1873,

The following valuable testimony was borne to the character of a converted Jew (in Germany). The usual assertion had been made that no converted Jew lived up to his profession. Mr. Händler referred to the case of one he had visited in that very place, and whom he had found to be a true disciple of Jesus. To this the Jew assented, but added that such cases were exceptional. Mr. H. asked him to mention some cases to establish their rule, but without eliciting any answer. "Well!" he concluded, "I have given one case of the only Jew I know in the place, and you cannot produce one instance of the contrary. How, then, can you prove your assertion ?—Ibid. At Beyrout the Jews were very polite, but equally indifferent to religious subjects. Several hundreds were present at the synagogue, where Mr. Frankel had an opportunity of preaching Christ. "In the course of a month's journey," Mr. Frankel concludes, we have in plain terms proclaimed Christ and Him crucified as the only hope of salvation; hundreds have listened to the message in their synagogues and houses, and we have not to record a single instance of blasphemy or irreverence coupled with the name of our blessed Redeemer. The New Testament is read and studied by the Jews. Inquirers are to be met with everywhere.”—Ibid.

66

The Home.

THE Committee are contemplating certain alterations in the conduct and arrangements of the Home, of which our readers will be apprized in due time. Mr. Lowitz reports that, since his last communication, two of the Jewish inmates have left for situations, and two others have been admitted for religious instruction. There is reason to believe they are sincere inquirers, and, by God's blessing, will be brought to a saving knowledge of Christ the Messiah.

Judaica.

JERUSALEM.--The Jews have been returning during the last twelve months in greater numbers, perhaps, than in any former year. They appear daily gaining increased comfort and influence. It is, indeed, a happy sight to see now numbers of cottages along the Jaffa road in the cool of the day, surrounded by Jewish boys and girls, laughing in the streets, rejoicing in exchanging the straitness, filth, and oppression of their dismal city quarter for the liberty and health of these pleasant spots.-Jewish Intelligence.

A CONVERSIONIST, not unknown to fame, recently distinguished himself by standing just outside one of our metropolitan synagogues in wait for the exit of the congregation, and on their issuing from the porch he accosted several and presented them with tracts. One of the ministers sallied forth, repre

1873.

hended the "missionary," and after scattering his tracts to the four winds, succeeded in routing him without the necessity of recourse to the police.

[The Jewish Chronicle records the above. We can only pray that other of the Lord's servants may be thus willing to endure shame for His name.-ED.]

THE Daily Telegraph prints a correspondence which has passed between the proprietors and Mr. J. Winter Jones, as representing the trustees of the British Museum-the subject being an offer made by that journal to send out to Assyria, at an expense of 1,000 guineas for six months, Mr. George Smith, the decipherer of the tablets which have caused so much interest in the antiquarian and literary worlds. Both the trustees and the Lords of the Treasury, with whom they communicated, have cordially accepted the proposal; and an expedition to Assyria is in course of equipment.

A JEWISH gentleman once remarked to the writer of these pages, that there were only four motives that had ever induced a Jew to become a Christian, namely:

1. Vanity or a desire for the glory of being a persecuted martyr;

2. Covetousness-or an eye to worldly advantage;

3. Love—or the wish to marry into a Gentile family;

4. Appetite or a craving after unclean meats.

He denied that the conviction of the truth of Christianity had any connection with conversions. That, he said, was quite impossible; for that when the true Messiah should appear, He would come with such tokens, that every Jew would of necessity recognise Him. The opinion that this gentleman so confidently expressed represents the estimate that most unconverted Jews take of the results of Jewish Missions. We cannot wonder at it. A blind man knows nothing of fair colours; nor can a deaf man understand the power of sweet music. Equally impossible is it, for those who have the dense veil of unbelief upon their own hearts, to appreciate the motives which have led others to accept the Lord Jesus.--Rev. G. W. BUTLER, M.A., in the Jewish Intelligence.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY AMONGST THE JEWS. -The following extracts are from the Second Annual Report of this Society, of which Rev. J. C. K. Milligan is President, and Rev. A. C. Tris is Secretary. "The work in which this Society is engaged is of a peculiar nature and character. It is to bring the Gospel of the Son of God to the children of Abraham, and to invite them to embrace their long rejected Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour for sinners, as the only Sacrifice and Redemption given to Jew and Gentile.

