INSTEAD OF AN INTRODUCTION(1)

COMPILED BY PETER SIPPEL

"Max I. Reich, whose sudden death on Eighth Month 10th, in his 79th year, closed a life of sustained usefulness, was a man of singularly buoyant and gay spirit. His faith in Jesus Christ was so strong that he was able to overcome all fears for the future, and to walk cheerfully in times of deepest perplexity. The certainty of the life to come was to him more real and important than the uncertainties of this material life. So he presented a smiling face to a world which thrust many difficulties upon him, and was ready to enter important fields of service as soon as the way opened. To those who knew him at all, he was a well loved friend. He was so strong in his faith that he felt no need to be dogmatic; his influence was the more persuasive for the gaity, courtesy, and gentleness with which it was exerted."--The Friend (Philadelphia,) Eighth Month 30, 1945.

"Max Isaac Reich, of Fallsington Meeting, Pennsylvania, who died on August 11, was born of Jewish parents in Berln, on March 17, 1867. He was educated there and in London, and was later apprenticed to a printer in this country. Through the transformed life of a fellow worker, influenced by D. L. Moody, Max Reich decided to become a Christian.

Later he went to Canada to work among the lumbermen in Ontario and settlers in Michigan. After his return to England he joined Friends, and had much useful and wide service among Meeting in various parts of the British Isles till 1911, when he returned to the United States. From then until 1931 he did much labor and research work for Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, travelled widely in the ministry, and wrote a considerable number of helpful books and tracts. After the last war he went to Germany on behalf of Philadelphia Friends.

He helped to found and was President of the Hebrew Christian Alliance of America, and for the past 15 years had been on the teaching and lecturing staff of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago. His last visit to this country was in 1937.

A writer and speaker whose message was conveyed with grace and sincerity, a deep student of the Bible and also of many languages, including Hebrew, Greek, Danish, German, and French, Max Reich made friends among all with whom he had dealings.

He married Esther Mary Lorenzen in 1888, and they had nine children, all of whom are living. One duaghter, Anne Griffiths, is a member of Uttoxeter Meeting. One Son, John Rich, is well known here for his work with the American Friends Service Committee, and another, Edward Rich, is Canon of Petersborough Cathedral.--The Friend (London,) August 31, 1945.

On August 11, Max I. Reich, a member of the faculty of Moody Bible Institute, Chicago. He was well known as a minister in the Society, for his research into Friends' history, and for his writings on the Bible and the Christian message, including Studies in Messianic Prophecy and Studies in the Psalms of Israel. The funeral services were held at the meeting house in Fallsington, Pa. He is survived by his wife, Esther Mary Reich; by his four daughters, Mrs. Hans Gramm of Reading, Pa.; Mrs. Parry Griffith, wife of the canon of St. Petersborough Cathedral, England; Mrs. Donald Tucker, of Trinidad B.W.I.; Mrs Ralph Boyer, of Silver Springs, Md.; and by five sons, William, Edward, John, Lawrence and Joseph.--Friends Intelligencer, Ninth Month 8, 194

1. 0 Discrepencies in the accounts duly noted. -pds