Friends of Bishop Manning Deny He is Motivated by Prejudice Against the Jews

Friends of Bishop William T. Manning, in his absence from the city, declare the charges against him to the effect that he stated he does not want Jews in his churches, by Dr. Edward S. Cowles, director of the ousted Body and Soul Clinic of St. Mark’s Church in the Bouwerie, are unwarranted, according to the Evening Post.

Friends of the Bishop, according to the same paper, point to the fact that he has solicited as well as accepted substantial gifts from Jews for the building of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and had served on committees for the same purpose.

The Evening Post says: “The comments of Bishop Manning on cathedral gifts show no evidence of racial feeling. When Mortimer J. Schiff gave $25,000, the Bishop said: ‘I especially appreciate this gift for it illustrates the spirit of fellowship and good will which should prevail in this city and throughout our broad land’.”

The late Colonel Friedsam sent a gift of $50,000 from the Altman Foundation and praised the project, saying “there need be no question of creed in supporting it.” Colonel Friedsam served as chairman of the department stores campaign committee for the cathedral.

Adolph S. Ochs, publisher of the New York Times, made generous gifts to the fund and served as well on its committees.

Trustees of Congregation Beth Elohim, of which Meier Steinbrink is president, sent $500.

Rabbi Stephen S. Wise pledged aid to the fund at a campaign dinner. Otto H. Kahn served on an honorary committee; Ralph Pulitzer was chairman of a newspaper committee; David Sarnoff headed a radio committee; a theatre committee included Morris Gest, Marcus Loew, A. H. Woods, Arthur Hammerstein, J. J. Shubert and A. L. Erlanger, says the Evening Post in showing how Jews aided the building fund. Eddie Cantor and Roger Wolfe Kahn were among a number of Jews who participated in a benefit for the Cathedral, it also points out.