The Jewish Herald.

JANUARY, 1854.

"THE NEW YEAR."

Psalm cxviii. 25.-"O Lord! I beseech thee, send now prosperity." A most suitable prayer at the beginning of a New Year, and one in which all who are interested for the success of this Society should join. "Send now prosperity" is the urgent prayer of the Psalmist, as if his thoughts and intense desires were fixed on one object, the importance of seeking present good, and abundant spiritual prosperity. It is a time of need for the Society, its wants are many, its claims are great, its resources are feeble, its appeals for help earnest. What so encouraging as to apply at once to the Source, to the Giver, and Bestower of every blessing, to shower down the influences of His Spirit upon the Church at large, that she may awake in her strength from her lethargy, and come forth to the work of the Lord, in deep and solemn earnestness? Now is the time that prosperity is needed, when the Society, oppressed under a sense of its responsibility, is unable to cope with difficulties, and to meet its urgent demands. Shall it be that one missionary is to be withdrawn, one station abandoned, one sphere of usefulness neglected, one hopeful spot forsaken, because the silver and the gold are wanting? And yet such is the fear entertained, and the necessity felt of withdrawing some of its agents, unless adequate means are raised for their support. Is it possible that lukewarmness to the interests of the Society can exist, whose object is to enlighten the Jewish mind, and bring about that glorious period, when Israel shall be gathered, and ushered into the Church, with the fulness of the Gentiles? Can we read the inspired Word, and not feel it our duty and privilege to show them compassion, and to yearn over their desolation? (Hosea ii. 8; xiv. 4-8.) Surely we must perceive the Divine mind as re

NO. XCVII.

VOL. IX.

gards the spiritual welfare of Israel, and the fulness of that grace which is ready to blot out for ever their transgressions, and to receive them into His fold. God is waiting for His Church to assemble, as one body of supplicants, craving the promised blessing, and imploring the early and latter rain to come down on the descendants of His ancient people, that the wilderness and the parched ground might be refreshed, and become as the garden of the Lord. There is no lack of divine influence, no limitation of mercy, no withholding the blessing. "For all these things, I will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them." The failure at present experienced is mainly to be attributed to the absence of sympathy, the lack of continued, persevering prayer for Israel. This may arise from unbelief, from inattention to the word and testimony of the future glories of the Jewish people, to the want of perception of personal responsibility in seeking to bring about their spiritual deliverance and introduction into the Christian Church. Can we sit still, and look on unconcerned, when they are perishing in ignorance and unbelief? Can we refuse to drop a tear, and to sigh before God, because of their sad and stricken condition? Can we restrain prayer when we gaze on the spectacle presented to our view of their scattered tribes without a shepherd? Can we look on bygone days, when Jesus wept over Jerusalem, and sit unmoved, careless, and indifferent whether they turn to the Lord or persist in their sins? Can we stifle conscience when we think of their claims on our compassion, sympathy, and liberality? "Whoso is wise, and he shall understand these things, prudent, and he shall know them." The hope of Israel's recovery and healing must be the union and strength of prayer in the Church of Christ. To this we must be brought, before we shall see times of refreshing to visit them. All success is to be traced up to this source; and however fervently we may desire to see our wishes accomplished in the wide spread of religion among them, and the operations of the Society enlarged, we may lay it down as a truth, that nothing great will ever be attempted, until the Church of Christ is prostrate before God, and the hearts of her members impressed with their solemn responsibility to wrestle with the Angel of the covenant for their conversion. Nothing can be a surer indication than the present state of the finances of the Society, of the partiality evinced, of the languid pulse of Christian benevolence, of the prevailing indifference there is to the spiritual welfare of the Jewish people. What will the account be to the Master when our stewardship is at an end? The cry of the children of Israel is for help

The command of the Lord is to go forward, and not to withhold our hand. They are our brethren, and how few, alas! care for their souls. They have been left too much to their own resources, too little to the sympathy of the Christian Church. We are their debtors, verily, for through their channel our mercies have come to us in full tide. We have not sufficiently thought of their claims, considered our obligations, or remembered the great things which the Lord has done for us through their instrumentality. We have need to be awakened to a sense of our accountableness and ability to promote their spiritual welfare. The Society needs help; its funds are limited; its operations are narrowed. Shall we allow it? Let each Christian ask himself, what is his duty in reference to this Society, prayerfully and thoughtfully. How many are there among the Lord's people, who hitherto have not so much as considered their obligations to support and aid this Society. They have not been awakened to the thought that God's ancient people are to obtain mercy through their mercy. They have read, it may be, these words, but they have left no impression. They have been looking too much to the Church in future, as putting forth its strength, and presenting its sacrifices on behalf of Israel, but have not for a moment imagined that they are expected to perform their part in this great work. They have lost the satisfaction of helping forward the good cause by inattention, and forfeited the golden opportunity. What can we do to encourage the Committee at the beginning of a new year? The Society is in debt to the Treasurer, and if the finances are not increased, we hear that the agency will be lessened. If forty of our Christian friends will give a New Year's Gift of five pounds each, this would realize £200, and if others will give in proportion; as the Lord hath prospered them, it will enable the Committee to begin in earnest their operations for the year. I shall cheerfully give five pounds towards the payment of the amount due to the Treasurer, and earnestly pray that the God of Israel may incline and strengthen the hearts of many to co-operate in this blessed work.

