Conversion Missionaries

We deem it from time to time our duty to warn our readers against having any intercourse whatever, either friendly or otherwise, with those miserable apostate hirelings, who are to be met with in various parts of the country, following their unholy avocation. We have plenty of facts in our possession, to prove the utter worthlessness and love of falsehood which uniformly characterize these men, with scarcely an exception, but we will not bear their name upon our lips, nor consign them to an unenviable immortality; let the name of the wicked perish, we say with the wise king of Israel; even in condemning them, therefore, and their misdeeds, we will not call them by the appellation they bear among their associates—names, by the by, which were only given them at the time they became strangers to Israel, and rebels to the God of Jacob.

But these men obtrude themselves on the notice of Israelites in every accessible place; they are sent where the teacher of righteousness cannot penetrate, because we have not qualified persons enough to take upon themselves the work of instruction; and even in places where no Jews do dwell, they preach to Christian audiences to incite them to contributed funds to assist them in the wicked work of seducing <<423>> the unwary, and often poverty-stricken, Hebrew. We are not acquainted with the manner in which they approach their victims, although they statedly print accounts of their missionary labour, as they vainly style their mischievous doings; nor do we believe that they have had any success, even to judge from their own statement to mislead our people, beyond the open accession of some few foreign adventurers, perhaps especially imported to impose upon the Christian public, with a pretended effectiveness which the circumstances do not warrant. But whether they succeed or not is not now the question; there will be always wicked as well as weak people in the world, and no cause loses anything by the defection of those who have not strength enough to be faithful. It is, therefore, not fear, we assure these apostates and their abettors, which induces us to write these few lines, but a thorough detestation of them and their deeds, of men who hire themselves out for pay to the enemies of Israel, and of deeds, which if successful, can only lead to the destruction of the spirit, and the loss of souls.

We, however, wish to call the attention of Israelites to one fact, which is, that these sinners are agents of various societies here and in Europe, and that they regularly correspond with the Boards of Managers of these various pseudo-philanthropic institutions, and report, to them all they say, hear, and do, and so colour their diluted matter, as to give at least the appearance as though their employers might have hereafter a harvest of souls. Every casual conversation, every unguarded word, any act of politeness, is carefully noted down, and duly reported; and if people only knew that whatever is said or done appears monthly in the New York Chronicle, or London Intelligence, or some other organ of the kind; and that, upon the principle “that lions are not painters,” the missionaries have always the best of the argument, and fail not to make an impression of some sort,—they would assuredly be very cautious what they say to them. Whilst we were at Syracuse we met with one of these traitors, whom some designated as the best apostate they had ever met, as being quiet and unobtrusive, and kind in his feelings towards Israelites. But our friends no doubt forgot, that this is precisely the outside appearance which missionaries must assume, to be admitted to an intercourse with believing Jews, and we have no doubt that the phrases, “our dear brothers,” “our brethren according to the flesh,” &c., &c., are a regular portion of such men’s mode of speaking. Still did this delinquent son of Jacob make a false statement,—that the contest which the Rev. Dr. Raphall, then at <<424>> London, and others had, about fourteen years ago, with Dr. Alexander MacCaul and others, resulted in the defeat of the Jewish champions, when the fact, as stated to us by Dr. R., and as he can substantiate by proof, is that Dr. MacCaul yielded up the contest, when finding victory hopeless. On an educated Jew it would make no impression that Dr. R., or any other stout defender of Judaism, had been beaten in an argument, had this even been the case, as he would have the right to say that if such a one failed, there are many others who could have replied triumphantly; for truth is not less truth because sophistry has closed the mouth of some of its defenders. But on the ignorant it might have a disagreeable effect, were they told that prominent Jews, who are looked upon as leaders by the others, were unable to frame answers in time of need.

We accordingly tell our friends, Avoid all apostates; the best of them will not shrink from uttering a falsehood, if his cause is thereby promoted. It is their trade to continue their deception, as their whole course, conversion, baptism, preaching, and all, is a series of false disguises. We entreat all to pass them by unnoticed, and to forbid them access to their houses; to receive no presents, books, or tracts, from them, and to avoid all churches or meetings where these base creatures preach. We lately saw in a New York paper, that at the baptism of one of this fraternity in Philadelphia several Israelites were present, and that they were evidently interested. It is true that some were then at church, for we heard it on the day this act of treason took place; but we deny, and so would they all indignantly deny, that they regarded it with the eye of interest. They went there from a foolish and idle curiosity, to see what was going on; but we are certain, that they would all have fled the place as they would shun plague, had they known that their presence would be reported abroad as proving their satisfaction or sympathy with what was done before their eyes.

We hear that some of our brothers are a little too liberal. It is well to be kind and charitable to all; but there is no necessity for taking by the hand a man without good principles, or looking on an act of perfidy and wickedness; it is not necessary to be so good and conciliatory, and we shall earn the just contempt of all good Christians, even for appearing, by such extra kindness, indifferent to, and tired of, our own faith. Idle curiosity is no excuse for hearing and seeing what we disapprove of, and a little firmness is all that is necessary to shake off, and for ever, the whole host of babbling and eaves-dropping apostates, who are daily more sad more enlisted, if we may trust the conversion <<425>> organs, in spreading the gospel, to use their own words, among the lost sons of Israel.

No respectable Christian gentleman would allow a missionary of another creed to speak disrespectfully of his religion in his presence, and certainly would not admit any such person to his house. Why then will not Israelites too have the same self-respect, and renounce any acquaintance which can only be disgraceful, and avoid a conversation which can be of no practical use? We could tell some anecdotes connected with our own experience, but it is not necessary at present. We may, however, do so another time. Let us only reiterate our warning to Israelites, to shun all who are avowed enemies to our faith, and to have no conversation on subjects of religion, unless they feel themselves strong enough to make a good report, in case the missionaries should be inclined to take notes of what is said before them. It is the best and safest plan to deal with them, and it will tell with good effect upon children, when they see that we detest and cast off those who have forsaken their God.

We write this purposely, that the managers at New York and London may know what is thought of these men; and we can assure our Jewish readers, that though the Occident has but small circulation among the men spoken of, they somehow find out all that we say concerning them. If we are not feared by them, they will at least ass that we do not fear them, though, as a watchman, we shall endeavour to keep a vigilant eye on their movements.