To the Same (London)
SAfLINO UP THE THAMES, M NoV. 1839.
My Dear Father and Mother, — You will be glad to see by the date that we are once more in sight of the shores of happy England. I only wish I knew how you all are. I have not heard from you since I was in Smyrna. In vain did I inquire for letters at Cracow, Berlin, Hamburgh. You must have written to Warsaw, and the Resident there had not returned them to Berlin as we desired. However, I trust all is well with you, and Eliza, and Willie. I wish you to write to me by return of post, telling me how you are. Andrew and I and Mr. Caiman are all quite well, and thankful to God, who has brought us through every danger in so many countries. I trust our course has been not altogether fruitless, and that we may now resign our commission with some hope a most affectionate spirit The committee who take charge of the Jewish schools in this district met with us, Ad gave us every information. There are 7 schools for Jewish children maintained in the Duchy of Posen. The average number of children in all during the last year was 267. Each teacher sends in a report every month. These mark the days of attendance and absence of all the children, and contain many interesting notices of their feelings. The teachers appear to be reall, godly men, seeking the salvation of Israel. An evening school is kept in Posen and two other places for any grown-up Jews that will come. They have often had 40 and 50.
In company with Mr. Bellson we visited the Posen school. A few weeks ago there were 80 children; no# we found only 12. This falling off, which I believe will only be for a short time, was produced by a happy cause — the real conversion and baptism of two of the girls. We listened with delight to their simple history. The master seemed a fine young man. He first played the violin, whil the children sang sweetly several Christian hymns. They afterwards went
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over the history of the birth of Jesus. Th contribution from the Glasgow society was, I believe, given A> this schoolyvbut has been withdrawn — a lo9s which they deeply lament.
We next visited the school in Storchnest, about 12 hours distant from Posen — a large Prussian village; 38 children attend. We found them reading the history of Joseph ia the German Bible. We heard them examined on the Bible history, on grammar, and natural history, and lastly, they sung three Christian hymns. It Tyuite reminded us of a well-conducted parish school in our own happy land. It is very wonderful, and almost unaccountable, how Jews suffer their children to be taught the truth as it is in Je* sus. Surely these children never will be Jews. The Lord make them Christians indeed 1
The same evening we were in Fraustadt, the cleanest town in Prussian Poland, and met two more of the London Society’s missionaries — Mr. Hertmann and Mr. Graff — both Germans, full of faith and love to Israel. They all accompanied us next day to the school at Slichtensheim — a neat Pplish village, with its large square in the centre.
There are only 20 Jewish families here, and all their children attend the missionary school for 8 or 9 years. We heard them examined on the prophecies regarding Messiah, which they readily applied to our blessed Saviour. The Burgomaster, himself a convert, turned to us and said, ‘^ These children have more knowledge of Christianity in their hearts than the children of the Christians;” and so it really appeared. In the school at Kempen we are told several of the children seem to have their hearts touched by the Spirit of God. The same has been the case in Posen. Does not God thus put his seal and testimony and blessing upon these schools for the poor lost lambs of the house of Israel? Is it not a wonderful providence of God, that the Jews here are willing to send their children, that the Government are so favorable, the King himself and Royal Family being yearly subscribers, and that godly Gentile teachers are to be found? Our spirits were quite refreshed by the animating sight, and we cannot but pray that more missionary schools may be set up here. L.35 or L.40 a-year is enough to maintain one. I am sure there are many Christians in Scotland who, if they saw what we hive seen, would gladly devote that sum to so blessed a purpose.
But a still more important door is open here. The Gospel may be preached openly to the Jews. Twelve years ago, the Jews of Poland would not have come near a Christian church, nor were they willing to converse in private on Christianity. But now they seem to be convinced in their head that their Judaism is false, and that Christianity is true. They have no heart-conviction of sin — no cry, *’ Men and brethren, what must we do V^ Still they are in a transition state, and are most willing to hear the Gospel. Let them alone for a few years, and they will rush onward into the deep infidelity of German Jews: — Send them the glad tidings of a Saviour, affectionately preached, and we may warrantably hope that, God working with us, a large remnant shall be saved.
