MAX  PAM. 

is  stHl  a  young  man  and  is  destined  to 
become  one  of  the  shining  lights  of  his 
profession. 

MR.  JOSEPH  WEISSENBACH. 

Chicago  is  the  place  where  Mr.  Weis- 
senbach  first  saw  the  light  of  day. 
He  was  born  April  18,  1875.  He 
was  educated  at  the  grammar  school 
and  at  the  West  Division  High  School, 
afterwards  studying  law  at  the  Chicago 
College  of  Law  and  at  the  office  of 
Chytraus  &  Deneen,  the  senior  member 
of  which  firm  is  now  judge  of  the  Su- 
perior Court  of  Cook  County  and  the 
junior  member  the  present  States  At- 
torney of  the  same  county.  On  Decem- 
ber 7,  1896,  Mr.  Weissenbach  was  ap- 
pointed Assistant  States  Attorney  un- 
der Mr.  Charles  Deneen  and  this  office 
he  filled  very  creditably  until  Decem- 
ber 31,  1900,  when  he  resigned  and 
formed  a  co-partnership  with  Willard 
M.  McEwen,  who  was  Chief  Assistant 
States  Attorney  under  Mr.  Deneen. 
Mr.  Weissenbach  is  the  author  of  a 
work  entitled  "Crimes  and  Litigations 


Jewish  Training  School  of  Chicago. 
He  was  Financial  Secretary  and  is  now 
Director  of  the  Lakeside  Club.  On 
February  11,  1901,  he  married  Miss 
Minnie  Klein  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Weissen- 
bach is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Or- 
der, of  the  Elks,  B'nai  B'rith,  K.  of  P., 
D.  O.  K.  K.,  and  Royal  League. 

In  all  of  these  organizations  as  well 
as  in  his  profession,  he  has  gained  for 
himself  an  excellent  standing,  and  al- 
though young  in  years,  he  has  already 
won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  a 
large  number  of  admirers  and  friends. 

ARCHITECTS. 

DANKMAR  ADLER. 

Dankmar  Adler  was  born  at  Langs- 
feld,  in  Saxe-Weimar,  on  July  3,  1844, 
and  arrived  in  this  country  ten  years 
later  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in 
Detroit.  In  1859  he  came  to  Chicago, 
where  were  spent  the  active  years  of 
his  life.  His  death,  which  occurred  on 
April  16,  1900,  was  due  to  a 
stroke  of  apoplexy,  which  came 
upon  him  about  ten  days  pre- 
vious, and  which  was  the  first 


JOS.  WEISSENBACH. 

of  the  Russian  Jew  In  the  United 
States."  He  is  a  member  of  Sinai  and 
Isaiah  Congregations,  Secretary  of  the 


DANKMAR  ADLER. 

serious  illness  of  his  life.  He 
began  his  professional  career  in  the 
office  of  E.  Willard  Smith  in  Detroit. 
After  serving  with  the  First  Illinois 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned 
to  Chicago  and  entered  the  office  of  O. 
S.  Kinney.and  at  the  latter's  death  took 
charge  of  the  office,  with  A.  J.  Kinney, 
a  son.  In  January,  1871,  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  Edward  Burling,  and 
the  firm  designed  many  buildings 
erected  immediately  after  the  flre. 
Among  these  structures  were  the  old 
First  National  Bank,  the  Tribune 
building,  Grace  Methodist  Church, 
Sinai  Temple,  Borden  block,  Marine 
Bank,  Kingsbury,  Manierre,  Dickey, 
and  Ogden  buildings. 

Separating  from  Mr.  Burling  in  1879, 
Mr.  Adler  practiced  alone  until  1882, 
when  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Mr.  Louis  H.  Sullivan,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Adler  &  Sullivan.  It  was  during 
the  existence  of  this  firm,  which  ended 
in  1895,  that  his  most  important  work 
was  done.  Among  the  prominent 
buildings  which  they  designed  were 


the  Chicago  Stock  Exchange,  the  Schil- 
ler and  the  Auditorium  in  Chicago,  and 
the  Union  Trust,  the  Wainwright 
buildings,  and  the  Saint  Nicholas  Ho- 
tel in  St.  Louis.  Among  other  struc- 
tures with  which  Mr.  Adler  was  con- 
nected were  the  warehouses  of  the  Chi- 
cago Dock  Company  on  Taylor  street, 
the  Pueblo  (Colo.)  Opera  House,  which 
was  the  first  large  theater  in  which  no 
columns  were  used  to  support  the  gal- 
lery, the  postoffice  and  Dooley  block  at 
Salt  Lake  City,  the  Standard  clubhouse 
in  Chicago,  and  the  synagogues  of  Si- 
nai, Zion,  Anshe  Maariv  and  Isaiah 
Congregations.  He  was  connected  with 
either  the  erection  or  remodeling  of 
all  but  two  of  the  downtown  theaters 
in  Chicago,  was  consulting  architect  in 
connection  with  the  Carnegie  Music 
Hall  in  New  York,  and  was  architect 
to  the  Republican  national  committee 
in  connection  with  the  last  three  con- 
vention halls.  During  the  past  few 
years  he  had  been  associated  with  his 
son,  Mr.  A.  K.  Adler. 

Mr.  Adler  was  a  fellow  of  the  Amer- 
ican Institute  of  Architects  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  Chapter,  A.  I. 
A.,  and  of  the  Chicago  Architects' 
Business  Association.  At  various  times 
he  had  been  president  of  the  Western 
Association  of  Architects,  of  the  Illi- 
nois Board  of  Examiners  of  Architects, 
of  the  Illinois  Chapter,  A.  I.  A.,  sec- 
retary of  the  American  Institute  of 
Architects,  and  a  member  of  the  board 
of  architects  of  the  World's  Fair.  Mr. 
Adler  contributed  from  time  to  time 
to  the  leading  architectural  and  en- 
gineering journals  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  had  in  preparation  an  article 
on  the  construction  of  theaters  for  the 
new  architectural  encyclopedia  which 
the  MacMillan  Company  is  about  to 
publish. 

SIMEON  B.  EISENDRATH. 

Simeon  B.  Eisendrath,  the  well- 
known  architect,  was  born  in  Chicago 
In  1868.  He  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  his  native  city. 


SIMEON  B.  EISENDRATH. 

While  a  student  of  the  High  School 
he  was  elected  by  the  teachers  to  re- 
ceive the  honorary  scholarship  of  a 


390 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE/ 


full  course  at  the  Chicago  Manual 
Training  School. 

After  two  years'  attendance  at  the 
latter  institution  he  entered  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Institute  of  Technology  at 
Boston,  where  he  took  the  course  In 
architecture.  He  then  returned  to 
Chicago  and  spent  fwo  years  in  the 
office  of  the  leading  architects  of  the 
city,  Messrs.  Adler  &  Sullivan. 

In  1890  he  opened  an  office  and  be- 
gan the  practice  of  architecture,  and 
in  a  few  years  he  built  up  an  extensive 
business,  becoming  quite  prominent  in 
his  profession.  During  the  first  years 
of  his  Independent  practice  he  had 
erected  a  number  of  buildings  in  Chi- 
cago and  neighboring  cities. 

In  the  first  year  of  his  practice  Mr. 
Eisendrath  was  engaged  as  an  expert 
by  the  county,  rendering  valuable  as- 
sistance in  the  successful  prosecution 
of  Cook  county's  famous  "boodle  case, 
in  which  fraudulent  contracts  in  con- 
nection with  Cook  county  building  op- 
erations were  exposed,  saving  the 
county  many  thousands  of  dollars. 

In  1889  Mr.  Eisendrath  was  appoint- 
ed lecturer  in  the  architectural  branch- 
es in  the  Chicago  Evening  High 
Schools,  which  position  he  retained  un- 
til 1893,  when,  owing  to  the  increase 
of  his  private  business  he  was  obliged 
to  decline  reappointment.  He  built 
the  Michael  Reese  Training  School  for 
Nurses,  Michael  Reese  Hospital  annex 
for  women  and  children,  the  Home  for 
Aged  Jews,  and  the  Chicago  Home  for 
Jewish  Orphans,  gaining  by  the  suc- 
cessful completion  of  these  buildings 
the  high  acknowledgement  of  the  lead- 
ers of  said  institutions. 

Among  the  structures  of  a  private 
nature,  designed  and  erected  by  Mr. 
Eisendrath,  are  a  number  of  apartment 
•buildings,  private  residences,  etc.  The 
most  important  of  which  are  "St.  Ger- 
maine,"  the  "Lee,"  and  the  ten-story 
fireproof  office  touifding  known  as  the 
"Plymouth." 

In  the  year  1893  Mr.  Eisendrath  was 
appointed  by  the  Mayor  of  Chicago  as 
commissioner  of  buildings. 

As  the  head  of  the  building  depart- 
ment of  Chicago  Mr.  Eisendrath  in- 
stituted many  practical  and  important 
reforms. 

In  1894  he  resigned  his  office  as 
Building  Commissioner  on  account  of 
the  pressure  of  private  business. "  The 
press  of  Chicago  commented  editorially 
very  favorably  on  the  services  which 
he  rendered  to  the  city  and  expressed 
their  regret  at  his  resignation,  stating 
that  the  city  loses  an  honest  and  capa- 
ble official. 

ARCHITECT  HENRY  L.  OTTEN- 
HEIMER. 

Mr.  Ottenheimer  was  born  in  Chi- 
cago, Nov.  10,  1868,  and  the  names  of 
his  parents  are  Leopold  and  Lena  Ot- 
tenheimer. He  was  educated  in  his 
native  city  and  chose  architecture  as 
his  profession.  For  five  years,  from 
1884  to  1889,  he  worked  at  the  office  of 
Adlor  &  Sullivan,  the  celebrated  Chi- 


cago architects,  and  then  he  spent 
three  years  at  Paris,  France,  in  dili- 
gent studies  of  the  works  of  the 
world's  famous  masters.  Mr.  Otten- 
heimer has  been  practicing  his  profes- 
sion in  Chicago  since  1893,  and  was 
connected  with  the  Designing  Depart- 
ment of  the  World's  Columbian  Ex- 
position as  assistant  to  Mr.  Charles  B. 
Atwood.  During  the  time  he  was  with 
Messrs  Adler  &  Sullivan,  he  worked  on 
the  drawings  for  the  Auditorium  build- 
ing, the  Standard  Club,  the  Sinai  Tem- 
ple, and  other  prominent  buildings. 
During  his  own  practice  in  Chicago  he 
has  erected  residences  for  the  follow- 
ing: James  E.  Greenebaum,  Leon 
Hartman,  Herman  Oberndorf,  Charles 
Yondorf,  Dr.  Zeisler,  Moses  E.  Greene- 
baum, Robert  Hart,  C.  Samuels,  S.  F. 
Leopold,  Jacob  Straus  (Ligonier,  Ind.), 
George  Frank,  Sol  Wedeles,  L.  S.  Loeb 
(Duluth,  Minn.),  and  Levi  Windmuel- 
ler.  Apartment  buildings  for  the  fol- 
lowing: Simeon  Straus,  Sol  Wedeles 
and  Dr.  Jacob  Frank.  Business  build- 
ings and  factories  for  the  following: 
Steele,  Wedeles  &  Co.,  Adler  &  Obern- 
dorf, Gretman  &  Co.,  and  W.  N.  Eisen- 
drath and  the  following  public  build- 
ings: St.  Martin's  church,  St.  Boniface 
school,  Town  of  Whiting  school,  Doug- 
las Hotel  (Houghton,  Mich.),  postoffice 
building,  (Houghton,  Mich.),  St.  Pet- 
er's church  (Niles  Center,  Mich.),  St. 
Paul's  School  House. 
Mr.  Ottenheimer  is  an  active  mem- 


world,  she  heard  little  Fannie  Bloom- 
field  play  and  pronounced  her  a  pian- 
istic  genius  and  advised  her  parents 
to  send  her  to  Leschetizky,  which  ad- 


HENRY  L.  OTTENHEIMER. 

ber  of  the  Y.  M.  Hebrew  Charity  Asso- 
ciation, also  a  member  of  Sinai  congre- 
gation. 

MUSICAL  ARITStS. 
FANNIE  BLOOMFIELD  ZEISLER. 

Fannie  Bloomfleld  Zeisler  was  born 
in  Bielitz,  in  Austrian  Silesia,  and 
came  to  this  country  with  her  parents 
when  she  was  less  than  two  years  of 
age.  Her  musical  talent  showed  itself 
when  she  was  about  six  years  old,  and 
several  years  thereafter  she  fell  under 
the  notice  of  that  enthusiastic  mu- 
sician. Carl  Wolfsohn,  of  whom  she 
received  instruction  until  she  went  to 
Europe  in  1877.  When  Madam  Essi- 
poff,  the  great  pianist,  toured  the 


FANNIE  BLOOMFIELD    ZEISLER. 

vice  was  followed,  and  in  the  summer 
of  1878  she  went  to  Vienna,  where  for 
five  consecutive  years  she  studied  un- 
der this  great  master.  In  the  fall  of 
1883  she  returned  to  America  and  soon 
began  public  playing  in  this  country. 
Up  to  the  spring  of  1893  shs  appeared 
on  the  concert  stage  every  winter,  and 
has  frequently  been  the  soloist  of  all 
the  prominent  orchestra  organizations 
in  this  country.  Everywhere  and  al- 
ways she  was  pronounced  a  pianist  of 
extraordinary  attainments,  but  not  be- 
ing satisfied  with  the  position  assigned 
to  her  by  the  American  critics,  she 
went  to  Europe  in  the  fall  of  1893  and 
appeared  at  Berlin,  Vienna,  Leipsic, 
Dresden  and  other  German  cities,  and 
was  in  all  those  places  recognized  by 
the  press  and  public  alike  as  the  great- 
est of  woman  pianists,  and  as  one  of 
the  greatest  pianists  of  either  sex,  and 
of  all  times.  She  was  engaged  for  a 
tour  all  over  Europe  through  the  win- 
ter of  1894  and  1895,  everywhere  car- 
rying away  her  audiences  and  winning 
triumph  upon  triumph.  In  1895  she 
returned  to  this  country,  playing  in 
all  of  the  large  American  cities,  giv- 
ing eight  concerts  in  San  Francisco, 
each  surpassing  its  predecessor  in 
point  of  popularity  and  the  enthusiasm 
of  the  audiences. 

In  the  spring  of  1898  Mrs.  Zeisler 
went  to  England  and  completely  cap- 
tivated the  London  public  in  a  series 
of  recitals.  While  there  she  was  ac- 
corded the  honor  of  an  invitation  to 
be  the  piano  soloist  at  the  annual 
Lower  Rhine  Musical  Festival,  which 
took  place  at  Cologne  May  29-31st,  1898. 
Playing  there  before  the  most  critical 
audience  in  the  world,  in  the  presence 
of  the  most  celebrated  musicians  and 
critics  of  all  Europe,  she  won  a  most 
singular  triumph  and  was  unanimously 
declared  to  be  one  of  the  world's 
greatest  pianists.  While  her  technique 
is  well  nigh  perfect,  she  always  subor- 
dinates it  to,  and  makes  it  only  a 
means  of  musical  expression.  She 


REFORM  ADVOCATE.! 


391 


seems  to  be  able  to  enter  into  the 
spirit  of  all  composers  alike.  She  has 
withal  a  great  individuality  and  makes 
all  performances  new  creations  rather 
than  recreations  of  the  compositions 
she  plays.  She  has  often  been  com- 
pared to  Rubenstein,  who  was  a  great 
admirer  of  her  art.  Many  critics  have 
called  her  the  "Sarah  Bernhardt  of  the 
piano,"  referring  to  the  temperamental 
side  of  her  artistic  career.  Mrs.  Zeis- 
ler's  home  is  on  the  North  Side,  in  this 
city,  where  she  has  a  high  social  po- 
sition. She  is  an  honored  member  of 
the  Chicago  Women's  Club  and  of  the 
Amateur  Club  of  Chicago.  She  is  mar- 
ried to  Mr.  Sigmund  Zeisler,.a  promi- 
nent lawyer  and  citizen  of  Chicago, 
and  their  union  has  been  blessed  by 
•three  sons. 

EMIL  LIEBLING. 

Mr.  Liebling  is  acknowledged  to  be 
one  of  Chicago's  greatest  pianists  and 
instructors.  He  has  appeared  in  pub- 
lic many  times,  winning  the  highest 
praise  from  tooth  press  and  public.  In 
referring  to  a  concerto,  played  by  Mr. 
Liebling  as  soloist  for  the  Chicago  Or- 
chestra, the  Times-Herald  makes  the 
following  statement  in  its  columns: 
"Inspired  by  the  occasion  and  moved 
by  the  remarkable  consequence  of  the 
work,  Mr.  Liebling  surpassed  himself 
in  a  performance  full  of  solid  schol- 
arship and  excellent  interpretation.  His 
fine  effort  was  rewarded  by  spontane- 
ous outbursts  of  applause,  intended  no 
dou'bt  to  express  admiration  both  for 
the  composition  and  the  performance." 

The  Chicago  Tribune,  commenting 
on  Mr.  Liebling's  playing  at  the  second 
concert  of  the  Mendelssohn  Club  last 
season,  refers  to  him  as  follows:  "Mr. 
Liebling  achieved  really  spontaneous 
success  in  Moszkowski's  E  major,  con- 
certo opus  59,  which  received  its  ini- 
tial American  performance  .upon  this 
occasion.  Mr.  Liebling's  performance 
was  of  a  decidedly  brilliant  order,  and 
he  acquitted  himself  in  an  admirable 


EMIL  LIEBLING. 

fashion,  giving  the  scintillating  beau- 
ties of  the  scheroz  with  technical  deli- 
c-cy  and  musical  charm."  We  could 
go  on  quoting  from  all  of  the  great 


dailies  of  this  city  and  the  acknowl- 
edged musical  journals  of  the  country, 
all  of  which  have  sung  the  praise  of 
Mr.  Liebling's  success  as  a  performer. 
The  numerous  pupils  who  under  his 
instruction  and  guidance  have  become 
known  for  the  excellence  of  their  work 
is  also  a  tribute  to  Mr.  Liebling,  which 
places  him  in  the  front  rank  of  piano 
teachers  in  the  West. 
IV. 

BUSINESS  nEN  PAST  AND  PRES- 
ENT. 

HENRY  I1 3RNER. 
Mr.  Homer  was  b-jrn  in  Bohemia  in 
1819,  and  came  to  Chicago  when  this 
city  was  still  in  its  infancy,  in  1847. 
He  was  the  founder  of  the  present 
wholesale  grocery  house  of  Henry 
Homer  &  Co.,  which  is  the  oldest 


known  member  of  society.  His  son, 
Maurice  L.,  Jr.,  was  the  little  fellow 
who  proved  himself  a  hero  in  the  fire 


\ 


HENRY  HORNER. 

business  of  its  kind  in  Chicago.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  founders  of  K.  A. 
M.,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  early 
presidents.  He  was  a  man  of  consid- 
erable intellect,  a  deep  thinker  and  a 
man  of  recognized  business  ability 
Mr.  Homer  exerted  great  influence  il 
early  congregational  life  and  also  man- 
ifested much  interest  in  charity  work. 
His  wife's  name  was  Hannah  Dem- 
burg  and  eleven  children  were  born  to 
them — Dila,  Levy,  Joseph,  Isaac,  Angel, 
Mrs.  Minnie  Yondorf,  Charles,  Maurice 
L.,  Mrs.  Dora  Yondorf,  Harry,  Albert 
and  Mrs.  Mattie  Strauss.  Mr.  Horner 
died  in  this  city  in  1879  after  an  hon- 
orable career  of  sixty  years. 

MAURICE  L.  HORNER. 

Mr.  Horner  is  a  son  of  Henry  and 
Hannah  Horner  and  was  born  in  this 
city  in  1863,  attending  the  private  and 
public  schools  of  his  native  city.  He 
has  been  identified  with  the  wholesale 
grocery  house  of  Henry  Horner  &  Co. 
since  he  was  a  young  man  and  assumed 
the  management  of  this  extensive  es- 
tablishment in  1893.  He  is  the  In- 
ventor of  the  bicycle  package  holder, 
and  in  the  business  world  has  attained 
a  position  of  prominence.  Mr.  Hor- 
ner is  a  member  of  K.  A.  M.,  and  is 
a  director  of  the  Working  Women's 
Home  Association,  and  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Standard  Club  and  a  well 


MAURICE  L.  HORNER. 

in  his  father's  residence,  March  6,  of 
this  year,  jumping  out  of  the  second- 
story  window  and  afterwards  returning 
to  the  burning  building  and  saving  his 
nurse.  He  is  but  8  years  of  age  and 
this  daring  deed  attracted  considerable 
notice  in  the  public  press. 

ISAAC  H.  HORNER. 

Mr.  Horner  is  also  one  of  the  sons 
of-  Hannah  and  Henry  Horner,  and  is 
also  identified  with  the  grocery  house 
of  Henry  Horner  &  Co.  He  was  born 
in  this  city  in  1855,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Chi- 
cago, later  attending  college.  He  is  a 
member  of  K.  A.  M.,  and  is  an  ex-direc- 
tor of  the  Standard  Club.  Mr.  Horner 
has  taken  considerable  interest  in  pub- 
lic life  and  was  alderman  of  the  Sec- 


ISAAC  H.   HORNER. 

ond  ward  for  four  years,  during  which 
time  he  made  a  very  creditable  record. 

MR.  FREDERICK  W.  STRAUS. 

Mr.  Straus  was  born  in  Laufersweil- 
er,  Germany,  Feb.  28th,  1833,  and  came 
to  America  in  1849.  He  settled  in  Lig- 
onier,  Ind.,  where  he  was  first  engaged 
in  mercantile  lines  and  afterwards 
opened  a  bank,  which  he  conducted 


392 


THK  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


for  many  years,  enjoying  the  full  con- 
fidence of  the  public.  He  organized  the 
Jewish  Congregation,  holding  the  office 


FREDERICK  W.  STRAUS. 

of  president  for  thirty  years.  The  cit- 
izens of  the  city  and  county  honored 
him  many  times  by  electing  him  to 
public  offices  of  trust,  in  which  he  al- 
ways served  with  honor  and  credit. 

