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The "Chaplaincy Controversy": supporting the cause to allow Jewish chaplains in the military...
The "Chaplaincy Controversy": supporting the cause to allow Jewish chaplains in the military...
Item # 702184
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November 21, 1861
THE CRISIS, Columbus, Ohio, November 21, 1861 This was an anti-war newspaper that insisted that slavery should not be abolished, so much of its content has an anti-North bias.
Page 6 has an article (reprinted from I.M. Wise's 'The Israelite'), which has much related to "The Chaplaincy Controversy of 1861". This was a noteworthy event in Jewish American History as until this time, only Christian clergymen were permitted to serve as U.S. Chaplains.
In 1862, after a lobbying campaign, the law was changed and President Lincoln appointed Rabbi Jacob Frankel of Philadelphia as the first Jewish chaplain on September 18, 1862.
The page 6 article is headed: "An Israelite's Opinions of American Constitutional Law & the Rights of Conscience". The writer takes on the governor of Ohio, Wm. Dennison, for the wording of his Proclamation of Thanksgiving and Prayer which includes: "...securing to us and to our posterity the privileges and advantages which distinguish a Christian people."
The writer makes the point: "...all these blessings & achievements distinguish the Christian people only; we have no claim to it..." with much more.
Included as well is the letter to Rev. A. Fischel, Rabbi Jewish Synagogue from Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, in which the latter notes: "...you are respectfully informed that by...the act of Congress approved July 22, 1861 it is provided that the Chaplain appointed by the vote of the field officers & company commanders, must be a regular ordained minister or some Christian denomination...".
This lengthy article was in part responsible for Lincoln's appointment of the first Jewish chaplain in the military as noted above. The full text of the report is in the photos.
Additional content includes: "Gen. Ulysses S. Grant" "Shall We Exchange White en for Negroes?" "Gen. Sherman's Official Report of the Land Forces..." Exchange of the Lexington & Camp Jackson Prisoners...List of the Prisoners" "General Grant's Official Report of the Battle of Belmont" "Hostages Held by the Rebels..." "Proclamation to the People of South Carolina" is signed in type: T. W. Sherman" "Letter from Cheat Mountain" and much more.
Eight pages, foxing at some margins, damp staining does not affect readability, otherwise good.
Note: another of this same newspaper sold in auction for $350 in 2018.
Category: Yankee
No Longer Available
