Adolph S. Ochs, Publisher of New York “times,” Celebrates His Seventy-fifth Birthday

Adolph S. Ochs, publisher of the New York “Times,” celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday yesterday.

He became publisher and controlling owner of the New York “Times” in 1896, and has #ince been the guiding spirit which has made it one of the leading dailies in the country.

Adolph S. Ochs was born in Cincinnati, Ohio of a German-Jewish family that migrated to the United States in 1848. He had the advantage of a fine, cultural background. His father, Julius Ochs, came to the United States at the age of 18, already equipped with a knowledge of European languages which enabled him to secure a position as a French tutor at Mt. Sterling, Ky. In the same year, Julius Ochs enlisted in the Mexican War, and later also saw service in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Mr. Och’s mother was a member of a Southern family, which was sympathetic to the Confederate Cause; a brother of hers actually served in the Confederate Army. She was a lady of refinement with strong Jewish religious attachment to which Adolph S. Ochs has paid grateful and loving tribute. There is no doubt that it was with the memory of her in mind that he penned a characteristic passage in an article which he contributed to Will Durant’s “On the Meaning of Life”:

“My Jewish home life and religion gave me a spiritual uplift and a sense of responsibility to my subconscious betterself — which I think is the God within me, the Unknowable, the Inexplicable. This makes me believe I am more than an animal, and that this life cannot be the end of our spiritual nature.”

In 1883, Adolph S. Ochs married Effie M. Wise, daughter of Rabbi Isaac M. Wise, founder of Reform Judaism in America, whom he has described as “the inspiration of American Judaism.”

The main driving passion of Mr. Ochs’ spiritual outlook has been an interpretation of Judaism as a universal influence, progressive, humane, and transcending the differences which he regards as the eradicable causes of religious and group animosities. This view was expressed by him on the occasion of the laying of the corner-stone of Temple Beth-El at Glens Falls, N. Y., when he said, “Judaism in its doctrines and duties is eminently humane, universal, liberal, and progressive, is in perfect harmony with modern science, criticism, and philosophy, and in full sympathy with universal liberty, equality, justice, and charity. It is said to have been and should continue to be the religious teacher of all generations.”

In Jewish life Mr. Ochs’ activities have been as beneficent as they have been unobtrusive. Among his contributions to Jewish life were his chairmanship of the $5,000,000 Endowment Drive for the Hebrew Union College of Cincinnati, and his trusteeship of the Temple Emanu-El of New York.

His seventy-fifth birthday has brought him numerous messages of congratulations from all parts of the world, and from men and women in all fields of activity.