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by
Isaac Leeser
In
commencing the fourth volume of our western advocate of Judaism, we cannot
avoid holding to brief conversation with our readers, by far the greater
portion of whom have followed us from our very commencement to the present
time, and whom we would gladly believe to have afforded some satisfaction by our course, and the articles which we offered to
their perusal. When the subject of starting a monthly religious magazine
was first presented to our notice, just now about four years ago, by a
legal gentleman, a member and a great admirer of the reform congregation
of Charleston, we did not deem the project practicable, owing to various
causes, not the least of which was a well-founded distrust in our own
power of giving satisfaction, and the great difficulty there would be of
finding correspondents enough of the requisite talents to be our aids in a
work of so much pretensions as a monthly magazine. For to be conducting an
indifferent publication, and to rely upon the indulgence of our
readers to excuse glaring defects, was not much to our taste, and we were
sure that such a work, so defectively conducted, instead of benefiting the
cause of Judaism, would be only too much calculated to injure its
advancement. We will not dilate upon the difficulty of finding supporters
enough to defray the expenses, though this consideration is also one of
sufficient amount to cause one to reflect before so novel an enterprise is
undertaken, and had a considerable influence to induce us to listen to the
first proposal with a good deal
of distrust. But scarcely had the proposition been made from the quarter
above-mentioned, when it was repeated from various others; and we were
thus induced to give the subject snore serious thought than we at first
deemed it deserving. Still full fifteen months elapsed, before we took any
step whatever in the matter, and then, when we at length issued our
prospectus, the want of encouragement, both as respects subscribers and
offers of literary aid, was so great, that we had almost abandoned the
whole idea as a hopeless task. But independently of the circumstance that
a religious periodical had at that time been commenced in England, there
had been several movements
proposed to break ground in this country also. We therefore thought that
we could not well retrace our steps after proceeding so far, and we
hazarded to issue the first number as an experiment, which, without being
absolutely successful, at least inspired us with hope of a better result
hereafter. We wish to state, however, in this connexion, that we were not
induced to commence by the appearance of our English contemporary, since
it had been seriously agitated in our mind, and in conversation with
others, before we knew any thing of the existence of the Voice of Jacob;
besides that our plan is so entirely different from him. We are willing to
grant him the precedence in age; still we cannot altogether allow that we
are a mere imitation. In truth, our work is different from all the Jewish
periodicals of Germany, England, or France, which we have seen; as it was
our purpose, and shall henceforward be, to furnish religious reading to
our American and English friends, and to fill up in a measure the want of
a religious literature which has hitherto been so much a cause of reproach
to us. We thought, in assuming the editorial chair, that we could rely a
little upon our moderation, that we felt able to avoid the extremes of
obstinacy on the one, and the love of change on the other side; that we
had sufficient candour to let every man speak for himself, and enough of
forbearance to avoid personalities in our own article. Thirty-six numbers,
forming three stout volumes of eighteen hundred and fifty pages of reading
matter, are now before the public; and we appeal for their judgment,
whether we have not kept true to the principle of doing justice to friend
and opponent. We are aware that we have occasionally given offence; there
are certain persons so very tender, that their feelings are hurt upon the
slightest provocation; but these ought not to forget, that a work,
which circulates so far, and among so many classes as ours does, cannot
always consult their peculiar views, and that every one of its readers has
an equal claim to be gratified as they have. At times it may be a choice
with an editor whom he shall offend, as one party must needs have to be
put out of consideration; and it is highly probable that those who have
done the greatest wrong, think that every body else must side with them,
and hence they accuse the editor of want of candour, or politeness, or
discernment, for not coinciding with their views. In this manner we
believe we have offended, and for expressing our opinion, and calling
things by their right names, when to speak out was our duty. But we appeal
from such mistaken judgment to the majority of our readers, whether we
could well have acted otherwise, consistently with our often expressed and
well-known views on religious topics. Private matters we have not
discussed; and the few times that we could not prevent our correspondents
to do so, we allowed them the use of our pages with the greatest
reluctance. Still did we not deem it to be consistent with our duty as an
editor, to deny discussion to subjects which, though apparently private in their nature, had still an important public
bearing. And whilst we continue to occupy our present position, our
readers may rely on our determination that we shall adhere to the course
hitherto pursued under every circumstance.
We
think that we may speak a little concerning our correspondents, to whose
merits we have borne but feeble testimony in the course of our work, and
we are now happy that we are able to return them our sincere thanks for
the hearty and efficient aid they have given us; and we have to
acknowledge our additional obligation that the whole of their articles,
with the exception of but one, were furnished without any pecuniary charge
whatever; and we regret that the limited success we have met. with
hitherto, has prevented us from offering such compensation as we thought
our friends entitled to. But as regards the pieces themselves, we candidly
think that most of the poetical ones of Miss Aguilar, Miss Salaman, Mrs.
