The Sun.
London, England, 1830-04-24 00:00:00

CONVERSION OF THE JEWS.

- Yesterday a Meeting took place at the Freemasons'
Hall, fia the purpose of holding tl:e first Anniversary o'
" Society of the Friends of the Hebrew Nation." The
Meeting was numerously attended, and a great many ladle.
(as usual at all religious meetings) attended to listen to
the proceedings of the day.
H. DaumstoND, Esq. was in the Chair.

- .
After prayers, the lion. CHAIRMAN opened the business
of the day. There was nothing fanatical or unscriptural in
the object of the Society. They had read their Bible,
and did not expect to convert the Hebrews as a nation
till God's own time had arrived ; their only desire was to
show that they were ready to open the right path to ali
who were willing to enter it. He then alluded to the
fact of twelve Jews having been baptized lately by the
Bishop of London, and announced that his Lordship had
forwarded a subscription of 201. and accepted the office of
Patron of the Society.
The Report was 'read; the following ere its practical
passages :

The first object of the Committee was to find premises suit-
able for the reception of Hebrew applicants; and after numerous
inquiries they decided on engaging three contiguous houses in
Randolph-street, Camden-town, at the yearly rent of !W., to
commence from June 24, IS-29.
" Their next object was to appoint over the Institution a Super-
intendant properly qualified for conducting it; sensible that on
his qualifications the prosperity of the whole undertaking would
mainly rest. And herein they esteem themselves highly fa-
voured of God, who, by a wonderful train of circumstances,
had brought to London a man who had for many years set the
desires of his heart upon an Institution like this, and who, in
fact, suggested this undertaking, at a time when God had pre-
pared the hearts of many to second him by engaging in the pre-
sent work—a man singularly qualified for such a trust, and
willing to enter upon it with his whole soul. In all their inter-
course and communications with this gentleman he has shown
a principle of disinterested devotedness, so singular in these
days that they forbear to mention it, lest the generous spirit
which prompted it might be pained by the specification, or lest
any enemy might suppose that ostentation of liberality funned
any ingredient in a character so little understood, because
scarcely ever exemplified in modern times. Mr. Simon, a well-
educated Jew, who has given eighteen years' proof of sincerity
in the consisteutprofession of Christianity, and who formerly
superintended an establishment of the same kind ; and Mrs.
Simon, a lady of Edinburgh, carefully educated in Christian
principles, and devoted to the cause of Israel with a zeal as
great as her husband's, have undertaken the management of
the Institution. Under these circumstances, the Committee
have thought it their duty to leave the whole instruction and
superintendence to Mr. and Mrs. Simon; and they have hitherto
found every reason to feel perfectly satisfied-with the manner in
which their confidence has been repaid. Much power has been
delegated to Mr. Simon by the Committee; and they have,
therefore, thought it proper to state to the subscribers the mo-
tives which have led to, and justified, their so doing.
" The next great object of the Committee was, from amongst
those who were candidates for admission, to select such as were
most likely to answer the end of the Institution. In making
this selection they have endeavoured to use all practicable
circumspection ; desiring rattier to be over-cautious than over-
hasty ; but neither expecting to find all the qualifications they
could desire in the applicants, not being disheartened if every
thing should not succeed to the full extent of their wishes. The
applicants are first examined by Mr. Simon; and such as are
approved of by him appear before the Committee, who endea-
vour to ascertain, by close questioning, their motives for apply-
ing, and admit such only. as appear to be sincere inquirers after
truth. When thus admitted, they are kept diligently, employed
during five days of the week ; and their food and clothing are
of the plainest kind. Each day is begun and concluded with
prayer and exposition of the Scriptures ; and as they are un-
baptized, Saturday, the Hebrew Sabbath, is devoted wholly to
religious instruction; but on the Lord's-day they attend Divine
Service at the neighbouring church.
There are now fourteen Jews in the Institution, who seem
to regard earls other with more than fraternal affection : and as
us the. Apostolic ages the Heathens who persecuted the Christians
were often melted into tenderness by their affectionate conduct,
and exclaimed, See how these Christians love one another!' so,
to any one who doubts of the warm artbctions of a Jew, we
would point out to our inmates, and say, See how those Jews
love ore another !"Ten of them are employed as shoemakers,
four as farriers; and other trades will be introduced as SOOll as
it is practicable. The Committee would request subscribers to
examine the articles manufactured, and recommend them to
their fries: 's, as they will hereby render a double service—first,
by employing the men ; then, by benetitting the Institution, and
allowing us to receive a greater number of inmates.
" For the religious instruction of the inmates, books were re-
quired; and the Committee gratefully acknowledge their obli-
gations to the Bishop of London, who supplied them with prayer
books and spelling books ; and to the British and Foreign Bible
Society fora grant of twelve Hebrew, twelve English, and six
German Bibles, and twelve Hebrew Testaments, for the use of
the Institution.

