|
Columbia, S. C., October 11th, 1846.
A meeting of the parents and pupils of the Israelite Sunday School of the town
of Columbia, was called this day for the purpose of receiving the report
of the Directress, and the tender of resignation of that lady from the
superintendence of the above-named school. Miss Boanna E. Wolff, Directress, was called to the Chair, and Miss Julia Mordecai,
requested to act as Secretary.
The meeting being organized, the
Directress submitted a full report of the prosperous condition of the
school and its finances, and delivered a neat and appropriate address on
the subject of her connexion with the same, and urging the great necessity
of fostering the institution. After tendering her resignation, Mr. Jacob
Levin, addressed the meeting as follows, and submitted for consideration
the resolutions annexed, which were unanimously adopted.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Before dissolving this meeting, permit
me to enlist your attention but for a few moments, for were I to permit
the object for which you were called together this afternoon to pass
without an effort to impress on your minds and feelings, the great and
important feature connected with it, I should be doing injustice to you,
myself, and greater injustice to one who has so zealously presided at the
head of this institution, from its first organization to the present day.
Need I ask you to call to recollection
this day three years, the day when this institution was ushered into
existence, and tell me what portion of religious light our little ones
were then in possession of? Alas! to our discredit as Israelites, not only
our youth, but those advanced in age, groped in darkness for the want of
knowledge of the fundamental principles of our religion. It was then at
this period, with those ennobling feelings of philanthropy which animated
the bosom of our ancient Jewish maidens, that the amiable Directress of
this institution commenced the arduous task of organizing it; with what
success she has carried out her views with regard to it, your response
will be, It has far exceeded in realizing our most anxious expectations.
Need I say to you, that previous to the
formation of this school, your children were not only deficient of the
knowledge of the requirements of Deity, but almost of Deity itself? Need I
say to you now, ask your youngest from whom it derived its existence and
what will be its reply? Need I say to you, ask those in the green age of
youth what are the commands of Israel’s God, and they will give it to
you as handed down to our holy prophet Moses? Need I say to you, ask them
what are the fundamental principles of an Israelite’s faith, and they
will call your attention to their recital of the thirteen creeds?
Religious instruction being the foundation of every moral and social
virtue, yourselves, children, and posterity, will owe a debt of gratitude
to the founder of this institution difficult to repay. I have said under
her superintendence prosperity has attended her labours, the natural
result to all institutions, when the direction is confided to one like
her, possessing the qualifications to insure its success.
To me it has been a source of pleasure
and satisfaction to have witnessed the faithful discharge of the important
trust confided to her, and in the discharge of those duties, strictly
careful never to permit prejudice or partiality to interfere with her
requirements, demanding respect for herself and instruction, ever mindful
of that due to others. This day is to sever the connexion which has
existed between her and this institution, so zealously commenced, and with
so much fidelity closed. Who is there here under the sound of my voice,
parent or child, whose heart does not feel grieved at the separation? Who
in this little congregation but feels the loss this institution sustains
by this separation? creating a void regretted by all, and adding another
useful lesson to our reflections, that our sojourn and connexion with each
other are not in our own hands, for our lives are for the most part made
up of union and separation, and small, often very small, is the space that
divides us, for like joy and sorrow, meeting and parting often lie close
together, and these are perhaps the circumstances under which the
dispensation is the least painful. Yet grievous is the separation from
those whom years of usefulness have endeared them to us, and painful is
the breaking up of associations in which the affection of friends has each
day, on meeting together, bound around thorn and their connexion, as it
were, a fresh bond of soul.
But the name of Boanna Wolff will long
be remembered by a grateful community, and cherished in the hearts of
those who have been receiving those moral, instructive, and essential
lessons from her, and thus laid the foundation whereon to cement their
future moral and social virtues. For you, respected lady, was reserved the proud and glorious task of making the first effort to erect
this monument of holiness. To you has been confided the guidance of our
youth to a proper knowledge of Israel’s God, and his commands. To you
has been confided the management of all the concerns of this institution.
To your successor have you this day transferred them, in the full tide of
prosperity, with the assurance on our part, as well as a firm conviction
on yours, of having discharged the duties devolving on you with honour to
yourself, and entire satisfaction to those interested; and when separated
from us in after years, should your imagination wander back to this little
community, you will with proud gratification remember that we this day
tender to you our grateful acknowledgments, for the able, zealous, and
faithful discharge of the responsibilities devolving on you, and you take
with you in the new station you are soon to occupy in society, our
undivided and sincere wishes for your happiness, contentment, and
prosperity.
Be it therefore resolved, by the parents
and assistants of the Israelite Sunday School, of Columbia—That we
deeply regret the separation from us of Miss Boanna Wolff, whose
connexion, as founder of this institution, has existed so long, with so
much honour to herself and benefit to the rising generation of our
community.
Resolved, That we hereby tender
to her our grateful acknowledgments for the able and indefatigable
discharge of the duties as directress of this school.
Resolved, That in the new station
she will shortly occupy, she has our best wishes for the bestowal of
heaven’s choicest blessing upon her.
Resolved, That the proceedings of
this meeting be entered on the record of the school, and that a copy of
the same be forwarded to Mr. Isaac Lesser for publication in The Occident.
|
