Editorial: A Foundational Torah Lesson for the People of the Nascent American Nation

A Foundational Torah Lesson for the People of the Nascent American Nation

["A Disciple of Moses"]. Editorial for the Salem Gazette: printed in the February 14, 1797 issue, on page 3. The author, "A Disciple of Moses," decries the gross impiety exhibited by the townspeople of Salem when George Washington visited the town in the Fall of 1789. 4 pp.

"When the President was coming forward to take his seat in the Government… some people at seeing him, expressed their admiration, or perhaps more properly their adoration, in these words, 'And behold, a white Horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a Crown was given unto him…' This, and many things of the same nature, greatly troubled and grieved the Disciples of Moses, who have ever ranked among the President's best friends: they said, with one accord, this is exalting Washington above Moses…. For even Herod the good was smitten by the Angel, and was eaten alive of worms because the people exalted him above Moses, and he consented to the compliment."

"A few weeks after the President was at Salem, I went into the country to see a brother divine: The talk through the country was then all about the President: My brother told me he had seen the paper account of the President's visit at Salem… that some of the inhabitants sat the President upon the binnacle, and sung praises to him: This was very ill: This was exalting the President above Moses. They never sat Moses on high, and sung praises to him; and if they had offered it, he… would have rent his clothes, and run in among the People… Moses said, The Lord thy God is a jealous God, and his glory he will not give unto another; and he commanded, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."

The issue is complete in 4 pages and in Fine condition.