R. Meir of Premishlan [d. 1850] feared that other Rebbes were trying to take from him his lofty [spiritual] levels and wished to do something about it. He considered that it was primarily three rabbis who opposed him: The Kosover (the author of the book Ahavat Shalom) [d. 1825], the Zidichover [d.1831], and the Strelisker, whom hasidim called the Seraph because of his fiery worship in prayer.
When he visited R. Mordechai Kremenitzer [d.1820] he told him as follows: “You do not need to fear the Kosover – he is a good man and means no harm to anyone – nor the Zidichover – he is not yet wearing a golden collar (i.e. he is still a young man and not very important [)] but from the Seraph you should be afraid. However, I will give you some advice: At the Strelisker there is great poverty. Send someone to him with foodstuff for Shabbat but this person should not disclose who sent this gift. He should be warned not to say from whence the gift came until after Shabbat.
So R. Meir Premishlayner did so. The Jew [he sent] came to Strelisk with all manner of food and royal dainties. He spent a lot in the court and the hasidim couldn’t recall a day when they had it so good. They honored the Jew, but he did not disclose from whence he was or who had sent him here with all of these gifts.
After Shabbat, he revealed that he was sent by R. Meir Premishlaner. The Strelisker said: “If R. Meir has such power that I ate from his [food] all Shabbat and did not sense from whence it came he does not need to fear that his lofty levels will be taken away from him.”