" in every new undertaking some disappointment is to be ex-
pected; but the Committee are determined to act an open
honest part, by not concealing from the Society any thing un-
favourable which may occur. For this reason they state, that
the first person taken into the Institution proved unworthy of
it, and was dismissed from the establishment. But they might
be doing an injustice to that individual, if they did not also
state that his dismissal was not occasioned by any immoral act,
but arose from misconduct involving a very great instance of
insubordination, which the Committee could tint overlook.
" Another of their inmates, who had been an object of per-
secution to his bigotted relations in consequence of his inquiry
into Christianity, was followed by them to the Institution, and
thrown into prison, under a pretended claim of debt arising out
of circumstances which had taken place nearly a year previous
to his connection with the Institution, This has been so far
from lowering the individual in the opinion of the Committee,
that they consider all the circumstances connected with his case
as providential, and highly encouraging to their labours. He
conducted himself most becomingly under his difficulties, bore
testimony to the truth in quarters which it had never reached
before, and has returned to the Institution more endeared to all
who knew him than before this time of trial,

. .
" Since the above was written, twelve of the inmates of the
Institution have been baptized by the Bishop of London : they
were admitted by this holy ordinance into the Christian Church
on Easter \Vedneedav, April 14th, which by an unexpected
coincidence, was the last day of the Jewish Passover, when every
Jew throughout the world would be conanzemoraling their baptism
in the Red Sea by singing the song of Moses in Exod. xv. ;
Cor. v."

The Reverend Mr. ITAwmuy expressed his satisfaction
at the fot mean and progress of the Institution, because a
Society formerly established, and which had for its object
both the spiritual and temporal welfare of the Jews, had
not been found to work well. The want of an asylum for
those converted Jews- who had embraced Christianity, and
for that reason had been cast out by their brethren, had
long weighed like a burthen on his heart; and "he
therefore wished the Society good lurk in the name of
the Lord." The 60th chapter of the Prophet Isaiah was
sufficient to show what were the future prospects of the
Jews, aad that they would be raised to the highest pin-
nacle among the nations of the earth. This, however,
was not to be the object of any society ; such matters as
these were to be left to the ruling arm of the Almighty.
As individuals, however, they might be looked upon ;
and it was a Christian duty to stretch out the hand of
salvation to a few.

Mr. CIIEVA Lixn said, that as in the old time the Lord
broke up the channels of the deep, and, destroying what
formerly was earth, made dry laud out of the sea, so in
the intellectual world he would, no doubt, make the Turk
and the Infidel the true Land of Promise. Christians
could not expect of themselves to bring forth the sub-
merged people of Israel, but they had beets commanded
to hasten and forward the name of the Lord ; and they
were, therefore, bound to exert themselves, not as mis-
sionaries or agents, but as interteders with the Lord that
he would come and rescue the Jews from their mental
grave.

Sir T. BARING suggested the propriety of incorporating
the present Society with the Philo.Judwan Society. There
were now three Societies in London for promoting the
propagation of Christianity among the Jews. Toe Lou-
don Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews
was solely spuriimil, and might, therefore, stand alone;
but he thought that the other two Sleieties would be more
snecessfd in the subject they had in view if they were to
unite in their endeavours.

The Rev. Mr. SCOTT said that they ought all to love
the Jews. As a Scotelnuan, he could not look on a de-
scendant of Wallace or of Knox without a thrill ; then
how could any one look on the meanest old clothesman in
Monmouth-street, without that affection which they should
entertain for the flesh and kin of Christ; for it was in
Jewish flesh and kin that the Lord lad redeemed man-
'kind? Delusions were the things that prevented nations
of the earth arriving at a spiritual sense of their condition.
Seine in delusion supposed that genius, and science, and
art, elevated a nation ; others—the political economists—
that man's mismanagement in population, and finance, and
government, lowered a nation, These were delusions that
must be got over by acts ; and the Lord, when the time
was conic, would make it manifest to heaven, to earth, and
to bell, that it was he alone who could raise or depress a
❑ation.

