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We would have been much pleased could our first number have appeared
without a complaint against any portion of the American people. But
unfortunately, all the ministers of religion are not like Dr. Ludlow, and all the laymen are not like Dr.
Meigs and Mr. Wines. Prejudice in its worst form, a dislike for our
religion, is still the characteristic of a vast multitude, and the
effect of this prejudice is seen in the revival of the association
mentioned above, in former days known as the "American Society for
Meliorating the Condition of the Jews," and the revival too of its
organ, "Israel's Advocate," under the humbler title of Jewish
Chronicle.* We had believed, and so written to our friends in Europe,
that the Society had died for want of members, want of means, and want
of converts; since for nearly eighteen years we had heard nothing of its
operations, or even its whereabouts, except that now and then a man
formerly well known, though not to us, as the Rev. J. S. C. F. prey,
came forth from his domicile somewhere in New York or New Jersey,
lecturing to his Jewish brethren in Christian churches. Except the
labours of this curious being, equally famous for length of name as the
number of creeds he has professed, and a stray report once in a long
while in the papers which we did not read: there was like from Baal on
Carmel, "neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any one that
regarded." But with the general attention lately paid to religious
matters in America, this "bubble of the earth" has also crept
again out of its chrysalis state, and has raised funds, employed
missionaries, and printed a paper. As we mean to treat this society with
all fairness and courtesy, we will let it tell its history in its own
words:
"In connection with , the efforts which are
now making to increase the resources and revive the usefulness of this
Institution, a short account of its history and a view of its present
position will not be deemed out of place in the columns of this journal.
"The earliest. distinct movement in behalf of
the Jews in the United States, was made by the formation of a society in
this city in the year 1816, under the title of 'The American Society for
Evangelizing the Jews,' the declared object of which was, to endeavour
to evangelize the Jews by delivering to them stated lectures, and
furnishing them with suitable tracts.
"The success of this institution was not,
however, commensurate with the expectations of its founders, and it.
continued in a languishing condition until the year 1819, when a new and
a powerful impulse was given to the sympathies of the friends of Israel
in this city, in consequence of the receipt of intelligence from
Germany, announcing the desire of a number of Christian Jews to emigrate
to the United States for the purpose of forming a Christian Jewish
settlement. The expediency of such a settlement was also urgently
advocated in a letter addressed by an intelligent German Jew to the Rev
J. S. C. F. Frey who had then recently arrived in this country, and by
whom these communications were laid before the public.
"At a meeting of clergymen and laymen convened
in the city of New York, on the 25th January, 1820, for the purpose of
taking the subject into consideration, it was unanimously resolved that
it was expedient to form a society for colonizing and evangelizing Jews.
On the 8th February, the society was formed, and a constitution adopted.
Application was immediately made to the Legislature of the state of New
York, for an act of incorporation, which was accordingly passed on the
14th April, and by which the society was incorporated under the name
which it now bears.
"Arrangements were then commenced for
procuring funds, in order to carry the plans of the society into full
effect. The Rev. Mr. Frey was appointed their agent, and through his
indefatigable exertions, a large amount of money was soon collected, and
numerous auxiliary societies were established throughout the United
States. In consequence, however, of diversities of opinion entertained
by the members of the society, respecting the location and extent of the
contemplated settlement, and the plan upon which it should be conducted,
in addition to the delays necessarily connected with the preliminary
arrangements, it was not until the year 1824, that they finally
determined to purchase a tract of the
site of their settlement. The occurrence of new difficulties occasioned
a still further suspension of action upon this subject, until the year
1827, when a farm of five hundred acres was purchased at New Paltz,
Ulster county, in this state, and prepared for the reception of
converted Jewish emigrants from Europe. Several of these had in the
interval arrived in this country, and been provided for in various
temporary places of reception.
"Several years had now elapsed since the
establishment of the society, and the results which had been looked
forward to with so much ardour of feeling and liveliness of sympathy
were not yet realized. The opinions of the Christian public had begun to
undergo a change. The doubts which had always been entertained by some
in regard to the practicability of the whole enterprise now became more
general. Various efforts had been already made to modify the original
objects of the society, so as to authorize the employment of its funds
for other purposes, by a change of its constitution; but without
success. The result of all these circumstances was a gradual and general
withdrawal of public confidence and support from the institution, and
that at a juncture when it stood most in need of both.
"The purchase of the farm, and the liquidation
of other unavoidable expenses connected with the settlement, had by this
time nearly exhausted the treasury, and it became necessary to devise
some new plan for its replenishment. In the year 1828 an agent was sent
to Europe for the purpose of obtaining co-operation and assistance from
that quarter; but, although a large expenditure of funds was thus
occasioned, no benefit whatever was derived
from the measure. As a last effort the society determined to
modify their original object so far as to connect with it the plan of a
mission to the Jews. A Jewish convert was selected for this important
work, and, having been solemnly ordained, was sent out to labour among
his brethren in the vicinity of the Mediterranean. But, in consequence
of his refusing to continue in the society's service, this undertaking
also was completely frustrated.
"By this time the farm at New Paltz had become
useless for the purposes for which it was originally purchased. The few
remaining proselytes under the care of the society were induced to leave
the establishment, and no others were found to apply for admission. The
property itself began rapidly to deteriorate in value, and in order to
relieve themselves from increasing pecuniary embarrassment, the society
were finally compelled to subject it to the incumbrance of a mortgage.
Under these disastrous circumstances the suspension of all active
operations became unavoidable.
"In the year 1835 the New Paltz farm was
disposed of at auction, at a considerable advance on its original cost.