In  1883  he  removed  to  Chicago  and 
engaged  in  the  mortgage  loan  business. 
He  was  in  this,  as  in  his  previous  un- 
dertakings, very  successful.  He  joined 
the  Sinai  Congregation  and  at  once 
took  an  active  interest  in  the  Jewish 
charities.  Mr.  Straus  married  Miss 
Madelon  Goldsmith  and  their  union 
was  blessed  with  nine  children — Mrs. 
S.  H.  Regensburg,  Mrs.  Max  Living- 
ston, Mrs.  M.  J.  Spiegel,  Hattie,  Simon 
W.,  Samuel  J.  T.,  and  Arthur  W. 
Straus  surviving  him. 

Mr.  Straus  died  on  Feb.  9,  1898,  and 
his  two  sons,  S.  W.  and  S.  J.  T.  Straus, 
succeeded  him  in  the  mortgage  bank- 
ing business.  His  widow  lives  in  Chi- 
cago, surrounded  by  her  loving  family. 

MR.  MAX  ELLBOGEN. 
Mr.  Ellbogen  was  born  in  Austria  in 


MAX  ELLBOGEN. 

1846  and  was  educated  in  his  native 
country.  His  parents  were  Joachim 
and  Esther  (Fischer)  Ellbogen.  At  the 


age  of  17,  in  1863,  he  came  to  America 
and  settled  in  Chicago.  He  first  found 
employment  with  Mr.  B.  Berlizheimer 
in  the  dry  goods  line,  then  with  Man- 
del  Bros,  and  S.  Klein.  In  this  line  he 
remained  until  1868,  and  then  entered 
the  wholesale  jewelry  establishment  of 
Mr.  John  Kahn  &  Bro.  as  traveling 
salesman.  In  1872,  at  the  death  of 
John  Kahn,  went  to  Wendell  &  Hy- 
man.  In  1877  formed  co-partnership 
with  Mr.  Sigmund  Stein,  a  fellow- 
salesman,  and  the  wholesale  jewelry 
house  of  Stein  &  Ell'bogen  soon  gained 
a  high  standing  in  the  commercial 
world.  Several  years  ago  the  business 
was  incorporated  and  Mr.  Ellbogen 
was  chosen  president  of  the  corpora- 
tion, a  position  which  he  still  holds. 
Mr.  Ellbogen  makes  frequent  trips  to 
London,  Paris  and  Amsterdam  to  pur- 
chase stock,  has  become  an  excellent 
judge  of  gems,  and  the  diamond  cut- 
ting plant  of  the  Stein  &  Ellbogen 
company  is  now  the  largest  west  of 
New  York.  Mr.  Ellbogen  is  vice  pres- 
ident of  the  Jewelers'  Association  of 
Chicago. 

He  is  a  member  of  Sinai  Congrega- 
tion and  the  Lakeside  Club.  He  is  a 
liberal  contributor  to  the  charities  and 
every  good  and  beneficial  undertaking 
by  the  community  is  sure  of  his  en- 
couragement and  support.  He  married 
Miss  Leah  Eisendrath,  a  Chicago  girl 
of  high  attainments,  and  they  have  six 
children,  Harriet,  David,  Celia,  Albert, 
Margaritt  and  Charles. 

MR.  HERMAN  FELSENTHAL. 

The  life  of  Herman  Felsenthal  fur- 
nishes a  noteworthy  example  of  the  in- 
fluence for  good  that  may  be  wielded 
in  a  community  like  ours  by  a  single 
man  of  force  and  earnestness,  more  es- 
pecially when  to  these  qualities  are 
added  the  advantages  of  a  broad  and 
liberal  education. 

Mr.  Felsenthal  was  born  in  Offen- 
bach, Germany,  May  19, 1835,  and  came 
to  America  in  1852,  at  the  age  of  17 
years,  finishing  his  education  at  the 
German  Gymnasium  at  Rochester,  New 
York.  His  parents  were  Benjamin  and 
Agatha  Felsenthal. 

He  -arrived  in  Chicago  in  1854  and 
shortly  thereafter  embarked  in  the 
commission  business,  his  venture  met 
with  success,  and  a  few  years  later  he 
formed  a  co-partnership  with  Mr. 
Charles  Kosminski  in  the  banking 
business.  This  enterprise  was  also  suc- 
cessful, and  the  bank  prospered  for 
many  years.  When  this  partnership 
dissolved,  Mr.  Felsenthal  established 
The  Bank  of  Commerce,  of  which  he 
became  president  and  in  which  capa- 
city he  served  until  shortly  before  his 
death.  Under  his  guidance,  the  insti- 
tution weathered  many  financial 
storms,  including  the  panic  of  1893.  In 
1898  the  business  of  The  Bank  of  Com- 
merce was  merged  in  that  of  the  Union 
National  Bank,  which  institution  has 
in  turn  been  absorbed  by  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank. 

Mr.  Felsenthal  was  a  member  of 
Sinai  Congregation  and  for  many  years 


its- secretary.  He  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  Raman  Lodge,  I.  O.  B.  B.,  and  a 
leader  in  B'nai  B'rith  circles.  He  was 
past  president  of  District  Grand  Lodge, 
No.  6,  of  this  order  and  one  of  the 
founders  of  Covenant  Culture  Club,  of 
which  he  was  president  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  He  was  trustee  of  the  He- 
brew Relief  Association  for  two  years, 
from  October,  1883,  to  1885,  and  was 
at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  of  this  city.  During  his 
membership  of  this  board  he  was  in- 
strumental in  introducing  the  study  of 
German  in  the  Chicago  public  schools. 
He  was  always  deeply  interested  in  the 
cause  of  education,  and  at  various 
times  endeavored  to  establish  a  Jew- 
ish high  school  in  our  city.  The  Board 
of  Education  of  this  city  has  recently 
honored  him  by  naming  the  school  now 
in  course  of  erection^  at  the  corner  of 
Forty-first  and  Calumet  avenue  "The 
Herman  Felsenthal  Shool." 

His  marriage  to  Miss  Gertrude  Hy- 
man  occurred  in  1853,  the  result  of  the 
union  being  two  sons  and  seven  daugh- 
ters— viz.,  Eli  B.,  Herbert  S.,  Leah 
(wife  of  Benjamin  Bissinger),  Judith 
(wife  of  Samuel  J.  Kline),  Flora  (wife 
of  P.  R.  Newhouse),  Hannah  (wife  of 
Rabbi  Jos.  Leiser,  now  at  Sioux  City, 
la.),  Emily  (wife  of  Max  W.  Pottlitzer, 
LaFayette,  Ind.),  Rose  and  Mathilda, 
unmarried. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Felsenthal  occurred 
on  September  3,  1899,  but  the  memory 
of  his  worth  and  his  deeds  will  contin- 
ue to  abide  in  the  hearts  of  our  Jewish 
fellow  citizens. 

SOLOMON  KARPEN. 

Mr.  Karpen  was  born  in  Wongro- 
witz,  Prussia,  in  1858.  His  father  was 
Moritz  Karpen  and  his  mother  Jo- 
hanna (Kohn)  Karpen.  Solomon  Kar- 
pen came  to  America  when  13  years  of 
age,  landing  in  Chicago  late  in  1871, 
just  after  the  great  fire.  He  began  the 
manufacture  of  upholstered  furniture 
in  a  basement  on  Milwaukee  avenue 


SOLOMON  KARPEN. 

the  following  spring  with  one  helper. 
From  this  small  beginning  has  grown 
the  present  great  firm  of  S.  Karpen  & 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


393 


Bros.,  who  are  the  largest  manufac- 
turers of  upholstered  furniture  in  the 
United  States.  The  industry  employs 
700  factory  hands,  and  its  goods  find 
a  market  in  all  parts  of  the  world. 

Mr.  Karpen  resides  on  the  North 
Side,  and  is  a  member  of  the  North 
Chicago  Hebrew  Congregation;  also  of 
the  Ideal  Club.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
liberal  contributors  to  the  Associated 
Jewish  Charities,  and  equally  liberal  in 
all  other  charitable  affairs.  He,  with 
his  brothers,  has  built  up  a  great  in- 
dustry, and  are  rated  among  Chicago's 
leading  business  men. 

MR.  AARON  E.  NUSBAUM. 

Mr.  Nusbaum  was  born  in  New  York 
city  in  1861.  His  parents,  Emanuel 
and  Regina  (Sternberg)  Nusbaum 
came  to  America  from  Germany.  He 
received  an  academic  education  in  the 
State  of  New  York  and  then  chose  a 
mercantile  career.  He  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Plattsfield,  N.Y.,  where  they 
resided  for  a  number  of  years,  doing  a 
prosperous  business.  In  1881  they 
moved  to  Chicago,  where  they  opened 
a  wholesale  furnishing  goods  establish- 
ment, and  Mr.  Aaron  Nusbaum  was  a 
member  of  the  firm.  He  is  now  treas- 
urer and  general  manager  of  the  cele- 
brated mail  order  house  of  Sears,  Roe- 
buck &  Co.,  where  2,500  people  find 
employment.  Mr.  Nusbaum  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Sinai  Congregation,  of  the 
Standard  Club  and  of  the  Associated 
Jewish  Charities.  He  married  Miss 


its  treasurer.    He  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Associated  Charities,  and  has 
been  a  director  of  the  Jewish  Training 
School. 
He  married  Miss  Rose  Loewenstein, 


'    AARON  E.  NUSBAUM. 

Lottie   Rosenfield  and  their  union   is 
blessed  with  a  son,  Edward  A. 

WILLIAM  NATHAN  EISENDRATH 

Vice-President  of  the  American  Hide 
and  Leather  Co.,  is  a  native  Chicagoan. 
He  was  born  Dec.  5,  1853.  His  father, 
Nathan  Eisendrath,  now  a  retired  capi- 
talist, is  a  pioneer  and  one  of  Chica- 
go's most  respected  citizens. 

William  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools  and  a  college  preparatory 
school  in  this  city,  from  which  he  went 
to  Brussels  to  finish  his  education. 

Mr.  Eisendrath  has  been  a  member 
of  Sinai  Congregation  for  the  past  sev- 
enteen years.  For  two  years  he  was 


WM.  N.  EISENDRATH. 

an  accomplished  Chicago  girl.  Five 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  three 
of  whom  are  living,  Carl,  Edwin  and 
Marion. 

JOSEPH  BEIFELD. 

Joseph  Beifeld,  one  of  our  best 
known  cloak  manufacturers,  was  born 
in  Hungary  in  1853.  He  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Chicago  in 
1867.  Here  he  went  for  one  year  to 
the  grammar  school,  then  he  took  a 
position  as  clerk  with  O.  L.  American, 
where  he  remained  until  1869.  In  that 
year  he  entered  the  employ  of  Field, 
Leiter  &  Co.,  the  predecessors  of 
Marshall  Field  &  Co.,  remaining  with 
them  until  1878.  Then  he  went  into 
business  for  himself.  He  is  a  bright 
and  smart  business  man  and  succeed- 
ed in  building  up  an  extensive  busi- 
ness, which  is  favorably  known 
throughout  the  country.  He  takes  a 
warm  interest  in  the  charities  and 
served  as  vice-president,  and  for  a 
time  as  president,  of  the  Russian  Ref- 
ugee Society,  where  his  business  tact 
and  general  ability  were  of  inestima- 
ble service. 

Mr.  Beifeld  has  married  a  Chicago 
girl,  owns  a  beautiful  home,  and  is  the 
father  of  an  Interesting  family. 

.  JACOB  SCHRAM. 
Mr.  Schram  was  born  in  Milwaukee 
in  1846,  and  came  to  this  country  when 
a  boy.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
here.  He  had  been  in  the  manufac- 
turing business  for  years  and  has  met 
with  considerable  success.  His  parents 
were  Samuel  and  Babette  Schoen  of 
Schram,  whose  ancestral  home  was  in 
Austria.  Mr.  Schram  was  the  first  pu- 
pil who  attended  the  Anshe  Maariv 
school  in  1851,  and  has  been  connected 
with  congregational  and  charitable 
work  all  his  life.  He  has  been  presi- 
dent of  Zion  Congregation  for  ten  • 
years  and  an  officer  of  the  same  for  25 
years.  Mr.  Schram  has  always  taken 


an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  and 
has  served  as  president  of  the  sechool 
board.  He  is  a  man  of  intellect  and 
while  burdened  by  the  cares  of  busi- 
ness life  he  always  finds  time  to  devote 
to  charitable  work.  He  married 
Esther  Heller,  and  they  have  five  child- 
ren living.  Mr.  Schram  is  a  living  pro- 
test against  the  charge  that  Jews  are 
only  in  the  clothing  business,  as  he 
was  one  of  the  first  to  begin  the  manu- 
facturing of  picture  frames,  moldings, 
etc.  From  the  success  he  has  achieved 
it  can  easily  be  seen  that  there  are 
other  vocations  than  clothing  in  which 
the  Jews  are  successful. 

He  will  also  contribute  a  number  of 
articles  to  the  Jewish  Encyclopedia, 
now  in  course  of  publication. 

MR.   WILLIAM   LEHMAN. 

Mr.  Lehman  was  born  in  Bavaria, 
Germany,  in  1856.  His  parents'  names 
are  Henry  and  Louise  Lehman.  He 
was  educated  in  his  native  country.  In 
1871  he  came  to  America  and  settled 
first  in  New  York,  then  in  Kansas.  He 
moved  to  Chicago  in  1891,  and  is  now 
President  of  the  Gage  Down  Company, 
manufacturers  of  corsets.  Mr.  Lehman 
is  a  member  of  Sinai  Congregation  of 
the  Associated  Jewish  Charities, 
and  of  the  Standard  Club.  He  married 
Miss  Hattie  Bing,  and  their  happy 
home  is  brightened  by  two  children, 
Louise  and  Bruce.  „ 

A.  D.  NAST. 

Mr.  Nast  is  one  of  the  youngest 
members  of  the  New  York  Stock  Ex- 


A.  D.  NAST. 

change,  and  is  a  shining  example  of 
what  an  energetic  and  enterprising 
young  American  is  capable  of.  He  was 
born  in  Milwaukee  29  years  ago,  and 
attended  the  schools  of  that  city,  later 
pursuing  an  academic  course  at  the 
University  of  Wisconsin  and  Cornell 


394 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


College.  He  became  identified  with 
Hayden  Stone  &  Co.,  stock  brokers  of 
Boston,  in  which  firm  he  worked  up  an 
extensive  business  in  copper  stocks. 
With  untiring  energy  he  rapidly  forged 
to  the  front  and  formed  a  co-partner- 
ship with  his  brother,  Mr.  Samuel  Nast 
under  the  firm  name  of  A.  D.  Nast  and 
Co.  They  purchased  memberships  in 
the  New  York  and  Chicago  Stock  Ex- 
changes, and  are  given  credit  for  doing 
the  most  extensive  business  in  copper 
stocks  in  Chicago.  Their  New  York 
and  local  business  has  increased  in 
large  proportions  and  they  are  today 
one  of  the  most  successful  young  firms 
in  the  city.  Mr.  Nast  is  a  son»of  Dan- 
iel and  Esther  Nast,  is  prominent  so- 
cially and  is  a  member  of  the  Standard 
Club. 

ISIDOR  BAUMGARTL. 

In  the  beautiful  Hungarian   city  of 
Pesth  stood  the  cradle  of  Mr.   Baum- 


ISIDOR  BAUMGARTL. 

gartl.  There  he  was  iborn  March  29, 
1860.  At  the  age  of  11  years,  October, 
1871,  he  came  to  America  and  settled 
in  Chicago,  when  the  city  was  still 
smoldering  after  the  big  fire.  He  re- 
ceived uis  education  partly  in  Chicago 
public  schools,  later  graduating  from 
the  Dyrenfurth  College.  At  the  age  of 
17  he  started  his  apprenticeship  in 
business  with  the  firm  of  Joseph  Stein 
&  Co.,  wholesale  liquor  dealers,  and  in 
1S79,  on  the  death  of  the  senior  mem- 
ber, he  was  admitted  to  the  firm,  form- 
ing the  co-partnership  of  Stein  & 
Baumgartl.  In  1882  a  consolidation 
was  effected,  with  Adolph  and  Charles 
Stein  establishing  the  firm  of  Stein 
Bros.  &  Baumgartl.  The  new  venture 
was  highly  successful.  In  1889  he,  to- 
gether with  his  old  associates,  formed 
the  Calumet  Distilling  Co.,  and  built 
the  distillery  at  New  Chicago,  a  suburb 
of  this  city,  and  founded  a  small  vil- 
lage surrounding  the  plant.  The  dis- 
tillery was  operated  at  its  full  capacity 
by  the  firm  until  the  Whisky  Trust 
purchased  it  in  1891.  In  October  of 
that  year,  again  in  company  with  his 
old  associates,  he  incorporated  the 
Monarch  Brewing  Co.,  erecting  a  large 
plant  at  21st  street  and  Western  ave- 
nue. This  was  operated  with  such 


success  that,  in  189.8,  the  plant  was 
purchased  by  an  American  syndicate, 
and  together  with  twelve  other  brew- 
eries formed  the  United  Breweries  Co. 
The  syndicate  induced  him  to  accept 
the  management  of  the  United  Brew- 
eries Co.,  and  he  was  elected  president 
and  general  manager.  He  is  still  at  the 
head  of  this  vast  organization. 

In  1900,  again  with  his  old  associ- 
ates, he  incorporated  the  Art  Wall  Pa- 
per Mills  and  erected  a  plant  covering 
an  entire  block  opposite  his  old  brew- 
ery, and  as  president  of  the  new  en- 
terprise he  is  bending  his  energies, 
to  make  it  the  foremost  wall  paper 
mill  in  the  United  States. 

His  vast  interests,  notwithstanding 
he  finds  time  to  attend  to  charity  work. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rectors of  Zion  Congregation,  and  Is 
now  a  member  of  Isaiah  Congregation. 
He  is  treasurer  of  the  Associated  Jew- 
ish Charities  and  a  member  of  the 
Standard  and  Lakeside  Clubs.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Bertha  Wilhartz  of  Chicago 
and  five  children  'brighten  their  happy 
home — Clara,  Lily,  Leroy,  Olga  and 
Gertrude. 

A.  B.  NEWMAN. 

Abraham  B.  Newman  was  born  in 
Milwaukee,  August  7,  1871,  and  is  a 
splendid  type  of  America's  progressive 
and  successful  young  men.  He  was 
connected  with  the  Northwestern  Life 
Insurance  Co.,  of  Milwaukee  for  some 
years,  and  came  to  Chicago  for  that 
company  a  little  more  than  a  year  ago, 
since  which  time  he  has  achieved  emi- 
nent success  and  is  today  considered 
one  of  the  foremost  insurance  writers 
in  this  state.  This  is  certainly  a  brilliant 
record  for  a  young  man.  Mr.  Newman 
is  well  known  socially  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Standard  Club  and  is  also  a 


province  and  now  belonging  to  the 
German  Empire.  Emanuel  Heyman 
was  educated  in  his  native  town  and 


A.   B.  NEWMAN. 

liberal    contributor   to   the   Associated 
Charities. 

EMANUEL  SYLVAIN   HEYMAN. 

Mr.  Heyman  was  born  in  New  Or- 
leans, La.,  June  12th,  1855.  His  pa- 
rents were  Samuel  and  Julie  Heyman, 
who  emigrated  to  America  from  Lor- 
raine and  Alsace,  a  former  French 


EMANUEL  S.  HEYMAN. 

there  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile 
and  life  insurance  business,  winning 
the  sweet  smiles  of  success.  In  1879  he 
came  to  Chicago.  He  is  a  member  of 
Sinai  Congregation  and  of  the  Stand- 
ard Club.  Since  1892  he  has  been  spe- 
cial executive  agent  of  the  New  York 
Life  Insurance  Co.,  and  his  marked 
business  ability  has  placed  him  very 
high  in  the  estimation  of  his  employ- 
ers. For  years  he  has  led  all  other  rep- 
resentatives of  the  company  through- 
out the  country  in  procuring  personal 
business.  He  married  Miss  Cora  Feibel- 
man,  and  two  children  add  to  the  hap- 
piness of  their  life — Madelaine  Cora 
and  Dorothy  Sylvain. 

ISAAC  KEJM. 

Mr.  Keim  is  the  secretary-  of  the 
Siegel,  Cooper  &  Company  corpora- 
tion, and  is  now  41  years  old.  He  was 
born  and  educated  in  Chicago,  and  has 
taken  a  prominent  part  In  business, 
social  and  charitable  affairs.  He  is  a 
member  of  Sinai  Congregation,  a  di- 
rector of  the  Jewish  Training  School, 


ISAAC  KEIM. 

and  a  member  of  the  Standard  and 
Lakeside  Clubs,  having  been  treasurer 
of  the  latter  for  three  years.  His  wife 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


395 


was  Miss  Yetta  Pfaelzer,  and  his  pa- 
rents Zacharias  and  Eva  Keim.  Three 
children,  Hazel,  Melville  and  Edward 
have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keim. 

EMANUEL  MANDEL. 

Mr.  Mandel  was  born  in  Kervenheim, 
Bavaria,  February  17,  1844.  He  came  to 


EMANUEL  MANDEL. 

this  country  when  a  boy  of  13  years  of 
age.  He  received  his  early  education  in 
this  city,  and  has  since  achieved  a  re- 
markable success  as  a  merchant.  He 
is  one  of  the  firm  of  Mandel  Bros.,  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  successful  dry 
goods  stores  in  America.  Mr.  Mandel  is 
a  member  of  the  Standard  and  Iroquois 
clubs,  and  is  vice-president  of  the  lat- 
ter. He  married  Babette  Frank  and 
they  have  three  children,  Frank  E., 
Edwin  F.  and  Mrs.  Rose  Louer. 