When the missionaries arrive in a town, they distribute a few notices of their arrival, and that Mr. Hertniann will preach on the Saturday. From 200 to 600 Jews and Jewesses often attend in the church, and remain silent auditors, while he preaches Jesus and the resurrection. I believe that ordained ministers of the Church of England or Scotland, if they obtained leave from the Prussian Government to become missionaries, would also be allowed to preach freely to the Jews in almost all the ‘churches. Is not this an open door? Those who think the truth may be best conveyed by instilling it into the youthful mind, have here free scope for that mode of teaching. Those who prefer the direct address of the pulpit, have here an open door for that mode of teaching. The London Society have not fully occupied this field. The laborers are excellent men, but they are not ordained ministers, and one only is licensed to preach by the Prussian Church. If a complement of ordained missionaries could be maintained in the Grand Duchy of Posen and in Silesia, there is every reason to hope that, by the convincing power of God’s Spirit, a great many lost sheep of the house of Israel might be gathered into Christ’s fold. As it is, the great majority of Jewish converts in Germany are from this district..
We ijext proceeded to Berlin, the handsome capital of Prussia. Here we had a delightful opportunity of examining one of their best normal schools. We saw 60 testchers under training. The system is truly admirable. We visited the University also, and heard a lecture from Neander. Strange to say, he is no friend to laboring amongst his brethren the Jews. We had pleasant intercourse with some of the most faithful ministers of Berlin. The excellent Gossner, once a Romish priest, but converted under Martin Booz, is remarkable for awakening careless souls. Kiintze is a bold and animated preacher, full of love to his Lord. He told us that he has baptized 112 Jews with his own hand. He is, indeed, an intelligent and warm friend of Israel. There are weekly meetings of the faithful ministers for searching the Scriptures, conference on ministerial experiences, and prayer. Rationalism is scarcely known in Berlin. The number of lively preachers of the truth is on the increase, and marks of revival in their congregations are not awanting. Still they labor under many difficulties. Meetings for prayer and Sabbath schools are both contrary to the law of the land. The Sabbath is much desecrated; and the great mass of the people are strangers to the house of God. How thankful we should be to God that our lot is cast in our beloved Scotland I and what need there is that we should pray that the Holy Spirit may be poured upon the Protestant Churches abroad.
Our chief matter of inquiry’ was after Israel. There are 8000 Jews in Berlin, and nearly 1000. converts. Of these, it is to be feared the great mass are converts only in name. Still, we met with many who seemed to be Christians in deed and in truth. We visited both synagogues, the old and the new. In the latter we heard a sermon from the Rabbi on Abraham offering up Isaac. Alas I he did not see the Lamb of God shadowed forth in the father offering his son. The service is a close imitation of that of the Lutheran Church. We visited also the Jewish school, and orphan institution. The children receive a common German education. The great majority of the Jews here are, I fear, sunk into iniSdelity. One said, “Christ was a good man, and Moses was a good man, but I believe neither.” Mr. Becker is the faithful missionary of the London Society here. He once labored in Magdeburgh in the service of the Edinburgh Society. We heard him preach to the Jews on Sunday morning in the Cloyster Church. Within the past year 54 Jews have come to him inquiring after the Saviour. Of these many have drawn back, and five have been baptized. We met with many dear affectionate friends of Israel. The Berlin Society has no missionaries at present in the field. Two are now in the course of preparation. We attended a meeting of committee of a society for supporting proselytes and inquirers. They are clearly of opinion that, if you attempt the conversion of Jews in this country, you must do something also for their temporal support. I feel that it is impossible to resist the same conviction. We met* two proselytes, doctors of medicine, who would willingly devote themselves as medical missionaries among their brethren. But I must hasten away from this important field. The movement of otir Church has excited the deepest interest among the Christians of Germany who love God’s ancient people; and they earnestly look forward to what our Church will do. Many pray that we may be guided rightly. A journey of two nights* and a day brought
