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St.
Thomas.—About
the middle of March last, as we learn from one of our correspondents,
under date of April 2, the Rev. Moses N. Nathan, minister elect on the
part of the congregation, arrived at St. Thomas, to assume the sacred
functions to which he had been called by the popular vote, although up
to our last accounts he had not been confirmed by the governor-general
of the Danish islands. Mr. Nathan preached two sermons, and was to give
a third, on the text of Jonah 1:9: “I am an Hebrew and fear the
Lord,” &c. The Synagogue was filled on both occasions, and all
were desirous to hear the next sermon.—From another source, under date
of April 10, we are informed: “He has caused a species of
regeneration; the Synagogue for the last three weeks has been crowded to
excess, insomuch that a subscription is now going on to enlarge the
Synagogue; about fifteen hundred dollars are already collected.” This
result is highly gratifying, and it clearly proves that there is a
better spirit reviving among our people, and that before long every
congregation will strive to have an eloquent man settled among them, to
instruct them in the way of the Lord. In the mean time, we trust that
Mr. Nathan’s confirmation from the Danish government may be soon
obtained, if it has not arrived before this; for, independently of the
personal regard we have for Mr. N., he is far better calculated to serve
an American congregation than any European gentleman who may just
arrive, especially if he be not thoroughly acquainted with the
Portuguese Minhag, the congregation of St. Thomas conforming thereto. It
must not be forgotten that our communities are not rich enough to
support both a minister and a preacher; and hence for some time to come
the incumbent must be qualified to officiate in both capacities, which
could not be the case in St. Thomas, should the preacher not be able to
read the service.—We are also informed that Mr. N. immediately sat
about reorganizing the choir which existed there under the last
minister; and we trust that he will succeed in producing that harmony in
the worship which is “the beauty of holiness.”
Montego
Bay, Jamaica.—The
Synagogue in this place was lately consecrated by the Rev. B. C.
Carillon, of Spanish Town. The congregation in this place is still
without a minister.
Falmouth, Ja.—The
Israelites of this place are discussing the propriety of forming
themselves into a congregation; and we hope to be able to announce their
having done so before long. This will be the second congregation
organized in Jamaica within a year.
Mr. P. S. Jacobs, late of Charleston, S. C., has been elected Assistant
Hazan of the Spanish Town congregation, from last March.
The Rev. Solomon Jacobs, the newly elected minister of the English and German
Synagogue at Kingston, has thus far, as we learn, given entire
satisfaction, both as reader and lecturer.—The school connected with
that Synagogue has been confided to the Hazan, conjointly with Mr. Henry
S. Jacobs, a young gentleman, a native of the island. As this is the
latter’s first essay in public life, we hope to hear soon a good
account of his proceedings. We are also informed that, though the school
belongs to the German congregation, it is also open to the poor of the
Portuguese community. We trust that this kindly spirit may always exist,
to the advantage of all the Israelites of that place; and that the same
example may speedily be followed by Israelites wherever settled.—A
charity sermon, preached by the Rev. Mr. Jacobs, in aid of the directors
of the above school, to enable them to clothe the children under their
guardianship, produced the handsome sum of two hundred and fifty
dollars.
Political State of the Jews.—The civil and political disabilities under which this
persecuted people have hitherto existed, appear to have at length
excited the attention of the continental nations of Europe. The
following paragraphs, from English papers, evince a strong desire to
meliorate their condition, and are in accordance with the spirit and
temper of the age.
A letter from Dresden, of October 14, says: “In the second sitting of the
Congress of Orientalists, now held in this city, which reckons three
Rabbins among its members, Professor Weber, of Bremen, passed some
jocose remarks against the Jews. Immediately all the Christian members
of the society, forty-two in number, rose and interrupted him, and Mr.
Tiersch observed to Mr. Weber how improper it was to offend persons on
account of their religious belief, particularly in a society altogether
scientific. Mr. Weber wished to explain, but the president refused to
allow him to speak, as the matter, he said, was terminated by Mr.
Tiersch’s very proper remarks. The other Christian members loudly
applauded this decision, and Mr. Weber left the sitting. A few minutes
after, Mr. Weber sent a letter to the president, declaring that he had
not intended to offer any offence to the Jews in what he had said. He
has since left Dresden.”
A letter from Hamburg, of November 22, says: “The
Senate and College of the Ancients have just declared in favour of
emancipating the Jews. What principally decided our two highest bodies,
in the state to consent to this act of justice, is the immense
sacrifices which the Jews of Hamburg have made to succour the numerous
victims of the fire of 1842, and the spirit of patriotism and charity
with which that body has been animated for a long series of years. The
emancipation of the Jews will be, it is said, complete, except that they
cannot form part of the Senate, which indeed would be impossible, for
all the solemn and public acts of the Senate are intimately combined
with religious ceremonies, in which no one could take part without
belonging to the predominant religion, namely, the Confession of
Augsburg; so that even Christians of other confessions are in fact
excluded from our Senate.”
[We
believe that this announcement is somewhat premature; for The Voice of
Jacob, of March 28, positively says, that the Council of Ancients has
rejected the proposition to admit the Jews to equal rights.]
A
letter from Brunswick, November 29, says: “Our reigning Duke, who has
more than once declared in favour of the emancipation of the Jews, and
has shown them so many marks of favour, has just presented to the states
a bill, having for its objects, 1. To abolish the present law, ordering
all Jews to take the oath in courts of justice more judaico only;
and, 2. To permit them to swear in the same way as Christians, by
raising the right hand and invoking Almighty God.”
