1875.

his missionary labours. His first sermon was preached in a Jewish synagogue. As soon as he was converted, he sought out his Jewish brethren in Damascus, and proved to them that Jesus was the Christ. He goes to Antioch, in Pisidia, and seeks out the Jewish population in that city. Nor does he "turn to the Gentiles" until they had refused to hear him. He tells the Jews (having in remembrance the divine command) that it was NECESSARY (there was a divine necessity for it) that the Gospel should first have been spoken to them.

As far as we can discover in all the missionary operations of this Apostle, he always and everywhere went first of all to the Jews with the offer of the Gospel. The last glimpse we get of him is in his own hired house in Rome, pressing that Gospel on the attention of his countrymen, and not turning to the Gentiles until they had rejected it.-REV. JAMES A. CARR (America).

Review.

A PAMPHLET, on Habits and Health,* has reached us, which demands prompt recognition at our hands, for the author is our old and tried friend. Dr. Gill, who was so long officially connected with our Society.

The object of the treatise is explained by the author to be that the hints he affords may conduce to the prosecution and enjoyment of health as of one of the greatest gifts of God. The leading thoughts are on Health itself -what it is? and in succession Work, Food, Thought, and Rest are discussed and dealt with. The remarks are sound and weighty, the deductions clear, and the directions given are of great practical account. We strongly advise each of our readers to obtain this penny tract, and to study with care and attention the exhaustive reasoning of the learned M.D.

It is for want of due attention to these things that the human frame becomes enfeebled, the brain inactive, and the whole machineryfout of order. This, too, has a reactionary influence upon our undertakings, and notably upon that work which so much interests us in connexion with our personal oocupations. If we maintain, by God's blessing, mind and body in healthy condition, we shall be the better able to obey the divine exhortation, "Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do, do it with thy might," and the Jewish cause, amongst others, will be benefited.

Dr. Gill says, that the advantages of a religious life are great in its relation to health, and adds, "It is, likewise, cheerful, pure, patient, genial, devout, and all these elements of moral goodness improve mental health, have a conservative influence upon that of the body, even against great odds, and in spite of many inherited bodily infirmities. This remark applies with peculiar emphasis to the most distinctive feature of a religious

* Tweedie & Co., Strand.

1875.

character-devoutness. If the body sympathises with the mind and takes the impress of its varied moods, as we know it does, then there can be no doubt that the man who habitually goes to God with all his plans, and hopes, and cares, surrendering in submission to the divine will all such wishes as cannot be lawfully realised, and fully trusting a Father's love, by thus doing the very best thing he can do to keep his mind calm, and free from disturbing influences, secures for himself one, at least, of the most certain conditions of health. "

With that we cordially agree, and we wish all professional success and blessing to one who thus honours his God, whilst explaining to his fellowmen the conditions of preserving the health and vigour they receive from above.

Poetry.

WITHIN THE VEIL.

Он, to stand within the veil !
Past the fret of tear and sigh,

Where no eager spirits fail,

Where no hopes are born to die ;
Where unlovely death no more
Plants his sting within the breast,
And no boisterous tempest-roar
Breaks on the eternal rest.

Oh, to see the hidden things,

Never viewed by mortal eyes!
Oh, to hear the song that rings

Through the halls of Paradise!
Song of thankfulness and praise,

Song of reverence and of love,
Song that Jew and Gentile raise
To the Lord Who reigns above.

Oh, to shake the dust of earth
From our tired feet and go,
Children of a holier birth

Than the sons of Adam know,

Go where Christ, the Healer, waits

To soothe the grief and hush the wail;

Pass beyond the pearly gates,

Oh, to stand within the veil !

B. P. N.

1875.

Judaica.

THE population of Hungary is divided as follows: Catholics, 9,205,000; Protestants, 3,145,000; and Jews, 554,000. Between 1866 and 1875, the births among thr Catholics were 16 per cent., among the Protestants 22 per cent., and among the Jews 50 per cent.-Jewish Chronicle.

JERUSALEM.—Mrs. Burton, in her "Inner Life in Syria,' (vol. ii., p. 103), relates --"Every new Sultan sends by the Pasha of Jerusalem a key of this (the Jaffa) gate to the Chief Rabbi of the Jews, which is a permission to live and circulate freely about Syria and Palestine. If it is forgotten or deferred, as it was accidentally when Abdul Aziz came to the throne, the Jews are out of the pale of the law, and have to be confined to their own quarter until the keys are sent. The Israelites pay high for the privilege, and it is one of the proofs of the tenacity with which they cling to their old privileges. It amounts, in fact, to a claim of possession, and the Turks allow it-for a consideration." She also says (vol. ii., p. 107): "I am told that although all the numerous Christian sects hate one another, and fight amongst themselves (to the intense amusement of the Moslem, who, on great fête days, flog them into order in and out of church like a pack of hounds), if an unhappy Jew were to cross the enclosure of the Sepulchre during Holy Week they would all for once unite, and tear him to pieces on the spot. These things sound curiously in Europe; here they seem natural." Burton, describing the service on the eve of Passover, which she attended as a visitor in the house of a Jew at Jerusalem, says that "they (the Jews) slung the flat unleavened bread, or rather cakes, over their shoulders in a napkin, as if ready to depart at a moments notice." This is a proceeding which we believe is unusual in Europe, at least among German and Polish Jews. We, however, believe that such is the practice among the Samaritans. -Jewish Chronicle.