66

Therefore, the Society aims at the conversion of Israel, and their efforts have been during the past year :

"1. To visit and to call upon the children of Israel in their houses, stores, and places of business, and to demonstrate from the Scriptures that the Messiah has come, and that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah.

1873.

"2. To invite Jews to attend public meetings, where Moses and the prophets are expounded with regard to the point at issue between Christians and Jews, viz., Is Jesus of Nazareth the promised Messiah?

"3. To circulate Scriptural proofs in the form of tracts, Bibles, and other books attesting the Messiahship of Jesus, and the truth of the Christian religion.

"4. To endeavour to secure employment among Christians for needy, pious converts from Judaism, and in all lawful ways to ameliorate their condition." -American Paper.

Or the Christian religion we speak with reverence; for the character of a Christian scholar we have the profoundest respect; and a Christian gentleman is perhaps one of the highest types of excellence to which humanity can lay claim. To these we appeal whether there is anything in Christianity to warrant the constant persecution to which the Jewish community is subjected, and the misrepresentation so constantly made of their social and religious life? The Jew rejects Anthropomorphism, so does the Unitarian; and yet the Unitarian escapes a persecution carried on against the Jew in the name of sympathetic solicitude. Taken philosophically, Christianity is in some respects a development of Judaism. What, then, would be easier than for an educated Jew to follow the developments of his own religion? He can read Hebrew; and the Peschito and Greek Testaments are open to him as to Christian scholars. If he rejects the "development" of his own creed, and teaches the uneducated of his brethren to remain in the "old paths" until a new revelation clears up all that stands shadow-like in the obscure distance, who can properly gauge the intellectual arrogance of one who is but an equal at the best, to deny in toto the conclusions of scholarship, to outrage the sacred friendships of social existence, and to try to pervert, by corrupt means, the weak members of an ancient and splendid faith-Jewish Chronicle.

[This is an amiable and liberal paragraph. We only say, we would neither persecute nor insult, but by life, conversation, and the Word of God, by the power of the Holy Ghost, would entreat, as in Christ's stead, they would be reconciled to God.-ED.]

To the Young,

WHO LOVE AND CARE FOR THE JEWS.

THE plan we proposed for consideration last month has not been without result. Letters have been written, questions have been asked, and calculations have been made. We have reason to believe our dear young friends mean to help us to find a Christian, happy home for little Jewish homeless children. We know the place whither to send, and the mother who would take charge of them. We are finding out what the cost would be, and we are seeing how many little ones one penny each week, or fortnight, or month, from every Sunday school child and teacher in happy England, would provide for.

We will tell our young friends next month all these things, and by that time we shall have answers from Sunday schools to which we have written. Our thought is, that no one should have anything to do with this one fund but Sunday school children and teachers. Let it be our work alone. Dear children, you will not play less merrily, sleep less soundly, nor eat less heartily because you are giving a home to Jewish children. But some have asked us how they are to begin? and what they are to do? We reply, "Tell your teachers that you mean to begin this plan, and ask them to speak to each other, and to their superintendent and pastor." Then a meeting should be called, and some one be chosen to collect and hold the money. If you send us word, we will ourselves come, or somebody in our stead, to speak to you at that meeting. Do not be afraid of being only able to do little. Everything begins by a little. "Rome," they tell us in an old proverb, "was not built in a day." BEGIN, dear children, only BEGIN, and it will be like a snowball. Don't you know how you gather up a handful of snow, and press it and make it round? It is such a little thing--a baby's hands can take it. But keep putting fresh snow and rolling it, and it will grow too big for you to hold. Then turn it round and round on the ground, and it will grow till strong men cannot push it on. And when the thaw comes, that ball will stand there long after all the snow around has melted away. So begin-put the farthings, or halfpence, or pennies together, and get three, and four, and five-go on till you cannot hold the coppers. Then ask, and collect, and add, and you will see how the money will grow, until in the Home-warmed, and clothed, and fed-shall be a Jewish child whom you your own selves have sent and are keeping there to be cared for in these things, but above all, to be taught to know and to love Jesus of Nazareth-the Saviour whom we love, and who poured out His blood because of the love He had to us, to buy their pardon and ours.

Ah! my children, should you not like this? May God put it into your hearts to do His will for Jesus' sake.

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED from JAN. 18th to FEB. 15th, 1873.

Have been delivered as follows:-From Jan. 18th to Feb. 18th, 1873.