The San Francisco call., 1896-04-14
Rev. E. S. Weyler Says He Is
the Jew the Rabbi
Denounced.
INDoRsED BY METHoDIsTs.
Never Cost the Missions a Cent-PreS.
byterians Discuss Rent AMI
Interest.

"1here is no doubt that am the man
10 whom DR.. Voorsanger referred last
week when he spoke of Jew connected
with the Christian-Jewish Mission who
had lost caste among his own people. He
made reference especially to one who
claimed to be descended from David. Ac-
cording to tradition l am descended from
David, but 1 do not care fig for that sort
of tradition. l have never even made the
claim myself"
1t was Rev. S. Weyler of Benicia ho
made this statement at the Methodist
preachers meeting yesterday morning.
Mr.. Weyler is Congregational pastor and
frequenter of the Congregational Mon
day Club, where he has joined regularly
in the discussions. He stated yesterday
that his object in addressing his Metho-
cist brethren was to refute Rabbi Voor-
sanger's staten ents with regard to him.
self in particular and with regard to Chris
tian-J Jewish missions in general.
ut was my wish to have been confronted
here with Rabbi Voorsanger," said Mr.
Weyler. "If | had not known that you
would be occupied with your regular order
of business L should have requested you to
desire the rabbi to be present to confront
sanger in the near future and in the pres
ence Of witnesses challenge him to prove
his statements"
The speaker said he had had nothing to
do with the founding of the Christian
Jewish Mission on Mission street, but
that Henry Chester, one of its origin ators,
had requested him to speak there last
Tuesday week. He had come down from
Benicia at his own expense and had
done so.
rabbi Voorsanger says that each con-
yerted Jew has cost the Christian mis-
sions $50, 600. | am a converted Jew and l
never cost any mission 80 cents. On the
con- trary, Christianity has cost me con-
siderable
II repeatedly, almost obstinately, re-
fused aid from educational societies dur
ing my divinity course at Knox College,
Galesburg, III. | have never asked nor
received cent for Jewish missions in my
life. During my college course l sup
ported myself bv teaching"
The speaker concluded his statements
respecting himself by SAYING he had never
that if any one wanted to know more
about him he would gladly refer them to
President Harper of Chicago, the pro-
fessors of Knox College, or to other Chris
tian divines and reputable Jews.
Referring to Rabbi Voorsanger's general
statements, he said: "The rabbi states that
there are two million Jews in America, and
only 10000 in the synagogues. If tnat is
the case 1T shows that there are plenty of
Jews in need of missions. Surely it is not a
question of an Abrahamic face but an
Abrahamic faith that makes q Jew. Many
even of the Jews that belong to the syna-
gogues are only Jews by race, and not by
faith. The Jews to-day are thinking more
earnestly about Jesus of Nazareth than
ever before, and while some of the converts
surely must be frauds, because Rabbi
Noorsanger says SO. not all are frauds.
Gas to the right of Christians to do mis-
sion work among the Jews, the Jew is
simply soul like any one else, and as
Christians we owe more to the Jews than
their gift to us of Christianity. The
Christian should go more than half way to
meet the Jew. The church needs Jewish
converts for their scholarship, especially
in Hebrew, and for their energy and faith
| do not believe that a converted Jew ever
costs $4,000, but he is worth ii if he does
AS to lSraePs strength, whatever the
rabbits faith may be, we have the strength
OF the living God. Suppose that the Jews
are too strong for US, we cannot fail in our
duty; we have our orders to go out int all
the world and preach"
The speaker concluded by saying that he
had never allowed his name to be used in
COHutCtiOH WIFI Lie odH FTdNC1SCO mis-
sion. But do not think my work there
is done, and | will not cease from the
labor if Rabbi Voorsanger and all the
1000, 600 Jews were behind him.
At the conclusion of the address the
following resolution was unanimously
adopted: "We have heard with pleasure
the statement of our brother, and we
assure him that he has our support and
sympathy"
Rev. DR.. Wythe, who has jus. recovered
from serious illness, was welcomed back
to the meeting with many demonstrations
of esteem ana affection. Rev. J. J. Lewis,
former president of the New Zealand con-
ference. on his way to the Irish conference,
made few remarks. in the course of
which he said that New Zealand was in
the vanguard on the subjects OF social
purity and temperance MS consequence of
its having granted the franchise to women.
The statement was heartily applauded.