God appears to be coming down on the Jews, amongst whom he labours not in small drops but in plenteous showers.

The journals of the other Missionaries are equally interesting with those from which the preceding intelligence has been extracted. Let the friends of the Society wrestle with God in prayer on their behalf: we must pray more earnestly if we would see more abundant fruit.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MELIORATING THE

CONDITION OF THE JEWS.

WE have this month received the Jewish Chronicle for January, one or two extracts from which will much interest our readers.

NEW YORK.

"The Rev. John Neander had a conversation with a Rabbi on the question, Are the words of the Rabbies or of the Talmud equal to the writings of Moses and the prophets?' He maintained that they were, on the ground that the sacred writings can only be understood through the medium of the Rabbies. Mr. N. drew his attention to places in the Talmud which contradict Holy Writ, and to the fearful disputes which often occur amongst the Rabbies. The Rabbi at last said, 'I have no time to-day to enter further into the question, but call again and we will continue this theme.'

ness.

"On another occasion the missionary had a lengthened conversation with a young Jew whose soul is searching after truth. For three years already has he struggled and striven for light, truth, and peace. He frankly declares that he believes in the Prince of Peace, though he has still a few scruples and doubts, and is as yet unable to exclaim, 'I have found peace!' Mr. N. urged on him to call on the Lord for light, power, and strength, that he may be enabled to lift up his eyes in living faith to Him who bore the chastisement of our sins, and who is the Lord our RighteousHe told Mr. N. some particulars of his history. I was teaching,' he said, 'a boy with whom I read the Psalms. As I translated to him the second psalm, the youth asked me Who is the Son of whom mention is here made? He searched, read tracts, and at length expressed his desire to become a Christian; he had a mighty struggle with his parents, and I cannot tell what is now become of him. Not long before my departure from Europe, I paid a visit to my sister, to whom I stated that I was torn asunder from Judaism and was agitated by the question, whether Christ is not the true Messiah? She stared at me in astonishment. I expected the bitterst reproaches, but she drew

me into her bed-room, and there, showing me the Bible and several tracts, said with deep emotion of heart, There is no other Messiah than Jesus the Nazarite. I believe this and wanted to Listen to what I propose to do;-I must become a

tell you. Christian!" Mr. S. Bonhomme, the travelling agent of the American Society, thus writes: "There is one truth that I have experienced for the last ten months, viz., that my mouth has been specially opened by our Lord, to declare his way among the children of Israel. I have confidence that,by the blessing of my Master, my labours among them will not be in vain. Bibles and Testaments in English and German,as also special tracts for them, are indispensable to me in my travels. My brethren and sisters of Israel are glad to obtain the Scriptures, and feel very grateful. They are the key to unlock to them that knowledge which has been so long withheld from them by the blind leaders of the blind. The kind and affectionate treatment that I receive among them is another evidence that the good Lord is about doing a mighty work among them. I call it an effectual door opened to me to do good. Oh that the church were sufficiently alive to the importance of these operations!"

WEST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF BRITISH JEWS,
BURTON STREET.

WE stated in our last that the Burton Street Reformed Synagogue had appointed a committee to draw up a remonstrance against the proceedings of Dr. Adler, the Chief Rabbi. This has led to the publication of an "Appeal to their brother Israelites throughout the United Kingdom." In this appeal, they state that four years have elapsed since the consecration of their synagogue; that its establishment arose from the convictions that the inroads of infidelity and apostacy on the Jews of England would be most effectually checked by the adoption of a more simple and scriptural book of prayers, and by the introduction of a purer mode of external devotion within the synagogue, that they had scrupulously abstained from effecting any change foreign to this object, having neither received any dogma not recognised by the whole of Israel, nor rejected the observance of any tenet by which, as Israelites, they were "bound to stand or fall." They tell us that, some months before their synagogue was opened, the first volume of their prayers, containing the daily and Sabbath services, was published; that though it was based on the existing rituals of Jewish congregations, that though nothing not strictly consonant to Judaism had been admitted, and no principle, guiding the common faith of Israelites, had been excluded; the late Chief Rabbi, Dr. Hirschell, and others, pro

mulgated a "Caution," but which was, in fact, a bull of excommunication that as Dr. H. was of an advanced age, they bore the wrong with patience, in the hope that his successor would do them full justice; and that their hope has been utterly disappointed by Dr. Adler acting on the decree of his predecessor, and forbidding a marriage between a member of their own and one of the Westminster synagogue, except on condition of the former at once renouncing her religious association. They ask for sympathy from their brethren and for their declaration for the revocation of the decree under which they have recently suffered.

In this appeal they justify their prayer-book, but say nothing in defence of their views respecting the oral law. This led the Rabbinical Jewish Paper, "The Voice of Jacob," to rejoin, that, whilst in the opening sermon of the Rev. D. W. Marks, their minister, the rejection of the oral law was openly asserted, their present publication had reference simply to liturgical forms. The wardens of the West London Synagogue have, however, stated that the reason why in their appeal they have justified their prayer-book and not their views respecting tradition, is that the former, and not the latter, had been condemned by Dr. Hirschell in the "Caution;" and that they had not the slightest idea of abandoning the opinions respecting the oral law, or any other of the views expressed by their minister in his consecration

sermon.

