satisfied with that, they have recently issued two tremendous excommunications against the missionaries, against the Hospital, and against all who are in connexion with us. Their zeal was even not satisfied with this, but a Rabbi Izchack Seria has published a book against 'Heresy,' amongst Israel in general, which is called,

, and in which we come in for a good share.”

The most important feature, however, that characterized the year 1846, was the case of Peter Meir, a Jewish youth who had become convinced of the truth of Christianity. He was in reality an Austrian subject; but in order to prevent him from making a public profession of Christianity, the Jews asserted that he was a Turkish subject, and as such prevented by Turkish law from changing his religion; in case of any change the alternative being offered of death or the Koran;-a circumstance we have before had occasion to allude to,* as at the outset presenting almost an insurmountable barrier to the progress of the Gospel in Palestine. In the present instance the Pasha of Jerusalem deemed it necessary to refer the matter to his Government, with a result the very reverse of what the Jews had so confidently anticipated, since, by authority from Constantinople, the youth was declared free to choose for himself in matters of religion.

This decision being pronounced on the supposition that Meir was a Turkish subject, settled once for all the case of native Jews who might embrace Christianity. Thus out of evil good was elicited. Those who have gone with us through these chapters, will remember that a legal decision equally important to our work in England, having reference to the age at which a Jewish youth is free to choose his religion, was obtained in the earlier years of the Home Mission under circumstances somewhat analogous.

In 1847, the Committee were enabled to record a public act of considerable consequence to the Church and Mission at Jerusalem. The British Ambassador at Constantinople, Lord Cowley, had succeeded in obtaining a Firman, recognizing the Protestant subjects of the Porte as a separate Church and community.

* See Chapter xxi.

During the year following, the missionaries had abundant opportunities for circulating the Scriptures, mostly, owing to the poverty of the Jews, in the way of gratuitous distribution. The instrumentality therefore of the depositories for Scriptures and tracts became of great value; the more so, when we consider that the dread of persecution on the part of the rabbies, must have precluded many a one from hearing the words of life from the missionaries' lips, who would nevertheless be able to search those Scriptures of which Jesus had said to their fathers, "They are they which testify of me." Mr.. Ewald gave the following incident, which will enable us to realize what persecutions had to be endured :---

on me.

"A young Israelite had visited some of our converted families, who preached to him Christ Jesus; he listened to what was pointed out to him from Holy Writ, and repeated his visits. He was advised to call However, his movements were watched, and, when on his way to my house, he was seized and taken to the house of the rabbies, where he twice received thirty-nine stripes. He confessed before that Jewish tribunal that he believed the Messiah had come, and that Jesus was the Messiah. He quoted many passages, and told the Jews to contradict him if he was wrong; but they laughed at him and put him in prison, where he remained several days."

An effort was made by the Jewish community to resist the influence of the Hospital, in the form of a petition to Sir Moses Montefiore to renew his efforts to establish a Jewish institution.

"Our minds," say the petitioners, "are not blinded to the tower which the sons of men have built' (we allude to the missionary party) in order to catch Israelites in the nets which they have spread out over all the face of the country. And although we have by every means of prevention prohibited any man or woman from going to that house (the conversion hospital), yet poverty and distress have predominated over the religious sense of those who were not firm in their faith, at a period when their souls hungered for bread; and when they were left in sickness without a resting-place, they still fled there for refuge. And what can we do to humble the presumption of the conversionists, and to banish it from the land, unless we, the Jews,

have an asylum to compete with theirs, and to prevent people from going thither?,

66

........

Why should we be despised by the missionary agents, who have built a tower of strength, and prosper considerably, whilst we, on the contrary, have no one that interests himself or cares for us?"

The House of Industry was re-opened in December, 1848. We need only say that its plan in general resembles that of our Operative Jewish Converts' Institution in Palestine Place, with of course necessary modifications. It was found and is still found an excellent adjunct to the mission. Speaking of it at an early period, it was said by Bishop Gobat: "The House of Industry promises to become a means of great blessing, and of raising the character of the proselytes; whilst it will prove a criterion of the sincerity and general character of the inquirers and candidates for baptism." And as regards actual results, the superintendent wrote in 1851 :

"Though our Inmates, all Jews-naturally a rebellious people— are from different nations, of unlike characters, capacities, habits, and dispositions; yet, according to the measure of grace given them from above, they live in unity of spirit, and in the bond of peace.' And considering that they are workmen, not students, I think the progress some have made in Biblical knowledge, and in the English language, is indeed remarkable; while most have made great advance also in their respective trades."