OSCAR  G.  FOREMAN. 
Mr.  Oscar  G.  Foreman  is  a  native  of 
Chicago,  where  he  was  born  Novem- 
ber 1,  1863.  He  here  received  his  early 
training  and  a  Ifberal  education.  His 
parents,  Gerhard  and  Hannah  (Greene- 
baum)  Foreman  were  well  known  in 


OSCAR   G.    FOREMAN. 

Jewish  communities  and     were    time- 
honored  citizens  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Foreman  is  a  member  of  Sinai 
Congregation,  of  the  Standard,  Union 
League,  Iroquois  and  Bankers'  Clubs 
and  the  vice-president  of  the  Chicago 


Home  for  Jewish  Orphans.  He  was 
married  September  28,  1893,  to  Miss 
Fannie  Mandel,  daughter  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Leon  Mandel,  of  Chicago,  and 
their  union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children,  Gerhard  and  Madeline. 

LOUIS  BENJAMIN. 

Louis  Benjamin  was  born  in  St. 
Louis  in  1850.  His  parents,  Jacob  and 
Janet  Benjamin,  are  natives  of  Bava- 
ria. They  came  to  America  in  the 
early  forties  and  settled  in  St.  Louis. 
He  was  educated  irfthe  public  schools 
of  St.  Louis  and  New  Orleans.  Mr.  Ben- 
jamin chose  a  commercial  occupation. 
He  began  with  the  organization  of  the 
Block-Pollak  Iron  Co.,  seventeen  years 
ago,  and  has  been  actively  connected 
with  it  to  the  present  time.  When  tue 
company  was  incorporated,  seven 
years  ago,  he  became  its  secretary. 

Mr.  Benjamin  is  a  director  of  Anshe 
Maariv  Congregation  and  active  in  all 
charity  work.  "He  married  Miss  Julia 
Kattwitz.  They  have  three  children 
living,  one  son  and  two  daughters — 
Sadie  L.,  Blanche  B.,  and  Jack  A. 

Mr.  Benjamin  is  a  member  of  the 


the  office  of  recording  secretary.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Lakeside  Club 
and  a  contributing  member  of  the  Jew- 
ish charities.  He  married  Miss  Hen- 


LOUIS  BENJAMIN. 

Standard,     Lakeside     and     Hamilton 
Clubs. 

ADOLPH  J.  SABATH,  J.  P. 

Judge  Sabath  is  a  native  of  Bohemia 
and  was  born  in  Zabor,  April  4,  1866. 
His  parents  were  Joachim  and  Babette 
Sabath.  He  came  to  Chicago  in  1881 
and  has  since  acquired  considerable 
prominence  in  politics,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent a  justice  of  the  peace.  The  Judge 
is  a  member  of  B'nai  Abraham  Cong, 
and  the  Lakeside  Club.  His  record  on 
the  bench  has  won  for  him  the  confi- 
dence and-esteem  of  the  bar  of  this 
county. 

JACOB  NEWMAN,  JR. 

Mr.  Newman  was  born  In  Dornmo- 
schal,  Rheinpfalz,  in  the  year  1850. 
His  parents'  names  are  Solomon  and 
Frederik  Newman.  In  1861  he  came  to 
America  and  to  Chicago  in  1881. 

He  is  a  director  of  the  Anshe  Maariv 
Congregation  and  also  its  financial  sec- 
retary, and  for  a  number  of  years  held 


JACOB  NEWMAN,  JR. 

rietta  Bauland,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Harry  B. 

JACOB  L.   KESNER. 

Mr.  Kesner  is  a  son  of  Louis  J.  and 
Sarah,  Kesner  and  was  born  Dec.  30, 
1865,  in  London,  England,  coming  to 
America  when  he  was  but  three  years 
of  age.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
and  in  1878  was  employed  as  cash  boy 
in  the  Fair,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  gradually  promoted  until  in  1894 
he  was  made  general  manager,  a  posi- 


JACOB   L.   KESNER. 

tion  he  now  holds.  He  is  a  member 
of  Sinai  Congregation  and  the  Stand- 
ard and  Lakeside  Clubs.  Mr.  Kesner 
married  Bettie  Frohmann,  and  they 
have  one  child  living,  Lucille. 

MR.  MORRIS  SELZ. 

Mr.  Selz  was  born  in  Wuttenberg, 
Germany,  Oct.  2,  1826.  His  parents 
were  Jacob  A.  and  Hannah  Selz.  He 
came  to  America  in  1845  and  here  he 
followed  different  occupations.  First 
he  clerked,  then  he  worked  in  a  mine, 
and  traded  in  various  merchandise  un- 
til he  came  to  Chicago  and  started  in 


96  ' 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


the  shoe  business.  He  was  the  founder 
of  the  firm  of  Selz,  Schwab  &  Co.,  of 
which  he  is  the  senior  member.  This 
firm  is  known  today  as  the  largest 


MORRIS  SELZ. 

manufacturers  and  wholesale  dealers 
in  boots  and  shoes  in  the  west.  He  is 
a  member  of  Sinai  Congregation  and 
of  the  Standard  Club  and  ex-president 
of  both  institutions.  He  married  Miss 
Hannah  Kohn  and  they  have  three 
sons — J.  Harry,  Emanuel  F.,  and  A.  K. 

J.  HARRY  SELZ. 

Born,  raised  and  educated  in  Chica- 
go, Mr.  J.  Harry  Selz  is  a  representa- 
tive business  man  of  the  city.  He  is 
a  son  of  Morris  and  Rosa  Frank  Selz, 
toth  of  whom  are  prominent  members 
•of  the  community. 

Mr.  Selz  is  identified  with  one  of  the 
largest  boot  and  shoe  business  houses 
in  America,  being  second  Vice-Presi- 
'dent  of  the  corporation  of  Selz, 
Schwab  &  Co.,  and  he  is  also  a  direc- 
tor of  the  Illinois  Manufacturers'  As- 
sociation, Western  Shoe  Jobbers'  As- 
sociation and  the  Merchants'  Associa- 
tion of  Chicago.  He  married  Bertha 
Austrian  and  has  two  children  living — 
Austin  and  Frank.  In  the  social  world, 
Mr.  Selz  takes  a  prominent  part,  and 


ISAAC   HIRSCH. 

Mr.  Hirsch  is  a  native  of  Chicago, 
and  is  the  son  of  Myer  and  Fannie 
Hirsch.  He  is  president  of  the  Amer- 
ican Cutlery  Company,  one  of  the 
largest  concerns  of  its  kind  in  this 
country,  and  has  been  with  the  com- 
pany since  he  was  13  years  of  age. 
Socially  he  is  well  known  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Standard  Club.  Mr. 
Hirsch  contributes  liberally  to  the 
charities  and  takes  much  interest  in 


ISAAC  HIRSCH. 

congregational  affairs,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Isaiah  Cong.  He  recently  mar- 
ried Florence  Waixel. 

JACOB  N.  STRAUSS. 

The  ancestral  home  of  Mr.  Strauss 
is  Bavaria,  from  whence  came  his  pa- 
rents, Nathan  and  Jeanette  Strauss, 
but  he  was  born,  raised  and  educated 
in  Chicago.  As  a  business  man  he  is 


J.  HARRY  SELZ. 

is  a  member  of  the  Standard  Club.  He 
is  a  member  of  Sinai  Congregation  and 
a  liberal  contributor  to  the  charities. 


JACOB  N.  STRAUSS*. 


well  and  favorably  known,  his  voca- 
tion for  many  years  being  the  dry 
goods  business.  Socially  he  has  taken 
a  prominent  part  in  club  life,  and  it 
was  largely  through  his  efforts,  that 
the  new  Lakeside  Club  building  was 
erected.  He  was  president  of  the  club 
for  four  terms,  his  services  adding 
much  to  the  most  successful  years  of 


tB*  club.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Standard  Club,  a  director  of  K.  A.  M., 
and  the  Home  for  Aged  Jews.  Mr. 
Strauss  married  Miss  Laura  Rosenberg, 
and  when  business  cares  are  not  too 
pressing,  devotes  much  of  his  time  to 
social  pleasure  and  charitable  work,  in 
which  he  is  always  ready  to  assist. 

MR.  EMANUEL  J.  KOHN. 

Mr.  Emanuel  J.  Kohn  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  A.  and  Julia  Kohn,  and  a 
grandson  of  Abraham  and  Dorothy 
Kohn,  the  founders  of  the  prominent 
Kohn  family  of  Chicago.  He  was  born 
in  Chicago,  Dec.  23,  1864,  and  here 
he  was  educated.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  well  known  firm  of  Kohn  Brothers, 
manufacturers  of  clothing.  He  is  a 
director  of  Sinai  Congregation  and  a 
member  of  the  Standard  Club.  He  is 
very  active  in  charity  work  and  a  gen- 
erous patron  and  supporter  of  benevo- 
lent institutions.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  vice-chairman  of 
the  Relief  and  Employment  Bureau 
and  Secretary  of  West  Side  District. 
Connected  with  this  institution  was 
Financial  Secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  H. 


EMANUEL  J.  KOHN. 

Charity  Association,  and  is  a  Trustee 
of  the  National  Jewish  Hospital  for 
Consumptives  of  Denver,  Col.  He  is 
also  Past  Master  of  Chicago  Lodge  A. 
F.  &  A.  M. 

JOSEPH  A.   KOHN. 

Mr.  Joseph  A.  Kohn,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  is  a  son  of  Mr.  Abraham 
and  Dorothy.  He  was  born  in  Yeben- 
hausen,  January  26,  1828,  and  came  to 
America  in  1848.  He  is  a  member  of 
Congregation  Anshe  Maariv.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Julia  Levi,  a  Chicago  girl, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Lipman  Levi,  who 
was  teacher  and  reader  in  the  K.  A.  M. 
congregation,  and  they  have  eight 
children,  Mrs.  Cora  Ederheimer,  Mrs. 
Jennie  Kaiser,  Mrs.  Nellie  Schwab- 
acher,  Mrs.  Florence  Cahn,  Mrs.  Maude 
Spiegel,  Mrs.  Daisy  Hahn,  Emanuel  J., 
and  Albert  W. 

As  Mr.  Kohn  is  advancing  in  years 
he  is  gradually  withdrawing  from 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


397 


Business,  leaving  the  vast  interests  of 
the  firm  to  the  management  of  the 
younger  and  stronger  generation,  who 


JOS.  A.  KOHN. 

are  worthy  descendents  of  worthy  an- 
cestors. 

JOSEPH   DEUT3CH. 

Mr.  Deutsch  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Solomon  Deutsch  and  was  born  in  Bal- 
timore, Md.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  schools  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  and 
since  he  attained  his  majority  has  been 
In  the  printing  and  lithographing  busi- 
ness. His  father,  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
Solomon  Deutsch,  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  reformers  in  this  country, 
and  was  a  colleague  of  Einhorn.Hirsch, 
Wise  and  other  prominent  reformers. 


JOS.  DEUTSCH. 

Mr.  Joseph  Deutsch  has  been  particu- 
larly prominent  in  the  Masonic  Order, 
having  taken  all  of  the  degrees  in  the 
various  chapters.  He  is  president  of 
Edwards,  Deutsch  &  Heitmann,  litho- 
graphers of  this  city,  and  is  married 
to  Anna  Christiana  Gressinger. 

COL.  MARTIN  EMERICH. 

Martin  Emerich  was  born  in  the  city 
of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  1847.  His 
parents  were  Phillip  and  Rachel  Em- 
erich. He  was  educated  at  the  public 
schools  in  his  native  city.  He  served 
(or  four  years  on  the  staff  of  Gov. 


Hamilton  with  the  rank  of  colonel  and 
took  an  official  part  in  the  centennial 
celebration  of  the  battle  of  Yorktown. 
He  also  served  for  four  years  on  the 
staff  of  Gov.  Jackson. 

He  is  an  ex-president  of  the  Phoenix 
Club  and  a  member  of  the  Standard 
Club. 

In  Chicago  he  was  a  county  com- 
missioner in  1892-1893,  serving  as 
chairman  of  the  finance  committee. 

For  the  past  seven  years  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick. 

He  was  married  in  1871  to'  Lena 
Straus,  daughter  of  Martin  L.  Straus, 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Baltimore,  who 
was  president  for  25  years  of  Lloyd 
Street  Synagogue.  The  issue  of  this 


COL.    MARTIN   EMERICH. 

marriage  is  three  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, B.  Frank,  Leonard,  Melvin  L.  and 
Corinne  D. 

WM.  LOEFFLER. 

Mr.  Loeffler  was  born  in  Choden- 
schloss,  Bohemia,  Jan.  1st,  1858.  His 
parents  were  Frank  and  Wilhelmina 
Loeffler.  He  was  educated  at  Prague, 
the  capital  of  his  native  country.  He 
came  to  America  in  1874.  He  is  a 


WILLIAM  LOEFFLER. 
City  Clerk. 

member  of  Congregation  B'nai  Abra- 
ham and  the  Lakeside  dub.  He  was 
elected  alderman  in  1892  and  served 


with  credit  for  two  years.  In  1897 
he  was  elected  city  clerk,  under  Mayor 
Harrison's  first  administration,  and  he 
still  holds  this  position,  having  just 
been  re-elected.  He  married  Miss 
Francis  Hanel  and  they  have  one  son, 
Frank. 

JUSTICE  MAX  L.  WOLFF. 

Mr.  Wolff  was  born  in  Mecklenburg, 
Germany,  November,  1862.  He  received 
his  early  education  abroad,  coming  to 
this  country  in  1879  and  to  Chicago  in 
1889.  His  first  venture  was  in  the  real 
estate  business,  which  he  soon  aban- 
doned for  the  legal  profession,  and  is 
now  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  is  treas- 
urer of  Temple  Israel  and  is  an  ex- 
president  of  the  Unity  Club,  of  which 
he  is  now  treasurer.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  -Hamilton  Club  and  an 
ex-president  of  Montiflore  Council,  Na- 


MAX  L.  WOLFF,  J.  P. 

tional  Union.  Mr.  Wolff  married  a 
Miss  Mary  Cohn  and  they  have  two 
children  living,  Otto  and  Henry. 

DAVID  WORMSER. 
Mr.  Wormser  is  a  son  of  Babette  and 


DAVID  WORMSER. 

Mortlz  Wormser  and  was  born  and  ed- 
ucated in  Landau,  Rheinpfaltz,  Ger- 
many. He  came  to  America  in  1874, 
arriving  in  Chicago  four  years  later, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  in  this  city. 


398 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATE.. 


He  has  taken  considerable  interest  in 
congregational  affairs  and  is  now  vice- 
president  of  K.  A.  M.  Mr.  Wormser 
is  an  ex-president  of  the  Standard 
Club,  of  which  he  is  now  a  member. 
He  married  Frida  Falk  and  has  two 
children  living. 

MR.  LOUIS  KEEPER. 

Mr.  Keefer  was  born  in  Hanlein, 
Germany,  and  came  to  this  country  in 
1863.  He  is  a  son  of  Marion  and  Aaron 


LOUIS  KEEFER. 

H.  Keefer,  whose  ancestral  home  is  the 
city  of  Mr.  Reefer's  birth.  Mr.  Keef- 
er is  one  of  the  first  men  who 
went  into  the  cattle  business  in  the 
stock  yards  of  this  city,  since  which 
time  his  business  has  attained  large 
proportions.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Doud  and  Keefer,  one  of  the 
largest  shippers  of  cattle  in  the  yards. 
He  married  Esther  Kraus,  and  seven 
children  have  blessed  their  union,  Min- 
nie, Edward,  Flora,  Cora,  Arthur, 
Edna  and  Ruth.  Mr.  Keefer  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Standard  club  and  a  liberal 
contributor  to  the  charities,  and  an 
honored  and  respected  member  of  this 
community. 

ADOLPH  STEIN. 

Mr.  Stein  is  a  native  of  Bohemia, 
where  he  was  born  Sept.  27,  1853.  He 
received  his  education  abroad  and 


came  to  America  in  1869,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  largely  engaged  in 
the  liquor  business.  He  is  treasurer 
of  Zion  Congregation  and  a  contribu- 
tor to  the  Associated  Charities.  Mr. 
Stein  is  an  ex-president  of  the  West 
•Chicago  club  and  is  well  and  favorably 
known.  He  married  Emma  Freiler.and 
ten  children  have  blessed  their  union. 

EDWARD  B.  GROSSMAN. 

Mr.  Grossman  was  born  in  Chicago 
28  years  ago,  receiving  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  and  the  Univer- 
sity of  Notre  Dame.  His  parents,  Ben- 
jamin and  Rosa  Grossman,  now  de- 
ceased, were  among  the  early  settlers 
of  Chicago.  Mr.  Edward  B.  Grossman 


EDWARD  B.  GROSSMAN. 

is  one  of  the  city's  progressive  young 
business  men  and  is  at  the  head  of  a 
large  mercantile  establishment.  He 
married  Florence  L.  Florsheim  and  has 
one  child,  Edward  B.,  Jr.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Standard  Club  and  a 
contributor  to  the  Associated  Chari- 
ties. 

DAVID  M.  PFAELZER. 
Mr.  Pfaelzer's  ancestral  home  is  Ba- 


ADOLPH  STEIN. 


DAVID  PFAELZER. 

den,  where  his  parents  Moses  and  Han- 
nah resided.  He  was  born  Nov.  23, 
1853,  at  Laudenbach,  and  received  his 


early  education  in  Weinheim.  He 
came  to  America  in  July,  1872,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  has  been  engaged  in 
the  wholesale  clothing  business.  He  is 
an  active  member  of  K.  A.  M.,  of  which 
he  is  one  of  the  'board  of  directors  and1 
superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School. 
Mr.  Pfaelzer  is  a  contributor  to  the  As- 
sociated Charities  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Standard  Club.  He  married  Au- 
gusta Daube. 

LOUIS  EISENDRATH. 
Mr.  Eisendrath  is  a  son  of  Levi  and 


LOUIS  EISENDRATH. 

Helena  Eisendrath  and  was  born  io 
Germany.  He  came  to  this  country 
when  still  a  boy  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  American  schools.  He- 
has  been  a  prominent  merchant  for 
years  and  is  one  of  the  firm  of  Strouss, 
Eisendrath  and  Drom.  Mr.  Eisendrath 
is  a  member  of  Sinai  Congregation  and 
the  Standard  Club  and  is  a  contributor 
to  the  Associated  Charities.  He  mar- 
ried Hannah  Strouss  and  they  have 
three  children  living — Mrs.  Blanche 
Spiesberger,  Joseph  and  Leon  Eisen- 
drath. 

SIGMUND   SILBERMAN. 

Mr.  Silberman  was  born  in  Germany, 
June  20,  1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Amelia 
A.  and  Heinrich  Silberman.  Coming 
here  as  a  boy  he  attended  the  public 


SIGMUND   SILBERMAN. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


899 


schools  and  has  resided  in  Chicago 
since  1886.  He  is  one  of  the  firm  of 
Silberman  Bros.,  wool  merchants.  Mr. 
Silberman  is  an  active  member  of  K. 
A.  M.,  and  is  now  one  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  that  congregation.  He  is 
a  liberal  contributor  to  the  charities 
and  has  been  a  director  of  several 
charitable  institutions.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Standard  and  Hamilton 
Clubs.  Mr.  Silberman  is  married  and 
has  six  children  living. 

LEOPOLD  H.  MEYER. 
Mr.  Meyer  was  born  in  New  York. 
His  parents  were  Heyman  and  Agatha 
Meyer.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
in  New  York  City  and  came  to  Chicago 
when  still  a  young  man.  He  is  a  mem- 


LEOPOLD  H.  MEYER. 

ber  of  the  firm  of  the  Kennedy  Furni- 
ture Co.,  of  Chicago,  a  new  but  suc- 
cessful business  which  is  rapidly  com- 
ing to  the  front  as  one  of  the  leading 
retail  furniture  houses  of  Chicago.  Mr. 
Meyer  is  an  ex-director  of  the  Lakeside 
club,  and  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  the 
Associated  Charities.  He  married  Min- 
nie Keefer,  a  popular  Chicago  young 
lady,  and  they  have  three  children  liv- 
ing, Norman  B.,  Evelyn  H.  and  Doro- 
thy A.  Meyer. 

MOSES  BENSINGER. 

Mr.  Bensinger  is  a  native  of  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  where  his  parents,  Nathan 


and  i.i  nali  Bensinger  located  when  they 
left  their  ancestral  home,  Mannheim, 
Germany.  Mr.  Bensinger  ia  president 
of  the  Brunswick-Balke-Collender  Co., 
the  leading  billiard  table  manufactur- 
ers of  the  world.  He  has  been  actively 
identified  with  Sinai  Congregation  of 
which  he  has  been  director  and  also 
takes  a  great  deal  of  interest  in  charit- 
able work,  having  served  as  direator  of 
the-  Michael  Reese  Hospital.  He  is  an 
ex-president  of  the  Standard  Club,  so- 
cially has  a  large  acquaintance,  and  his 
friends  are  legion.  He  married  Ellen- 
orah  Brunswick  and  they  have  three 
children  living,  Mrs.  Cora  Hyman,  Ben 
Bensinger  and  Mrs.  Edna  Fish.  Al- 
though Mr.  Bensinger  is  advanr'" 
years  his  vitality  and  strength  would 
do  credit  to  most  young  men. 

MR.  LEOPOLD  STRAUSS. 

Mr.  Leopold  Strauss  was  a  native  of 
Worms  on  the  Rhine.  He  came  to 
America  in  1848  and  shortly  thereafter 
to  Chicago.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
wholesale  clothing  house  of  Strauss, 
Ullman  &  Yondorf,  now  out  of  exist- 
ence. He  was  a  member  of  Sinai  Con- 
gregation and  of  the  Standard  Club, 
and  took  a  warm  interest  in  charity 
work.  He  died  several  years  ago,  leav- 
ing a  w^idow,  Mrs.  Carrie  Strauss  and 
six  children — five  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter: 

Mr.   Strauss   is  remembered  in     the 


an  active  Interest  in  congregational 
work  in  that  city  and  was  a  trustee  of 
B'nai  Sholem  Congregation.  He  is  a 
liberal  contributor  to  charities  and  was 


MOSES  BENSINGER. 


LEOPOLD  STRAUSS. 

