Page images
PDF
EPUB

elective franchise; to the bribery, corruption and perjury, which are not deemed inappropriate to secure the election of party candidates; to the practical influence of the notion, that the successful candidate elected is the representative, not of the whole population, but only of his own party constituents; to the recklessness and utter disregard manifested as to the moral character of the men nominated for offices ; to the spirit of insubordination which displays itself among the youth, and the absence of parental authority in the families of the land; to the spirit of violence, which brooks not delay, but urges forward the angry mob, or the selfconstituted lynch-judges, to gratify their thirst for vengeance, by trampling the laws and authorities under their feet, and inflicting what is called "summary justice" on the objects of their hatred; to the utter indifference manifested towards the obligations and sacred treaties which bind the government, while a rapacious spirit of plunder dignifies itself with the epithets of patriotism, or the love of liberty, or sympathy with the oppressed; to the vituperative and defamatory character of the political press, which delights to traduce and destroy the reputation of our public men, or candidates for office; to the party antipathies and sectional jealousies which are engendering dangerous factions, and threaten the severance of the once happy ties which bound together these United States.

But the heart grows sad with the recital. The result of these things, if not checked and corrected, is certain; yet, zeal for our country's welfare excites hope in the midst of despondency; and, numerous as may be the proofs of deterioration, and fearful and ominous as may be the prospect before us, the conviction still sheds its cheering influence, that we have enough of Christianity left to retrace our steps, and, by repentance and reformation, recover the ground we have lost. Some rays of light still fall upon the darkness, and direct us to the remedy. The standards of morality and religion are on the advance, notwithstanding the abounding of impiety and lawlessness. A love for our republican institutions yet operates. Our folly has been rebuked. We are suffering a wholesome discipline, which, though it has almost prostrated the commerce of the country, and produced universal embarrassment, is, nevertheless, working

health and cure, and will eventually, by securing a disgust for luxurious extravagance and waste, the study of retrenchment and economy, the practice of industry and frugality, and the cultivation of the virtues of private character, restore prosperity.

We talk of millions lost by reckless speculations, and the depreciation of property. But if the loss will check the spirit of evil covetousness that prevailed, the thirst for accumulated wealth, the taste for extravagance and luxury, the power and influence of dangerous monopolies, and lead to the development of the industry and resources of the country, the diligent and laborious cultivation of the soil, the reformation of former and existing evils, and a return to habits of virtue and integrity, a care for the proper education of our youth, a respect for religion, and for the purity and simplicity which marked the halcyon days of our beloved Washington, we shall not have purchased these things at too dear a rate. Where Christianity exerts its influence, ten thousand forms of social and domestic bliss, throw out their sparkling lustre, and reveal the fact, that-"Happy is the people that is in such a case; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord."

ARTICLE VIII.

THE PRESENT STATE OF THE JEWISH RELIGION.

By Mr. E. S. Calman, Missionary to the Jews in Palestine.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE.-BY THE EDITOR.

THE following article is a communication from Mr. Calman, written as long ago as 1836, and addressed to two friends in England, by whom he is supported in his missionary labors. It was copied by the Rev. Eli Smith, then at Beyroot, and sent to the former editor of the Repository, but its publication has been delayed, by request of the author, for the purpose of obtaining the consent of his friends in England. We are now

gratified in being allowed to present it to our readers. It is accompanied with every evidence of veracity and candor, in the writer, and contains many things which to us are new and instructive. It will constitute a valuable addition to our stock of knowledge of the sufferings of the Jews, and of the internal state and existing spirit of the Jewish religion.

To put the reader more fully in possession of the character and circumstances of the writer, we insert the following extract from Mr. Smith's letter accompanying the MS.

"Mr. Calman is himself an Israelite, and a thoroughly educated Rabbi; but now a simple and warm-hearted believer in Jesus of Nazareth. He was born in Poland, where a childless and rich uncle adopted him in order that, according to the belief of the Jews, he might pray him out of purgatory upon his death; and who, upon his decease, sent him to another relation in Courland, to be educated. Here, losing the property he had inherited from his deceased uncle, through the management of relatives, he was educated for the service of the synagogue, and became the Rabbi of the place where he lived. Hoping to increase his income, he subsequently went to Riga, where the Jews are numerous, and practised the profession, religious and highly honorable among the Jews, of superintending the slaughter of animals for the Jewish market. Having providentially escaped, here, an act of Russian despotism, which endangered his life, and being joined by a dear friend and townsman, who had just been banished with all the Jews from St. Petersburgh at the accession of Nicholas, he quitted Russia for Germany.

