New-York tribune., 1899-05-28
MISSIONS TO THE Jews.

Jewish children branded with the sign OF the
cross by overzeaous workers in the cause or
Christianity and Hebrew Christians" pelted
with stones and eggs by Jews were among the
startling East Side news incidents OF last week.
Performances Of this kind are outgrowths of the
scheme TO Chrstianizc the Jews Of New-York,
and are as dlsgraceful as they are uncalled for;
and while the assaults on the missionaries must
be charged against the ignorant Jews, the Mis-
sions to the Jews" are responsible in the first
instance. The scheme TO lead, coax or drive
the Jew out of his faith into another is
thankless task. He is Jew and he re1oices In
II. and does not wish to be converted TO Chris
tianity. For centuries he has resisted the over
lures OF the proselyter and the missionary In
countries and at times when change would
have been a blessing to him and his. "Re
nounce your faith and be a man; remain Jew
and continue to be slave" has been dinned
into his ears for generations, but never with
any effect He has seen his civil rights dwindle
and shrink until they were gone; he has felt the
knout Of Russia and the fire Of Spain with like
indifference. HIS loyalty to his faith and his
yeneratlon for the edicts Of his fathers never
grew less, and the blood OF persecution was the
cement with which the family union became
STRENGTHENED The Jew went to the stake or to
the rack or out Of the country which he had
looked upon as home, true to his faith, chant
ing his Schema -Ysroel" Thousands Of these
people who have been driven from other lands
| because Of their creed have found homes in
New-York. Here they worship as they please;
they enjoy liberty beyond their expectation;
being Jews does not debar them here from any
| rights or privileges which people of other re-
ligious denominations enjoy; they are free men.
who need not fear nor be ashamed to worship
| their God in their own way, and they thor
oughly appreciate the blessing.
But there are good, simple-mlnded people who
believe that the Jews can be induced to re-
| nounce their faith and they contribute money
toward the cause, and support men who make
| reports at stated intervals showing how many
Jews were brought to Christ through their
labors BY promises OF rewards and brbes Of
various kinds these Christlanlzed Jews, who act
as missionaries, induce few persons to pose as
converts. but the whole scheme is looked upon
with suspicion by the Jews who live near the
| mission houses The missionaries make nc
efforts to Christlanize the educated or the re
fined Jews, but direct all their energies toward
the poor, degraded inhabitants of the Ghetto
|
accent and reading from the Bible In a way
suggestive Of "coler bottoms and sisponders,
| they pretend to make the Jews forget the faith
for which their ancestors died and they became
| wanderers on the face Of the earth
The Hebrew Christian missionary may talk
md sing to the older members OF the East Side
community; he may brand the sign Of the cross
on the children or bring them TO Sunday.schoo
with promises OF candy and free outings; he
may make plausible representations to the good
people who supply the funds for his undertak
ing. but he will never convert the Jews. II
good people wish to devote time and money tt
bettering the condition OF these people, who's;
degradation is the result to a great extent OF re
liglOus intolerance, let them give II to those wht
nre trying to make the East Side people bette
Jews. That Is a possibility. Let them aid thu
Jewish organizatons--if they will allow them
selves TO be aded-which have for their objec
the Americanizaton Of the Russian. Polish ant
Rumanan immigrant. Learning 10 read ant
write the English language, generating the ial
and singing The Star Spangled Banner" will
! make the children Of NewYorks Ghetto NOR,