was taught to read, reflect, and judge for himself; and has thus, to use his own words, "through divine mercy, emerged from the depths of darkness and superstition, into a land of light and life." That a similar plan," he proceeds, might be easily adopted and enforced by his Imperial Majesty on his Jewish Subjects in Poland, will, I think, admit of no question whatever that such a plan, if prudently conducted, will and MUST, ultimately, prove useful in conducting them to the Christian Faith, will admit of little doubt. But one circumstance I must take the liberty of stating to your Excellency; viz. that some of the more enlightened part of their community ardently wish, and impatiently wait, for His Majesty's command respecting such an Institution and they even request me to propose it to his Excellency Prince Galitzin; and to state, that they are willing to assist in forming a plan that would involve the Government in no expense whatever, and the object of which would be, to turn a part of the public properties of the communities, otherwise spent in useless ceremonies &c., into this most salutary channel." The testimony of Mr. Solomon on this head is corroborated by the information given to Mr. Way, by a most respectable Jewish Merchant of Zytomir, in Poland. He stated, "that the younger Jews in that country are very generally disposed to receive instruction-that it would be most readily received from English Teachers and that, instead of wasting their time over the Talmud, which is a science that leads to nothing, to use his own words, they should be taught German, Polish, or Russ, and made acquainted with the Scrip. tures, and books of elementary knowledge." Similar intelligence is furnished by the communications of the Rev. Mr. Nitschke, of Niesky, in Saxony; who, at the request of your Committee, undertook a journey into Bohemia, last autumn, for the purpose of inquiry and observation respecting the state of the Jews in that country. right direction to this tendency to improvement in the system of Education, which has thus been shewn among several of the Jewish Communities abroad. It is obvious, that its influence on the spiritual state of that hitherto-neglected people must depend mainly upon the principles by which the action of so mighty an engine is regulated and controuled. DIFFUSION OF THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES. Closely connected with the duty of endeavouring to promote the religious education of Jewish Youth, is that of diffusing the Christian Scriptures as widely as possible, among the Adults of all classes of their Society. And your Committee are happy in being able to state, that the encouragements to the performance of this part also of their duty-or, as they should rather express it, the CLAIMS made on them for its fulfilment-increase, in proportion to the increasing extent of their acquaintance with foreign parts. In proof of the readiness with which the Jews receive the New Testament, and of the eagerness the book, Dr. Pinkerton's informawith which they frequently solicit tion respecting the Jews of Skloff is given; for which see our last Volume, p. 435: and his interview with the Karaite Jews, at Troki; for which see pp. 480 and 481 of the same Volume. In considering the most likely means of circulating the Scriptures among the Jews, it becomes an important question-in WHAT LANGUAGE the New Testament may, with most advantage, be communicated to them. We extract the sentiments of the Committee on this point :— They are aware, that different opinions Some encouraging details of this have been entertained on this subject at Journey are given. After stating that an Edict, issued in 1817, by the King of the Netherlands, requiring the education of all Jewish Children, has produced the most salutary effect on that community, it is added— Your Committee will not now stop to dwell on the vast importance of giving a home; and that sentiments and facts, apparently discordant, have been transmitted from abroad. Whilst some accounts amply requite the labours of the Society, in preparing an entirely new Translation in Hebrew, others seem to justify the idea, adopted by not a few in this country, that its cost and labour were superfluous; on the ground of the Jews being, in general, unable to understand the Hebrew, and having access, through other channels, to 1819.] The real state of the case, as your Committee are fully persuaded, is this-that BOTH Views of the subject are correct, but HEBREW Bibles neither EXCLUSIVELY SO. and HEBREW Testaments are wanted among them. They are NECESSARY for them. Hebrew Testaments especially must be sent among them, if we wish them to become acquainted with the New Testament at all. This is undeniably true with regard to numbers of Jews, especially among the higher orders, who Do understand the Sacred Language, and would not value the Scriptures in any other: for THEIR use, a Version of the New Testament in Hebrew