Chicago  Jewish  community  as  a  man  of 
the  best  qualities,  as  a  business  man  of 
great  integrity,  as  a  citizen  of  true 
loyalty  and  as  a  Jew  who  loved  his 
people  with  heart  and  soul. 

ISAAC  H.  LESEM. 

Mr.  Lesem  is  only  a  recent  resident 
of  Chicago,  coming  here  from  Quincy, 
111.,  where  he  resided  for  many  years 
and  was  one  of  the  prominent  mer- 
chants and  manufacturers  of  that  city. 
His  parents  were  Solomon  and  Rebec- 
ca Lesem  of  Rheinish  Bavaria.  Mr. 
Lesem  was  born  Sept.  25,  1847,  at  Hop- 
kinsville,  Ky.,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Quincy.  He  took 


ISAAC  H.  LESEM. 

president  of  the  Quincy  Club.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  staff  of  Gov.  Tanner 
and  is  one  of  the  well-known  citizens 


ISAAC  MAYER. 

of  the  state.  He  married  Hattie  Bern- 
heimer  and  they  have  one  child  living, 
Mrs.  Maurice  B.  Steele  of  this  city. 


LEVI  ROSENFELD. 


4CO 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


Q 


h 


(W, 


V 


You  Get  More  for  Your  Money 

when  you  buy-  Quaker  Oats — more  food  value — more  easily  assimilated 
food  elements.  You  get  more  brain  food — more  brawn  food.  You  get  a 
better  balanced  ration — more  of  everything  you  need — more  digesta- 
bility — more  quality. 

At  all  grocers'.     In  2-lb.  packages  only. 

Cook  exactly  .according  to  directions  on  the  package. 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


401 


Carson,  Pirle  Scott,  &  Co. 

Careful  management  and  broad- 
gauge  methods  are  the  essentials  that 
have  placed  the  firm  of  Carson,  Plrie, 
Scott  &  Co.  among  the  leaders  in  the 
wholesale  dry  goods  business  in  the 
world.  Chicago  can  proudly  boast  of 


being  the  birthplace  of  this  great  firm. 
Established  in  1845  in  very  modest  and 
unpretentious  quarters,  the  growth  was 
healthful  and  sure,  and  today  you  see 
by  the  accompanying  illustration  the 
Chicago  home  of  this  gigantic  estab- 
lishment. Slowly  and  surely  it  devel- 
oped until  they  now  have  branches  in 
many  cities  of  the  world  and  especial- 
ly Germany,  France  and  Japan.  Car- 
son, Pirie,  Scott  &  Co.  stand  today  as 
a  monument  and  is  proudly  pointed  to 
by  the  citizens  of  Illinois  as  an  ex- 
ample of  the  enterprise  which  one  of 
the  greatest  states  of  our  republic  can 
produce. 


Something  of  Interest  to  the    Build- 
Ing  Public. 

It  would  be  of  interest  to  our  readers 
who  are  contemplating  building  to  get 
estimates  on  work  from  the  well- 
known  firm  of  H.  B.  Dodge  &  Co., 
108  LaSalle  street,  Suite  525.  Their 
business  consists  of  erecting  window 
and  sliding  blinds,  rolling  partitions, 
steel  coiling  shutters,  Venetian  blinds 
and  window  screens.  Below  are  a  list 
of  a  few  references:  S.  B.  Eisendrath, 
Sehlesinger  &  Mayer,  Mandel  Bros., 
the  Fair,  Siegel,  Cooper,  and  the  di- 
rectors of  the  Isaiah  Temple. 


Baker  &  Smith. 

To  our  readers  belonging  to  the 
building  public,  wishing  to  employ 
steam  heating  and  ventilating  en- 
gineers, we  can  recommend  none  bet- 
ter than  the  old  well-known  firm  of 
Baker  &  Smith  Co.,  established  as  early 
as  1858.  They  have  continued  to  in- 
stall their  apparatus  for  such  concerns 
as  the  following:  C.  H.  McCormick  est, 
Standard  Club,  Pullman  office  building, 
Pullman  &  Wagner  Palace  cars,  ordi- 
nary coaches,  ordinary  houses,  etc ,  in 
Chicago  and  elsewhere. 


TO  OUR  READERS. 

We  beg  to  call  your  attention  to  the- 
class  of  display  advertising  which  this 
number  contains.  You  will  observe 
that  each  firm  is  representative  in  its 
respective  line.  As  we  were  particular 
in  accepting  only  such  houses  as  we 
deemed  reliable  and  worthy  of  repre- 
se.ntation  in  this,  the  greatest  number 
of  The  Reform  Advocate  ever  before 
attempted,  we  can  therefore  recom- 
mend them  to  you.  - 

Yours  very  truly, 

Bloch  &  Newman. 


LAUNDRY   APPLIANCES. 

The  Troy  Laundry  Machinery  Co.  is 
known  throughout  the  world  and  its 
machinery  and  supplies-  are  in  use  in 
almost  every  land.  Its  latest  cata- 
logue, a  handsome  piece  of  typography, 
shows  a  surprisingly  large  variety  of 
appliances  for  the  laundry.  There  are 
cylinder  washers,  sterilizing  and  dis- 
infecting machines,  extractors,  tum- 
blers, wringers,  collar,  cuff  and  shirt 
starching  machines,  dryers,  dampen- 
ers,  manglers,  collar,  cuff  and  shirt 
ironers,  neckband  and  sleeve  ironers, 
folders,  shapers,  smoothing  and  polish- 
ing machines,  gas  iron  heaters,  starch 
cookers,  laundry  stoves,  etc.,  etc. 

Most  of  these  appliances  are  for  use 
in  large  establishments,  such  as  hotels, 
hospitals,  asylums,  public  institutions, 
etc.  Hardly  any  institution  but  is 
equipped  with  this  company's  laundry 
helps,  and  every  modern  home  has  a 
steam  dryer.  Architects  and  contract- 
ors' will  serve  their  clients  best  by 
specifying  the  Troy  Laundry  Machine 
Company's  manufactures.  The  local 
offices  are  389-401  Fifth  avenue. 


SUPERFLUOUS  HAIR. 
Superfluous  hair  is  an  excessive  and 
abnormal  growth  of  hair  on  the  fe- 
male face,  seen  most  conspicuously  on 
the  upper  lip,  chin,  cheeks  and  throat. 
It  also  grows  superfluously  between 
the  eyebrows,  on  the  forehead,  neck, 
arms,  and  in  moles  and  birthmarks. 
Some  ladies  have  also  a  superabun- 
dance of  hair  on  the  neck,  which  gives 
the  hair  an  untidy  appearance,  as  it  is 
difficult  to  keep  the  short  bairs  regu- 
lar. This  humiliating  growth  of  fe- 
male facial  hair  is  surprisingly  preva- 
lent. There  is  'but  one  process  by 
which  to  rid  yourself  forever  of  this 
obnoxious  growth,  and  that  is  by  elec- 
trolysis (the  electrical  needle  opera- 
tion). It  is  a  slow  but  sure  process. 
The  prices  are  not  unreasonable,  when 
you  take  into  consideration  the  fact 
that  you  are  forever  ridding  yourself 
of  a  lifetime  blemish.  Consultations 
art  free.  Write  to  Dr.  H.  P.  Fitzpat- 
rick,  M.  D.,  1118  Masonic  Temple,  Chi- 
cago, for  a  book  on  Facial  Blemishes 
and  Skin  Diseases  and  other  valuable 
information. 


Moone,  2221-2223  Wabash  avenue.  Be- 
sides keeping  a  first-class  livery,  Mr. 
Moone  has  on  sale  at  all  times  fine 
horses,  which  can  be  seen  daily  at  his 
place  of  business,  if  you 'desire  any- 
thing in  the  way  of  fine  livery  call  up 
South  532. 


Faithorn's  wagons  make  three  reg- 
ular trips  daily  for  all  orders  of  bak- 
ery goods,  and  special  trips  for  any 
special  orders.  Catering  for  weddings, 
receptions,  etc.,  a  specialty.  Fine 
table  decorations:  and  linen  can  be  fur- 
nished at  all  times.  Your  order  is  re- 
spectfully solicited.  Address  A. 
Faithorn,  caterer,  579  E.  Forty-third 
street,  or  722  E.  Forty-seventh  street, 
or  call  up  Oakland  672. 


The  firm  of  S.  Berliner,  Desplaines 
avenue  and  Twelfth  street,  Harlem, 
Postofllce,  Oak  Park,  I1L,  are  well 
known  for  their  artistic  work  in  mon- 
uments and  head  stones,  in  granite, 
marble  and  all  etone  used  for  this 
purpose.  They  do  all  kinds  of  ceme- 
tery work  and  are  prepared  to  furnish 
the  best  of  references.  It  will  pay  you 
to  send  for  their  estimate  before  giv- 
ing out  any  work  of  this  kind. 


One  of  the  most  successful  eyesight 
specialists  is  Dr.  C.  D.  Strow,  1316 
Masonic  Temple.  A  call  at  his  office 
and  a  glance  through  his  list  of  ref- 
erences demonstrates  that  fact  thor- 
oughly. Among  others  are  found  such 
names  as  Hon.  George  E.  Roberts,  di- 
rector of  the  United  States  mint;  Hon. 
M.  D.  O'Connor,  solicitor  of  the  United 
States  treasury,  and  U.  S.  Senator  Jon- 
athan P.  Dolliver,  all  of  Washington, 
D.  C.  Dr.  Strow  is  most  successful  in 
relieving  headaches  and  all  irregulari- 
ties by  correcting  defective  eyes  by 

Telephone:  Oakland  588. 

JAMES  ADAMS,  PH.  G., 

Successor  to  JOHN  L7HCH, 

PHARMACIST, 

611  E.  47th  St.,  Cor.  Vincennes  Av. 

Prescriptions  accurately  compounded  and 
promptly  Oelivered. 

SABATH 
SAFE  AND  LOCK  CO. 

Safes  of  Everv  Description  for  Business 
ana  Residence  Use. 

158  FIFTH  AYE.    CHICAGO. 


1.1.  C, 


HIGH 
GRADE 


The  first  premium  at  the  World's 
Fair,  awarded  for  the  best  pair  of 
coach  horses,  was  given  to  W.  D. 


The  Standard  for  Excellence, 
Leading  Grocers  Sell  Them. 


40  a 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATE! 


Geo.  H.  Phillips 
Company 


G 
P 


revisions 


Telephone  Harrison  2113. 

231-233   Ri-.\lt;>    Building. 

Branch  Offlco-187  South  Clark  Street. 

BEN  BLOCK.  Manager. 
TKI.KI'HONK  CKNTKAL,  3583. 


The  most  delicious  of  all 


KINGSFORD'S 

OSWEGO 
CORN 

STARCH 

Absolutely  pure  and  healthful. 
WE  WILL  CLEAN  OUT  THOSE 


and 

Roaches 

FOR    YOU.    WE    NEVER    FAIL. 
ESTIMATES  FREE. 


LSOF  US  1  POSTAL  AND  WE  WILL  CALL. 

W.  R.  MARTIN  &  CO. 

8954  Cottage  Grove  Ave. 


BOWNAM 

DAIRYCO; 


BUTTER. 


Office^ 


South.  Division 


E  ROSENBAUM, 

Fell,  Composition  and  Gravel 

ROOFER. 

184  LA  SALLE  ST. 

BOOHS  317-313  WOMAN'S  TEMPLE  BLE3. 

Free    Estimates    on    New   and    Old    Work. 

Telephone  Main  3582. 


EDWIN    CHARLES    ROWDON. 

Edwin  Charles  Rowdon  has  been 
pronounced  by  not  a  few  competent 
musical  authorities  to  be  the  greatest 
baritone  in  the  country.  His  voice  is 
remarkable  for  its  range  and  quality, 
sincerity  to  all  and  any  composer  and 
conspicuous  for  artistic  development. 
His  efforts  bear  the  stamp  of  musical 
loveliness.  As  a  student  he  was  a  bril- 
liant ornament  and  as  an  artist  has  a 
stanch  iband  of  personal  admirers.  Mr. 
Rowdon  has  been  identified  with  Jew- 
ish choirs  for  several  years;  now 
holds  the  position  of  baritone  soloist 
and  choir  director  of  the  North  Side 
Hebrew  Temple.  Under  his  faithful 
and  zealous  direction  the  most  excel- 
lent results  have  been  realized.  Mr. 
Rowdon's  repertoir  covers  all  the 
standard  oratorios,  and  to  these  must 
be  added  an  exceeding  large  list  of  Ger- 
man, Irish,  Italian,  English  and  Amer- 
ican songs.  He  is  most  prominent 
among  those  lending  distinction  to 
Irish  songs.  From  this  incomplete  list 
we  are  convinced  of  the  truth  of  his 
industriousness  and  of  his  faithful  de- 
votion to  the  highest  and  most  en- 
nobling in  art. 

THOMAS  &  SMITH. 

The  season  of  building  and  renovat- 
ing having  commenced,  one  of  the 
thoughts  uppermost  in  the  minds  of 
most  persons  connected  with  the  build- 
ing public  is  to  have  their  various 
building  enterprises  constructed  right 
up  to  date  and  complete.  In  deciding 
your  choice  for  a  large  and  reliable 
heating  and  ventilating  firm  it  would 
speak  well  for  the  judgment  of  -any 
builder  who  called  on  the  well-known 
West  Side,  Chicago,  firm  of  Thomas 
&  Smith,  16  N.  Canal  street. 

This  firm  have  installed  and  are 
proud  of  the  fact,  for  various  Jewish 
concerns.  Being  very  'broad-minded, 
they  set.  aside  every  year  certain 
moneys  for  charitable  purposes,  Jew 
and  non-Jew  alike,  and  as  long  as  said 
yearly  appropriation  is  not  exceeded 
they  are  ever  willing  contributors,  as 
many  charitable  institutions  well 
know.  The  firm  has  also  installed 
and  continues  to  install  their  apparatus 
for  some  of  the  best  concerns  in  Chi- 
cago. For  the  benefit  of  our  readers 
we  understand  they  do  very,  and  have 
for  several  years,  fine  work  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  their  customers  as  a  whole. 

R.  L.  Wanger  has  introduced  a  sys- 
tem of  acquiring  health  and  strength 
which  has  been  pronounced  a  positive 
and  permanent  cure  for  dyspepsia,  in- 
digestion and  insomnia.  He  has  rec- 
ommendations from  hundreds  of  our 
best  known  citizens  and  guarantees  in 
fifteen  minutes  a  day  and  steady  prac- 
tice for  one  month,  to  give  a  pupil  ab- 
solute control  of  his  muscles.  Call  or 
send  for  his  catalogue.  Address  suite 
502  and  504  Grand  Pacific  Hotel. 

Mr.  Wanger  is  considered  one  of  the 
greatest  instructors  of  scientific  cul- 
ture. 


We  Do  Work 

of  this  kind: 

Tucking, 

Hemstitching, 

Pleating. 

SKIRTS  made  to  order. 

Experience  and  finest  n»rk 
have  won  us  our  reputation. 

Mail  orders  promptly  »t- 
tended  to. 

EDWARD  C.  STONE 
MFG.  CO. 

92-98  STATE  STREET 

Stewart  Building  RoomKL 

Telephone,  Central  22N. 


PLUMBING, 

Steam,  Hot  Water  and  Gas  Fitting,  Sewerage 

Estimates  Furnished. 
Tel.  Oak  891.  _  535  47th  8T. 

ACHE  PARQUET  FLOOR  CO,, 

Hard  Wax  and  Floor  Material. 

Designs  and  estimates  submitted  on  Hard' 
wood  Floors  and  Grilles. 

OLD  FLOORS  RENOVATED.— 

4703   Cottage  Grove  Avenue. 

TEL.  OAKLAND  1015. 


Furniture  Storage 

LIGHT,  DRY  AND  CLEAN. 

LOW    PRICES. 

Cartage  Free  if  goods  are  long 
in  store. 


ARMORY  WAREHOUSE  Co. 

237-245  E.  Thirty-Ninth  St. 

Telephone  Oakland  639. 


JUDSON  S.  JACOBUS, 

Pharmacist. 

Goods  delivered  at  all  hours. 

Prescription  Work  a  Specialty. 

4TtH    St.   &   Bills   Ax  e. 

Tel.  Oakland  5O. 


Tel.  Oakland  355. 


Hyde  Faru  Tel.  No.  dtt. 


F.  E.  WHITE 

Select  Livery 


Special  attention  paid  to  /{onrdera. 
Commission  Dealers  In  High-Class 

Ooach  and  Drlvlog  Horses. 
448  FOKTY-SKVETfTTI   e 


For  Style  &  Quality 
Have  no  Equal. 

PALMER  HOUSE 

CHICAGO. 
Send  for  Haihlon  Plate. 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


403 


To  RENT 

IN  BUSINESS  DISTRICT. 
Special   L/ist. 

185-7  Wabash  Ave.,  Stores  and  Floors 

147  State  St.,  5  Floors,  30x145 

148  State  St.,  2nd  Floor,  24x90 

214  State  St.,    Fine   Corner   Basement 
190-2  Dearborn  St.,  Stores  &Bank  Floor 
167-9Madison  St.  .Singleor  Double  Store 
184  Madison  St.,  2  Floors,  25x100 
211-13  Monroe  St.,Bldg.5Floors.45xl80 
126  Fifth  Ave.,  Floors,  20x80 
148  Fifth  Ave.,  Floors,  20x85 
148  So.  Water  St.,  Rooms  $10.00  up 
Power  Floors  and  Rooms 
1807-9  Clark  St.,  10,000  Feet,  $75.00 
167-9  Madison  St.,  52  Room  Hotel 
Offices  in  19  Modern  Buildings 

Send  for  Complete  List  of  Stores, 
Buildings,  Lofts,  Offices,  etc.,  in  Central 
Business  and  Wholesale  Districts. 

H.O.STONE&SO. 

206  LA  SALLE  STREET, 

•  TELEPHONES,   MAIN  339. 

L.  MANASSE, 

OPTICIAN. 


We    H«we    Moved    To 

46  Madison  St. 


rel.phone.  Main  883. 


•atabllshed  1869. 


Incorporated  U94 

CEMENT 

WALKS 

Gtncrtti  ComblaU 
Curb  ind  Bifflir,  lnl 
Alplllt  Flwrt  ut 
Pivtnuts. 


Expert  on  Prescription  Work. 

JOS.  F.  FORBRICH, 

S.  B.  Cor.  Indiana  Ave.  and  35th  St. 
TeL,  Oakland  85  and  63.  Open  All  Night. 

Finest  Pharmacy  on  South  Side. 


No  system  of  shorthand  has  gone 
to  the  front  as  rapidly  as  that  of  the 
Gregg  Shorthand  School.  Its  success 
is  due  largely  to  a  combination  of  sim- 
plicity and  power  which  enables  the 
writer  to  use  speed  and  still  have  copy 
that  is  legible.  The  school  has  re- 
ceived testimonials  from  many  educa- 
tors, teachers  and  reporters,  all  of 
which  bear  testimony  to  the  excellence 
of  this  method.  To  anyone  desiring 
to  study  shorthand  for  any  purpose 
whatsoever,  no  better  method  could 
be  found  for  practical  purposes  than 
is  offered  by  the  Gregg  Shorthand 
School,  located  at  57  Washington 
street.  A  call  is  cordially  invited  or 
by  dropping  a  postal  a  catalogue  giv- 
ing full  particulars  will  be  sent.  The 
school  is  open  both  day  and  evenings 
and  an  investigation  is  cordially  in- 
vited. 


The  Leonard  Mandel  Dry  Goods 
Company,  218-226  Thirty-first  street, 
near  Indiana  avenue,  are  displaying 
a  full  line  of  spring  goods.  Their  win- 
dows are  filled  with  the  latest  novel- 
ties in  dry  goods  and  ladles'  and  gents' 
furnishing  goods,  which  gives  one  only 
a  limited  idea  of  the  extensive  stock 
they  carry.  Charge  accounts  are  so- 
licited and  a  telephone  is  also  at  the 
disposal  of  patrons.  South  Side  resi- 
dents will  have  no  reason  to  take  the 
long  ride  necessary  to  the  shopping 
district,  as  their  wants  can  be  fully 
supplied  at  this  store. 


The  Chicago  Fur  Co.  have  removed 
to  larger  and  more  convenient  quar- 
ters and  are  now  located  at  189  Wa- 
bash avenue.  The  new  store  is  in  the 
heart  of  the  retail  shopping  district 
and  is  in  every  way  adapted  to  the 
needs  of  an  ever-increasing  business. 
A  full  line  of  novelties  is  ready  for 
inspection,  In  addition  to  which  a  spe- 
cial feature  will  be  made  of  high-class 
millinery  at  moderate  prices.  Call 
and  see  the  attractive  display  of 
trimmed  hats. 


We  desire  to  call  the  attention  of 
our  readers  to  the  advertisement  of 
E.  W.  Silsby.  Mr.  Silsby  is  the  in- 
ventor and  sole  manufacturer  of  the 
Silsby  pleating  and  button  machines, 
also  of  pinking,  tucking  and  cording 
machines.  All  of  the  machines  rnacU 
by  him  are  of  the  latest  patterns  and 
thoroughly  up-to-date.  They  are  in 
use  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  the 
high  reputation  attained  for  them  pre- 
cludes any  risk  in  buying.  The  ad- 
dresses of  the  various  offices  of  Mr. 
Silsby  are  given  in  the  advertisement 
on  another  page. 


Rev.  Dr.  A.  J.  Messing  has  removed 
from  3708  Wabash  avenue  to  3567 
Forest  avenue. 


MAnUFACTURERS.  JOBBERS  «*<*  LAYERS  OF 


I55V&BASHAVE. 
CHICAGO 


Wn      linn IIC      HTGH  dKADB 
i   III    MUUnCi     ;,/i'iij#v~«-~~- 

Tel.  8.532.  ZOH1  Wabash  Avvnue 

J.  E.  HANSON, 

High  Class  Livery  and  Boarding  Stables. 


3508-10-18-14-16   Indiana   Ave.,  In   rear 
TELEPHONE  OAKLAND  1O32. 