US to Hamburg, famous for the beauty of its suburbs. It is a kind of republic governed by a senate. The established religion is Lutheran; but most of the ministers, I fear, have wandered far from the truth. Still a few are raising a bold and intelligent protest Mr. Oncken, the agent for the Edinburgh Bible Society, showed us every attention. We visited the old synagogue, and also the new, or temple as it is called, — a temple without a Shechinah. The Rabbi preached io German, spoke of patience being a Christian virtue, and quoted a Christian author. The chapel is neat, and the organ fine. They sing the fine national hymn tunes. Much of the prayer was in German. The peculiarity of their liturgy is, that they have erased all mention of the name of Messiah. Alas I poor dry bones, — they think their hope is lost; but the time shall come when the Spirit of life shall enter into them, and they shall stand up upon their feet an exceeding great army.*’
We met with several Christian Israelites who love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. Mr. Moritz, the missionary of the London Society, has been 32 years a convert. From
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1817 to 1825 he was employed by the Emperor of Russia to preach the Gospel to the Jews. He went through all parts of that vast empire, preaching with great acceptance, and often with cheering success. He still regards Russia, containing as it does two millions and a half of Jews, as the most noble field for a missionary enterprise. It is true, the present Russian Government are doing every thing they can to put down Protestantism; and they are grasping Jews the with a firmer hand. Still we know that God has the hearts of kings in his hand, and that he will one day say to the north, “Give up.” And |)erhaps it may be our duty, at least, to attempt to obtain leave to send the Grospel to Russian Israel. One delightful fact I cannot but give you, although I am approaching the end of my paper. In 1819 Mr. Moritz was in Borissov preaching the Gospel to the Jews, of whom there are great multitudes there The Rabbi of Kletsk, a place 6 Russian miles off, called upon him with some of his young men. “Why do you not come to us to preach the Gospel to us?” said the Rabbi. Mr. Moritz answered, “I am coming Ho you very soon, but have not jet finished my work here.” “We will treat you very kindly,” rejoined the Rabbi; “and I will tell all tny people to hear you, and to treat you kindly.” Mr. Moritz went, and the Jews kept their word; he was kindly treated by all. He preached the Grospel freely to them, and gave away all his tracts and New Testaments. He saw no fruit of his labor. But last year, when Mr. Cerf was in Warsaw, letters came to the missionaries there from 40 Jews in Kletsk, asking “if one Moritz was still alive — if he was among the missionaries — or, if he was gone, whether they could obtain Christian baptism at Warsaw ?* Is not this a commentary on the psalm, “He that goelh forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again, bringing his sheaves with him?” Hamburgh itself is not an open field for a Jewish missionary. Preaching in a church to the Jews is not permitted. A school for Jewish children was put down by the influence of the Rabbis. The Jews have almost the whole trade in their hands, and have great influence over Government. Still Hamburgh should not be given up; and we must bless God that there is such a simple-hearted laborer here. Many foreign Jews come to Hamburgh for trade and other purposes. They often come to him for a tract or a Bible, and he tells them the Gospel that may save their soul. This week he had ten such inquirers. He is clearly of opinion that we will never make a deep impression on the Jewish mind till we establish a congregation of believing Jews — on some such plan as that of the Moravians — so that they might both support themselves, and be edified in Christian truth by a stated pastor. This proposal we havei» frequently heard expressed, and it has been the subject of meditation and converse to us for many months. If it could be wisely accomplished, there cannot be a doubt that it would take many serious difiiculties out of the way. But more of this when we meet.
Mr. Bonar and I had an opportunity of preaching on the Sabbath, and next morning bade adieu to the shores of Germany. It was in Hamburgh we first heard the report that God had visited our Beloved Church in a remarkable manner. For more than five months we had heard nothing from Scotland, and now we feel ‘’ like men that dream.” It will be a sweet reward to us — most agreeable to the gracious nature of our God, — ii after all our wanderings and dangers, He shall bring us to see the vine flourish and the pomegranate bud in our dear parishes* Is it not delightful to think that, at the very moment when we begin to obey God, in seeking the salvation of Idrael and of the world, He should pour out a blessing till there be no room to receive it? I pray that the whole land may become like Gideon’s fleece when it was filled with dew. And may we come to share in the good gifls which God is dispensing among you! Farewell till we meet. Your affectionate friend,.
Robert Murray M*Chbynb.