The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-11

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..,;,y ~ ,h,, conversions, that they nave taken
49,. ,,no,,y persons of cultivated unders'and-
.,d literary aitsnmenis. we ara moi 10
,aI,l ,h,t m ,.e exccllcat societies nave OPP
-, a vii, success on Ignorance and poverty,
,,,,...h,.ay The one and persuading The other,
r..n.re c.t.er necessity or incapacIiy lay pas-
80 $500 ,hem. These Jewish converts,
- ,ha;r nroto,ype St Paul. brought up al the
60, - t,sr Ganialiels in all the learniag and
,.,.dom OF The Hebrews, now preach the faith
,.'i.b once they destroyed" We have already
,oen,io ed that several have become ministers
Of the Church OF England; on the Continent
we find many among the Lutheran and Re-
formed clergy; they have also their phfs'.
clans. LAWYERS, head and assistant masters OF
the German Gymnasia there are three pro-
fassors and two lecturers, formerly Jews, IN
the University Of Breslau five professors IN
Halle; in Petersburg professor OF Medl-
cine in Warsaw, DR.. Leo, aconvert, Is one
Of The most celebrated physicians; IN Erla'i-
gen we find DIR. Stahl; and in Berlin DIR.
Nrunder, the celebrated church historian.
fully proves that poverty of intellect Is not an
indispensable preliminary to Jewish CONVEX
sion.
But even where the parties have not been
fully brought to the belief and profession II
the Gospel, a mighty good has resulted from
the missionary exer'ions. Ancient aniipaihies
are abated, and prejudices are subdued; the
name OF Christian is less odious 10 the ears Of
the Jews; and many OF the nation, adbering still
IN The faith al their iorefathers, ceased 10 uphold
the almudica doctrine, that the Genies are
beasts created for The purpose Of administer
ing to the necessities OF Israel. They have
conceived respect for our persons, and still
greater for our iatcllects /; an ardent desire Is
now manifested BY the Jews TO hold CONVEX
saiion with the missionaries; along the north
const Of Africa, in Palestine, and in Poland,
they have visited them in crowds; and many
donht!eSs.have borne away with them the seed
Which study Ct the Scriptures will ripen into
conviction.
As consequence Of this more friendly in
terconrse betn cen Jew and Gent le, we must
mention the kinder feelings entertained by the
Hebrews towards a converted brother. We
have heard, indeed, from the lips Of prose-
lyte, that he had, even within the las, four or
five years, observed an improvement in this
respect among his own relations and the
same fact is more amply a'icsted by the opinion
and experience Of Mr.. Herschel.
We wish we could shy that this sentiment
was universal but. alas, we know many and
hmentable exceptions. There are Jews in
all parts Of Europe who dare not avow their
Christianity, so great is the fear Of public re-
rroach or domestic tyranny. In CONSTANT
nopln, Tunis, and Turkey generally. where
the Jews have II police, ard authority over
their own body, conversion is as dangerous as
in Ireland itself. Whenever Hebrew is
suspected nf waverng in his rahbiuical allie
gi,afe, he is imprisoned and bastinalocd; and
no later than January of this year, a young
man in Tunis, who had discovered an inci-
nation to the hated faith, was as~aulled SO vio-
lcniiy by his relations that - he tainted on the
spot" says the missionary. "and fingered
few days, when he died" Nevertheless, con-
versions even there, as in Ireland, are con.
stan,ly on the increase; il being still the good
pleasure 81 God that the blood Of the martyrs
should be tho seed vi the church.
A desire, corresponding to this change Of
sentiment, is manifested to obtain possession
OF the word Of God, aud they eagerly demand
copies vi the Socieiy's editions OF the Old
Testament in Hebrew. In the last two
years $500 copies have been sold by Mr..
Stockieldt, in the Rhensh provinces !; several
thousands on the coast Of Africa by MIR.
.Ewald; and in Konigsberg, Mr.. Berghfcldt
sells copies TO The amount OF about one hun
dred pounds annually. IL Poland and Jeru-
salem tho missionaries can dispose of all that
are sent and the last report OF the Society
nintms Us that a less additional number than
twenty thousand copies would be utterly mad
cqnate to the demands oil the Israelites in all
parts OF the world. 1t is also very observable
th,t thx, el.,t;-, IL.
has excited the liveIie.t interest among the
long neglected females Of the Hebrew nation.
All hi- iudcates prodigious change; hither-
TO they have cared little but for the legends Of
the Ialrnud and rabbincal prcachnenls they
now belake themselves to the study Of Scrip
ture, and viii accept the Pentatench printed
and presented hy the hands Of Christians =
L his abundant diffusion Of the Hebrew Bible
ms, more than any other cause, contributed
to aba reju1ice aid coLciliale affection.
But more important undertaking has al
ready been begun by the zeal and piety of
those who entertain an interest for the Jewish
nation. They have designed the establish
ment Of church at Jerusalem, if possible on
Mount Zion itself, where the order of onr
Service, and the prayers Of the Liturgy shall
daily be set before the faithful in the Hebrew
language. A considerable sum has been col
lected for this purpose; the missionaries are
already resident on the spot; and nothing is
wanting but to complete the purchase of the
ground on which to erect the sacred edifice.
The growing interest manifested for these
regions, the larger investment OF British capt.
tai, and the confluence Of British travellers
and strangers from all parts of the world, have
recently induced the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs 10 station there representa-
tive Of our Sovereign, in the persca of Vice
Consul. This gentleman set sail for AIexan-
dnt at The end Of last Sepiember-his resi-
dence will be fixed at Jerusalem, but his juri,-
dlCilOn will eytenJ ~ iba a. bola rn,,tr,, ,,;,h