Tiverton, December, 1853.

F. S. GERVIS.

4

LETTERS FROM SYRIA (No I.)

By the Rev. C. G. YOUNG, Author of a "Wayfarer's Notes on the Levant and the Nile," &c.

To the Editor of the Jewish Herald.

MY DEAR SIR,According to promise, I now proceed to give you some account of a second tour in Syria and Palestine, which I was permitted to make in the beginning of this year. Early in December I landed at Beyrout, which is certainly one of the most charming spots that the delighted eye can gaze upon. Though most of the houses are inclosed by a wall, there are some hundred country-houses outside among mulberry gardens, extending to the distance of two or three miles on each side, and from the terraced roofs there is a most enchanting view of that grand and goodly mountain Lebanon, the well cultivated plain, and the Bay of Beyrout, extending northward to the Nahr El Kelb. I found that, in the course of six years, the population had increased from 15,000 to 30,000, and there seems every prospect of a yet more rapid increase in the future. As a place of residence in winter for invalids, Beyrout has many advantages. The Lebanon effectually shelters it from the north-east winds, while its sandy soil and proximity to the sea make it very dry. During ten weeks which I spent there last winter, there was almost perpetual sunshine, and day after day I sat reading for hours on the roof of the hotel. I saw much of the excellent American missionaries, some of whom have resided in the country for twenty-five years. Their boarding schools promise to accomplish much for the rising generation. Most of the more intelligent young men at Beyrout have received their education at the mission seminary. The mission chapel, the printing press, and book depôt are united in one neat building, situate in a garden of mulberries. The men and women have a separate entrance to the chapel, and there is a partition between them, according to the usage in eastern countries, but both are seen from the pulpit. Among the converts are Arab Greeks, Greek Catholics, Maronites, and Druses, the dragomen or chief interpreters of the English and American consulates being among the members of the church. In another part of the gardens a large school is taught by two natives, and contiguous to their building is the modest cemetery, where rest until the resurrection the mortal remains of Pliny Fisk and other noble members of the missionary band.

Dr. Eli Smith is the senior missionary now in the field: his time is mainly occupied with a new edition of the Arabic Bible, many portions of the ancient versions being very imperfect. He has a large Bible class, on Sabbath afternoons, composed chiefly of adults, and preaches in his turn in both Arabic and English. Mr. Whiting, another veteran missionary, whose constitution is much enfeebled, is the pastor of the church. Mr. and Mrs. De Forest superintend the female seminary, and Mr. Hurter has charge of the press. The English congregation, though not large, is important, as comprising most of the Protestant families in Beyrout; there is need, however, of a minister who can preach in French, for the sake of the Swiss Protestants there.

I saw much of your missionary, Mr. Manning, and experienced much kindness at his hand. He has a humble suite of rooms on the terrace of the Jewish khan, within the city walls. Though not by any means a healthy situation, he prefers it to the suburbs, as being central and in the midst of those who are the objects of his special care.

He has an interesting school of native Christian boys as well as Jews, and it is his ambition to train some of these up as honest, trusty dragomen, instead of the roguish ones who now too commonly impose upon travellers. In the Jewish Herald there have been frequent references to one of Mr. Manning's former pupils, Ibrahim Nejjar, who has thus far stood well. I had many conversations with him while he was a student in the Abeih mission seminary; but I find he has since returned to his former avocation in the silk factory at Beyrout, and though he may not be a minister of the word, I trust he may prove equally useful in a more private calling. He was full of zeal, and his chief object in returning to Beyrout seems to be the hope of exercising a Christian influence over the numerous youths in this factory. There are some promising Jewish boys in Mr. Manning's school. The Herald has contained notices of two, sons of a shoemaker, who are active as colporteursthey take their books and offer them for sale at the corners of the streets.

Since the French and Austrian steamers have taken Jaffa in their route, the number of pilgrims visiting Beyrout has much diminished. Formerly it was the custom to spend some days there, until an Arab boat could be obtained, and the passage to Jaffa often occupied seven to fourteen days, while the steamers go in twenty hours. Mr. Manning endeavours to meet the Jewish pilgrims before they proceed upon their voyage. He has been the means, also, of circulating many