The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-30
AS SEEN BY THE RABBIS.
The Value OF Mission Work From n
Jewish Standpoint

held in this city during the last week is
| shown in the sermon preached yesterday
by two eminent rabbis. Rev Dr. Pereira
Mendes and Rev. DR.. Joseph Silverman.
DR.. Silverman. from his pulpit in Temple
| Emanuel, praised the missionaries for
being the advance guard of civilization in
| many countries and among many peoples,
but condemned the pill and tract meth
DDS which they had taken into Palestine.
He protested against conversions oo-
! tanned by bribes.'' DIR. Silverman appealed
for the founding of more Hebrew missions
in Palestine to counterfeit the efforts of
the Christian missionaries
There may be some Justification for
converting the heathen." he said, for
| Christianity can give him in place of his
| idols belief in a personal Saviour. and
can exchange his barbaric religious prac-
| tees for uplifting influences of mind and
! heart. But there is no Justification for
/ converting Mohammedans. Buddhists. or
Jews, for Christianity has nothing to offer
better than their own religions
DR.. Silverman said attempt; to convert
the Hebrews were an insult their in
telligence.
We are now Witnessing the great and
interesting spectacle of the church mill
tant gathered here from all parts of the
world to hear reports on foreign missions
and deliberate on plans for future religious
propaganda Skeptics by attending the
conference can learn that the foundations
of universal church are being laid broad
and deep in the enlightened countries of
the world.
q ant tn ~
educational. moral. and harmonizing in
fuence of true missionaries in bringing
religion to the heather, in breaking down
idols and superstitions and giving the bar
barian the true idea of God and making
the world better place to live in. The
missionary is the advance guard of civili-
cation.
But while there is much to praise,
there are features of the missionary work
that fill us with Indignation. One is the
missions to the Hebrews. In Palestine
they have maintained churches. clinics,
hospitals, and corps of nurses and doctors
to attend the physical and spiritual wants
of those whom they can eptice into their
missionary stations. The clinics are pro-
vided with tables for medicines and tables
for tracts. They give the patient pill
and tract and tell him: Here is medi-
cine for your body and soul The system
would seem ludicrous If 1t were not for !
the fact that the missionaries are very |
serious in their religious fervor.
But the method, after all, is a kind of
bribery to induce people to leave their re- !
ligion for the sake o. gaining physical |
relief. The method has been much con- |
demned in this city. and to considerable
extent abandoned. | heard missionary !
to Palestine say he encountered obstacles |
as 4 missionary. but as a physician he |
gained the confidence of those Jews whom |
he sought to bring to the light of Chris |
tianity- He described the manner in |
which some Jews accepted the medicine
and tracts. They took the medicine gladly, |
but reluctantly took the tracts. They
looked cautiously around TO see if anyone
was noticing when they accepted the
tracts fearing accommodation by their
brethren.
"As | listened to this missionary. and
saw how his people believed his words. l
felt almost impelled to challenge him to
state facts without color of his own inter-
pretations, ambitions, and hopes.
I'VE know the feelings and sentiments
of the Jews the world over, and never
doubt their loyalty TO God and the religion
Of their fathers. The missionaries COM
plain that they never get at the hearts Of
the Jews, and don't know why. They
never will know why, for Christians never
can thoroughly understand Jews
1T is true. jews in Palestine suffering
poverty and illness NAV for the sake of
their families take occasional relief and
medical treatment from Christian mis-
sioneries. but it seems unfair, irreligious,
and un-Chrstian to force the Sick ard
needy to surrender their religion for the
sake of obtaining needed relief.
Here is an important field for the Zion
lists. The lovers of Palestine should in
vcstigate the tactics of the missionaries
there and place the facts before the
world. Political Zionism may well be
postponed until We have remedied this
crying evil. Our present agencies for re-
lief and medical treatment in Palestine
seem to be inadequate, and there is need
Of providing Jewish missions for Hebrews
to couuteract the efforts of the mission
aries
Or. Mendes Of the Spanish and Portu-
guese Congregation. said: 1T is a wonder
tul proof OF the possibilities of civilization
to have in this city conference such as
has been holding it's meetings within the
last week. That delegates can come from
all parts of the world in the sacred cause
of religion is grand evidence of the on
ward march of humanity. 1t is a Christian
convention and it has special reference
to missionary work. All honor TO the
brave Christian men and women who give
up all home ties to go TO strange lands
deem right.
What saith the Jew concerning this
conference and the mission work of the
Christian Church?
To such conferences. to such magnif-
cent enthusiasts for mission work to
such earnest men and women, who
are trying to gain the vast multitudes of
pagans to loyalty to the Cross. the Hebrew
has this to say: Brothers and sisters, You
allege that Judaism was too repeiIent TO
win the outside world. and. therefore the
daughter faith sprang into existence. II
this be true wherefore is 1t that there are
after nearly two thousand years of effort.
such countless millions of human beings I
who MOhammedan. Brahmia, Buddhist,
Confucian, or heather?
There is not a single one of the So
called great powers of the world which
does not give the lie to Christianity today.
For where is peace and where is good
WILL when huge armies are held in the
leash and tie ironclad monsters of the
deep are ready to belch destruction from
their death tubes
can the uniptelligent heather be won ;
over by cruelties and monstrous treat
ment. to which they have been, and are.
subjected by French. Germans Belgians,
and Beers in Africa? The story of the
Beers flashing Kafiir women with hide
whips was indeed a sad object lesson of
Christian love.
Most Hebrews are better Christians
than most Christians are. For Hebrews
follow the religion of the Founder of the
Christian faith and keep the laws of
Moses and the Prophets as he kept them !
a few bad characters among the Jews will
always be found ready to become Chris