CONVERSATION WITH MR. KLOPSCH.

501

required by God; and so with the others. When we asked why he had not given names to his daughters on the same principle, he replied, "Because at the time of their birth, I myself did not know the Lord." At his desire, we described the present state of Palestine, while he and his family put many questions about the towns and places mentioned in Holy Writ. He told us that there are forty Jewish boys attending the Gymnasium here; some of whom left the Roman Catholic gymnasium, and came to him, because he was kind to Jews. Of one Jewish boy he had much hope, for he came of his own accord, like Nicodemus, and asked to be taught concerning the Christian faith. He knew a good deal about Scotland, and said that the visit of a German traveller, Gemba, who described the manner in which the Sabbath is kept by the Scottish people, first drew forth his love to our country. He was interested in the questions at present agitating our Church, and had already heard that the Veto Law was pronounced illegal. He seemed to appreciate fully the Scriptural constitution of our church, in being free from all civil control in matters spiritual, and felt deeply that the treatment of the Lutheran church by the Prussian King was an act of encroachment by the civil power, resulting from their church possessing no spiritual jurisdiction distinct from the State. One of his favourite books was Rutherford's Letters, which have been translated into German. During the evening, a German Candidat came in and joined the conversation in Latin, and also a gentle Moravian with his wife, from whom Mr. Calman received an interesting account of some of their settlements. The company of believers seems to be very small in Glogau, but they are full of love. They have to suffer many things. Meetings for prayer are not allowed, lest they should be used for political purposes, and when they wished to have a Sabbath evening school in the church, the police prohibited it, on the pretence that the church might be set on fire, though the theatre is open with its blazing lustres every night. We told them how different it was in happy Scotland. Late in the evening, we bade them an affectionate farewell, happy to have had a glance into one of the believing families of Prussia.

(Oct. 24.) We left Glogau in a raw foggy morning, before dawn, and in two hours were at Klopschen. Soon after we passed through Neusaltz, a Moravian village,

where Kohlmeister lives, a venerable missionary, who laboured for thirty years at Labrador. At midday, verdant vineyards were on each side of the road, on the sloping hills around the pleasant town of Gruenberg. Towards evening, we reached Lessen, where the Oder is joined by another stream. The broad river, the opposing hill, mantled with vines, and the handsome church, gave it a beautiful aspect. The dark blue kerchief which the women wear on the head in addition to their white caps, gives them a singular appearance.

By nine o'clock we arrived at Frankfort-on-the-Oder, and next morning by daylight entered the capital of Prussia.

Berlin is now so well known in this country, that any lengthened description would be here out of place. It is really a handsome city, situated upon a plain, with the Spree, a tributary of the Elbe, flowing through it, spanned by many bridges. The public buildings have much of the air of royalty about them. The castle, the museum, the dome church, the theatre with a church on each side (a painful combination, and an emblem, it is to be feared, of the state of religion in Prussia), are all handsome buildings, worthy of such a capital. The long walk under the linden-trees, with the king's palace and many fine houses on either side, all the way up to the splendid Brandenburg gate, forms one of the finest promenades in Europe. The streets are wide and lively, without being overcrowded like those of London and Paris.

(Oct. 25.) Our main object being to acquire information regarding the Jews, we eagerly sought out Mr. Becker, missionary of the London Society. We found him engaged with the captain of police, in a consultation about some Jews who had come from Poland without a pass, professing to wish baptism, and one of whom at least seemed really in earnest. Up to 1830, Mr. Becker was maintained by the Edinburgh Jewish Society; and laboured in Magdeburg, until he was compelled by the late Duke to leave that station. He was then engaged at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, and latterly at Berlin. During the year then past, fifty-four inquiring Jews had come to him, of whom he had baptized five, but many had drawn back. There were about 5000 Jews in Berlin, though others make the number 8000; and between 900 and 1000 proselytes. Of the latter, the great proportion are very poor, a few only rich, but these have no

concern about the salvation of their brethren. Two Jews came in while we were with Mr. Becker, one an inquirer, the other a baptized convert, a rabbi from Galicia, named Abraham, whom he had met in London, and who had been lately sent over to study under Mr. Becker's care. He is a very learned man, but proud, and unwilling to submit to the labour of acquiring elementary knowledge at his time of life.

There is a society in Berlin for aiding in the support of poor proselytes and inquirers, which is thought to be absolutely needful. The plan is not to give help directly, but in return for labour, getting pious men to employ inquirers or proselytes at their different trades. In the evening, we met with the Committee of this Society, and were introduced to the Rev. Mr. Kunze, and Mr. Focke, the Secretary. We heard a statement of thirty cases of those who receive support. "Most of our experiences are sad (said Focke), but some are joyful." One of their first steps was to advertise for Christian masters, who from love would be willing to take Jewish inquirers and converts as apprentices. Thirtythree masters agreed to this, but it was not all of them that had patience and long-suffering with the young Jews sufficient to lead them to persevere. They thought an Institution for proselytes would be advisable, where they might be fed and watched over, and from which they might be sent out as apprentices, for at present they sleep each in the house of his master. They had been instrumental in relieving the wants of about seventy proselytes during that year, the support granted differing in different cases,-some requiring clothes and every thing necessary; only they never give help directly, but always in return for labour. The "Basle Freund des Israel," published at Basle, is conducted on the same principles.

