2005-03
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/28/2005
He started out to become a rabbi but turned to medicine receiving his M.D. degree from the Miami Medical College in Cincinnati, 1869. HENRY ILLOWAY (1848-1932) son of the famous, and controversial orthodox Rabbi Bernard Illoway of Cincinnati. Beautifully penned two page letter in his hand with bold, fancy signature; from New Orleans, August 21, 1865 to Isaac Leeser: "…In answer to your question, why you did not hear from father the particulars about his leaving the congregation, I can only say that father dislikes to boast of his good deeds and what he accomplished in the Cong. during his administration of four years, and this to my knowledge was the main reason for his not doing so. …A young friend of father here had prepared a report which was intended for your valuable journal and which was withheld when the article concerning father's leaving the Cong. appeared in your journal, the young man expecting to see some farther and more minute report from your correspondent, but nothing having appeared he requested me to send you the above…and I request you grant a space in the column of your journal. …As to the truth of [the report]… rest assured the young man is a gentleman… and stands high in the regards of citizens here, both Jews and gentiles. [I hope] you will regard [the report] as if it had come from Father and grant it space…" Postscript added: "Mr. Grechsler was here as a candidate and preached on Sunday [with Hebrew words]; on Saturday he preached in English which was mistaken for German and on Sunday he preached in German which sounded like Russian; he is an [Hebrew words] himself as a Rev'd Dr. having received his diploma from Dr. Wise as a reward for his faithful service in promoting the [word indecipherable] of pigs from this continent by 'Devouring their meat.' In his sermon on Saturday, not yet fully acquainted with the principles of a majority of the congregation, he said 'I can go backward and I can go forward'. That's constancy; very good for reformers." Exc. Henry Illoway also wrote polemical papers opposing Reform Judaism as well as medical aspects of the Talmud. Accompanied with photostats of two fine bio sketches.
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