Article March 8, 1900 Issue

Miscellany

with contributions from A. S. Bettelheim, T.

A short time ago a correspondent of the Daily Advertiser called for information in regard to the origin of the proverb, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." By consulting Bartlett's "Familiar Quotations," says the Advertiser, we found it attributed to John Wesley, but as he used it as a quotation, we suggested that the question of its origin might still be deemed an open one. And now we find a note in the Richmond Dispatch from the learned rabbi, the Rev. Dr. Bettelheim of that city, which shows just where it originated, and how in a regular gradation of virtues it is placed next to godliness. Dr. Bettelheim's note is as follows:—

Richmond, Aug. 7, 1871.

In your issue of Saturday last was a paragraph from the Boston Daily Advertiser inquiring as to the origin of the proverb, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." Let me state that this maxim appears first in a Beraitha as the last Mishna of Sota, Chapter IX.; Talmud jerus., Shakalim, Chapter III., page 6; Talmud babl., Ab: sarah, page 20, b.; Jalkut, Sh. Isaiah, No. 263; and Alfassi Ab: sarah, ibid, loc. Here it reads as follows: "Phinehas ben Yair says: doctrines of religion are resolved into (or are next to) carefulness. Carefulness into vigorousness, Vigorousness into guiltlessness. Guiltlessnes into abstemiousness. Abstemiousness into cleanliness. Cleanliness into godliness (equal to holiness), etc., etc. Literally, next to godliness. Yours, etc.,
Dr. A. S. Bettelheim, Rabbi.

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