With part of the funds the mortgage then existing upon it was paid off,
and the remainder of the purchase money was secured by a new bond and
mortgage from the purchaser, in which form of investment it still
remains.
"Several years of inaction now followed, and
the society for a time disappeared in a great degree from the public
eye. The requisitions of its charter were, however, still scrupulously
complied with, and all the forms of its corporate existence carefully
observed. The board of directors continued to meet as usual, and to hold
themselves in readiness for action whenever, in the course of an
all-wise Providence, the way should again be opened before them.
"The first opportunity for resuming active
operations, in any degree, was afforded in the year 1836, when the Rev.
Mr. Frey proposed to raise a fund, under the direction of the society,
for translating, printing, and circulating among the Jews in Europe and
America, a work then recently published by him, under the title of
'Joseph and Benjamin.' The offer was accepted, and the object was soon
successfully accomplished, by the collection of an adequate fund for the
purpose.
"In 1840 the society were enabled to make
themselves useful in a limited degree, by administering to the
necessities of several destitute Jews in this city; who had manifested a
willingness to receive Christian instruction. A small school was also
opened and conducted for a time under the supervision of the board of
directors, with some success; but finding themselves without sufficient
means for its support, they were compelled reluctantly to discontinue
it.
"In the year 1841 a new course of action was
determined on. In order to secure the means of adequately prosecuting
their benevolent designs respecting the Jewish people, without being
subjected to the difficulties from which they had formerly suffered so
much disappointment and defeat, the society, at their annual meeting in
that year, resolved to open a new fund, for the purpose of meliorating
the condition of the Jews 'otherwise than by a settlement, and to
solicit subscriptions and donations for said fund, to be disposed of for
the temporal relief of such Jews as may need it, and for such other aid
to Jews, as such, irrespective of any profession of Christianity
on their part, as may appear fit and proper.' Soon after this, it was
further resolved to employ a missionary to labour among the Jews in the
United States, and an invitation was sent to an eminent German convert
from Judaism to undertake that office. An appeal was at the same time
made to the Christian public, through an agent, in behalf of these new
objects, and with the most encouraging success. The cause of outcast
Israel was found to be still dear to the hearts of the people of God.
Large auxiliary societies were established in several cities in the
eastern states, and liberal contributions were made in aid of the new
fund.
"Encouraged by these new and most gratifying
tokens of public confidence, the board of directors have determined to
go forward in the path thus providentially opened before them, and
which, they have every reason to believe, will ultimately prove to be to
them the path of duty, and of true and abiding usefulness. Henceforth
they have determined to devote their efforts, and all the means which
may be placed at their command, to the accomplishment in the most
liberal sense, of the object which the title of their association
sufficiently indicates; and, first of all, they have turned their
attention to the condition of the descendants of Abraham in their own
immediate vicinity. Here a most encouraging commencement of their
labours has been already made; as will appear from other articles in
this paper. The recent employment of a missionary to visit among the
Jews of this metropolis has laid open, under their own eye, a field of
enterprise hitherto almost wholly overlooked, and extensive enough to
engross all their benevolent attentions and sympathies. Facts of an
interesting character respecting the spiritual condition and temporal
circumstances of our own Jews are daily brought to light. A deplorable
degree of ignorance, even in regard to their own religious belief, is
found to prevail among them. Few are able to assign a reason even for
the vague and feeble hope that is in them, and some openly express their
rejection of all revelation. But it is gratifying to add that others are
found who receive the visits of the missionary willingly and with
thanks, listen patiently to his exposition of the Sacred Word, accept
with gladness the gift of Bibles and Testaments in their own tongue, and
evince a most encouraging desire to know more respecting Him whom their
fathers rejected, and of whom Moses in the law and the Prophets did
write.
"But not only spiritual destitution has been
found to prevail among these hapless outcasts of Israel; cases of abject
penury and extreme personal suffering, strongly appealing to the
philanthropic heart, have been brought to the notice of the board of
directors. Some of these have been relieved; to the extent of the means
at their disposal. For the rest, they would throw themselves upon the
liberality of their friends.
"It is proposed to devote the fund now in
progress of being raised, under the direction of the society, to the
employment of a missionary to labour among the Jews of the United
States, to the temporal relief of indigent and deserving individuals of
that denomination, to the circulation of tracts, bibles, and testaments.
among them, and to the communication of Christian instruction through
any other appropriate channel.
"Such are the objects contemplated by the
American Society, and such the incentives which exist to animate them in
their enterprise. They would commend both to the earnest and prayerful
regard of their Christian friends and brethren throughout the Union, and
especially to the favour and protection of Him in whose hand are the
hearts of all, and whose word is rich in the promise of blessings to
those who remember, in the season of their affliction, the ancient
people of his choice."
This is all we intend saying at present on this
subject; but in conclusion, we will only call the attention of our
friends in New York, where the society is established, and where from
the great number of Israelites it hopes to gain a plentiful harvest of
converts, to the fact, as detailed in the Jewish Chronicle for January,
February, and March, that one of its agents, a person by the name of Mr.
James Forester, has been visiting the poorer classes of Jews ever since
last October, for the sake of giving a little charity, in one instance
the sum of twenty-five cents,
and to talk a great deal about the Messiah. Our space this month will
not allow us to go into details; but we invite the serious attention of
the ministers and elders of our persuasion in that city; and call on
them to be up and adoing, to counteract any evil the society or its
agents may attempt--to be forearmed, by being forewarned.
We shall recur to this subject, no doubt; in the meantime, we
inform our Christian friends, the managers of the American Society for
Meliorating the Condition of the Jews, that we shall keep a watchful eye
on their movements.
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