At Berlin, the chief Rabbi of all Prussia, having duly examined him, gave him a diploma authorizing him to act as Rabbi in any part of the kingdom, upon the strength of which he obtained a situation. But, being unable, as a foreigner, to reside there longer, he left at the end of a year for Amsterdam, having parted with his friend at Berlin. From Amsterdam, mere curiosity to see London, before going back to Russia, whither he had concluded to return, brought him to England. Here, while seeking a place as Rabbi, he most unexpectedly encountered again his friend and townsman. Visiting the room of this friend one day when he was absent, he found the New Testament open upon his table. So shocked was he, that he at once, not only threatened to write to his relatives, but never to have any thing more to say to him himself. So affected was

the other, that, with tears, he promised to give up the book, which he had at first accepted merely to gratify a friend whom he had known at St. Petersburgh.

This friend of Mr. C.'s however, before long, began to propound difficulties in the Talmud, which led to much discussion. At length, to avoid the presence of other Jews, they spent their evenings regularly in discussion, at an inn. After proceeding a month or two in this manner, Mr. C. found his veneration for the Talmud materially diminished. At length it was laid aside, and its veil of mysticism being thus withdrawn from the Old Testament, he found the sacred oracles a new book. Whole nights were spent in reading them; and as he came to one prophecy after another respecting the Messiah, the joy of his heart expressed itself in floods of tears. And he actually found himself a believer in Jesus of Nazareth be fore he reached the New Testament.

Such is the early history of one whom I have learned to love as a dear Christian brother. My first acquaintance with him was last spring at Jerusalem. Having left England, under the patronage of a few private individuals, as a missionary to the Jews in the East, he had proceeded first to Bagdad and then to Jerusalem, where I met him. But exposure and fatigue in crossing the desert of Arabia, had so affected his health, that he was then supposed to be in a confirmed consumption; and to find a milder climate than the cold and windy region of Je rusalem, he left at the same time with us for Beyroot. Here, I am happy to say, his health is so improved that he is about to return to Jerusalem, to engage in the work upon which his heart is most ardently fixed, that of preaching to his kindred according to the flesh, Jesus Christ and him crucified.

may

I would remark that the most entire confidence be placed in Mr. Calman's statements. With a conscience remark ably sensitive in regard to veracity, has been joined a tender regard for his nation, to prevent him from exaggerating. I, however, found him disposed to keep back some statements for fear of seeming to defame his countrymen; and only by my urgent solicitations has he been induced to insert some things contained in this article."

The following is Mr. Calman's account of the present state of the Jews and their religion, with his strictures on some of the statements of Mr. Herschell.

In perusing Mr. Herschell's Brief Sketch of the Present State of the Jews,* I was struck with two observations which I think it my duty not to let pass without noticing, and expressing to you my opinion respecting them. The FIRST is the following:

"But I wish to state my conviction, that the expectations formed by many good men of the effects to be produced simply by the distribution of New Testaments among the Jews, and by sending out a few men to argue with them on cer tain Scriptural questions, are vain and extravagant; and expose many well-meaning persons who entertain them, to a constant succession of disappointments." pp. 22, 23.

To such a bold observation as this, my first remark would be, that we have ample evidence, and direct assurance from the Holy Gospel, (Mark 16: 15, Luke 24: 47,) that the measure of sending forth missionaries to proclaim salvation through Christ Jesus, unconnected with the example of the church, has been commanded by our divine Redeemer. This blessed injunction has never been revoked, nor was it issued under any such conditions or exceptions as this; that, if Israel would listen to the glad tidings of the gospel, then the disciples were to continue preaching, and if not, they should forbear. I perfectly agree with Mr. H. that the example of the true and genuine church of Christ would be a most expedient and effectual means of diffusing and inculcating the knowledge of the gospel upon those who walk in darkness. But where this desirable means is impracticable, I would decidedly say, that the church of Christ is under obligation to

*A Brief Sketch of the Present State and Future Expectations of the Jews in a Letter addressed to his Christian Friends. By Ridley H. Herschell. (Third Edition, very much enlarged.) London: 1834. pp. 140, 18mo.

It appears that the author of this little volume is also a convert from Judaism, and his statements are doubtless worthy of credit. His work is important as containing some views of Judaism and the Jews, at present, which are new and probably just. It is however especially to be valued as having been the occasion of calling forth the more full and matured statements of Mr. Calman, in the present article, who has noticed the principal points in which the views of Mr. Herschell seem to be deficient or erroneous. [EDITOR.]

SECOND SERIES, VOL. III. NO. II.

13

« PreviousContinue »