The Rev. Mr. REES said, the only question they wished
the Jews to consider was—whether they had gone far
enough or not with their religion ; for all that was now
Tegitired of theta was to inquire. The commentary of the
Lord Jesus Christ was to be found in the New Testament;
and all that the Society wished was that the Jew shi,uld
,;turfy that book deeply und thoroughly. His heart and
soul prayed for the restoration of God's ancient people.
The Rev. GERARD NOEL leaving said that lie could not
express in words the emotions of his mind, event on to
observe that th'e motto of God was "Welt doue, good
and Bucq.s.sful servant," kui done, good uud faithful
servant.'' Faith way the duty imposed on the creature,
but success was reset veil for the arm of the Creator alone.
The Purpose that was emblazoned in Jehovah's bosom
would not waver, and thyy had only to wait for God's
arts to do the mighty work. What though they Inal en-
. courtgement or discouragement—what ti ottgh their vessel,
a wreck, went down into the abyss of the deep—stilt,
under the guidance of the same imallible pilot, they would
certainly he wafted into a blessed haven at last. The
world's happiness was bound up with the theme of Jew-
and no deep-toned harmony' would be heard on
itill mercy,eearthill, in the presence of Emmanuel, the chaunt in
praise went forth from Jewish lips and from
Jewish
i R! sh'file. hisvats::
The:rY wARD laveNu entered into a lengthy tlis-

course, which lasted an hour, for the purpose of showing
that Christiami, as the seed of Abraham by faith, were
'sound to eommunicate the blessings they enjoyed to the
:iferal Israel, to which pertain the adoption, and the
•lory, and the cevenants, and tie, giving of the law,
LA the s,rviee, and the promises ; whose are the
ethers, and of whom, as coneernlty; the flesh, Christ
-tune, which is over ail, God Idessed for ever. The
Reverend Orator took ova:avian to observe that the
Christian world was under great obligations to the Jews.
for maintaining the religion against the world and the
Devil. The Jew, whether his worldly disabilities were re.:
moved or retained, could not have honour, or peace, 'or en
joyment, or blessedness in this world, because God himseli
had imposed disabilities on him ; and till they acknow-
ledged Jesus to be Christ, it could never 1 e well with
them. If this was not understood, it was because
the prophecies were not rightly understood. The
door, however, had heen opened by the baptism of the
twelve Jews already alluded to, which was a practical de,
monstration given by God of his purpose. It might be
said that he was at his old work again—(A laugh)—bat
he hoped that he should be at it till he died. We have not
room for the whole of the Rev. Gentleman's long religious
argument ; but the following is the moat remarkable pas-
sage, pretty nearly as he delivered it: —1 contribute no
money to this Society, because I have none to give; yes
I do not feel that I am not giving ; and you that have no
money to give, ran contribute in a far higher and better
ewits. Faith is that by which you pledge yourself; and
reputes knowledge; therefore we must know the
W,xd of God concerning the Jews, and believe it; and
then we cm mske it the subject of prayer. To pray with-
out knowledge is to pray without faith ; it is to pray at a
venture; it is not a prayer which the. Lord loves. Our
prayer is not to be—" Do thy will with the Jews." We
are rather to find out what is his will ;:to you he has given
the honour of being the prophets of his will. For this
we must have eyes before, behind, and within, to see what
we are to do ; behind, that we mey see what God's provi-
4cnee has been ; and before, that by seeing the things that
are to come, we may make them the subject of prayer,
and, if need be, of controversy too—of stern, hot of
hiving controversy. If they talk against controversy, they
know not what they say; and the man that will not stand
up fur the truth to the death, does not possess it, kna
cannot have it. This is what is called error. I deny it.
It is faith. I believe these things, and therefore I speak
of them.

The Rev. Ikon 111'NEIL said that the Jews hid no
alternative between believing in or untlergok.g
eternal damnation.

One or two other
_speakers addressed the Meeting; the
officers for the year having been appointed, arid a series of
religious resolutions agreed to, the Meeting separated.