has been provided; and evidence sufficient has been transmitted from abroad, that it has not been provided in vain. "The number of those Jews," Dr. Pinkerton testifies, "who are capable of understanding the Hebrew Testament, particularly about Witepsk, Orsha, Skloff, Minsk, and Wilna, is far greater than I formerly believed; and there seems to be a general readiness among them to accept of it-an impelling curiosity to read the doctrines of Christ and his Apostles IN The MissioTHE HEBREW LANGUAGE." naries of the Edinburgh Missionary Society report, under the head of Astra"have had repeated conchan, that they versations with several Jews from Endery, a town of the Kumack Country, in which there are no fewer than about 300 families who profess the Jewish Religion. Beside these, there are said to be 500 Jewish Families to the south of Endery, among whom they reckon about 100 Rabbies. They all speak the Persian Language in their families, but have no books, except in Hebrew; and indeed they are acquainted with no alphabet but the Hebrew. They appeared to be completely ignorant of the New Testament: they said, how ever, that they would read it, IF THEY HAD IT IN HEBREW." "you factorily the ordinary objection against. It is, at the same time, no less evident, that, in order to benefit the great mass of the Jewish Population, they must be provided with Translations of the New Testament in such characters and dialects as they may, in different places, understand, either solely, or more perfectly than they do the pure Hebrew of the Old Testament. Mr. Solomon himself, who has a perfect understanding of the Hebrew, and who, in his Journal, combats satis See p. 368 of our last Volume.-EDITORS. NECESSITY OF MISSIONARIES TO THE JEWS. It is scarcely needful to observe, that every argument which goes to establish the propriety of endeavouring to aid the Education of the Jews, and of circulating the pure Word of God among them, bears, with full force, on the question of MISSIONS. If, as your Committee have endeavoured to shew, there exists at this time, among various Jewish Communities abroad, a disposition to substitute an enlightened and liberal instruction of their youth, in the stead of degrading ignorance on the one hand, and, on the other, of a mancipation to Talmudical lore scarcely less debasing to the morals and understanding than absolute ignorance-if Governments, recognising the true principles of Christian Policy, and individuals, responsive to the dictates of Christian Charity, are ready to combine their efforts for the furtherance of so desirable an object-little doubt, surely, can remain, that this Society ought, if possible, to send out persons duly qualified to co-operate in this fundamental work, by fostering dispositions so favourable, and giving effect to designs so beneficent. And if, as has no less clearly been made to appear, Jews, of all ages and classes in society, are ready to receive and desirous to of tair the Now- Testament Scriptures, Mis sionaries ought to be provided-who may distribute copies of them, in such languages as are best understood-who may, as occasion shall offer, expound their sacred contents-and who, by the circulation of Tracts and other simple and judicious measures, may be instrumental, through the Divine Blessing, in diffusing the knowledge of Christianity among that interesting people. Nor let it be supposed, that such persons would go forth uncalled. There is good reason to believe, that many voices of Jews, whose secret aspirations after Christian Instruction are continually sent up to the Father of Lights, would be raised to welcome their appearance. And they would be hailed as valuable coadju. tors in the work of the Lord, by many faithful Labourers in his vineyard abroad, who take pleasure in the stones of Zion, and favour the dust thereof. I am much pleased," says Dr. Naudi of Malta, in a Letter to the Secretary, "to hear of your sending abroad on the Continent, pious persons to preach the Blessed Name of our Saviour among the Jews. I hope things will go on so far increasing with you, that you may be able in time to send some of your members into these our parts, for the Jews of Jerusalem, Egypt, and Greece; where the members of this abandoned people are in the most considerable number, and indeed in the most depressed state of mind." A similar hope is expressed, through the same channel, by the Rev. Mr. Jowett, the Church Missionary Society's Re'presentative in the Mediterranean, who adds, The Jews, you perceive, in Barbary, Egypt, and Syria, are very numerous, but of a character quite different from those in Europe: and they deserve a separate, particular attention; without which, in fact, nothing will ever be effected in these parts." " Toward the attainment of these objects, though the Committee have done what they could, they are sensible that their progress must be slow. Your Committee have lost no oppor'tunity of opening, or of carrying on