THE JEWS' ASYLUM.

THE first stone of this building, the endowment of Abraham Lyon Moses, Esq., was laid on the tenth of March last. The Rev. Dr. Adler, Chief Rabbi, delivered an address, in which he likened the occasion to that recorded in the book of Ezra, when at the re-erection of the temple, many wept, and many shouted for joy; for that now, they must feel sorrow in reflecting on the melancholy time (when the cholera was raging) which led to the formation of this charity, and joy that they had succeeded in their philanthrophic object. A. L. Moses, Esq. has given £2100 for the erection of the Asylum, the ground, situated in Goodman's Fields, having been purchased by voluntary contributions.

"THE GATES OF THE EAST."

A NEW Jewish periodical with this appellation has been commenced at Smyrna, which is to contain accounts of the events passing in the East, and in Palestine in particular, and of the state of the Jews in Turkey and other Eastern countries.

AUXILIARIES AND ASSOCIATIONS.

THE first annual meeting of the SOUTHAMPTON Ladies' Association was held in the Victoria Rooms, on the 18th of March. The Rev. T. Adkins occupied the chair, and a powerful address was delivered by the Rev. Ridley Herschell, who attended as a deputation from the Parent Society. The meeting was also addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Pullar, Morris, and Crabbe. We are happy, too, to report that a lecture has been delivered by Mr. Herschell, at High Wycombe, after which a collection was made for the Society; and that, after a sermon by the same esteemed brother at KENSINGTON, a provisional committee has been formed for arranging for a public united meeting in aid of our cause.

Among the associations formed in connexion with the British Society we regard none as more interesting than the Young Men's Auxiliary; by means of this auxiliary Christian youths of all denominations are brought together, and whilst they meet periodically for conversation and prayer, and are benefited by the lectures delivered to them by different ministers, an interest is excited in their minds on behalf of Israel, and a spirit of union with true believers of every name is fostered in their hearts. We invite all young men resident in the metropolis who love Jesus Christ and love Israel for his sake to join this auxiliary; their own souls will be profited; in seeking to water others, they themselves will be watered. The young men will hold their annual tea meeting at Radley's Hotel, Bridge Street, Blackfriars, on Monday evening, April 6th, at six o'clock. J. D. Paul, Esq. will occupy the chair, and several ministers are expected to assist. Tickets, 1s. each, may be had at the Office, No. 1, Crescent Place, or at the doors. We hope that young men will be induced at least to go and hear.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOCIETY.

The annual sermon will be preached in the Weigh House Chapel, Fish Street Hill, near the Monument, on Tuesday evening, April 14th, at a quarter before seven, by the Rev. James Hamilton, M.A., minister of the Scotch Church, Regent Square.

The annual public meeting will be held in Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, on Friday evening, April 24th, at six o'clock. J. D. Paul, Esq., Treasurer, is expected to take the chair. Tickets may be had at the Office of the Society, No. 1, Crescent Place, Blackfriars, and of Messrs. Nisbet, Berners Street; Aylott and Jones, Paternoster Row; and Cotes, 139, Cheapside. Our friends will bear in mind that the accounts for the year will be closed on the 10th of April.

F

FREE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND.

PESTH.

Extract from a Letter of the Rev. Alexander Thompson.

"I WORSHIPPED in the afternoon with the Jewish converts. My very first intercourse with them powerfully affected me; there was so much devoutness, thirst for the word of God, and fixed attention visible in their whole deportment. And all my subsequent opportunities of conversing with them have only deepened the conviction that here we have an unequivoal work of the Spirit of God wrought before our eyes. Mere human teaching may, to a certain extent, procure a reception for some of the most distasteful doctrines of the Gospel to the natural man, and even the transition from Judaism to Christianity might be accounted for on principles strong enough to overcome the obstacles in its way; but the graces of humility and love, unobtrusive, patient obedience, and the power of the truth over the heart, are what man cannot communicate, and which plainly indicate the operation of the Spirit. These things, I believe, we may see exemplified among many of our converts here, and they ought to encourage us to more abundant labour in the work of the Lord. Oh that among every community of the scattered people of Israel there were such a company of simple-minded, prayerful disciples to leaven the whole mass! And we look for more than this. Let us but be up and be doing, and prove God now, whether he will not open the windows of heaven and pour down a blessing till there be no room to receive it.”

JASSY.

THE Rev. Daniel Edward, writing to the Secretary, informs us that several Israelites have offered themselves for instruction, though in none of them there is as yet any appearance, either of the driving of the law or of the drawings of grace. He says that there are always more or fewer Jews at their sermons, even on the Thursdays, when it is least to be expected. There are merchants or young men continually visiting Mr. Weiss or himself. He adds, that a book is circulating in these regions called "Hibbath Jerusalem," written from the Rabbies in Jerusalem to their countrymen throughout the world. It is a call to all the Jews to come up to the Holy Land, showing the facilities and the removal of all obstructions to their doing so. It tells what the missionaries are doing, building a church and seducing the Jews from their faith, and exhorts the Jews to come up and make head against them. This is significant of the character of the times.