The Portland daily press., 1894-12-17
THE LAST MEETINGS.
Saturdays Sessions of the Christian Work
ers-A Strong Word for the Boys.

morning meeting of the Christian WORK
ers Saturday and then Rev. David Allen
Reed, the presiding officer, introduced
Miss Florence E. Ben-Oliel, of Jerusalem,
who proved to be very bright speaker,
fully acquainted.w her subject, Jew
ess as her name indicated, but fui! OF
Christian zeal. She told of the work
conducted in Jerusalem by iher father,
Rev. A braham Ben-Olie], who is devoted
to the idea of Christian union. When
her,father was converted tosthe Christian
faith. he was disowned by his family,
and the prayers for the dead were read
for-him, but in the end adj his family
followed his example, and they are now
all ministers. Miss Ben-Oliel, said that
when her father was converted he knew
very little about the divisions among
Christians, and whenshe was ordained,
in order to- carry out the idea of Chris
tian unity, in which he believed, he
asked ministers of six different denomi-
nations to assist in the service.
She pointed out the fact that in the
Bible curses were pronounced on the
Holy Land, but they were to be changed
into blessings. The Jews never have
possessed their own land in the full
ness of the promises, and have yet to
come. to their own. The idea of Jewish
nationality is stronger now shan at any
time since the destruction of Jerusalem
by the Romans. Ten years ago there
were less than 1000 Jews in what was
once their own lard, now there are more
than 100000, and with that coming
back of the ancient people to their own
land there has come a change in natural
things. The annualsrain fall has in
creased, the Promised Land shall yet be
a garden of the Lord. The Jews who are
going back to the Holy Land are think
ing and deeply religious people, versed in
the Bible, and fully ready to be reasoned
with. A Jew is hard to convert, hard
to be brought to see in Jesus Christ the
Holy One, but when once converted they
make the best Bible Christians. More
than 500 Protestant pulpits in Europe
are now filled by converted Jews.
But few years ago Jerusalem within
the walls was built on it's own srulns.
Now the city outside the walls.is larger
and better than that within. Miss Ben
Oliel did not think that as race the
Jews would go back, that is, that there
would be anything like universal re-
turn to their ancient land, but that
there would he nation added to the
nations of the world. perhaps another
republic. She spoke of bright young
Jew, now in Jerusalem, man finely
educated, who is anxious to come here
to fit himself for the work of an evan
gelist She wondered if there was not
some rich man present who would send
him to the Springfield school.
"Perhaps some Portland church
would do it,"t said lady in a timjd
sort of way.
Mis-. Mary A. Perkias, of this city,
made brief speech, but very effective
one. "I'lI give $40 to help do it, and l
think we ought to raise the money here
and now"
"How much will it require, Mr.. Reed"
said delegate.
"About 1925 year, and will find
some one who will take 500 Of that
amount" replied Mr.. Reed.
81 will give $25," said J.R. Libby.
"You may put me down for $780," said
Rev. A. SouJhworth.
In five minutes the balance was made
up, and then Mrs. Perkins said, How
much will it cost to bring him over?"
"I'm so glad you mentioned that"
said.Miss Ben Oliel, and then the lady
from Jerusalem, Mr.. Reed and Others
figured it up. reaching the conclusion
that about $40 would be necessary.
"I'll give S. of it," said Mrs. Perkins,
and from all over the house various
sums were pledged, and before the time
for the regular brief devotional service
was reached Mr.. Reed announced that
the entire amount had been pledged.
II want to make first fruits Offering"
said Miss Ben-Oliel; for the first time
in my life Pm to have salary, and l
want TO give si0."
After the money had been raised Miss
Benz liel had very pleasant talk with
Rev.G. w. Reynolds, of Gorham, who
two years ago visited the mission con-
Quoted by her father in Jerusalem.
Mr.. c. N. Crittenton, of New York, then
spoke of the work of the Florence Crit
tenton mission in New York, the moth
er mission" now represented al over the
country.
1t was named after his daughter who
died several years ago, and whose death
was followed by his own conversion, and
finally by his taking up the special work
of rescuing fallen women. He gave the
name of little. child to the mission that
has been SO greatly blessed. 1t may be
said in passing that Mr.. Crittenton is
very rich business man, and that he has
devoted much of his time, and large
sums of money to his special work. He
is very eloquent talker, and held his
audience to the last. Story followed
story. pathetic pen pictures of scenes
and incidents of his work, stories of
wonderful results that had followed his
work, of splendid battles against temp
tation and OF precious souls saved He