correspondence with individuals established abroad. In India, in America, in the Mediterranean, and in various parts of Northern Europe, friends have come forward, able and willing to promote the cause of Christianity among the Jews. The Rev. Mr. Nitschke, of Saxony, a Moravian Minister, whose name has been mentioned in this Report, has given himself up to the service of the Society; to further its objects by making tours of observation, distributing Testaments and Tracts, aiding the formation and superintendence of Schools, and by such other methods as his wisdom and piety may suggest. The cause of the Institution has likewise found able and zealous advocates in some of the Universities on the Continent: and though your Committee deem it prudent, for obvious reasons, to refrain, at present, from the mention of particulars, they feel it their duty to intimate, that an able Professor and a converted Israelite are, and have been for some years, jointly employed in making their stores of Hebrew and Rabbinical Knowledge tributary to the kingdom of our Lord; by proving, on the testimony of the most revered Jewish Doctors themselves, the harmony and mutual relation subsisting between Judaism and Christianity. In the execution of a work so fraught with utility, but, from its nature, necessarily attended with much expense of time and money, your Committee have deemed it their duty to promise their assistance. As the most effectual means in their power of carrying on the great work of Jewish Evangelization, they have had a stereotype edition of the Hebrew Testament completed, at great expense. Ten thousand copies are in the press, and will soon be ready for distribution. An edition of the German-Hebrew Testament, so earnestly called for, is also in a state of preparation. Upward of 1000 copies of the first edition of the Hebrew Testament have been disposed of, during the past year: partly by sale, at reduced prices, to the British and Foreign Bible Society; partly in the way of gratuitous distribution to the Society's friends and corre spondents, in various parts of the worldin the East-America, in the West-Malta, Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, Cochin-China, Gibraltar, in the Mediterranean-Amsterdam, Hamburgh, in the North—as well as to Messrs. Solomon and Nitschke in Poland and Germany. Your Commit tee will here add, that the propriety of printing an edition both of the Old and New Testament in a smaller size, in the Biblical Hebrew, and also in the GermanHebrew Character, is at present under consideration. Several thousand Tracts, treating on the most fundamental points of difference between Jews and Christians, have been printed in German and other languages, and circulated as widely as possible on the JEWS' SOCIETY. 1819.] Continent. A most valuable Catechism, by Tremellius, himself a converted Jew of the sixteenth century, and a man of great Biblical Learning, has likewise been printed at the Society's Press, for circulation abroad. With respect to Foreign Schools and Missions-the importance of which, as objects of their Institution, it has been the aim of your Committee, in this Report, to establish they have deemed it expedient to open a distinct Fund for the purpose; and to adopt the resolution of educating young men of piety, in order to qualify A few particulars are given of three Students in this country, and one in the Missionary Seminary at Bâsle, preparing for service under the Society. CONCLUSION. After stating their relinquishment of the plan of affording temporal relief to Adult Jews, the Committee quote, in conclusion, the just and forcible sentiments of Dr. Pinkerton, extracted from a communication, made to them during his late visit to this country, of his views relative to their course of foreign procedure. "The nation of the Jews is not to be neglected, in this time to favour all nations. "They have not remained inattentive observers of the Signs of the Times; nor are the intelligent and thinking part of them unacquainted with the CONFLICTS which Christianity has SUSTAINED, and the conQUESTS which she has gained over her numerous and powerful enemies. The extraordinary events which so rapidly suc ceed one another in our days-the FALL of Modern Infidelity, in its direful effects on the good of Society-the change which is now working in the moral and religious state of all nations, by means of the translation and universal dissemination of the have had a Old and New Testament powerful influence on the hopes and fears of many among the Jews, and have brought not a few of them to their wits' end. But there are still more favourable intimations of this people's being in a state of preparation for receiving the seed of the New-Covenant Doctrine-intimations unknown in the ages that are past. Numbers of the Jews, in the countries where I have visited them, have fallen off in their rigid attachment to their former superstitions: their prejudices against Christians