Kozminski 
AND  Yondorf 


MONEY 


Loaned  on 
Real  Estate 

At  LOWEST 

RATES. 


for 


BUCK  &  EVANS  CO. 

PHARMACISTS, 

Cor.  47th  St.  and  Si.  Lawrence  Ave. 
Physicians'  Prescriptions  Accurately  Filled. 

Telephone-Oakland  5»». 
Free  Special  Messenger  Service. 


A.B.RUSS&CO., 

\7ndertaKers. 

161  Twenty-Second  Street,, 

Telephone  South  209.      CHICAGO. 


404 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


A  POOR  MAN'S  PARADISE. 
By  James  A,  Davis,  Industrial  Com- 
missioner  Atchlson,    Topeka   and 

Santa  Fe  Ry. 

To  own  a  'home,  to  control  a  means 
of  livelihood  and  accumulation,  to,  in 
fact,  acquire  the  independence  of  full 
proprietorship,  is  the  ambition  of  the 
majority  of  mankind.  Labor  is  never 
granted  a  greater  reward.  It  is,  and 
always  will  be,  when  granted,  how- 
ever, a  reward  of  degrees.  The  de- 


California  have  had  enormous  addi- 
tions to  their  agricultural  population. 
Opportunities  to  secure  moderately 
priced  land,  favorably  situated,  are 
growing  less  daily.  But  great  progress 
has  been  and  is  being  made  in  reclaim- 
.  ing  by  means  of  irrigation  great 
stretches  of  the  arid  west,  notably  in 
Colorado,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  South- 
ern and  Central  California,  where  im- 
mense acreages  of  the  most  fertile 
soil  with  an  assured  and  abundant 
supply  of  water  have  been  wrested 


~ 


KING  RESERVOIR. 


sires  of  men  differ  as  men  differ.  En- 
vironment, circumstances  and  expe- 
rience fix  the  point  of  view  and  hori- 
zon the  ambition.  Men  may  differ  in 
their  desires  as  to  a  home,  one  may 
require  more  for  a  livelihood  than 
another,  appreciations  of  fortune 
may  not  be  the  same,  no  two  men 
agree  as  to  the  adequacy  of  estate,  but 
the  great  majority  would  consider  the 
home,  the  living,  the  possible  accu- 
mulations and  the  acres  in  fee  of  a 
successful  farmer  all  that  anyone 
could  or  should  desire.  The  real  suc- 
cess as  outlined  in  the  opening  of  this 
article  is  oftener  the  reward  of  the 
farmer's  toil  and  thrift  than  it  is  of 
the  labor  of  the  toiler  in  any  other  in- 
dustry. The  farmer  is  the  most  suc- 
cessful and  independent  of  all  the 
world's  army  of  workers. 

It  is  a  fact  that  cannot  be  gainsaid 
that  good  agricultural  land  is  rapidly 
advancing  in  value.  The  unprecedent- 


from  the  desert.  It  is  a  well-known 
and  long-proven  fact  that  such  soil 
under  irrigation  is  the  most  produc- 


on  the  marvelous.  Its  efficacy  is  fully 
established.  It  has  been  the  means  of 
transforming  Southern  California  from 
a  desert  to  a  veritable  Garden  of  Hes- 
perides.  There  were  twenty  thousand 
cars  of  oranges  shipped  from  Califor- 
nia this  year,  and  every  orange  was 
raised  on  irrigated  land.  Irrigation  is 
a  means  by  which  not  only  insurance 
against  failure  through  drought  or  ex- 
cessive rainfall  is  gained,  but  the  land 
is  continually  refertilized  as  well  by 
the  silt  which  carry  decayed  vegetable 
matter  and  mineral  ingredients  is  de- 
posited by  the  water  on  the  soil  as 
the  Nile  enriches  its  valley.  Worn- 
out  irrigated  land  is  something  un- 
known. It  is  a  means  by  which  in- 
tensive cultivation  of  the  soil,  some- 
thing comparatively  unknown  In  this 
country,  will  reach  Its  highest  devel- 
opment. It  is  the  great  boon  of  the 
small  farmer.  A  man  on  ten  acres  can 
earn  by  this  system  of  farming  as 
good  a  living  and  surplus  over,  as  he 
could  on  an  eastern  80-acre  farm.  He 
can  accomplish  in  agriculture  and  hor- 
ticulture all  his  ability  and  ambition 
inspire  him  to  attempt.  The  advan- 
tages of  irrigation  are  always  supple- 
mented by  a  favorable  and  healthy 
climate.  It  is  only  employed  in  this 
country  in  the  west  where  sunshine  is 


HEADGATES  FORT  LYON  CANAL. 


tive  known.     Such  opportunities  now 
await  the  man. 

Irrigation  is  not  an  experiment  Its 
practice  in  Egypt  began  before  writ- 
ten or  traditional  records.  Its  adop- 
tion with  the  American  agriculturist 


ALFALFA. 


ed  emigration  to  the  west  during  the 
past  two  years  has  appreciably  les- 
sened available  low-priced  farming 
land  within  the  humid  or  rainbelt 
area.  Oklahoma,  Texas,  Nebraska  and 


began  with  the  Mormons  in  Utah  and 
Southern  California.  It  was  practiced 
by  the  Indians  and  early  Spanish  set- 
tlers many  years  before.  What  has 
been  accomplished  through  it  borders 


almost  perpetual,  and  where  the  cli- 
matic conditions  are  not  only  con- 
ducive to  out  of  door  pursuits  and 
health,  but  to  a  greater  diversity  of 
products  as  well.  It  is  a  principle  ex- 
tremely simple  in  application.  It  re- 
quires only  good  judgment  and  an  ap- 
preciation of  the  moisture  necessities 
of  the  crop  under  cultivation,  governed 
by  economy  and  timeliness  in  distrib- 
uting it. 

The  most  typical,  the  richest,  furth- 
est advanced,  most  productive  and  suc- 
cessful irrigated  section  of  the  west, 
outside  of  Californiai,  is  the  Arkansas 
Valley  of  Colorado  on  the  Atchison, 
Topeka  and  Santa  Fe  Ry.  Imagine  a 
region  where  droughts  and  excessive 
rainfall  are  unknown,  where  out-door 
exercise  is  possible  all  the  winter, 
where  340  days  of  the  year  are  cloud- 
less, where  the  soil  is  from  twenty  to 
thirty  feet  deep  and  possible  of  cul- 
tivation in  almost  every  farm  product 
of  this  country.  If  it  is  possible  to  so 
imagine,  some  conception  may  be  had 
of  the  Arkansas  Valley  of  Colorado. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


405 


This  valley  once  constituted  a  large 
portion  of  what  was  known  as  the 
Great  Plains.  It  extends  along  the  Ar- 
kansas river  from  Canon  City  to  Holly, 
Colorado,  on  the  Colorado-Kansas 
state  line.  In  extent  it  is  about  two 
hundred  miles  long  by  fifteen  miles 
wide.  The  altitude  varies  from  5,260 
feet  at  Canon  City  to  3,450  feet  at  Hol- 
ly. The  soil  in  character  and  quality 
is  the  same  the  entire  extent.  It  is  a 
rich,  sandy  loam,  noted  for  its  depth 
and  productiveness.  Irrigation  of  this 
valley  began  in  the  vicinity  of  Canon 
City  many  years  ago  and  was  followed 
by  the  building  of  irrigating  ditches 
about  the  middle  of  the  valley  at 
Rocky  Ford,  the  home  of  the  famous 
canteloupe  which  bears  its  name.  Af- 
ter the  'building  of  the  Rocky  Ford 
ditch  irrigation  systems  were  con- 
structed at  Manzanola,  Fowler,  Las 
Animas,  Lamar  and  other  points  in 
the  valley,  culminating  in  what  is 
known  as  the  Great  Plains  Water  Sys- 
tem, now  just  completed  in  the  east- 


TWO-TEAR-OLD  APPLE  TREE. 

ern  end  of  the  valley.  This  system  is 
the  largest  in  the  United  States,  and 
there  is  only  one  larger  in  the  world. 
In  construction  and  completeness  it 
has  no  superiors.  It  was  not  begun 
until  the  land  "west  of  it  had  proven 
its  possibilities  under  irrigation.  Its 
completion  creates  an  assured  water 
supply  for  125,000  acres.  Its  cost  was 
over  $1,500,000.  The  five  water  storage 
reservoirs  of  the  system  cover  an  area 
of  13,000  acres  and  store  11,525,702,948 
cubic  feet  of  water,  or  264,827  acre  feet 
— that  is  to  say,  a  capacity  equal  to 
flooding  264,827  acres  one  foot  deep. 
There  are  in  the  system  in  addition 
to  the  reservoirs,  311  miles  of  canals. 
With  a  soil  proven  to  be  extraor- 
dinarily rich,  a  climate  of  almost  con- 
tinual spring,  with  moisture  at  his 
command,  a  farmer  ought  never  know 
a  failure  in  crops,  and  the  short  rec- 
ord of  actual  results  which  follows 
fully  justifies  the  statement  that  here 
is  a  wonderful  opportunity  for  the 
man  who  would  fight  out  the  battle  of 
life  with  the  odds  in  his  favor. 


In  the  spring  of  1900  the  American 
Beet  Sugar  Co.,  more  generally  known 
as  the  Oxnards,  completed  a  thousand 
ton  beet  sugar  factory  at  Rocky  Ford. 
Its  first  campaign  last  year  was  the 
most  successful  for  a  first  year  ever 
known.  The  Mormons  were  the  first 
cultivators  of  beets  under  irrigation. 
Their  success  at  Lehi  was,  however, 


C.  W.   Fenlason   reported   that  two 
acres  netted  him  $72  per  acre. 

D.  V.  Burrell  says:     My  early  beete 
paid  me  $50.00  per  acre.    The  first  ten 
acres  delivered  averaged  18  1-3  ton* 
per  acre,  three  acres  made  thirty  tons 
per  acre,  nineteen  to  twenty  per  cent 
sugar.    Hail  does  not  hurt  the  crop. 

Joseph  Wycoff:     Ten  acres,  fifteen 


ARKANSAS  VALLEY  SHEEP. 


surpassed  at  Rocky  Ford,  not  only  in 
the  yield  per  acre  but  in  the  sugar ' 
contents  and  richness  of  the  beets  as 
well.  The  Rocky  Ford  factory  con- 
tracts for  beets  at  all  points  in  the 
valley,  paying  the  same  for  them  at 
the  railroad  station  as  they  do  the 
farmers  who  deliver  in  wagons  at 
their  door.  In  other  words,  the  fac- 
tory pays  the  freight.  As  it  was  the 
first  year  of  the  factory  every  en- 
deavor was  made  by  the  farmer  to 
avoid  the  mistake  of  undertaking  a 
greater  acreage  than  he  could  handle. 
Their  experience  last  season  has  en- 
abled them  to  increase  their  acreage 
threefold  this.  year. 

In  addition  to  above  13  growers  re- 
ceived more  than  $90.00  per  acre,  26 
above  $80.00,  35  above  $70.00,  67  above 
$50.00  and  80  above  $40.00.  To  a  dis- 
interested committee  sent  to  Rocky 
Ford  by  another  district  in  Colorado, 


tons  per  acre.  I  think  next  year  can 
make  one-half  more  by  doing  better 
work. 

A.  P.  Kouns:    Five  acres;  yield  thir- 
ty-two tons  per  acre,  fourteen  to  eigh- 
teen per  cent  sugar,  average  sixteen 
per  cent. 
Value  of  crop,  160  tons  at  $4.35 

per  ton  $696.00 

Cost  of  raising 295.50 

Gave  me  net  profit  on  5  acres.  .$400.50 
Or  on  one  acre  $80.10' 

J.  G.  Lackey:  Twenty  acres,  aver- 
age yield  twenty-five  tons  to  the  acre, 
test  eighteen  per  cent  sugar,  received 
$5.00  per  ton.  My  beets  will  net  me 
$90.00  per  acre;  cost  of  raising,  $35.00 
per  acre. 

The  culture  of  sugar  beets  as  a  prof- 
itable crop  in  this  section  can  be  stated 
as  an  unqualified  success. 

The  farmers  of  Rocky  Ford  origi- 


\ 


DAM    HEADGATES,    AMITY   CANAL. 


the  farmers  of  which  wanted  to  en- 
gage in  beet  culture,  the  farmers  of 
the  Arkansas  valley  were  a  unit  in 
reporting  the  sugar  beet  the  most 
profitable  of  crops  they  ever  cultivat- 
ed, particularly  in  view  of  the  fact 
than  an  overproduction  was  impos- 
sible. Extracts  from  the  statements 
of  a  few  of  the  farmers  follow: 


nated  the  famous  canteloupe  bearing 
its  name.  The  profits  from  the  culti- 
vation of  that  luscious  melon  are  very 
great.  Unlike  the  sugar  beet  it  has  its. 
limitations  as  to  market  and  is  a  per- 
ishable product,  but  the  profit  from  its 
cultivation  will  always  be  large.  Some 
instances  of  individual  profits  are  as 
follows: 


406 


REFORM  ADVOCATED 


One  farmer  near  Rocky  Ford  gath- 
ered from  five  acres  in  1897  305  crates 
per  acre,  for  which  he  received  76 
cents  per  crate  delivered  at  the  station. 
This  is  an  unusual  instance,  however, 
the  average  yield  being  nearer  90 
crates  per  acre.  There  are  many  in- 
stances, however,  of  profits  as  high  as 
^150.00  per  acre,  and  very  few  lower 
than  |50  per  acre.  The  growers  are 
organized  into  associations  for  the 
purpose  of  avoiding  overproduction, 
and  to  better  market  their  output. 
There  were  560  cars  shipped  from 
Rocky  Ford  last  year,  and  about  250 
from  the  other  stations  in  the  valley. 

The  immense  crops  of  alfalfa  for 
which  this  valley  is  noted  have  caused 
it  to  become  one  of  the  foremost  cat- 
tle and  sheep  feeding  localities  in  the 
west.  There  are  at  this  time  over 
300,000  lambs  being  fed  there.  The  cat- 
tle and  sheep  industries  when  con- 
ducted under  competent  management 
have  yielded  large  and  sure  profits  to 
all  engaged  in  them.  Alfalfa  grows 
profusely,  yielding  in  four  cuttings 
per  season  from  6%  to  7  tons  per  acre. 

Another  industry  depending  upon 
the  alfalfa  crop,  and  one  that  is  com- 
ing into  prominence  in  profit  as  well 
as  volume,  is  the  production  of  honey. 
The  bee  finds  in  the  blossom  of  alfal- 
fa an  exquisitely  flavored  ingredient 
which  makes  the  honey  produced  from 
it  not  only  the  most  delicious  in  taste, 
but  the  clearest  in  color  of  any  pro- 
duced in  this  country,  and  superior  to 
the  Swiss  product.  Although  a  com- 
paratively new  industry  in  the  valley, 
there  were  ten  cars  shipped  last  year 
to  the  east.  As  to  earnings  from  this 
Industry  the  following  instances  will 
serve  to  show  that  it  pays  handsomely: 

A.  P.  Kouns  gives  the  following  as 
his  start  in  the  industry:  "In  June, 
1895,  I  hived  nine  colonies.  These  in- 
creased by  August  of  that  year  to 
twenty-eight  colonies.  I  sold  twenty- 
one  of  these  for  $167.00,  receiving  for 
the  honey  $40.00  in  addition,  making 
my  total  receipts  $207.  The  entire 
•cost  of  bees,  hives  and  handling 
amounted  to  $28.00,  making  the  net  re- 
turns on  investment  in  a  little  more 
than  two  months  $179.00,  leaving  me 
besides  seven  hives  to  begin  on  again. 
My  bees  earn  an  average  of  $7.50  per 
live  per  annum." 

Mr.  Hales,  who  owns  ninety  stands  of 
bees,  sold  from  them  last  fall  $525.00 
'worth  of  honey  at  11  cents  per  pound. 
He  paid  $50.00  for  the  care  of  them 
during  the  season. 

All  vegetables  do  well.  The  soil  is 
especially  adapted  to  the  production  of 
the  potato,  both  sweet  and  Irish.  Irish 
potatoes  give  a  profit  of  from  $60.00 
to  $100.00  per  acre.  Records  are  at 
hand  of  a  yield  of  potatoes  at  the  rate 
•Of  220  bushels  per  acre.  Tomatoes 
yield  gross  from  $90.00  to  $150.00  per 
acre.  Cabbages,  celery,  cucumbers, 
beans  and  peas  all  do  well.  , 

Among  the  fruits  the  most  profitable 
are  the  apple,  prune,  peaches,  cherries, 
pears  and  strawberries.  The  apple 
reaches  its  highest  "and  most  perfect 


development  in  this  valley.  In  eight 
years  trees  attain  a  size  and  bearing 
capacity  equal  to  trees  of  nearly  twice 
that  age  in  the  Mississippi  valley.  A 
single  acre  apple  orchard  six  years 
old  at  Canon  City  yielded  $520.00.  An 
eight-year-old  orchard  of  five  acres 
produced  $5,780.00. 

The  climate  of  the  Arkansas  valley 
is  nowhere  exceeded  in  equability.  In 
summer,  though  the  sun  is  hot,  the 
rapid  evaporation  of  perspiration  keeps 
the  body  at  normal  temperature.  The 
unpleasant  effects  of  humidity  are 
never  felt.  The  nights  are  always 
cool.  Animals  never  evidence  fatigue. 
Winters  are  mild.  On  an  average 
there  are  not  thirty  days  in  the  year 
when  plowing  cannot  be  done.  Build- 
ing and  general  outdoor  operations  go 
on  through  the  winter  with  no  more 
than  a  week's  intermission  at  one 
time. 

The  prices  of  land  vary  in  accord- 
ance with  location;  land  in  the  older 
sections  of  the  valley  being  highest. 
Good  land,  with  an  assured  water  sup- 
ply, can  be  had  for  $35.00  per  acre, 
and  from  that  it  goes  as  high  as  $150.00 
to  $200.00  per  acre,  a  number  of  sales 
having  been  made  recently  at  this  lat- 
ter price.  Values  are  rapidly  advanc- 
ing and  it  will  not  be  long  before  it 
will  be  impossible  to  secure  good  land 
with  a  sure  water  supply  at  as  low  as 
$35.00  per  acre. 

A  book  might  be  written  on  the  ad- 
vantages of  this  particular  section,  and 
expanded  into  many  volumes  if  the  his- 
tories of  the  successful  farmers  who 
went  there  broken  in  health,  and  al- 
most destitute  were  included.  The 
writer  knows  the  history  of  many  who 
today  own  their  own  farms,  a  good 
house,  have  a  bank  account  and  above 
all  else  perfect  health;  who  when  they 
located  In  the  valley  were  almost  ob- 
jects of  charity,  the  change  in  their 
condition  being  brought  about  in  a 
comparatively  few  years. 

It  is  in  such  a  favored  spot,  made 
so  by  Irrigation,  and  wrested  from  the 
desert's  grasp,  that  any  man  can  make 
the  start  which  will  place  him  in  a  po- 
sition of  absolute  independence. 


The  manufacture  of  fine  varnishes 
is  an  art  little  known  to  the  general 
public,  and  the  base  of  this  beautiful 
material  still  less  so.  Were  our  read- 
ers to  visit  the  offices  of  the  Chicago 
Varnish  Co.  they  would  there  discover 
a  collection  of  what  would  appear  at 
first  glance  to  be  gems  of  rare  form 
and  beautiful  appearance.  On  closer 
examination,  however,  these  would 
prove  •  to  be  specimens  of  "Fossil 
Gums"  surpassing  in  number,  size  and 
beauty  all  the  collections  of  the  world. 
The  most  extensive  museums  of  Eu- 
rope and  England  possess  no  such  ex- 
hibit, and  there  are  a  number  of  speci- 
mens in  the  collection  which  have  no 
known  duplicates.  Here  one  may  see 
not  only  the  delicate  insect  in  amber, 
but  the  giant  beetle  of  past  ages  pre- 
served for  all  time  in  a  mantle  of 
rarest  beauty.  But  what  connection 


have  these  rare  gems  with  varnish,  you 
ask?  The  most  intimate,  we  answer; 
for  truly  fine  varnishes  are  made  of 
these  fossil  gums,  the  finest  specimens 
of  which  are  preserved  in  this  splendid 
collection.  But  why  are  they  called 
fossil  gums?  Because  they  are  the 
resins  of  extinct  forests  which  have 
lain  buried  for  unknown  ages  in  the 
earth,  ripening  for  the  superb  and  deli- 
cate coatings  now  applied  so  univer- 
sally to  secure  the  most  beautiful  ef- 
fects in  rare  and  costly  woods,  to  pre- 
serve the  delicate  colors  on  coaches,  to 
protect  the  handsome  exteriors  of  rail- 
way cars  and  to  beautify  the  interiors 
of  our  dwellings.  The  cheap  and  com- 
mon varnishes  are  made  from  "rosin," 
which  is  extracted  from  growing  pines 
of  the  South,  and  which  have  little 
beauty  and  durability.  The  extensive 
works  of  Chicago  Varnish  Co.  are  de- 
voted to  the  manufacture  of  the  finer 
and  more  durable  goods.  Their  prep- 
arations for  hard  wood  floors  and  other 
house  woodwork,  for  fine  cabinet  work, 
for  hospitals,  asylums,public  buildings, 
offices  and  other  similar  constructions 
are  unsurpassed  for  beauty  and  dura- 
bility and  hence  appeal  to  the  most 
advanced  ideals  on  the  side  of  econ- 
omy. 


BALATKA  MUSICAL  COLLEGE. 

The  Reform  Advocate  recommends 
the  Balatka  Musical  College  to  its 
readers.  This  well-known  institution 
was  founded  in  1879  by  the  late  Hans 


Balatka,  whose  fame  is  world-wide  as 
a  musical  educator.-  His  son,  Chris- 
tian F.  Balatka,  conducts  the  business 
and  is  assisted  -by  his  sister  Anna,  and 
many  eminent  instructors  from  both 
sides  of  the  Atlantic.  This  musical 
studio  occupies  two  floors  in  Handel 
Hall. 


