7.24. Appendix 2 - Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel

Appendix 2 Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel Under the Direction of David Baron and C. A. Schönberger

Trustees

Advisory Council

Referees

Rev. James Elder Cumming, D.D. (St. Andrew’s); Captain W. H. Dawson (Tunbridge Wells); Prebendary H. E. Fox, M.A. (C.M.S.); General Halliday (Blackheath); Rev. D. M. McIntyre (Glasgow); W. M. Oatts, Esq. (Glasgow); Hind Smith, Esq.; G. F. Trench, Esq., B.A. (Ardfert). This Mission to Israel, which was founded in 1893, is under the direction of David Baron and C. A. Schönberger (brother-in-law to the late Dr. Adolph Saphir), both of whom have been engaged for many years in the work of preaching the Gospel, in different parts of the world, to the people still “beloved for the fathers’ sake.” They are assisted by a small band of able and experienced Hebrew Christian brethren, who give proof that they are called of God to this peculiar work. Its Aim and Objects are as the Lord shall enable, and supply the means, to bear witness for Christ to the Jewish people in all the lands of their dispersion, in order, by the preaching of the Gospel, to call out the “remnant according to the election of grace,” and to prepare the nation for the time when “the Redeemer shall come out of Zion,” and “all Israel shall be saved.” To quote from an article by Mr. Schönberger: “Our mission was not intended to gain adherents to this or that particular Church, but to witness to Jews and Gentiles that Christ is still to be Israel’s King, and Israel is still to be Christ’s ‘own.’ We believe it, feel it, and are certain of it, and we say that the Jewish people must be evangelised by men who are in harmony with the teaching of Christ and His apostles regarding Israel, and who personally recognise that Christ, in virtue of His human descent, is the crown and glory of His people Israel.” Not that there is a different Gospel for the Jews, or any other way of salvation than by repentance, grace, and faith, but that the Jewish nationality cannot be effaced, and that the Jews coming to Christ do not become ‘proselytes,’ but re-enter their own spiritual inheritance. The Mother-Church of all the Churches was the truly Apostolic Hebrew-Christian Church of Jerusalem, and when Israel as a nation shall see Him whom they have pierced, there shall be not only a renewal, but a consummation of the work once begun in the midst of this nation, and at Jerusalem.

What we continually press upon the Jews is that we believe in Christ, the Son of Man and Son of God, not in spite of, but because we are Jews, that Jesus is the divine King of our people, the sum and substance of our Scriptures, the fulfiller of our law and our prophets, the embodiment of all the promises of our covenant-God. Jesus-Jehovah, Jehovah-Jesus, Jehovah-Tzidkenu, is the continual burden of our message to Israel.

“Our ‘Testimony’ is that of Jews to Jews.

“Having before our mind their singular prejudices, their peculiar ignorance regarding the Gospel of Christ, and knowing so well their traditional offence at the Cross, we try to follow the Apostle Paul, who became a Jew to the Jews in order to win them for Christ.” Its Headquarters are in London. Here in our large Mission Home (189, Whitechapel Road), situated in a most prominent position on what might be called the East End promenade, a variety of efforts for Jewish men, women, and children are carried on day by day.