In the first three years, nineteen were admitted in all, of whom only one was discharged for misconduct.

In 1851-2, the congregation meeting for worship within the walls of Christ Church, Mount Zion, amounted to 88 adults and 43 children, 37 of the former and 25 of the latter being children of Abraham. The Church was a great feature in the Mission. Its very existence was a striking testimony of true Christianity: there it stood, on the summit of the Hill of Zion, as a beacon, visible from almost every part of Jerusalem. Jews, Mahometans, and Christians, visited its services, in order to witness the Protestant mode of worship: and even when incapable of understanding the language in which those services were conducted, the absence of every thing at all approaching to idolatry

impressed them favourably as to the dignified simplicity and spiritual character of Protestant worship. "I then," wrote a German clergyman after having attended the service, "first understood the importance of the Protestant Episcopal establishment in Jerusalem; for the more gloomy the present condition of Eastern Christians, the stronger and brighter shines the Protestant Church on Mount Zion, like a light in a dark place; not on account of purity of doctrine alone, but of works also, through which many thanksgivings shall redound to the glory of God."

It may not be out of place here to insert a quotation from the work of Dr. Frankel, a Jewish writer, who some years ago visited Jerusalem, as giving the aspect in which this institution presents itself to the Jewish mind:

"I visited," he says, " the Anglican Church, a plain, but handsome building, in the Gothic style. It rises with three pointed arches, between which are joists of brown wood. There is no cross on the altar. Instead of it there are two tablets of black marble, on which the Ten Commandments are engraven in Hebrew characters of gold. The pews are of plain, dark wood. The Church is lighted in the evening by coloured glass globes supported on posts of oak. On one of the pews I found a prayer-book, which had been forgotten, in the Hebrew language. It contained the usual ancient Jewish prayers, with slight omissions, and interlineations on matters connected with the Christian faith. Thus the opinions and feelings of the recent convert to Christianity are not only spared, but, to speak more correctly, homage is done to them, and the neophyte is thus gradually habituated to the other faith. When all the Jewish converts residing in Jerusalem are assembled in this Church, they form an imposing and numerous congregation. What other Jewish congregation in the world, even when all its members are assembled, can boast, like that of Jerusalem, of having a hundred and thirty baptized Jews in one Church!"

* In this work, "The Jews in the East," (translated from the German of Dr. Frankel, by the Rev. R. Beaton,) vol. ii., chapter 2, the most conclusive testimony is borne most unwillingly to the missionary establishment at Jerusalem.

CHAPTER XXV.

Value of the Hospital-Fresh steps-Rev. J. C. Reichardt's visit-The work of the Gospel in Palestine strengthened-The Deaconesses' InstitutionMiss Cooper's School, &c.-Counter-efforts-Jewish respect for the Christian Sabbath-Mr. Nicolayson's visit to the Mosque of Omar-Trials of later years-Death of Mr. Nicolayson, of Dr. Macgown, and of Miss CooperGeneral view of results.

IN resuming our subject, we must again advert to the Hospital, which seems daily to have increased in usefulness and efficiency. The year 1849 was one of immense labour; about five thousand dispensary patients were supplied, and nearly four hundred inmates. were received into the wards. Mr. Sandford, the House Surgeon, who in Dr. Macgowan's necessary absence from his post had charge of the establishment, thus wrote:

"So anxious are the Jews to obtain medical advice, that on outrelief days, which occur three times in the week, they actually come to us with lanterns, and wait several hours before they can be attended to."

A very interesting case occurred, which well illustrates the value of this Institution. We give it in Mr. Ewald's own words :—

"There is now," he wrote, "another family, consisting of husband, wife and two children, who have left the Jews, and wish to become Christians. They arrived some time ago from Constantinople, fell ill here, and were received into the Hospital. Mr. Sinyanki visited them first and preached Christ to them; by degrees their minds were opened, as I believe by the Divine Spirit: Mr. Calman also saw much of them, and I have had several communications with them. The great kindness that was shown to them at the Hospital removed their preconceived prejudices against Christianity; the Word of God, which was read to them, convinced them of the truth as it is in Jesus, and they desire to become followers of the Lord. For the present they are at the Hospital. What makes this case peculiarly interesting