Mr. Becker mentioned that he had preached at the gaol on the previous Sabbath to 400 prisoners, among whom were forty Jews. The Director is a good man, and has been useful to several of the prisoners, and among others to a young Jew. This youth was confined two years for theft, during which time he learned the catechism and much of the Bible, and now that he is set at liberty, he comes regularly to the missionary asking in good earnest what he must do to be saved. Mr. Focke also told us of a man who had murdered his mother, and who, during his confinement, appeared to be

504

BERLIN-STATE OF RELIGION.

truly converted. The minister who attended him said that his confession of sin was the deepest he had ever heard It was likewise mentioned that three persons of note had lately laid before the king of Prussia a proposal that the European powers should at this time bring Jerusa lem again under Christian sway, or give it into the hands of the Jewish nation by a bloodless crusade. The king answered that he highly approved of their object, but that he had no influence, and advised them to lay the proposal before the other powers of Europe. They were said not to be religious men, but men moved by general views of philanthropy.

Dr. Neander, though himself an Israelite by birth, takes no special interest in his brethren. He cannot be made to see that means ought to be used for their conversion, and his opinion is that the efforts of societies are not to succeed. On the other hand, Dr. Hengstenberg has done much for the Jewish cause, and has frequently recommended it to his students.

Walking home with the faithful Kunze, we received from him an account of the religious state of the capital. Berlin has a population of 250,000 souls, and seventy churches of different denominations. Three ministers and two churches have been added lately upon the principle of our Church Extension Scheme, for the Government discovered that the population had greatly increased, while scarcely one additional church had been built for a hundred years. Some rich people subscribed to the new churches, but the Government were the chief promoters of the scheme. Rationalism is not in fashion at Berlin; only three of the ministers are Rationalists, and these are not attended by more than fifty hearers. The late king was a supporter of all good things, though he did not firmly press on his ministers all that he himself saw to be right. The present king (at that time Crown Prince), was thought to be much more decided, and supported the truth in direct opposition to all his father's Neologian counsellors. Three of the king's ministers, of whom Kunze is one, preach the Gospel unflinchingly. There is also some success accompanying the preached word in Berlin, and many come inquiring what they must do to be saved. Gossner, who was brought to the knowledge of the truth through Martin Boos and wrote his life, is pastor of the Bohemian church here, and has been remarkably blessed in awakening souls. The real Christians of Berlin do take an interest

NEW SCHOOL SYNAGOGUE.

505 in the cause of the Jews, but not equal to its vast impor. tance, for missions to the heathen are far better supported, Kunze himself is engaged every week in the instruction of inquirers, both Jewish and Gentile, and has baptized 112 Jews from the commencement of his labours, forty of whom were from the Grand Dutchy of Posen, and almost none from Berlin. “It is a cause (he said) which needs much patience and long-suffering; but the more they are sunk and degraded, so much the more we should compassionate them. And how cheering is that promise, As ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing.'"*

In passing the palace, Kunze pointed to the King's sleeping apartment, the light in the window of which is the common intimation to the people that the King has retired to rest. We could not but contrast his peaceful reign with that of the Sultan of Constantinople, whose palace is far removed from his capital, in order to ensure his safety.

(Oct. 26.) Rabbi Abraham called and conducted us to one of the New School synagogues, connected with their seminary for youth. A choir of fine Jewish boys sat on either side; the older Jews, wearing no distinctive dress except the Tallith over the shoulders, sat in the middle; the women were placed by themselves, but not concealed by any lattice-work. After a short prayer, a fine Hebrew psalm was sung by the boys responsively, and then the rabbi, Dr. Auerbach, gave an extempore prayer in German, and preached a sermon on Abraham offering up Isaac, enforcing from it the duty of serving and obeying God. His quotations from Scripture were given in Hebrew, but always followed up by a German translation. We spoke with several of the Jews present. One who had travelled with us from Breslau seemed a fine young man, and seriously inclined. Another spoke with us in Latin. While leading us to the synagogue, he said that he still studies the Talmud, though he does not receive it as the word of God, and that he believes the Old Testament to be divine. The old synagogue is a fine large building in the Gothic style, like that of Brody, but not so handsome.

We visited the splendid Museum, which is freely open to the public; and afterwards called on Elsner agent for

⚫ Zech. viii. 13.