We may particularly mention our Bible Class, which has been carried on from seven to eight every evening for the past sixteen years (with the exception of Saturdays and Sundays, when the meetings are of a somewhat different character), and at which regular and continuous teaching in the Word of God is given. At this class, at which in the autumn and winter months as many as fifty and more Jews may be seen gathered around the Scriptures every evening, whole books of the Bible, both Old and New Testament, have been systematically gone through. Many families are also visited in their homes, and hundreds are spoken with in the streets. At intervals we visit other towns in the United Kingdom where Jews are to be found, but our hearts are chiefly set on the masses of “the Scattered Nation” in Central and Eastern Europe, and other countries, and missionary journeys are continually being made abroad. Mr. Baron, whose journals appear in The Scattered Nation, has himself made twenty tours in many parts of the world, always accompanied by one or two earnest, experienced Hebrew Christian brethren. In the course of these journeys many thousands of Jews had the Gospel of their Messiah preached to them, and many thousands of New Testaments and suitable tracts ad pamphlets such as the writings of Rabbi Lichtenstein, which are published by this Mission, circulated amongst them. In order to supply a suitable Hebrew Christian literature for Jews we have ourselves printed and published about thirty-five very valuable books, pamphlets, and tracts in Hebrew, Yiddish, German, Hungarian, English, and French—mostly written by our own missionary brethren, and circulated very extensively in all parts of the world. By means of our Postal Mission many thousands of the “better class” Jews in this country and in almost all other lands of the dispersion—who might never meet a missionary—have had the claims of Christ brought before them through the printed page. The two other centres where missionaries are permanently stationed are Berlin and Budapest. Its Character is thoroughly unsectarian; and although we have our own views as to the necessary qualifications and proper methods for the Jewish Mission, we wish Godspeed to all who in sincerity and truth seek to make Christ known to the Scattered People. All who are loyal to the Bible as the Word of God; all who, in these days of failure and declension, cling to the grand old Protestant evangelical doctrines; all who out of a pure heart and in sincerity call Jesus Lord, and seek to do the will of our Father in heaven, are our brothers and sisters. We know of only one Church—“the general assembly of the first-born ones enrolled in the heavens”; and in the great work of evangelising Israel in these “latter days” we wish to co-operate with all who abide by the foundation truths of our most holy faith. A Testimony to God’s Faithfulness The needs of the Mission are met entirely by the spontaneous and freewill offerings of the Lord’s people. All worldly means for raising funds are avoided as being unworthy of the cause of our great Master, Jesus Christ.

Since the foundation of the Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel, not a penny has been spent in advertising for funds; we send about no deputations; we have no “Auxiliaries,” “District Associations,” or “Collectors” (though we do not mention these as judging or condemning others, who in their own way may also be doing the work of Christ); we have never yet appealed to anyone personally for money, and yet from year to year, as the work has grown and its needs have increased, the Lord has been mindful of His own work and His servants engaged in it, and has moved the hearts of His children in all parts of the world spontaneously to send their freewill offerings, in may cases accompanying their gifts with words of cheer, which have been more precious than silver and gold, because they speak of continual prayer and intercession going up for us, and the work, to the throne of God. The way the large needs of this Mission have hitherto been met has been a continual testimony to all concerned that we have still to do with the same living, prayer-hearing God of Israel who gave His people manna in the wilderness, and water out of the rock. An outstanding proof of this we had also in connection with the building of our new Mission House. It cost £9,000, and there has never been a penny debt upon it. for that, too, no appeals were made and the only place where any statement of the need appeared was our own quarterly, the Scattered Nation.

About £300 are needed every month for the current expenses of the work at home and abroad, and although we have no visible resources whatever to rely upon, we are confident that the Lord will still be mindful of us, and out of His own fulness, supply our very need.

All the money contributed is spent in the actual and direct needs of the Mission, the support of the workers, and the relief of the poor. For the sake of Jewish friends especially, into whose hand this book may fall, Mr. Baron feels it right to add that he has not from the beginning of the “Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel” taken a penny from the Mission for his own use. Nor does he receive a salary from any Mission or Society whatsoever.

Contributions will be gratefully received by the Hon. Treasurer, A. Boake, Esq., Highstanding, Loughton, Essex; by C. A. Schönberger, 90 Mount View Road, Stroud Green, N.; or by David Baron, “Northfield,” Chorley Wood, Herts.

They may also be sent to the Publishers of The Christian 12, Paternoster Buildings, E.C., or to the Bankers: Parr’s Bank, Limited, 77 Lombard Street, E.C., with instructions that they be put to the account of “Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel.”