Hartog, and Mrs. Hyneman, can bear a favourable comparison with the
fugitive poetry usually found in periodicals of much greater pretensions
than ours, and we shall be glad indeed if we are always able to furnish
pieces of equal value. Of our prose contributors we will not specify any
in particular, though we may mention, in passing, that some of them made
their first public essay in our pages, and we think that our readers have
been edified and instructed by nearly all of them, especially the truly
eloquent effusions of “The American Jewess,” and “The Daughter of
Israel.” One of our male contributors, J. K. G., has been called to
labour for the good cause in a greater sphere of usefulness than the pages
of a magazine, by being placed at the head of Talmud Torah School at
Cincinnati; and we believe that we may predict, without possessing the
spirit of prophecy, that he will be before long elected preacher of
that growing and already numerous congregation. Our present number will
convey to our readers the first sermon Mr. Gutheim ever delivered in
English, and sure we are they will ratify the verdict of approval
pronounced upon him by our friends in the West.
Our
series of sermons has contained thirty-five discourses from English,
American, West Indian, and German preachers, never before published,
either in England or America, in addition to the one we copied from a
pamphlet sent to us from abroad; and we are sure that the sentiments of
Dr. Solomon, Dr. Hirsch, Dr. Philippson, Mr. Marks, Dr. Raphall, Mr. Nathan, Mr. Rice, Mr. Falkenau, Dr. De La Motta, Mr. Gutheim,
and Dr. Lilienthal, which we presented to the public, have contributed to
some extent to arouse religious fervour, and an increased love for our
faith in the minds of the reader. We deem that we have furnished in these
pieces alone matter of value enough to justify us for having established
the American Jewish Advocate, seeing that we have been enabled to offer
such a host of pleaders for the good cause of Judaism. There may be a
difference of opinion entertained with regard to the respective merits of
all these productions; but there can be none with respect to the soundness
and the tone of piety and truth which breathe through them.
The
means which our pages have already afforded of embodying historical
reminiscences of American congregations, we also deem of some claim to
public acknowledgement, and we hope that those who can aid us in this
department, will favour us with such details as are in their possession,
which, if not soon rescued from oblivion by being embodied in a printed
form, may be for ever lost.
The
Occident has also furnished a connecting link to distant congregations, by
informing them of the passing events in which all are interested, and we
only regret that we have not been furnished with more details of
occurrences in all places where we circulate. Let our friends take care to
enable us to remedy this deficiency for the future, and accept our thanks
in advance for their kindness. The reports of charitable anniversaries
which we have given, have, we trust, not been without their good effect;
for, independently of being a chronicle of good things said on these occasions, they furnish a record of the existence of the
spirit of charity among the Israelites of America, and we doubt not, but
that the same will be found in all parts of the world, and will long
survive in this land, wherever distress calls for relief.
Our
literary department has been perhaps the least satisfactory of all the
branches of our work. We have not had the time to devote to writing
reviews, and our readers know well enough, that nor public duties are not
confined to that of an editor merely. But we hope that by degrees we shall
be able to obtain aid in this important department from our
correspondents. But a mere meagre stereotyped laudatory criticism, if
criticism this can be called, which does not discriminate, cannot be
admitted; praise must be discriminating, or else it becomes censure of the
worst kind, since ill-nature is very apt to seek for faults, if it can
show that praise has not been merited.
In
the news articles we have aimed to give all that is really important, of
the occurrences of the day; and we acknowledge our obligation to the Voice of Jacob, for furnishing us promptly during the past
year with his paper, which enabled us to give news of more recent dates
than hitherto; and we deeply regret that it has fallen to our lot to
record so little of a joyful nature.
The
above brief review of what we have done and what was done for us, will
clearly establish the fact, that we have not laboured altogether in vain,
and that however little as yet encouraged by our friends, we need not be
ashamed of the Occident or its contents. We are well aware, that our work
is yet capable of many improvements; but the fostering care of the public
is required to effect this. If we had the prospect of a remuneration for
our outlay held out to us, we would engage, at a proper compensation,
persons at home and abroad to devote their leisure and talent to religious
writing; but till this be the case, we must continue as we have done, and
furnish, with the aid of our contributors, such food for our readers, as
we are able to do; but we candidly think that were we to pay ever so
liberally, we should not succeed in finding better articles than many of
those which were furnished without the least reward; and we are truly
pleased that we are able to offer so handsome a proof of the disinterested
kindness of our friends and the friends of our cause.
We
are also happy to inform our readers, that latterly we have had more
accessions of subscribers than withdrawals, and that hence there are more
symptoms of life in our work now than this time last year. Several of
those who had then withdrawn, have returned, and we hope that many others
will do so likewise, as this would be a sure indication that we are not
losing favour in the pursuit of our labours.
In
conclusion, we beg to repeat our former assertion, that we mean to
continue as we have begun, fearless in the cause of truth, turning neither
to the right nor the left to obtain the countenance of either high or low.
As an editor of a religious magazine, we have a very responsible duty to
perform; and with the divine blessing we mean to discharge it so, that in
after years we may never have any moral cause to regret having commenced
and conducted the Occident, the American Jewish Advocate.
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