Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-01
TO CONVERT HEBREWS
Rev. Mr.. Freshman Trying to Organ
ize Christian Missions
FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS PEOPLE.
The Nation Will Pe Restored According to
the Prophecies.
PROGRESS BEING MADE IN NEW YORK

Rev. Jacob Freshman, Of New York,
pastor Of the only Hebrew Christian church
in the United States, has been in Pittsburg
for several weeks. He is accompanied by
his wife, and they are making tour of the
principal cities, stirring up Christian peo-
pie to work for the conversion of
the Hebrews. He is meeting
with some success, though he finds
it no easy task. Mr.. Freshman is an intel
ligent, enthusiastic man, devoted to his
people, and he thinks the time is coming
whom, according to the propeces, they will
accept Christ, and the nation will be re-
stored.
Last evening he delivered an address at
the prayer meeting in Rev. Mr.. Fox's
church in Allegheny. Mr.. Freshman was
well received. He explained how he was
converted, and told of his struggles
in establishing the church in New
York. 1t was a constant effort, and at
times he hadn't money enough to buy food
for his family. Now he has 100 names on
the membership book, and the congregation
bought and paid for a church property. In
England he said the work of converting the
Hebrews is being carried on extensively,
and Mr.. Freshman is anxious to have mis-
sions with this object in view started in all
the large cities of America
His Father a Rabbi.
In his address he said: "My father was
q rabbi, and 1 was born in Hungary. We
emigrated to the United States, and finally,
after years of doubt and study, my father
accepted the Christ ian religion. He became
convinced that Christ was divine from
reading the Hebrew Bible. 1t is the Old
Testament and the same that all Christian
people use It took my father many
years to come to this conclusion, and, OF
course, being young, my conversion was
easier. My father read the Hebrew Bible,
aud showed me from a number of passages
that Jesus was God. Well, said to him,
If these things are true why don't cur peo-
pie become couverted?' He replied that
prejudice had much to do with it, and as
Paul said, their eyes are veiled. Our fam
lily turned Christian. 1 have seen a
number of Hebrews in my house
in New York at all hours
of the day. have read to them from their
own Bible. They were so interested they
would often say to me: rs that our Bible?
Are those things in it?' They imagined l
had Christian Bible, when as matter of
fact there is no difference between them.
I have been engaged in this missionary
work for IL years I have sent out young
Hebrews to preach the gospel, and four are
now in a seminary studying for the minis
try. A short time ago baptized Hebrew
rabbi from Poughkeepsie and his
nine children. Arrangements were made
at once for him to labor with the Presby-
terians in the downtown district of New
York. 1t is surprising how many Hebrews
there are in the United States.
The Work in New York.
'In New York they number 200, 900 alone.
Scattered as they have been, it is remarka-
BILE how they have kept together I find
considerable prejudice here and there
against them, it is true, but many Christian
people love the Hebrews, because they
were chosen of God to do certain work.
men through the Hebrews, but they
failed to do their part love
my people, for 1 know their
worth. During the palmy days of Judea
the Hebrews were tillers of the soil. They
were thrifty and industrious, but not the
money-getters they are to-day. Persecution
has driven the Hebrews into trade. The
time was when they couldn't hold property.
1t was liable to be torn from them at any
time. What was the result? They were
lOTceu iHto ndnAlnS, eAcndAgluS uouey anu
the jewelry business The property was
something that they could put in a tin box
and flee at the sound of warning. The
trade spirit has been instilled into the race
through long generations, and this is the rea-
son why the Hebrews are such great busi-
ness men. Now the world is mad because
the Hebrews have become rich. Under the
conditions imposed by society there was
nothing left for them to do but make
money in self defense. Whenever one of
my people is converted they are full of the
missionary spirit and are anxious 20 go out
and labor for the conversion OF Others. The
day is not far hence when the Hebrew peo-
pie will be Christians