Mrs.

CONVERSIONS TO JUDAISM. That in modern times conversions to Judaism are not rare is well known. But that conversions to the same religion occasionally, also, took place in the middle ages, when this step could only be taken by the convert at the imminent risk of his life, is not generally known. Yet the record of a few of these conversions have been handed down to posterity, not by Jews, but by authors of the Christian 'religion. Such a convert was Boado (as Jew called Eleazar), who in the ninth century embraced Judaism. He was of noble parentage and brought up for the Church. After his conversion he evinced such aversion to the religion

renounced by him that he solicited the Mahometan ruler of Spain not to tolerate any Christian in his territory. Another convert of this kind was the priest Vercellinus, who in the year 1005, in the reign of Henry II., in a controversial publication issued by him, went so far as to address his former co-religionists in these words: "Pray read, O blockhead, the Prophet Malachi, where it is written, 'I am God, and I do not change.' How can you, therefore, believe in God's mutability?" But these conversions generally brought on great persecutions on the Jews, as was the case in England in 1275, when the renowned preacher, Robert de Predinge a Dominican, embraced Judaism, under the name of Hagai. King Henry II. avenged this conversion of the monk by a fearful persecution of the community which the neophyte had joined.-Jewish Chronicle.

The

SINGULAR JEWISH MARRIAGE CUSTOM.-At the Guildhall, on Monday, Mr. Alderman Knight had before him a case involving a curious matrimonial custom among the Polish Jews. Joseph Goldstein, a tailor, having been summoned for neglecting to support his wife, repudiated his liability, and the respective ages of the parties seemed an argument in his favour. wife produced her certificate, which, moreover, the husband still disowned, as it bore no clergyman's signature. It was then explained by an officer from the Jewish Board of Guardians, on the authority of the Chief Rabbi, that according to the custom of the Polish Jews the parties had been legally married, only public consent being requisite to constitute a marriage contract. It was alleged the prisoner had been saving money to go over to Hamburg, where he could obtain a divorce on equally easy terms. He was remanded for the attendance of the relieving officers.

THE STUDY OF HEBREW.-The Australian Israelite publishes an essay by Mr. Isidor Myers, on the" benefits derived from a knowledge of the Hebrew language." In it the following forcible remarks occur :—" "In this language, an Alcherizi, a Ben Gebirol, a Halevi, and the two Aben Ezras, tuned once more the harp of Judah, and chanted the glorious and sublime praises of the Almighty in climes less genial than the quiet meadows and pacific vales of a tranquil Jordan! How charming and sweet are their words! How like music to the ears of those who read them! O that the chords they touched could vibrate to our cold hearts! O that their works could infuse into us a glowing spark of love for our sacred language! O that we could be influenced to imitate them, and say, 'I love thee, sacred tongue! But what avails it if we make the language dead to us? What benefit have we in possessing a rich literature if we are unable to enjoy it? Can we release ourselves from the grasp of indifference ?-Jewish World.

1875.

THE JEWS IN PALESTINE.-The Globe contains a well-written leader quoting the essence of a letter which appeared in our last journal advocating the employment of Palestine Jews in the production of articles required in our religious services. Our contemporary goes on to say, "These plans indicate extreme good-nature on the part of the gentlemen who proposes them; but it may be questioned whether they will be more successful than Sir Moses Montefiore's Manchester machine. The Jerusalem Jew would be very glad to have his circumstances improved, but if asked to give himself trouble, he will probably prefer to continue his studies of the Law. These may not bring bread and butter, but they are rather more easy than making such things as Lulabim and Ethrogim, or even planting and selling citrons.

VITALITY OF JEWS COMPARED WITH THAT OF CHRISTIANS.-A writer in the Philadelphia Reporter communicated, says the Medical Press and Circular, several facts which are worthy of consideration. He addressed letters of inquiry to all the prominent Jews in the United States, asking the question, "Do the Jews ever have consumption?" From every quarter he received one reply-"The disease is very rare among them." The writer states that in an extensive practice he never saw a single case of consumption among the Jews. Why this camparative immunity from this disease? Answer to this is made by quoting (1) tables of vital statistics made up from observations in the great centres of civilisation-England, Germany, France, &c. These tables revealed the following remarkable facts: In the first five years of life, of 100 Jewish children, 12 die; of 100 Christian children, 24 die. Among 100 Christian, 38 attained to 50 years; among 100 Jews, 54 attained 50 years. Thirteen Christians in 100 attain 70 years; while out of 100 Jews, 27 attained 70 years. One quarter of all Christians attain only 6 years and 11 months. One quarter of all Jews attain 28 years and 3 months. (2) In explanation of these facts, Dr. Neufville gives the following facts: There are no proletaries among the Jews, while one-tenth of the Christians live on charity. The difference between the Christian and Jewish merchants is strikingly pointed out by the tables before quoted. These show that among 100 merchants one-half of the Christians die defore 57, while one-half of the Jews live until 67. Why this greater relative longevity, this greater immunity from disease, and tenacity of life among the Jews than among the Christians? Is it from their rigid adherence to articles of faith and the hygienic, sanitary, and dietetic regulations of their religion? The Pacific Medical Journal remarks that a careful scientific inquiry into the

cause of the above facts would be of incalculable benefit. If it should be found that obedience to physical and other laws was the cause of their physical strength, &c., then we should learn how to rejuvenate consumptive and other degenerate classes.—Public Opinion.