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CHAPTER XXVI.

A CONVERTED JEW.

CONVERTED Jew is, to me, a very interesting person, especially if his conversion to Christianity does not consist in the belief of certain dogmas peculiar to some sect of Christians, but rather in his acceptance of the Jesus Christ of the Gospels as the Messiah so long expected by the Jews. Erasmus Simon, a learned Jew from Poland, was thus converted. He became a Christian as the Jews of old did, without belonging to any particular sect. His father was a learned rabbi, with a family of sons, who, according to the custom of his people, were each apprenticed to a trade, and, when that was learned, they were allowed to prosecute any studies for which they had a strong inclination. Erasmus learned watchmaking, and then went to Edinburgh to attend law lectures. There, to the horror and disgust of his family, he became a Christian. He knew that it would separate him from his brethren, but he would not resist his own convictions; and they were so strong that he entertained hopes of converting his family, if he could gain a hearing;

but that he could not do. His father forbade him his house. He did, however, return to his neighborhood, and, on conversing with his Jewish brethren, he found several who believed in Christ, but were deterred from confessing him before men by the double persecution that would follow. For unless they joined the Romish Church, both Jews and Papists would be their enemies. This state of things determined Erasmus Simon to seek a safe asylum for Jews, converted or unconverted, offered by the United States.

He married in Edinburgh a most excellent woman, one who had always taken a peculiar interest in the Jews, and was a true helpmate to him in his benevolent project. She was a worthy daughter of her mother, who made a voyage to the East Indies in order to persuade the Bishop of Calcutta to interfere with and put an end to the burning of widows in his diocese.

Erasmus Simon was indeed an Israelite without guile, and so upright and honest himself that he never suspected evil in others. In making arrangements to come to this country, he was shamefully imposed upon. He took passage in a Dutch merchantman, without any decent accommodations for passengers, had a long voyage, and he and his wife were half starved on bad provisions. Arrived in New York, they presented their letters of introduction, were kindly received,

and encouraged in their design of forming a settlement for converted Jews. They found a society already established there for the purpose of converting the Israelites, and were advised to act under its auspices.

It was proposed that Mr. Simon should make an extensive tour in the Northern States, call meetings, and set forth the sad condition of those Jews in Poland who were ready to embrace Christianity, but dared not do it there. He was to unfold to his hearers his anti-sectarian views, and his plan of buying land and forming a self-supporting settlement on it for converted Jews, and contributions were to be taken up for this purpose.

It was while he was on this tour that I became acquainted with him and his wife, at New Bedford, where they spent a week at my grandfather's house, and proved very interesting guests. The simple faith of this Israelite was much approved by the Quakers there, and they contributed liberally to his scheme. He remitted the money he collected to the Society for the Conversion of Jews, in New York, for safe keeping; and when he had raised a sufficient sum, he was proceeding to buy land, and was expecting to organize a colony of Jews on the basis he had proposed; but this was not to be. The Society who held the money was resolved that the converted Jews from Poland should accept their creed, and be governed by rules of their making.

It was not in the nature of Erasmus Simon to contend for his rights. Chagrined and disappointed, he gave up his cherished scheme, and left the Society to do as they pleased with the funds he had raised.

He had now become much interested in the Indians of North America, and a pamphlet, writ ten by Elias Boudinot, called "The Star in the West," had convinced him that they were the lost ten tribes of Israel, and he resolved to go among them and see if he could find anything Jewish in their traditions and customs. He and his wife took up their residence on the outskirts of civilization and in the midst of Indians. He preached the Gospel to them, and she fed and clothed six Indian boys and taught them to read the Bible.

Mr.

Some of the natives around them had become farmers, and raised corn and vegetables. One of these was known to Mrs. Simon, and she found him a very interesting character. She was therefore shocked to hear that a company of strolling players had enlisted him in their number, to act an Indian part at a town twelve miles off. Simon was not at home, but his energetic wife drove off to that town, found her man, persuaded him that it was a degradation to act with those players, and asked what he was to receive for doing it. He said a suit of clothes at the end of the season. She told him that if he would

return with her, and promise never to turn actor, she would give him a suit of clothes that evening. He did so, and she gave him her husband's clothes, at which the poor Indian was delighted; and, rubbing his hand all over his heart, he said, "All here tank you, missus."

After a few years thus spent, urgent business recalled them to England; and in London Mr. Simon hired a room, in which he used to preach to the Jews. Several were converted, and he made their being willing to learn and practice shoemaking a test of their sincerity. Both of these excellent and devoted Christians were willing to live in the humblest way, and eat the plainest food, in order to have the means of helping their Israelitish brethren.