General Conference Bulletin, vol. 1

MISSION WORK AMONG THE JEWS

AT 2:30 on Sunday afternoon Dr. Edwin S. Niles, of Boston, addressed a good-sized audience upon his work among the Hebrews of Boston. Dr. Niles opened his address by a few words of prayer for divine guidance and assistance. Referring to a remark by one who introduced him, to the effect that as we were turning some attention to all nations and people, we were now thinking of the Jews, the speaker inquired if that was the order of God? Was it not written, “To the Jew first?” “Hath God cast off his people? God forbid.” “What advantage hath the Jew? ..... Much every way. Chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.” GCB March 4, 1895, page 464.5

The speaker said that we as a people are also blest because we have the oracles of God. He had been a Baptist for 250 years, or from the sixth generation; but his heart had been drawn out toward this people in Boston, where there was a Jewish population of 25,000. He went among them with the Hebrew New Testament, and was surprised at their readiness to read and to listen about Jesus as the Messiah. Week after week he visited their street. GCB March 4, 1895, page 464.6

He had gathered them together, and agreed to take their Scriptures, and from them learn what was said about the Messiah. One of the first things he came to was the decalogue, and immediately he was brought to face with one of those precepts. “You know,” said the speaker, “which precept it was.” He was constrained to acknowledge that he and his fathers had been mistaken in regard to the Sabbath day. And he had found much spiritual truth in the study of the ancient Bible. GCB March 4, 1895, page 464.7

In order to obtain the richness of the plan of salvation, we need to study it from its origin, or to go back to the Jewish Scriptures. “Begin at Jerusalem,” said Christ. There is to be a strict fulfillment of every yodh and every tittle, and we are living in the day of that fulfillment. In their everyday customs and their religious lives there are to be traced many fibers that lead to Christ. Our Saviour said to his Jewish disciples: This unleavened bread of which you and your forefathers have eaten for ages is my body. This wine which is so carefully guarded by your traditions, is my blood. God has given to us this gospel of truth, and asks us to give it to the Jews. Wherever we go, we will find them, and he believes that the Lord intends in these closing days to do a great work for his downfallen people. GCB March 4, 1895, page 464.8

There have been twenty-five baptized in Boston as the result of his work; and a greater result is in the extensive circulation of the New Testament among them. There is no danger of their being led into the theological errors of the day, or being blinded to the great antichristian power that is now seeking to exalt itself above the nation. They are held by the strong ties of affinity and heredity to the faith of their fathers; but the day is soon coming when the seed sown will take root, and the Lord will do a great work for his people. GCB March 4, 1895, page 464.9

The address throughout was from a heart warm with devotion and love for the Master’s work and was often touching in its pathetic allusions. In closing, the speaker introduced Brother Gilbert, who has been associated with Dr. Niles in his work. GCB March 4, 1895, page 464.10

Brother Gilbert is a Jew by birth, but has embraced the faith of Christ and the present truth. He gave a very interesting talk, accompanied by explanations of some of the traditions of his people. GCB March 4, 1895, page 464.11

David Paulson, M. D., also spoke briefly of the Hebrew work in New York City, where there are a quarter of a million Jews. There is a readiness and often an eagerness to obtain a knowledge of Christ; and now that the waters are troubled, why should we not improve the opportunities? GCB March 4, 1895, page 464.12