The  American  Laundry  Machinery 
Company,  whose  advertisement  ap- 
pears in  this  book,  are  furnishers  of 
complete  outfits  of  laundry  machinery 
for  public  and  private  institutions  and 
custom  laundries.  They  furnished  the 
plants  for  the  Chicago  Home  for  Jew- 
ish Orphans,  also  the  one  for  the 
Michael  Reese  Hospital.  Their  refer- 
ences are  Mr.  S.  B.  Eisendrath,  and  a 
majority  of  the  largest  and  best  insti- 
tutions throughout  the  country.  They 
will  be  pleased  to  mail  their  illustrated 
catalogue  on  application. 


REFORM 


407 


If  1   FROM  JCVNE  ITS  TO 


-x— tfL 


408 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


THE  FAMOUS  YAZOO  VALLEY.  MISS. 

A  Fine    Country— Soil   and    Climate 

Unexcelled— What  a  Traveler 

Saw  There  in  June, 

1900. 

We  left  A —  -  9:44  p.  m.,  on  the 
Illinois  Central  R.  R.  limited  and  ar- 
rived in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  about  8:30 
a.  m.,  changing  there  to  the  cars  of 
the  Yazoo  &  Mississippi  Valley  R.  R. 
at  9  a.  m. 

Just  below  Memphis,  we  entered  the 
great  Yazoo  valley,  the  largest  body 
of  fertile,  alluvial  soil  in  the  world. 
It  embraces  that  part  of  the  Mississip- 
pi valley  bottom  lands  lying  east  of 
the  Mississippi  river  between  Memphis 
and  Vicksburg  as  the  extremis  of  the 
sector  of  an  arc  of  a  circle,  the  sector 
being  two  hundred  miles  in  length  and 
the  hills  from  Memphis  to  Vicksburg 
making  the  arc.  The  widest  part  100 
miles  south  of  Memphis  is  50  miles 
from  arc  to  sector,  or  from  hills  to  Mis- 
sissippi river,  where  is  located  Cleve- 
land, a  thriving  village  which  was 


is  beautifully  located  near  the  bank 
of  the  Sunflower,  where  the  river's 
course  for  about  two  miles  is  directly 
east.  The  banks  of  the  Sunflower  are 
slightly  higher  than  the  land  as  you 
recede  from  the  river.  The  perpendic- 
ular height  of  the  banks  above  low 
water  is  about  30  feet,  but  the  slope  is 
at  an  angle  of  45  degrees  and  over- 
grown with  small  trees,  cane  and  vari- 
ous vegetation  to  the  water's  edge. 

I  was  surprised  to  see  the  extent  of 
and  the  number  of  recently  improved 
farms  or  plantations  all  along  the  rail- 
road on  our  way  from  Memphis.  More 
than  half  of  the  land  in  cultivation  was 
covered  with  heavy  timber  five  or  six 
years  ago. 

Our  friend  came  here  four  years  ago 
last  January,  with  two  car  loads  of 
horses,  cattle,  hogs  and  farm  imple- 
ments with  little  money  and' has,  un- 
aided, opened  one  of  the  prettiest  little 
farms  I  ever  saw.  His  cotton  crop 
alone  brought  him  ?1,500  for  last  year. 
He  could  retire  and  live  fairly  well 
on  the  rent  of  his  land.  Land  rents 


last  year  voted  to  be  one  of  the  loca- 
tions for  the  Bolivar  county  dual  court 
houses.  It  is  on  the  Yazoo  valley 
railroad,  a  branch  of  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral, diverging  from  the  main  line  at 
Fulton,  Ky.,  thence  south  through 
Memphis  to  Vicksburg.  The  Illinois 
Central  railroad  has  diverging  from 
this  main  branch  extending  through 
the  center  of  the  valley,  or  as  it  is 
called,  the  Yazoo  Delta,  tributary  to  it. 
800  miles  of  railroad. 

There  is  also  a  beautiful  little  river 
rising  at  the  north  extremity  of  the 
Delta  and  meandering  nearly  parallel 
in  its  general  course  with  the  railroad, 
emptying  into  the  Yazoo  near  Vicka- 
burg.  It  is  the  prettiest  river  I  ever 
saw,  navigable  for  steamboats  to 
Clarksdale,  about  35  miles  up  the  rail- 
road. Cleveland  is  half  way  between 
the  Mississippi  river  and  the  hills,  or 
25  miles  from  each,  3  miles  west  from 
the  Sunflower  river. 
Our  friend's  residence  on  his  farm 


readily  at  $7  per  acre.  Although  more 
corn  can  be  raised  here  per  acre  than 
in  Illinois,  the  farmers  prefer  to  buy 
corn  at  50  cents  per  bushel  to  raising 
it,  as  cotton  pays  better.  This  is  the 
banner  region  of  the  United  States  for 
cotton.  My  friend  has  raised  two  bales 
per  acre  or  1,000  pounds  of  clean  cot- 
ton. He  sold  his  crop  at  10  cents  per 
pound. 

One  hand  with  one  mule  will  put  in, 
cultivate  and  pick  10  acres  of  cotton. 
The  farm  implements  used  here  are 
crude  and  what  you  in  Illinois  would 
term  primitive.  But  when  the  stumps 
are  all  removed,  better  facilities  for 
farming  will  be  brought  into  requisi- 
tion. At  present,  while  there  is  so 
much  unimproved  land,  the  range  is  so 
good  that  no  kinds  of  stock  are  fed 
anything  except  what  and  when  they 
are  worked.  Cattle,  horses  and  hogs 
keep  fat  all  winter  in  the  woods  with- 
out other  feed. 

The  soil  is  not  so  tenacious  when 


wet  as  Illinois  prairie  soil,  it  does  not 
adhere  to  shoes  nor  wheels  of  vehicles. 
Any  kind  of  a  metal  plow  will  scour 
in  the  soil  at  any  time.  The  soil  seems 
more  porous,  water  does  not  stand  long  . 
on  the  surface. 

I  doubt  if  there  is  anywhere  outside 
of  the  Mississippi  bottoms,  that  a  man 
with  a  small  capital -can  so  soon  make 
a  competence.  My  friend  paid  $6  per 
acre  for  his  land  five  years  ago  and 
says  he  could  not  afford  to  take  |50 
per  acre  if  he  had  to  invest  anywhere 
else  to  make  the  same  per  cent  on  the 
capital,  as  he  can  make  here.  Any-  ~ 
thing  that  grows  in  Illinois  does  equal- 
ly as  well  here  and  many  things  grow 
more  luxuriantly.  He  has  potatoes  as 
large  as  goose  eggs  and  cabbage  are 
heading  up.  Raspberries  are  ripe  and 
peaches  turning.  Peaches  never  fail. 
I  see  no  reason  why  any  grasses  that 
grow  in  Illinois,  will  not  grow  here 
as  well.  I  saw  yesterday  a  small  plot 
of  blue  grass  that  looked  as  nice  as 
Illinois  blue  grass.  The  abundance  of 
outside  forage  for  stock  in  this  coun- 
try has  obviated  the  necessity  of  en- 
closed pastures  and  none  have  been 
tried. 

I  have  taken  more  outdoor  exercise 
since  I  have  been  here,  five  days,  than 
I  had  taken  in  years  for  the  length  of 
time,  and  I  have  not  slept  so  well  in 
years.  The  temperature  of  the  weather 
does  not  get  so  high  here  as  farther 
north,  seldom  above  90  degrees,  and 
never  a  time  that  a  person  cannot  get 
cool  in  a  shade.  The  days  are  not  so 
long  by  nearly  an  hour  and  the  nights 
being  nearly  an  hour  longer  here,  the 
air  is  cooled  off,  as  the  sun's  heat  in 
the  day  has  not  time  to  heat  the  atmos- 
phere so  high  as  in  the  North.  Hence, 
you  seldom  ever  hear  of  a  sunstroke  in 
the  South.  There  is  no  time  a  person 
cannot  work  in  the  sunshine.  The 
short  seasons  of  the  North  necessitate 
warm  nights  as  well  as  warm  days  to 
mature  crops  before  frost.  The  black 
soil  of  the  North  which  absorbs  more 
heat  is  also  an  advantage  in  facilitat- 
ing vegetable  growth,  but  vegetation 
grows  as  fast  here  and  as  luxuriantly 
as  in  Illinois. 

This  country  is  leveler  than  the  prai- 
ries of  Illinois,  with  draws  or  bayous 
nearly  parallel  with  the  river  and 
about  five  feet  lower  than  the  land  ad- 
jacent which  will  some  day  serve  as 
outlets  to  tiles.  It  is  not  uncommon 
to  see  a  cypress  tree  six  feet  in  diam- 
eter and  100  feet  to  a  limb.  Timber  is 
very  tall  and  straight.  Some  oak  trees 
are  six  feet  in  diameter.  Gum,  hickory, 
elm,  sycamore  and  ash  are  the  most 
common,  next  to  oak,  and  there  are 
some  sassafras  two  feet  in  diameter. 

Here  is  the  timber  that  cannot  be 
excelled  for  the  saw  mill  and  lumber- 
man, and  the  land,  soil  and  climate 
for  the  farmer  who  would  grow  rich 
in  a  few  years,  on  a  small  capital  that 
would  not  buy  him  a  farm  of  20  acres 
in  Illinois.  For  full  information  re- 
garding these  lands,  address  E.  P. 
Skene,  Land  Commissioner,  Central 
Station,  Park  Row,  Room  450. 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


409 


Balatka  Musical  College 

TBLIHED  IN  17      BY  HAN      BALATKA.  ** 


ESTABLISHED  IN  1879  BY  HANS  BALATKA. 

gg]  Christian  F.  Balatka, 
Director. 


Music, 
Elocution 

AND 

Dramatic 
Art,,, 

HANDEL  HALL 

40-44 

RANDOLPH 

STREET, 


CHRISTIAN  F.  BALATKA,  Director. 


A  complete  faculty 
of  competent  instruc- 
tors of  international 
reputation.    To  those 
desiring  a  thorough  education  in  all  branches  of  Musical  and  Dramatic  Art,  we 
recommend  the  perusal  of  our  catalogue,  mailed  free  on  application. 
PUPILS  RECEIVED.  ANY  TIME. 


Thurber's  Art  Galleries 


210  Wabash  Avenue 
...CHICAGO... 

IMPORTERS    AND    PUBLISHERS    OF 

HIGH-CLASS    WOR.KS    OF    AR.T 


We  have  an  Expert  Artist  for  Cleaning,  Restoring  and  Backllnlng  Valuable  Painting*. 
...ARTISTIC  FRAMING  TO  ORDER... 


hine  on! 

not  only  gi\et  a  high,  glowlng.dur- 
tble  poliih  to  all  meUli.but  the  polish 

Bar  Keepers  Friend 

lasts-,  It  will  ihlne  onl  It  benefit*  all  metaU,  mineral!  o 
wood  while  cleaning  them.  -.""-•  1  Ib  box.  For  ule  by  drag 
gi«ti  and  dealeri.  Send  '2c  stamp  fnr  lamplo  to  Qeorgt 
William  Hoffman,  295  L.  \Va»hington  St  .liidlanapolU,  Ind 


Will  be  the  popular  route 
this  summer  to  the  Pan- 
American  ...A  position  at  Buf- 
falo. The  excellence  of  its 
service  is  well  recognized 
by  the  traveling  public,  and 
the  reputation  of  its  train 
employes  in  their  uniform 
courtesy  to  passengers,  is 
well  known.  No  excess 
fares  are  charged  on  any  of 
its  fast  express  trains.  No 
line  offers  lower  rates.  For 
full  information,  reserva- 
tion of  sleeping  car  berths, 
etc.,  address 


JOHN  Y.  CALAHAN,  Cen'l  Agent 
III  Adams  Street 
Phone  Cant.  2O57 


REMINGTON 


TYPEWRITER 

BULLETIN 


OFFICIAL  TYPEWRITER  or 
the  World's  Columblin  Exposi- 
tion si  Chlcsgo. 


GRAND  PRIX  (highest  swsri) 
st  Brussels. 


DIPLOMA    OF    HONOR 

( highest  swsni)  at  Luxembourg. 


DIPLOMA   OF. HONOR 
it  Ghent. 


GRAND  PRIX  (outnnklnt  ill 
medits)  II  Paris.' 


ADOPTED  AS    OFFICIAL 
TYPEWRITER  o«  Pin- 

American '  Exposition,  at( 
Bulfilo. 


WVCKO.  F,  8EAMAN8  &  BENEDICT, 
327  Broadway,  New  York. 


410 


THE.  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


THE    WELLINGTON    LIMITED. 


With  the  opening  of  the  Illinois 
Theater,  October  15th,  1900,  came  the 
initial  opening  of  the  "Wellington 
Limited,"  as  illustrated  above. 

It  was  not  presumed  by  Mr.  Gage 
when  he  conceived  the  idea  of  build- 
ing this  train  of  three  beautiful  cars 
that  they  would  become  so  popular 
and  so  much  in  demand.  To  use  his 
language  at  that  time:  "I  want  a 
bright  light  to  show  opposite  the 
theater  more  as  an  advertisement  than 
for  use.  In  fact,  it  cannot  do  business 
enough  in  five  years  to  pay  for  itself." 
A  recent  call  on  Mr.  Gage  brought 


forth  this  information:  "The  Welling- 
ton Limited?  Why,  it's  a  wonder!  We 
run  it  only  for  special  parties,  engaged 
in  advance,  either  two,  four,  six  seats, 
drawing  rooms,  single  cars,  or  the  en- 
fire  train,  and  some  of  the  most  de- 
lightful social  events  in  the  history 
of  this  city  have  occurred  here  in  the 
past  few  months,  showing  that  the 
people  of  Chicago  need  something  of 
merit  only  brought  to  their  notice  and 
they  will  appreciate  and  patronize  it, 
as  our  great  retail  stores  prove." 

The  success  of  the  Wellington  is  the 
pleasure  of  its  patrons. 


Have  your  carpets  cleaned  by  the 
new  compressed  air  system  introduced 
by  the  Pneumatic  Carpet  Cleaning  Co., 
corner  Lake  and  Carpenter  streets, 
Chicago.  Carpets  and  rugs  go  in  one 
side  of  the  machine  soiled  and  dirty 
and  come  out  on  the  other  side  thor- 
oughly cleansed  and  aired,  nap  raised 
and  colors  brightened  and  nothing  Is 
frayed  or  torn.  .Orders  receive  prompt 
attention.  Tel,  Monroe  1496. 


There  is  nothing  of  more  importance 
to  the  residents  of  a  great  city  like 
Chicago  than  the  purity  of  its  milk 
supply.  For  years  Chicago  was  sup- 
plied with  milk  in  cans  gathered  pro- 
miscuously wherever  it  could  be  found 
and  left  in  pans,  pitchers  or  cups  with 
the  housewife.  The  result  of  this  can 
be  readily  imagined  and  the  Innova- 
tion introduced  by  the  Bordens  in  1892 
of  delivering  milk  in  clean,  sterilized 
glass  bottles  is  an  improvement  so  ap- 


S.  MUIR, 

GRBENHOUSESs 

3530-3532  MICHIGAN  AYE. 

TELEPHONE,  OHUID  319. 


A  choice  selection  at  FRESH  CUT  FLOWERS  con- 
stantly on  band.  Floral  Designs  of  every  desciption. 
PLANT  DECORATION  A  SPECIALTY. 


QUINN  BROTHERS,  PLUMBING 

2918  Cottage  Grove  Ave*  l%* 

Telephone,  south  346.  6as  Fitting  and  Sewerage. 


parent  that '  the  method  will  become 
universally  used.  While  the  glass 
bottle  is  not  in  itself  a  guarantee  of 
pure  milk,  it  becomes  essentially  a 
guarantee  when  the  milk  itself  comes 
from  a  reliable  firm.  A  scientific  study 
of  food,  environment,  the  cows  and  the 
method  of  handling  them,  has  cost  the 
Borden's  Condensed  Milk  Co.  both 
time  and  money,  with  the  result  that 
with  the  absolute  supervision  and 
practical  control  of  the  methods  and 
utensils  used  in  handling  and  in  the 
delivery  of  the  milk  to  them,  they  are 
prepared  to  furnish  and  guarantee  an 
absolutely  pure  milk  and  cream  In, 
bottles  filled  and  sealed  at  their  own 
bottling  plants  in  the  country. 

The  company  operates  a  number  of 
plants  in  the  best  dairy  sections  of 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  in  which 
abound  springs  and  streams  of  pure 
water,  where  the  atmosphere  is  con- 
'  ducive  to  a  healthy  condition  of  the 
cows,  where  fhe  soil  is  productive, 
and  where  the  general  surroundings 
are  by  nature  particularly  adapted  to 
the  production  of  the  highest  grade 
of  milk.  Visitors  to  these  plants  are 
impressed  with  the  thorough  sanitary 
methods  employed  and  with  the  per- 
fect cleanliness  in  and  around  all  of 
the  buildings.  All  of  the  bottles  are 
thoroughly  cleansed  and  sterilized  at 
a  very  high  temperature. 

The  milk  intended  to  be  delivered 
in  its  natural  state  in  bottles  is,  after 
cleansing  and  aerating,  taken  to  the 
bottling  room.  The  sterilized  bot- 
tles are  placed  on  a  long  table,  rapid- 
ly filled,  covered  with  a  specially  pre- 
pared cardboard  and  hermetically 
sealed.  From  this  table  the  bottles 
are  packed  in  cases,  covered  with  a 
bountiful  supply  of  cracked  ice,  and 
loaded  into  refrigerator  care  for  ship- 
ment into  the  city. 

This  milk  is  delivered  daily  every- 
where throughout  the  city,  and  orders 
can  be  sent  by  mail  or  telephone  to 
the  Borden's  Condensed  Milk  Co.,  627 
East  Forty-seventh  street  Telephone 
Oakland  503,  or  546  West  Van  Buren 
street,  Telephone  Monroe  856;  153 
North  Park  avenue,  Austin,  Telephone 
Austin  21,  1085-1091  West  Ravenswood 
Park,  Telephone  Lake  View  524. 


There  is  no  greater  pest  than  vermin 
in  one's  home  or  place  of  business. 
If  you  are  troubled,  why  not  drop  a 
line  to  W.  P.  Martin  &  Co.,  2954  Cot- 
tage Grove  avenue,  Chicago,  111.,  and 
they  will  make  a  contract  guaran- 
teeing to  rid  your  premises  of  cock- 
roaches and  waterbugs.  The  paste 
used  by  this  firm  is  infallible  and  they 
give  an  absolute  guarantee  and  are 
prepared  to  show  testimonials  from 
hundreds  of  well-known  patrons.  A 
trial  is  cordially  invited  and  satisfac- 
tion is  assured. 


Half-heartedness  means  whole  fail- 
ure usually. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


411 


THE   TRIBUNE 

Twentieth  Cervtxiry  Building 


The  building  wfll  be  twelve  atoriea 
The  approach  to  the  building  will 
be  through  a  magnificent  entrance 
of  marble  and  mosaic,  containing  two 
broad,  easy  flights  of  stain  to  the 
second  floor. 

The  entire  bonding  wfll  be  finished 
in  mahogany,  the  corridors  will  have 
mosaic  floors  and  marble  wainaeot- 
ing.  Every  room  will  bare  outaida 
light  and  air,  making  it  the  best 
lighted  building  in  the  city. 

Seven  Hydra,  ullc  El«v«.t»r« 

of  the  best  and  most  rapid  type  and 
equipped  with  the  most  approved 
form  of  safety  devices  wfll  give  access 
to  the  upper  floor*.  Large  freight 
elevator  will  be  placed  in  the  rear 
with  access  from  the  alley. 

The  first  floor  wfll  be  finished  in 
stores.  The  second  floor  wffl  be  suit- 
able for  financial  institutions  requir- 
ing large  space  and  vaults,  and  wfll 
have  mosaic  floors.  The  third  and 
fourth  floors  will  be  occupied  entire- 
ly by  The  Tribune  Company.  The 
upper  eight  floors  wfll  be  divided  in- 
to offices,  and.  if  applications  for 
space  are  made  in  time,  the  rooms 
will  be  arranged  to  suit  tjm»nt» 

Hot  and  cold  water,  vaults,  and 
coat  closets  wfll  be  supplied  with  each 
suite  of  offices.  Storage  space  can  be 
had  in  the  attic  for  the  use  of  ten- 
ants. Further  information  can  be 
obtained  by  applying  to  the  agents, 

WILLIAM  D.  KERFOOT    <&    CO.. 
85  W&sMngton  Street. 


ITOTICE.—  Dnrtng  the  eonatraettaa   at 

the  newbatldlnz  THE  TBIBTJXE  butBaaa 
office  wffl  be  IB  the  premise*  BOW  occupied 
by  the  Chicago  Nation*!  Bank.  Dearborn 
and  Monroe  ttreeta.  The  removal  will  take 
place  on  May  1.  The  editorial  room*  win 
alao  be  »t  the  corner  of  Dearborn  and  Man- 
toe  stoeeta.  bat  the  osloe  at  the  anaarbw  ed- 
itor, Ike  city  editor,  aW  in  the  newa  depnrt- 
meatt  of  the  paper  wffl  heat  m  tol«  Market 
iliuel.  where  the  meehasdael  wart:  of  the 


:          , 
mafflm,  wm  be  •»». 


The  New  Tribune  Building,  to  be  erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  building.  Southeast 
corner  Dearborn  and  Msxdison  Streets,  and  to  be  ready  for  occupancy  about  April  1. 19O2. 

The  Chiccvgo  Tribune  Lea.ds  All   CKicatgo   Morning    Newspapers 

In  the  Number  of  Agate  Lines  of  Pa.  id  Advertising. 
Record  for  twelve  months,  ending  December  31, 19OO.    Compiled  from  measurements  made  by  the  Chicago  Dady  Newa. 