and their religion are lessened: and the hatred and prejudices of Christians against the Jews are much diminished. The willingness with which many of them receive copies of the New Testament in the Hebrew Language, and read them the liberty with which they both read and state of despair in which many of them Leaving, then, the important subject of the general Restoration of the Jews entirely in the hands of Providence, and refraining from spending your funds in the support of individuals of the Jewish Nation professing attachment to Christianity, direct your efforts, chiefly and unweariedly, to the dissemination of Christian Knowledge among the Nation of the Jews at large; by sending qualified men among them, who will travel from town to town, and from village to village-converse with them, in their families-reason with them, in their synagogues - meet their objections-remove their prejudices and, everywhere, circulate the New Testament, in Hebrew, in Jewish-German, and in other languages understood among them; with short treatises on vital Christianity, and on the Messiahship of Christ. Confine the labours of your Institution to this rational, scriptural, easy, and most benevolent object; resting assured, that, in the prosecution of it, the discoveries of Divine Providence will be of such a nature as to leave you and your labourers in no doubts, respecting the further instruments to be employed, and measures to be adopted for watering the seed of evangelical and saving truth, when once sown among this ancient and interesting people." Your Committee will conclude with expressing their fervent hope, that the author of the preceding remarks has left behind him, in what follows, an augury which will not be falsified by the event. "The simplicity and benevolence of the line of procedure, which I here submit to your consideration, will recommend it to the patronage and support of thousands in Britaiu; who, I am persuaded, only wait to see a simple, comprehensive plan adopted, in reference to the spread of the Gospel among the Jews, in order to give tokens of their sincere love and tender compassion for that Nation, to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers; and of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.” Amen and Amen. REPORT OF THE CHRISTIAN-KNOWledge socIETY. (Treasurers-The Archdeacon of Middlesex and Joshua Watson, Esq. for the General Fund; and Henry Hugh Hoare, Esq. for the East-India Mission.) DIOCESAN AND DISTRICT COMMITTEES. GREAT exertions have been made, during the year, in forwarding the Society's Designs; as appears by a report of the proceedings of these Committees, given in the order of the Dioceses and there is every prospect that increased success will attend the able and zealous efforts directed, throughout the several Dioceses of the Empire, to the promoting of Christian Knowledge. The number of these Societies, at home and abroad, now amounts to 209. We shall extract the principal matters which respect the Diocese of Calcutta. CALCUTTA DIOCESAN COMMITTEE. The Report for 1818 has not been received; but the Rev. Mr. Hawtayne, Joint-Secretary to the Committee, gives the chief points of information, in a Letter under date of Jan. 15, 1819. The most important feature in their proceedings, Mr. Hawtayne states, is the establishment of Native Schools, for the purpose of affording instruction in useful knowledge. Donations had been received, in support of this object, to the amount of 12,705 Sicca Rupees ; and Annual Subscriptions, 4127. Various delays, on the part of the Natives employed, had retarded the progress of the Schools. In one School, about 130 Children received daily instruction; and in a second, recently opened, upward of eighty. Others were about to be opened. The demand for Bibles, Testaments, Common-Prayer Books, and other Religious Books and Tracts, had greatly increased; and many applications had been made for the Family Bible. MADRAS DISTRICT COMMITTEE. The District Committee at Madras (the Report states) have been actively and zealously engaged, during the year, both in promoting the general designs of the Society, and in the superintendence of the East-India Mission. They have favoured the Board with several important documents relative to the Missionary Concerns, the principal particulars of which are given in another part of the Report; and they have expressed the fullest confidence, that the measures which they have been called on to adopt, under the high sanction of the favourable opinion of the Bishop of Calcutta, will receive the Society's approval. The Committee acknowledge, through their Secretary, Richard Clarke, Esq. the receipt of a liberal supply of Books; and request more copies of the Family Bible. BOMBAY DISTRICT COMMITTEE. From various communications transmitted by the Archdeacon, who acts as Secretary to the Committee, the Board detail the supplies of Books and Tracts, particularly among Soldiers and Sailors. |