The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-01-10
fdently expect help in time of perplexity
and need, and good measure of success in
the prosecution of our basshtsss as !.
FoR rHE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN
A JEWISH MISSION.

Is there not something significant in th'
treatment Jews are receiving from the hands
of Gentiles now And is not the gratitude
of that proud, though abject people, for ia
Vors shown, particularly noticeable? They
seem to feel now, more nearly than ever,
their outcast condition; and we catch
glimpseS of the harp upon the Willows .
and the tears of their estrangement. The
world has opened before them, but it has
ever been "a strange land" That they are
receiving attention from many nations, can
not be denied. l think We should be proud
that America is first in this work; for what
is the meaning of that recent Offering to our
nation from Jews? Perusing one of the
most popular of our periodicals lately, l
found the Jew on more pages than ever be-
fore, and in every instance kindly dealt with,
viz. "Thst the Jews killed Christ is the
principal thing that many excellent Chris
tians remember about that extraordinary
race. They forget that the race also gave
birth to Christ" "There can be no reply
TO the tremendous retort of the Israelite upon
whom the Christian had spat-' that half
christendom worship Jew and the other
half Jewess. 20. G., in Scribnsr's
Monthly.
"In the crooked alleys of the quarter we
had struck upon the Jews Gate-the claus
tro Lsraeltico-and in half minute passed
from the quiet of a narrow square to buz.
zing, huuuiug, chattering, auttering, five
story hive of human creatures; faces quite
different from those around the corner;
words of an unknown dialect with another
FIVE story or eight story hive beyond, and
beyond, and beyond; the walls bulging or
collapsing as from the dead weight of human
numbers; the innumerable windows over
hanging with heads, and making you think
they must be taking turns with the crowd
inside, in escaping sufocatiou. In the street
the women sat against the wall or in the
dark doors, patching old clothes or sewing
together bright colored pieces of silk and
embroidery Of every shape and age, as
though the row had an order to fit out a first
class circus or fancy ball before tomorrow
night. Some of their faces were, to me, very
interesting, The true Hebrew type sur.
passes in more than one point that of most
European races. It contains quick mex
pressibilisy, deicacy and versatility of ap-
prehension, sentiment. And why not Are
not these poor, abused children of exile,
these slaves and jests of Christian genera
tiOns-are they not the children also of the
sacred seer Isaiah, of the sublime, the sweet
poet David; a people whose music, first
heard of old in the worlds dim morning be-
meath the tents of Jubsl, has held the listen
ing heart of men with the noblest strains of
modern genius have known them in
practical and in educational relations and
wish to add my testimony against the Chris
tian stupidity and hate that have victimized
them for 80 lOng-against the prejudice
which survives among the cultivated to their
own social loss. Pictures from Rome. W.
Lsmorour. Scri6ner's Monthly.
Whatever may be thought of fiction in
connection with this subject was not lit
tie surprised that one of the greatest, if not
the greatest of living novelists last work was
a portrayal of Jewish character. There are
few in the literary world who know the Jew
other than Shylook. Of this work one in
authority has said, 1t is the fullest and
brOadest expression that the spirit of this age
has found in literature" and of the authors
capabilities, "EVery true literary artist gives
voice to some fraction of has time"
There are indications that the "set time
for favoring Zion is at hand. They are
favorably turned towards America. We have
given them unmolested homes, but the Z" gift
un8peskable" they refuse. Why have We
not Jewish mission? Are not IsraeliteS
weeping by the walls of beloved Jerusalem ?
There are those who look upon mission to
China as a very foolish thing; cannot these
take up the Jews? Will the Jewish nation
be brought in, and our beloved Southern
brethren have no hand in the matter
L. H. H.