DAILY  and  SUNDAY 
1900 

GAIN 
0»er1899 

LOSS 

DAILY  ONLY 
1900 

GAIN 
Over  1899 

LOSS 

TRIBUNE  

6.3O8.15O 

563,339 

2,859.4.11 

413,589 

RECORD   

•j..  ->.->«..  -5  :  • 

(69,925 

TIMES-HERALD  

3,841,088 

880,289 

•.181.0.17 

13,926 

INTER  OCEAN  

3,%6O,373 

171,694 

1,639,354 

42,157 

CHRONICLE  

8,553,  118 

14.908 

1.354.563 

84.199 

Tne   Svinda.y   Tribvine    Leads  tKe   World 

Record  of  advertising  for  the  year  ending  December  31.  19OO. 


CHICAGO  TRIBUNE. 
NEW  YORK  HERALD, 
NEW  YORK  WORLD. 
NEW  YORK  JOURNAL, 


3,448,699  Agate  Line* 
3.301,427 
S.O56.6O7  " 

2,413,045  « 


Complied  from  measurements  made  by  a  Nevr  York  and  a  ChlcaJCo  Evening  Newspaper. 


412 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


THE:  RJENZI, 

Concert  Afternoons  and  Evenings 


Cor.  Evanston  Ave.  fSL 
Clark  St.,1800Diversey 
Bo\jleva.rd.W 


Announcement 
Notice.... 

We  will  open  a  beauti- 
ful Summer  Garden  about 
May  20th.  Refreshments 
of  all  kinds  and  lunches 
will  be  served.  We  cater 
only  to  the  best  class  of 
trade  and  we  are  pleased 
to  say  that  our  patronage 
is  composed  of  the  better 
class  of  people  only. 

Trusting  you  will  give 
us  a  call,  I  remain, 
Yours  truly, 
F.  EMIL  GASCH. 


Despres    (&L    Co. 


The  readers  of  this  issue  of 
THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE  are 
invited  to  send  us  their  orders 
for  anything  they  may  need 
in  the  way  of 

Pure 
Wines 
and 
Liquors 

for  USP  in  their  homes.  Our 
personal  attention  will  be 
given  to  such  orders. 

Prices  as  low  as  consistent 
with  PURE  goods. 

We  handle  all  kinds  of 

Imported  and  Domestic 
Wines,  Liquors  and 
Cordials 

Sole  agents  for  the  sale  of 
the  Celebrated  Rhine  Wines 
of  A.  Guthmar,  Darmstadt, 
Germany. 


Despres 


Co. 


193-195  E.  Van  Buren  Street.  Chicago 

Telephone  Harrison  344 


TELEPHONE 'MAIN  705 


HENRY  KAU 

BINQER  WEINSTUBE 


163  E.  Adams  Street 
CHICAGO 


KELLEREI  IN 
BUEDESHEIM  AM  SCHARLACHBERQ 


**•!•* +++++**+«•+++•!•+*+***+*********** 


Turn  REIFORM  ADVOCATE. 


413 


The  Wanger  System  is  a.  posi- 
tive and  permanent  cure  for 
constipation,  dyspepsia,  indi- 
gestion and  insomnia. — not 
occasionally,  b\it  in  every 
instance.  ^  <A  <A  ^ 


Chicago,  April  6,  1901. 
E.  L.  WANOKB,  Esq., 

Grand  PaciBc  Hotel,  City:— 

Dear  Sir: — After  a  course  of  your  training1 1  am 
pleased  to  say  that  I  think  it  most  excellent  for  busy 
men  with  but  little  time  to  devote  to  their  physical 
welfare. 

Yours  truly, 

ADOLPH  MOSES. 


Chicago 


Dr.  G.  E.  Richards 
Alexander  H.  Revel 
H.  N.  Higinbotham 
Geo.  Lytton 
W.  Vernon  Booth 
Potter  Palmer,  Jr. 
Honore  Palmer 
Stanley  McCormfck 
Medill  Me  :ormick 
Marvin  Hewitt,  Jr. 
Angus  S.  Hibbard 
J.  H.  Van  Vlissengen 
Frank  Hibbard 
Chas.  W.  Gillett 
Byron  Smith 
Lloyd  Milner 
John  J.  Abbott 
Chas.  Counselman 
E.  M.  Lacey 


Patrons 


Dr.  N.  S.  Davis,  Jr. 
Fred  Upham 
Harry  M.  Stevenson 
Howard  F.  Gillette 
Orville  E.  Babcock 
Ben).  Carpenter 
David  A.  Noyes 
Harry  M.  Tuttle 
Dunlap  Smith 
Edward  B.  Lewis 
Garlield  King 
F.  C.  Farwell 
F.  S.  Gorton 
C.  D.  Hamill 
Edward  B.  Case 
Frank  W.  Scott 
Joseph  L  Lombard 
Syrus  Bentley 
Hugh  Johnson  McBurney 
0.  f.  Aldis 


WITHOUT    THE    USE    OF    APPARATUS 
YOU     CAN     INCREASE     YOUR 


Shoxilder 3  to  5 

Expansion 2  to  6 

Fore«Lrm */i  to  1 


Chest 2to4 

Upper  Arm 1  to  2 

Waist,  decreased 2  to  8 


IN  THREE  WEEKS  UNDER  THE  INSTRUCTION  OF 


WANGER,  ?S3SS 


R.  L. 

Sxiite,  500,  502  and  504  Grand  Pacific  Hotel 


HatJe      My      Manager     Call     and      Ejcplain      My      Method 

or  Write  For  Free  -Booklet. 


414 


REFORM  ADVOCATE/ 


McCRAY      REFRIGERATORS 


Also  a  full 
line  of 
stock  sizes 
ready    for 
Immediate 
shipment. 
For  Res!- 

dences. 
Hotels.  Etc. 
The  Me- 
Cray  Sys- 
tem 
Insures 
perfect 
circulation 
of  pure 
oola  air; 
absolutely 
dry;  never 
sweats; 
therefore 
is 

Perfectly 
Hygienic 
For  eco- 
nomical 
use  ot  Ice  it 
has  no 
equal. 
Physicians 
prominent 
men,  hos- 
pitals and 
sanitari- 
ums en- 
dorse the 
MoCrajr 
Refrlg- 
ators. 


BUILT  TO  ORDER 


Built  to  order  for  A.  J.  Wellington,  Newton,  Mail. 

TILI  LINED.       ICID  FROM  OUTDOORS. 


McCray  Refrigerators  Speak  For  Themselves 

Catalogues  and  estimates  furnished  free  upon  application.  Catalogues:  No. 
sr,  for  Residences ;  No.  4r,  f  »r  Public  Institutions,  Hotels,  and  Cold  Storage  houses ; 
No.  55  for  Groceries  aud  II  -at  Markets. 

McCRAY  REFRIGERATOR  AND  GOLD  STORAGE  CO., 

Chicago  Office:  SSWabash  Avo. 
Main  Office  and  Factory.  182  Mill  Street,  Kendallvllle,  Indiana. 


STEAM »«» WATER 

HEATING 


INSTALLATION 
REMODELING 
REPAIRING 

WILLIAM  A.  POPE 


79  Lake  Street 
CHICAGO 


T5he  Plume  &  Atwood 


MaLi\ufaLct\irin.g  Co. 


Mills:    Thomaston,  Conn.    9    Factories:    Waterbury.  Conn. 

199  Lsvke  Street.  Chicago.  Illinois 


SHEET  AND 
ROLL  BRASS 


German  Silver  and  Copper 

Brass,  Copper  and  German  Silver  wire.  Copper 
and  Brass  Rivets  and  Burrs.  Iron  and  Brass 
Jack  Chain.  Brass  Hinges.  Escutcheon  Pins. 
Upholsters'  Nails.  Brass  Ferrules.  Curtain 
Rings.  ........ 

KEROSENE  BURNERS.  LAMPS 
AND  LAMP  TRIMMINGS. 


Jewelers*  Metal  and  Printers* 
Brass  a  Specialty 


Cutlery  and  tsoolj  "Refrigerators 

Telephone  Harrison  13OO 

S.  J.  Stebbins  Co. 

"Builders'  Hardtvare 


74-  Van  "Buren  Jft. 


Chicago 


Phone  Me^in  58 


Established  1858 


Jobbing  nrvd  Repairing 
Neatly   Done 


Baker  (®L  Smith  Co, 

Stea.m  a.nd  Hot  Water  Heating 

in  all  its  branches 


A  Complete  Line  of 
Material  always  on  hand. 


Out  of  town  and  High 
Pressure  Work  a  Specialty. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE/ 


415 


Heimmill   Fire   Escape   Co, 


Office.  1008.  112  Clark  Street 
Chicago  Opera  House  Block 


Our  style  of  standard  escapes 
have  proved  of  service  so  many 
times  in  saving  lives,  that  they 
are  universally  admitted  to  be 
indispensable  on  every  large 
building. 


We  make  a  specialty  of  designing    L---J 
and    erecting    fire     escapes    for   'ft? 
Schools,     Colleges,     Seminaries,    •] 
Dormitories,    Hotels,    and    large 
buildings.      Write    for    circulars 
and  estimates. 


We  have  erected  work  for  S.  B. 
Eisendrath,  Architect;  Falkenan 
Construction  Co.;  Mandel  Bros.; 
Stumer,  Rosenthal  &  Eckstein, 
Standard  Club,  and  on  many  of 
the  finest  buildings  in  Chicago 
and  the  west. 


Work   Erected  in  Any  Pa.rt 
of  the  United   States. 


Sketches  a.r\d  Plans  furnished. 
We  mnJce  special  designs  of  Rail- 
ings, ar\d  car\  make  them  as 
ornamental  as  desired. 
Write  for  Estimates. 


ZERO    MARX   SIGN    WORKS 

Phone  North  1031 

Nos.  160  a^nd  162  East  Superior  Street.  Chicago 

We  are  catering  to  the  army  of  Students  of  Modern  advertising,  and  offer  them  our  assistance  in  making  the 
proper  selection  and  getting  the  new  ideas  in  signs.  We  have  at  our  disposal  the  best  medium  of  today  to  reach  the 
public  quick  a.nd  direct — and  we  keep  our  aim  before  them  da.y  and  nitfht  with 


OUR  LETTERS  ARE   MADE   ENTIRELY  OF  A\ETAL»-THEY  ARE  PERFECTLY  WATERPROOF 

and  we  never  experience  short  circuits 

We  reproduce  tra.de  ma.rks,  execute  any  sign  in  script  and  make  original  designs.    If  interested  write  us  —  we 


.  . 

will  give  you  prompt  attention  and  furnish  you  a  design  of  the  sign  as  you  should  have  it. 

ELECTRIC.  GLASS.  BRASS.  METAL.  BOARDS. 


0*4-  *TO 
SIGNS 


WINDOW    LETTERING.    WALL    PAINTING, 


SIGNS 


416  THE  REIFORM  ADVOCATE. 

+»»»»»»»»»«»*»»»«»»»»»»»»»»»»»*»»»«»+•»»» 


A.  FLESHAM 


IUNDER.TAKERJ 

Gr»dvi»t«   Philadelphia 
Training  School  for 

EMBALMER. 

Personal  Service  Day  and  Night. 
BVHighest  endorsements  of 

Philadelphia,    Rabbis. 

t  529  E.  47th  St.      'Phone  Drexel  7593 


Thonrve^s  J.  Dee  &  Co. 

Gold  a.nd  Silver  R.efii\ers, 

Ass-Ayers     e^rvd     Sweep 
Smelters  V    V    V    V    V    V 

67  and  69  Washington  Street, 
CHICAGO. 

Bullion  Bought  and  Sold. 


1 


ManujadDrerj 
of  superior 
AuHySim' 

and  copper 


CHICAGO. 


ESTABLISHED  1866 


INCORPORATED  1894 


1 


Sweet.  Dempster  &  Co. 

Manufacturers,  Importers 
and  Jobbers  of  — 

ftats,  Caps  and  Gloves 

232-234  Monroe  St..  S.  W.  Cor.  Franklin 

CHICAGO 

OUR  SPECIALTIES— Soft  and  Stiff  Hats  to  retail 
~$1.6O.  $2.OO  and  $3.0O. 


GIVE  US  A  TRIAL   ORDER 


Co., 


+T  Manufactarerj    and  Jobbers 


HATS,  CAPS,  STRAW 
GOODS,  GLOVES  and 
MITTENS.  .......... 

239-24-1    Jackson    St..  Chicago 


THE  LEADING 

DENTISTS 


Teeth     Extracted     Absolutely     Without     Pa.in. 

Best   Set 
of  Teeth 

$5.00     Good  Set  Teeth    $5.00 

Teeth  Without  Plates  our  special- 
ty. :  :  Fine  Gold  Filling  at 
half  usual  rates.  :  :  Open 
evenings  till  10.  ::::::  . 

"I  had  sixteen  teeth  extracted  entirely  without  pain."— Mrs. 
Kate  Hughes,  190  Seminary  Avenue 

McCKesney  Brothers. 


Corner  Clark  and  Randolph  Sts. 

'Phone  Central  2047. 

Special  Rates  to  Professional  People. 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATE.' 


417 


1 

•              \S*\.^.7f^'V                              m      • 

wiovcr 
Facrrn         PUREST 

^•^                         r                •             MILK 

Certified    » 

AMERICA 

Milk 

1^*111%.  ••• 

A  Grea.t  Boon  in  Infant 
a.nd  Invalid  Feeding 

Produced  from  tuberculin  tested  cows  and  under  the 
rery  best  sanitary  conditions. 

Guaranteed  to  contain  from  4  to  4  2-10  percent  fat  at 
ill  times. 

We  also  furnish  a  CERTIFED  CREAM  contain- 
ng  16  per  cent  fat  for  home  modification  of  milk. 
Samples  of  this  milk  and  cream  were  sent  to  Paris, 
where  it  arrived  in  fine  condition  after  being  seventeen 
17)  days  in  transit. 
Clover  Farm  won  Gold  and  Silver  Medal*  at   the 
Paris  Exposition. 
Write  for  descriptive  circulars. 
Recommended  by  leading  Physicians. 

H.  B.  CURLER.  CO. 

DE  KALB.  ILLINOIS 

NEW  OFFICE  BUILDING 

OP  THE 

National    Life    Insurance    Co. 

Of  the  U.  S.  of  A. 


This  Illustration  rep- 
n-srms  the  new  of- 
Uoe  building  of  the 
National  Life  Insur- 
ance Co.  of  tbe  U.  S. 
of  A.,  now  in  process 
of  construction  at 
157-108  La  SulleSt. 

The  National  was 
organized  in  1868  by 
Special  Act  of  Con- 
gress and  is  the  onl  j 
company  in  t  b  6 
United  States  hav- 
ing a  charter  grant- 
ed direct  by  the 
Government.  The 
National  writes  sUl 
approved  forms  of 
life  Insurance  poli- 
cies. The  company's 
assets  on  Jan.  1, 1901, 
amounted  to  12.515,- 
147.82.  The  officers 
and  directors  are 
prominent  Chicago 
financiers  and  busi- 
ness men.  Hon.  O. 
D.  Wetherell,  Ex- 
City  Comptroller 
and  Prest.  of  the 
<;:oi>t-  National 
Bank,  is  President, 
and  R.  E.  Sackett  Is 
the  Secretary  and 
General  Manager. 

The  company   oc- 
cupies temporary  of- 
fices at   119-121    La 
Salle    St..    pending 
the    completion    of 
the  new  building. 
Anyone  desiring  insurance  in  a  progressive  and  thoroughly  relia- 
ble company  will  do  well  to  correspond  with  the  National. 


M.  J.  CLARK,  President. 


N.  J.  OABT,  Sec.  &  Treas 


Utica  Cement  Manufacturing  Co. 

UTICA,  ILLINOIS. 

J.  P.  BLAKESLEB,  General  Manager. 


M.  J  CLARK,  President 


N.  3.  CAR*.  Sec.  it  Tress. 


Manufacturers  of  the  Celebrated 
-BLACK  BALL"  BRAND  OF 


Utica  Hydraulic  Cement  C°. 

UTICA,  ILLINOIS 

Manufacturer*  of 

Hydraulic  Cement 


ESTABLISHED  BY  JAMES  CLARK  IN  1845. 


UTICA  CEWENT 

This  ha«  been  In  use  throughout  the  United  States  for  upward  of  forty  years. 
Especially  adapted  for  Tunnels,  Gas  Works,  and  works  for  the  supply  of  water. 


and  for  sewerage  and  drainage.  It  has  been  exclusively  used  for  thirty-five 
years  In  the  construction  of  nearly  800  miles  of  sewers  In  the  city  of  Chicago,  and 
in  all  the  celebrated  water  supply  tunnels  under  Lake  Michigan,  and  In  the  sev- 
eral Gas  Works  and  the  numerous  office  buildings  In  the  same  city.  Also  In  the 
construction  of  the  Locks  on  the  Hennepln  Canal  during  the  years  1895-1900  In- 
clusive. Utica  Cement  Is  universally  acknowledged  to  be  the  best  brand  on  the 
market.  Capacity  of  mill,  1800  barrels  dally. 

MEACHAM    &    WRIGHT. 

General  Sales  Agents,   308-9  Chamber  of  Commerce,  CHICAGO,  ILL. 


Manufacturers  of  the  Celebrated  CLARK  BRAND  of 

Utica  Hydraulic  Cement 

Capacity  of  nil),  2,000  Barrels  Daily 

With  superior  facilities  for  the  prompt  and  careful  shipment  of  our  cele- 
brated hran.l  of  Hydraulic  Cement,  we  are  enabled  to  meet  every  demand  upon 
us  promptly,  and  we  believe  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  trade. 

Utica  Cenicni  Is  extensively  and  satisfactorily  used  In  all  the  principal  S'.wera 
and  public  works  of  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  St.  Paul,  Indianapolis  and:  throughout  the 
Northwest. 

During  the  season  of  1896, 1' 0.000  barrels  of  Utica  Cement  was  used  on  tbt 
Drainage  canal.  Quality  always  guaranteed.  Sales  In  1900, 390,000  barrels. 

MEACHAM  &  WRIGHT 

General  Sales  Agents  308-9  Chamber  of  Commerce.  CHICAGO 


REFORM 


American  Trust 


CHICAGO 


3  Per  Cei\t 

on  savings  accounts 


2  Per  Cer\t 

oo  checking  accounts 


C*.I1 


Che  continental 
Rational  Bank  « 


Statement  of  Condition  at  Close 
of  Busioess  April  16,  1901. 


r  ~  : 


- 


-    ^_ 


Commercial  National  Bank 

CHICAGO.  ILLINOIS 


CAPITAL      - 
SURPLUS 


$1,000,000.00 
$1,000,000.00 


Foreman  Bros. 
Banking  Co. 


ftreets 
CHICAGO,  ILL. 


CAPITAL 
SURPLUS 


$500,000 
500,000 


OFFICERS: 


x  " — ,^r-'.- 


THE,  REFORM  ADYOOATK. 


419 


NATIONAL  BANK 
OF  THE   REPUBLIC 

CHICAGO,       ILLINOIS. 

Jem?  A.  LTSCH,  PSES.  W.  T.  FETTOS,  VICE-FEES.  AJTD  CASHIEE 
J.  H.  CAMXBOS,  Ant-Cashier      B.  M.  McKrssir,  Second  As»t-Cashiei 

CAPITAL  ONE    BULLION    DOLLARS 


THE  HOME  SAVINGS  BANK 


WBI  bore  Its  "     T 'n  r  — Tf  "n  Hi  __ 

CHICAGO  NATIONAL  BANK  BUILDING 

148  to  154  MONROE  STREET 

On  or  before  May  1st. 

.     SAVINGS     BANK.     EXCLUSIVELY. 


««f +»»»»»»»»»«»»»»»»*»»»»«»««««««»»»««»• 

IQREENEBAUM  SONS? 


.Bankers. 


• 


83  and  85  Dearborn  Street 

CHICAGO 


A   General   Banking  Business  Transacted.  ; 


•» 


Loans  on  Real  Estate  and  the  Sale 
of  First  Mortgages  a  Specialty. 
Drafts  and  Letters  of  Credit  avail- 
able everywhere. 


*• 


The  Bankers 
National  Bank 

HURQUETTE  BUILDING,  CHICAGO, 


CAPITAL, 


1,000,000 


DEPOSITS. 


tttrcft  1st.  1896. 

Uircl  1st,  1897,   • 

Mirei  1st,  1898. 

Mirch  1st,  1899,  • 

Utrek  1st.  1900, 

March  1st,  1901,  - 


-       $3.034.563.38 

-  -     4.761,810.78 

6.226.834.14 

-  -     1,040.416.64 

9,522.574,70 
12,522,677.98 


EDWARD  S.  LACY,  President 
GEO.  S.  LORD,  Vice-President 
J.  C.  CRAFT,  Cashier 
FRANK  P.  JUDSON,  Asst.  Cashier 
J.  C.  McN  AUGHTON .  Asst.  Cashier 

Nei  Business  Desired  aid  Uieicelled  Facilities  Offered. 


420 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


The  New  Building  to  be  occupied  by 

THE  CHICAGO  NATIONAL  BANK 

on  May  1,  1901. 


ADOLPH  LOEB 


LEO  A.  LOEB 


ADOLPH  LOEB  &  SON 

ESTABLISHED   1873 

Fire  Insurance  Underwriters 


205  La  Salle  Street.  N.  W. 
Corner  cf  Adams 


TELEPHONE  MAIN   1353 


Hamburg= Bremen  Fire  Ins.  Co. 

OF  HAMBURG,  GERMANY 

WESTERN  DEPARTMENT 

174  LaSalle  Street  Chicago,  III. 

W1TKOWSKY  &  AFFELD,  General  Agents 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


421 


Western  Bank  Note  Co, 

Madison  Street  and  Michigan  Avenue, 

CHICAGO 


C.  C.  CHENEY, 

President, 


C.  A.  CHAPHAN, 

Vice  Pres.  &  TrCM. 


Steel  Plate  and  Lithographic 
Engraving  and  Printing, 

For  Railways,  Towns  and  Cities;  Real 
Estate  Bonds;  Bonds  for  Street  Rail- 
ways, Water-Works,  Gas  Companies; 
Certificates  of  Stock,  Drafts,  Checks, 
Letter  and  Bill  Headings,  Etc.,  for 
Railways,  Banks,  Merchants  and  Cor- 
porations. 

