Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-26

| the commonwealth, shows that the naviga-
| tion act which the long parliament passed
| In 1851 had direct effect upon the Jews
| who were settled in the Dutch and English
| colonies
The object of this famous measure was
| to exclude foreign nations from the colo
| NAL trade, and to supplant the Dutch in
carrying and distributing the traffic of
| Europe. Mr.. Wolf says: "a considerable
| number of Dutch Jews were already set
| tied in Jamaica and Barbados. and when
| their transactions became limited to the
London market their former correspond
| ents in Amsterdam found 1t necessary to
establish houses in the English metropolis.
The reconquest of Pernambuco by the
Portuguese in 1864 added to the Jewish
population of the British colonies besides
founding an enormous community at SUI
rinam."
The Sugar Industry.
The sugar industry of Barbados and the
vanilla trade of Jamaica were almost ex-
clusively in Jewish hands. The principal
trade of our New England colonies was
with Barbados, Jamaica, Surinam and
Brazil-almost exclusively with those COM
munities where the trade was largely con-
trolled by the Spanish and Portuguese
refugees and their descendants.
1t Is quite probable, we will find, that il
was largely due to the navigation act,
coupled with the liberal laws of the Rhode
Island colony, that in 1853 fifteen Jewish
families from Holland settled in Newport
They were in good circumstances, and the
heads OF these families were chiefly mer-
chants of education and experience in
transmarine commerce.
A Bright Side.
The persecution of the Jews in Spain and
Portugal, and their dispersion to the four
Corners OF the earth, which presents such
dark picture, had a bright eide in its
consequences, In that 1t fcstered interna-
tlonal commerce.; for these refugees, in the
several countries wherein they settled
soon established mercantile correspondence
with one another, thereby building up
profitable trade between such countries
Ihus, In measure, Is due the trade be-
tween the Italian republics and the Levant
and between Holland, England and New
England with Surinam, Barbados, Jamaica
and Brazil.
Our confreres- of the Anglo-Jewish His
tCrlcal society are searching the records of
England with excellent results, and 1
would recommend cooperation wherever
possible, as this can only prove of mutual
help and advantage.
l have every belief that a careful inyes-
tlgation Will reveal a much larger immi-
grafton to America and the contip,,ous
islands than history has taken note of
The closing chapters of the history of the
Jews In Spain and Portugal are the open-
ing chapters of their history on this conti-
nent, and closely connected with the early
settlements In North America. 1t is for
that reason / have deemed II proper on
TINS occasion to confine my observations To
wnat appears to me to be the most inn
PCrtaht phase OF The work we have be-
Iore US ana because this line of INQUIRY
Will throw much light upon the early
commerce of this country which brought
prosperity to the New England colonies
ana stimulated immigration to our shores.
Papers to he Read.
During the meeting, which will, 1t is ex-
pected, close tomorrow. the following
papers will be read: "A Trial by Inouisi-
ton in Mexico" by Dr. Cyrus Adler: "Ad-
dresses OF the Jews of the United States
to Washington and His Replies Thereto"
and The Statue Of Thomas jefferson in
the capitol" Lewis Abrahams of Wash
ington;. Some Notes on the Jews in
Texas" Rev. Henry Cohen, Galveston
Iexes: First Chapters of New York Jew
isn i.T,a history" story Albion M. Dyer. New York
Cinoinn att; Ohio; Additional Notes Con-
cernine the Jews in Sarinam," DR.. b.
Eelscnthal. Chicago; Notes on the Jews
Va Yort Louisiana; mNa,as Prof r. Gottheil. New
and "A Prayer Delivered in the Synagogue
In New York, 1760," Dr. Herbert Frieden-
waid. Philadelphia; Some Further Refer
ences Relating to Hyam Solomon" DIR,
j. n Hollender, Johns Hopkins University:
"A Few Extracts From the Life and Reyo,
lutionary Services of Col. Isaac Franks"
George w. Hufnogle. New Hope. Pa i;
The Earliest Rabbis and Jewish Authors
IN America" DR.. NJ. Kayserling, Buda
Pesth, Austria; PHASES Of Jewish Life in
New york Before 1SOO," and Incidents IL
iustrative of American Jewish Patriotism"
Max j. Kohler, New York; Some Notes on
the Jews of Georgia and South Carolina"
Isaac de Castro Tortas and Joseph An
tohio de Silva-Two South American Mar
the Jews in jamaica and Barba does
EARLY Jewish Literature in America-an
Attempt at photography" George A.
kohut, New York; THE Levy and Seixas
ramlneS OF Newport and New York" ~
Taylor Phillips, New York; THE American
jewish Soldier Simon Wolf, Washington.
D. c.
Sketch Of the Society,
The American Jewish Historical Society
was organized in New York in 1892 in re-
sponse to a circular sent by DIR. Cyrus
Adler Of Washington to a large number
Of prominent Jews throughout the country.
Many responded, and Oscar S. Straus of
New York was elected president DR. C Adler
OF Washington, corresponding secretary
and treasurer, with DIR. Herbert Frieden-
valid, recording secretary. The vice presi-
dents were DIR. Charles Gross of Harvard
College, Prof. John b. McMasters Of the
University of Pennsylvania and Simon w
ROsendale of Albany, n. Y. The member
ship comprises among others the following
Nj.
kayserling. Buda-Pesth; Nj. Anatole Leroy
Beaulien, Paris France; Judge Charles +.
DAILY, New York. The corresponding men,
bers are Messrs. Israel Abrahams, Joseph
Jacobs. Asher Myers and Lucien Wolf,
London; Prof. H. B. Adams, Baltimore
Nd; Gerald L. Hart, Montreal, Canada
and Prof Moses Colt Tyler, Cornell Uni
versity, Ithaca, n. Y.
The active membership comprises many
Of the most prominent Jews in every sec
ton Of the United States among whom are
Rev.Dr. IAaron, Buffalo, NY; Rabbi Henry
Berkowitz, Philadelphia; B. Bernheim,
Louisville, KY; Rabbi. II. NJ. Bien, Vicks-
burg, Miss: Isidor Bush, st. Louis, Mo- !;
Rev. DR.. Edward N. Calisch, Richmond
Va; Rev. Henry Cohen. Galveston, Texas;
Moses A. Dropse. Philadelphia; Justus Ep-
stein, Reading, Pa; Rev. DIR. Guttmacher,
Baltimore, Md; Aaron Haas, Atlanta, Ga
Myer s. 1saacs, New York; Rev.Dr. L. Klee-
berg, New Haven. Conn; Isidor Loeb, Uni
versity of Missouri, Columbia, Mo-; Rev.
II. j, Messing, ST. Louis, Mo-; Rev. DIR.
David Phillipson, Cincinnati. Ohio; s. W.
Rosendale. Albany, N. Y; Rev. c. A. Ru-
binstein, Little Rock, Ark; Julius Silver
smith. Chicago, Ill. Isidor Strauss. member
Of Congress from New York: Capt E. L.
Zalinski, fifth United States artillery, New
York.