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Rev. Paul S. Nweeya (Newey) : 1885 - 1961

Among the Assyrian clergy of this century, the Reverend Paul S. Nweeya stands out. His dedication in serving the Lord and his relentlessness in defending his Assyrian people in distress, have earned him the respect and admiration of all those who knew him. Reverend Nweeya was born in 1882 in Tutrush, Urmia, Iran, where he had his early education. He came to the United states in 1906. In 1913, he earned a Divinity degree from the Chicago Theological Seminary and was ordained Minister of the Congregational Church. In September of that year, he married Mary Yonan and the union produced four sons and a daughter. Following his ordination, Reverend Nweeya served as pastor of the Plymouth Church of Duluth, Minnesota, and the Minnehaka Church of Minneapolis. From 1919 until his death in 1961, he held the pastorate of the Assyrian Congregational Church of Chicago (presently the Assyrian Evangelical United Church of Christ, following the merger of the two churches in early 1960's). To disprove any contention that life for the clergy is dull, we need only look into the history of Reverend Paul Nweeya. When government officials denied citizenship to Assyrians in 1924, they discovered these people had an able champion in Reverend Nweeya, or Newey as he was also known. He took the matter to the Superior Court of Cook County and, without legal Counsel, won the case and forced the authorities to reverse the decision. This is an example of the resoluteness that this man demonstrated against injustice. In the 1930's, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt adopted his New Deal, he sought the counsel of a number of prominent people. Reverend Nweeya was one of those individuals whose advice on this major undertaking was sought. Reverend Newey was also in constant communication with Governors, Mayors, and other high government officials in Chicago and Washington. Rev. Paul S. Newey's accomplishments include: Editor of the "Assyrian Herald". 1916-1920. Chairman-Assyrian Liberty Loan Drives and War activities -WWI. Organizer and first President-Assyrian Central Committee of Chicago. Member-Council of Assyrian Societies. Member-Assyrian Political Action Committee. Author-Poetry in Svriac 1919. Author-Syriac Hymnal 1929. Assisting over 1000 Assyrians to obtain U.S. citizenship. Member-Editorial Staff of "Protestant Voice". "Who's Who in the Midwest"-1956 Edition. To sum up the life of this noble and virtuous man, it is perhaps, appropriate to quote from an Editoral Comment which appeared in the Assyrian Star of March-April 1961 on Reverend Nweeya, under the title "They Also Serve Who Serve Alone": "...Personal welfare, pride, conenience- none of these things ever entered in what he chose to do. And if it can be truly said 'Show me a man who gave of himself and took nothing in return,then that man surely must have been Reverend Newey....." "...Clearly we have separatd him from the ordinary. and not because of his accomplishments but because of his regard for the interest of his fellow citizens, his benevolence in the face of want and his humillty before both God and Man. On this 100th aniversary of his birth and in appreciation of his impressive record of accomplishments; his absolute devotion to his profession; his tireless pursuit of justice and his dedication in service of his Assyrian people, we dedicate this issue of the Assyrian Star in honor of Reverend Paul S. Nweeya(Newey). May he be resting in the comfort of his Creator and his memory serve as a beacon to guide our lives. Copy Right by Author - Authorized for publishing on this webe page. All rights reserved. Updated March 11, 1997 Return to the Profiles Page Return to Home Page