Bank    Checks    and    Drafts, 


Bonds  and  other  Securities  Engraved  by  this  Company  ac- 
cepted on  the  New  York  and  Chicago  Stock  Exchange*. 


DUCAT  &  LYON 

Established  1865 
2OI  La  Salle  Street 

Insure  everything  insurable,   writing 

FIRE 

POSTAL 
LIABILITY 

ELEVATOR 
TORNADO 

PLATE  GLASS 
BOILER 

INSURANCE 

Representing  THE  HOME  of  New  York 
THE    LEADING  AMERICAN    COMPANY. 


NOVELS  BYTI!E  JEWISH  AUTHOR 


MISS  EMMA  WOLF 


Other  Things  Being  Equal  fist- 

"The  struggle  between  orthodox  Ideas  of  marriage  within  the  racial 
lines,  and  the  charming  love  Btory  which  Is  so  complicated,  Is  as  powerful  an 
Incident  as  anything  In  modern  novel  writing."— PutiHc  Ledger,  Philadelphia 

.  Of  Booksellers  Generally  or  th.-  Publishers, 

A.  C.  McCLURQ  &  CO.,  CHICAGO. 


The  First  National  Bank  £'hlc.ro 

Capital  and  Surplus,  $8,000,000 

OFFICERS 

James  B.  Forgan,  President;  David  R.  Forgan, 
Vice  Pres't;  Geo.  D.  Boulton,  Vice  Pres't; 
Richard  J.  Street,  Cashier;  Holmes  Hoge,  Ass't 
Cashier;  August  Blum,  Ass't  Cashier;  Frank 
E.  Brown,  Ass't  Cashier:  Chas.  N.  (illicit,  Ass't 
Cashier;  Frank  O.  Wetmore,  Auditor;  Emlle 
K.  Bolsot,  Manager  Bond  and  Foreign  Kxrli. 
Dept. ;  John  K  Gardln,  Ass't  Manager  Bond 
and  Foreign  Exch.  Dept. 

DIRECTORS 

Samuel  \V.  Allerton,  William  L.  Brown,  James 
B.  Forgan,  Samuel  M.  Niokerson,  George 
T.  Smith,  John  H.  Barker,  D.  Mark.  Cummings, 
David  R.  Forgan,  Eugene  S.  Pike.  John  A. 
poor,  Geo.  D.  Boulton,  Chas.  H.  Conover,  Nel- 
son Morris,  Norman  B.  Beam,  Otto  Young. 


Established    1856 


H.  SCHULTZ 


COMPANY 

Incorporated 


Manufacturers  of 


Taper 


Telephone  Main  2423 


117-123  Market  St.. 

(Near  MadUon) 


CHICAGO 


422 


THE  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


John  M.  Stiles 


Painter 
Decorator 


269  35th  Srreet 
Tel.  Oakland  379 


Fine.... 

Residence 

Work 

....A  Specialty 


Many  of  the  finest  residences 
in  Chicago  are  specimens  of 
his  artistic  skill.  Also  does 
large  buildings,  among  which 


Ft.  Dearborn  Building. 
Mandel  Bros.'  New  Building. 
Y.  W.  C.  A.  Building. 
The  Federal  Building. 


A.  P.  Little 


American  Laundry  Machinery  Co. 

CHICAGO  CINCINNATI  NEW  YORK 


-  iV  trSocT    i TT-. •??; 


Complete  Outfits  for  Public  and  Private  Institutions 


Telephone  t 
Harrison    3076 


REMOVAL 


NOTICEv 


Manufacturer  of  Type- 
writer Supplies  formerly 
at  161  La  Salle  Street, 
now  at 

100  Jackson   Blvd. 


N.  W.  Cor.  Monadnock 
Block,  opposite  new  post 
office,  Chicago.  Largest 
dealer  in 

New    and    Second-Hand 


Typewriters 


Typewriters,    Rented, 


Bought    eind    Sold3 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


423 


REDUCE  YOUR  COAL  BILL 


THE  POWERS 

Heat  Regulator 

ASSURES  AN  EVEN  TEMPERATURE. 
No  coal  wasted. 

FITS  ANY  FURNACE 

OLD  OR  NEW. 
HOT  AIR.  STEAM  OR  HOT  WATER. 

EASILY  ATTACHED. 
REGULATES  ITSELF. 

BOOK  ABOUT  IT  SENT  FREE. 

THE  POWERS  REGULATOR  CO.. 

40  Dearborn  Street,  CHICAGO. 


KENNEDY 

^^     E     F     KENNEDY,  ^^^f        L.  H.   MEYER,        ™ 


E.    F.    KENNEDY, 
President. 


Sec'y  and  Treas. 


KWALITY  KOUNTS< 


COMPLETE 
HOUSE  FURNISHERS  . 


EVERYTHING  FOR 
THE  HOME . 


FURNlTUREc 


o. 


BETWEEH  MADISON  AND 
WASHINGTON  STS. 


J/4&//6  WABASH  AVE. 

CHICAGO. 


(lolit  B«dlt ,l*d  llr) 

Kills  the  germs  of, 
and  cures  all 
Throat  (A  Lung 
Troubles  and  Catarrh  also 

CONSUMPTION 

AND     V     V      *•      V 

TUBERCULOSIS 

in  the  early  stages  and  affords  relief  and 
rest  in  the  more  aggravated  cases. 

ROYAL 
BUILDUP 

Builds  up  tKe  we-ste  tissues  &.r\d 
gives  strength.  Try  them  and  recover 
your  health. 

Inhaler  sufficient  for  60  days $1.0O 

Extra  Solution  sufficient  for  180  days.    1.00 

Buildup  sufficient  for  30  days l.OO 

Or  sent  express  paid  any  oSflce  in  United 

States  for  $1.25  each 

Sold  by  drug  and  supply  houses  and  by  the 
manufacturers. 

Roya.1    Inhaler   Mfg.   Co, 

30-36  LaSalle  St.,      CHICAGO,  ILL. 

The  Rrftirm  Advocate  reronmenda 
,  thU  H*  ft  meritorious  rrtned* 


70-72    SteLte    St. 
CHICAGO 


E.  BURNHAM, 

Hair   Goods    Mas8age 
ELECTROLYSIS 

LADIES'  HAIR.  DRESSING  AND  SHAMPOOING. 

LADIES'  TURKISH  AND  RUSSIAN  BATHS. 


Hair  Dyes 
Cosmetics 


6QOD 


AS 


mm  PKKEIG 

mmmmM ' 

HICA60  TYPEWRITER  AS 
122  LA  5ALLE  5T.  CHICA60C. 


'Ballenberg 

Millinery 

13+  Michigan  B/orf. 


A  VERY  FUNNY  BOOK 


THE  ADVENTURES  OF 


AS  RELATED  TO  ONE  OF  THE 

ROUGH  WRITERS 

The  Most  Humorous  Book 
of  the  Times.— Just  Pub- 
lished. Price,  $1.00.  :  :  : 

"An  amusing  volume  with  flavor  of  mild  and 
genial  'roast,'  peppered  with  flings  at  existing 
conditions.  Generally  witty."— Detroit  Frtt 
Prest. 

"Vice-President  Roosevelt  will  doubtless  enjoj 
the  funny  book  written  at  hl«  expense,  entitled, 
•The  Adventures  of  Theodore.'  "—Chicago 
Timea-Uerata. 

"Full  of  very  clever  humor,  and  If  boomed  like 
'David  Uarum'  and  'Eben  Uolden*  no  reason  why 
Its  sales  should  nut  reach  their  amazing  figures. 
— Chicago  Chronicle. 

"This  handsome  little  book  Is  what  might  be 
called  a  strenuous  burlesque  on  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent's recent  trip."— Chicago  Pott. 

"Mark  Twain  and  Artemn*  Ward  have  been 
•ucceeded  by  a  new  humorist  come  out  of  the 
west.  Not  a  dull  line  from  coyer  to  cover." 
— Four  O'clock. 

All  Dealers.    Sent  Postpaid. 

H.  J.  Smith  &Devereaux  (o,, 

Publishers, 

334    Dearborn    St.,    Chicago,    III. 


Lakeside 

and  Cottages 


PEWAUKEE  LAKE 

Hartland  P.  O.,  Wis. 

0  Miles  from   Waukesha.     lend  foi 
terms  and  circulars. 


424 


TKR  REFORM  ADVOCATE. 


H.  B.  Dodge  &  Co. 

108  La  Salle  Street 
Suite  525  Tel.  Main  2985 


Rolling  Partitions,  Steel 
Coiling  Shutters,  Hygienic 
School  Wardrobes,  Vene^ 
tian  Blinds,  Sliding  Blinds 

and  Window  Scccns. A.'A^ 
WILSON'S  SELF-COILING  STEEL  SHUTTERS. 


Fitted  to  Store  Fronts, 


P«rt  Tlew  of  itore  front  of  Stem  Bro».,  New  York.     Tbeie  Shutters  h«»e  been  in  constant  uie  for  over  »  ye«r«. 


Why  Use  Poor  Milk? 


ERFECTION  AT  IAST! 


OUo 


BEST  IN  THE  WORLD 


^-jS^ 


THE  MELVILLE  CLARK 

,     PIANO  CO. 

401  W.MADISON  ST. 


STRONG  &LEIMERT 
PIANO  WAREROOMS 

257  WABASH    AVE. 


WHAT  IS  LUSTRE? 

1  IS  the  marvel  of  the  age  for  preserving  finish,  keeping  it  from 
orazijag  and  checking.    It  stands  to  reason  that  finish  checks,  and 


ieu.  .asacifiincr  ir,nas  no  equal.  It  removes  ny-specks.  Ink  stains  and  all  kinds  of  dirt,  and  at 
the  same  time  polishes  with  less  work  than  any  other  article  ever  produced.  It  leaves  no  greasy, 
sticky  substance,  but  leaves  the  finish  in  the  same  condition  that  it  was  left  In  at  the  factory. 
With  LUSTRE  there  Is  no  trouble  of  keeping  your  furniture  clean  and  glossy. 


When  for  the  SABI 
UONE7  you  can  get  it 

no, 

SWEET  AND 

ttsuaaaxeu 

SICE; 

delivered  in  sealed 
bottles,  by  railing 
up  Tel.  South  817, 
or  sending  postal  to 

305   30TH   ST. 


Sidney 


ALL    EMPLOYKS 

In  the  operating  department  of  the  "Alton  Road  "  are 
required  to  pass  mental  and  physical  examinations 
calculated  to  secure  absolute  safety  to  passengers  and 
freight.  Fidelity,  promptness,  and  accuracy  are  re- 
•  arded  by  the  merit  system,  the  result  being  that  one 
of  the  safest  railways  In  the  world  's 

"THE  ONLY  WAY** 


GEX).  «7.  CH A R TVTO If,  <JEN-I,  PAsaENOBB  AOKXT, 

<V  \,.,,,       ll     1     IMM-,, 


.    J". 

Metal  Roofing.CorHices  and  sty  Lights 

2645  STATE  STREET. 


REFORM  ADVOCATE. 

^®®®®®®®®4>®€^ 


S.  BERLINER  ft  Go. 


fITH     YOUR 


425 


>LE 


rianufacturvri    of 

monuments 

...and... 

Rcadstoncs  i 

nvnto 

In  GRANITE, 
MARBLE 
and  STONE. 


All  Kinds  of  Cemetery 
Work. 


Desplaines  Avenue 
and  12th  Street, 

HARLEM. 

P.  0.  OAK  PARK,  ILL. 


_   ;j 

LISTS 

fomii  mums'- 

Of  TRADES. 


MATTIR 
DISTRIBUTED. 

IMITATION 
\      TYPfWRITTfN 
IFTTERS 
REPRODUCED. 


40  Dearborn  St.] 

Witliifl  W.  DC  Wees,  Muaem. 

SEND     FOR      CATALOGUE. 


Standard  of  Excellence 

Made  In  18  Beautiful  Tints.  Pure  White  and  Black.  Is  DU  R.  ABLE. 
LUSTROUS  AND  ELASTIC.  Specially  prepared  for  use  on  Baih 
Rooms.  Interior  Decorations,  Furniture,  Iron  Beds,  Lawn  Chairs, 
Store  Fronts  and  all  Decorative  Work.  Covers  about  as  well  as 
best  yixi'd  Faints  and  dries  hard  over  night.  Prices  and  sample 
card  upon  application. 


Co 


FMOMC. 
MAIN  -f 
1333  ' 


128  FIFTH  AVE. 

JL  /Xejui  /Mo/son 


Slows 

R)R  EVERY 

BUSINESS 
AMD  IN 
EVEKy  STYLE 

! .  <'.'• 


Before 
Treatment 


National  Surgical  Institute, 

Suite  908-909  Masonic  Temple. 

WE  GUARANTEE  TO  STRAIGHTEN  FEET  WITHOUT  SUR- 
GICAL OPERATION. 

Club  Feet,  Lateral  Curvatures,  Hip  Diseases,  Spi- 
nal Diseases,  Diseased  Joints,  Paralysis,  Rectal 
Diseases,  Crooked  Limbs,  Chronic  Diseases. 
Send   for-  Booklet. 


After 
Treatment. 


E.  VON  HERMANN'S 

PHARMACY 

N,  E.  Cor,  31St  St  and  INDIANA  AVE., 


lelephon*  81O8. 


OPKN  AIX  NIGHT. 


26 


Turn  REFORM  ADVOCATED 


Any  man  choosing  the  Northwestern 
may  feel  confident  of  three  things:  first, 
that  his  money  is  safely  and  honestly  in- 
vested; second,  that  he  will  receive  fair  and 
honorable  treatment;  and  third,  that  no 
Life  Company  can  do  so  much  in  reducing 
the  cost  of  life  insurance  or  making  large 
returns  on  money  invested  as  the  North- 
western. Sincerely  yours, 

PHILIP  D.  ABMOCB. 


Old 
Life 


Age 
Irvsuraoice 


"  Whatntr  poet,  orator  or  taye  may  tati  "fit, 
Old  age  it  ttill  old  age."          —Longftllov, 

Yes,  but  how  It  mitigates  the  asperities  it  yon  have  been  wise, 
and  in  earlier  years  provided  yourself  an  annual  Income  during 
old  age;  thus  saving  yourself  from  being  dependent  on  anyone. 


Refrains  from  the  Poets) 


WITHOUT  SrOH  PKOVISIOM 

"My  days  are  In  the  yellow  leaf: 
The  flowers  and  fruits  of  lore  are 

gone: 

The  worm,  the  canker  and  the  grief 
Are  mine  alone!"  —Byron. 

"When  he  Is  forsaken. 
Withered  and  shaken, 
What  can  an  old  man  do  bnt  aiet" 
—Hoot. 


WITH  SOCK  novuiov 
"But  an  old  age  serene  and  bright. 
And  lovely  as  a  Lapland  night 
Shall  lead  the*  to  thy  grave." 

—  Wordsworth. 


"The  very  staff  of  my  age, 
My  verr  prop:  and  I  will  KM." 


Yes,  It  does  make  all  the  difference  in  the  world  whether  you  did 
or  did  not.  Shakespeare's  reference  to  his  annuity  Is  touching. 
A  most  excellent  provision  and  the  best  thing  obtainable  In  those 
days.  It  takes  however  a  large  lump, some  cash  down  to  purchase 
an  annuity,  while  the  new  Policy  Contract  of  the 

fforthtueftern  Life 

of  Milwaukee,  requires  an  annual  premium  equal  only  to  a  fair 
Interest  on  the  principal  sum.  These  new  Contracts  may  be  se- 
cured in  amounts  from  Si. 000  to  1100,000,  and  secured  by  Cash 
Assets  and  Surplus,  JKW.OO  >,000. 

The  one  single  contract  combines  in  itself  these  advantages: 

Life  Insurance  for  wife  If  you  die  1 
Endowment  Insurance  for  yourself  If  you  live  I 
Annual  Income  till  you  die ! 
Then  Annuixl  Income  to  wife  till  she  dies  1 
TKen  full  face  amount  to  children  1 

It  is  in  all  respects  a  flexible,  business-like,  comprehensive 
contract,  It  Is  what  you  need  to-day,  and  twenty  years  from  to- 
day. Send  your  exact  age  to  A.  W.  KIMBALL.  Genertxl 
Agent,  C.  D.  NORTON.  Associate  General  Agent.  8th 
Floor  Chicago  Stock  Exchange. 


r 


I  have  been  a  trustee  of  the  Northwestern 
Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  for  twenty 
years.  I  have  several  times  made  an  examina- 
tion of  its  assets  and  investments,  and  know  the 
manner  in  which  the  company  transacts  its 
business.  There  is  not  a  more  careful,  conserva- 
tive or  safe  company  in  the  country  than  that. 
I  have  two  policies  in  it,  and  would  take  more 
if  I  could  afford  to  carry  them. 

Yours  very  truly, 

D.  J.  BREWER, 
Associate  Justice  U.  S.  Supreme  Court. 


Was  an  excellent  showing,  and  I  congratulate 
your  company  on  being  able  to  do  so  well  for  its 
customers.  No  other  company  has  done  so  well 

for  me. 

Yours  very  truly, 

E.  BUCKINGHAM, 
Prest.  N.  W.  National  Bank. 


Fifty-sixth  Successful  year  of  increasing 
strength  aurid  prosperity  of  the 

New  York  Life 
Insurance  Company 

346-348  BroaLdwecy.  New  York  City. 
JOHN  A.  McCALL,  President. 

The  Great  International  Life  Insurance  Company 

Doing  business  in  and  under  the  immediate  supervision  of 
ALL  THE  CIVILIZED  GOVERNMENTS  of  the  world. 


Assets  over $262,000,000 

Consisting  exclusively  of  the  very 
highest  class  of  BONDS  and  GILT  EDGE 
SECURITIES,  market  value  several  mil- 
lions in  excess  of  company's  statement. 


Paid  for  business  in  force  Dec. 

31,  1900 $1,202,156,665 

New   insurance  issued  and  paid 

for  in  1900 232,388,255 

Gain  in  new  insurance  in  force  in 

1900 140,284,680 


The  only  company  in  the  world  publishing  "A  Detailed  Annual  Statement" 
showing   HOW   and   WHERE   the   Policy   Holder's  Moneys  are   invested. 

(A  copy  of  detailed  statement  furnish.- 1  on  application.) 
Other  reasons  why  every  mart  should  insure  in  the  New  York  Life  Insurance  Co. 


BECAUSE— 

It  is  supervised  by  K2  distinct  governments  to 
whom  it  must  make  sworn  reports,  and  which 
governments  endorse  and  certify  officially  to  the 
absolute  correctness  of  same.  And 

BECAUSE— 

The  spirit  of  mutuality  worked  out  in  practice  has 
made  the  New  York  Life  Insurance  Co.  what  it  is 
today— WITHOUT  A  PEER!  A  company  of  the 
people,  for  the  people,  and  by  the  people,  to  whom  all 
of  the  assets,  surplus  and  earnings  belong.  And 

BECAUSE— 

He  who  takes  a  policy  in  the  New  York  Life  Insurance 
Co.  today  virtually  makes  a  bargain  with  all  the  civ- 
ilized governments  of  the  world,  thev  in  turn  agree- 
ing to  watch  his  every  interest,  safefrunrd  his  invest- 
ment, and  protect  him  thoroughly.  And 

BECAUSE— 

It  has  over  $31  .OOO.OOO  held  in  trust  as  a  liability 

with  which  to  pay  dividends  on  policies  now  in 
force,  and  in  addition  thereto  over  ?4,280,000  as  an  ad- 
ditional policy  reserve,  and  over  $10,000,000  additional 
reserved  for  all  other  contingencies.  And 

BECAUSE— 

Its  policies  are  absolutely  Incontestable  from 
date  of  issue,  non-forfeiting  and  free  from  all  re- 
strictions, whether  in  time  of  war  or  in  time  of 
peace,  and  without  conditions  as  to  travel,  occupa- 
tion, mode  of  living  or  manner  of  death,  thereby  guar- 
anteeing a  legacy  instead  of  a  lawsuit.  And 


BECAUSE— 

It  gives  a  grace  of  one  month  in  paymi  nt  if  premiums 
and  lends  you  money  on  your  policy  if  you  wish  it  at 
5  per  cent  per  annum  after  your  policy  has  been  in 
force  two  years.  And 

BECAUSE— 

Your  policy  automatically  endorses  itself  as  paid  np 
for  the  full  amount  in  case  of  lapse  and  will  pay  the 
face  of  the  policy  without  deducting  the  de- 
faulted premiums  should  death  occur  within  the  con- 
tended period.  And 

BECAUSE— 

It  is  the  only  large  company  having  the  right  by 
charter  to  act  as  "TRUSTEE,"  thug  enabling  one 
to  make  absolute  provision  for  his  female  dependants 
throughout  a  period  of  years,  which  fund  being  spe- 
cifically protected  by  the  entire  assets  of  the  com- 
pany, is  safe  against  all  comers,  and  cannot  be 
assessed,  assigned,  converted  or  levied  upon  by 
creditors,  or  disturbed  by  the  beneficiaries 
themselves.  And 

BECAUSE— 

Of  the  foregoing  unequaled  facts  to  the  public,  it  is 
the  only  co  iipany  qualified  to  meet  tue  condi- 
tions of  the  2Oth  century.  And 

THEREFORE— 

You  should  have  the  very  best  policy  issued,  with  the 
fewest  restrictions,  the  most  privileges,  and  the 
strongest  guarantees,  and  the  New  York  Life's 
Investment  accumulation  policy  furnishes  it. 


CHICAGO  VARNISH  CO, 


22  Vesey  Street 

NEW  YORK 


35  Dearborn  Av, 

CHICAGO 


209^211  Pearl  St 

BOSTON 


CHICAGO    OFFICE,    ERECTED    1895. 


MANUFACTURERS  OF<*^  T     7    A    1^1  "K.  TIY^T  ~*£** 

HIGH, GRADE   VARNlbHhb 

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