A
letter from Berlin, December 3, says: “It is confidently stated that
the government is preparing a bill to grant the Jews some of the civil
rights which they are at present deprived of. Persons generally well
informed even assert that it is intended to confer on them all civil
rights, without exception, so that they should be excluded only from the
exercise of political rights, which among us consist in being able to
elect deputies to the states, and to be elected to such functions.”
The
two chambers of the Hungarian Diet, in their last session, passed a law
for granting to the Jews the greater part of the rights enjoyed by the
people who are not noble; but it did not receive the royal assent. These
chambers have now voted another bill, the objects of which are, first,
to confer on the Jews the right of living in all the towns of the
kingdom indiscriminately, and there carry on their trades and
professions, even some of the learned professions; secondly, to abolish
the special capitation tax imposed upon them. The Jews have sent a
deputation to the Emperor of Austria, as King of Hungary, to supplicate
his Majesty to grant his sanction to the measure. It is composed of the
Grand Rabbi and six distinguished merchants of Presburg, and has been
received by the Minister of the Interior, Count Kollowrath, who has
promised to solicit the Emperor to grant it a private audience.
N.
Y Com. Adv.
Jews
of Morocco.—The
Emperor of Morocco has replied most graciously, through his Grand
Vizier, to a memorial which Sir Moses Montefiore, on behalf of the
Mogador Relief Committee, addressed to him some few weeks since. We
understand that this memorial was a most elegant piece of caligraphy,
sumptuously ornamented, and that its prayer was for a concession of the
same immunities to the Barbary Jews, as the Hatti Sherif of the Porte
enacted for their brethren in the Turkish dominions. The Emperor’s
reply assures Sir Moses Montefiore, that the Jews in his dominions
already enjoy equal rights, privileges, and protection; in short, in
every respect the same advantages as the Mahomedan population. He also
expresses the most lively grief at the calamities which have befallen
Mogador. The gracious terms of this reply, and the known humanity of the
Emperor, induce the hope that he needs only the power to enforce his
behests throughout his dominions, in order to put an end to those
anomalies of which his Jewish subjects complain, and to render his rule
as paternal as he designs it to be.—Voice of Jacob.
Mobile.—We
learn from our correspondent, that, during the past winter they had
regular service, Friday evening and Sabbath morning, and no doubt is
entertained of the same being continued during the summer. The following
persons have been elected to serve for one year, at the last
congregational election:—Israel I. Jones, President; David Solomon,
Vice President; L. H. Goldsmith, Treasurer; and D. Unger, H. Hiller, and
I. L. Lewis, Trustees.—We have also to record, as an evidence of the
existence of liberality of feeling, no less than equality in the eyes of
the law, in the State of Alabama, that the Governor lately appointed
David Solomon, Esq., his aid-de-camp, with the rank of colonel.
When
the last steam packet
(of May 18th) left England, the Jewish Civil Disabilities Bill had not
been reached in the British House of Commons, though no doubt was
entertained of its passing that body, especially as it had received the
sanction of the House of Lords, where before all measures for equalizing
the Jew and Christian have been looked upon with distrust, and almost
uniformly rejected.
Jerusalem—We
have been shown a private letter from Mr.
Warder Cresson, U. S. Consul at the Holy City, dated in the
beginning of March, in which Mr. C. gives a very melancholy picture of
the destitution of the Israelites in the seat of their ancient glory,
and avers that the conversions which have been reported as having taken
place under the patronage of the Protestant Episcopal Mission, were
owing to the wants of the converts, not to their conviction. This
is a curious testimony from an ardent Christian. But can nothing be done
to relieve so much suffering? Mr. Cresson suggests a system of
collections; but this has been often tried, and has always signally
failed. The influential Jews of Europe ought, if possible, to give them
habits of industry and means to develop them; this would be charity
indeed. But is it practicable? We merely throw out the hint, and hope it
may lead to something more than the mere expression of sympathy.
Hebrew
Collegiate School.
During
the last two years we inserted two prospectuses for Hebrew schools; but
as yet neither has gone into operation. We are nevertheless not
discouraged from making another attempt to bring the subject again
before the public. There is a friend of ours, a native of one of the
southern cities, an elegant scholar, one who handles a ready pen, who is
anxious to devote himself to the duty of instruction, and only waits the
due encouragement being extended to him, to move hither with his wife
and family, to commence the school which is so much needed. One thing we
can assure our friends, that their children will receive instruction the
most thorough and patient, and they shall never regret having confided
them to our friend. As he does not trust himself with teaching the
Hebrew and religion, we are willing either to teach these branches
ourself or to devolve this duty upon those fully qualified for the task.
We trust that the experience we have in teaching will be a guarantee
that so far as we are concerned nothing shall be wanting to answer the
expectations of parents and friends. But farther than the assistance to
be rendered by us, if required, we shall have no interest in the
enterprise.
We
will merely add that the school will be commenced as soon as forty
scholars are obtained. The terms we cannot state, not having yet
received any definite statement from our friend, who expects doubtlessly
some pupils from his own city and the others from New York and this
place. We earnestly request all who desire to see a Jewish school of a
higher order established among us, to forward their names to the Editor
of the Occident, by post-paid letters. Should sufficient encouragement
be extended to warrant a commencement being made, all subscribers
shall be at once notified. |
