King's Business - 1922-03

THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S crimes, and our sympathy with those who suffered so much. By kind per­ mission of Rabbi P., I remained, and I was privileged to meet with many who remembered me when I was a boy. I must testify toward the wonderful change of these orthodox Jews toward missionaries. In olden times there used to be not only inward bad feeling, but open hostility. Now, ever so many came and shook hands and asked very kindly after my well-being, and in re­ turn I had the privilege of testifying and making clear that the true children of God, who are saved and washed in the Blood of the Lamb, are certainly heart and soul with Israel, and pray daily for Israel’s restoration, as well as for Israel’s reconciliation. I had, also, during the course of my conversa­ tion, the opportunity to explain that though we prayed regularly for Israel’s “ Restoration,” yet we must realize that there could not be a real “ Restoration” without a real “ Reconciliation.” The people came from everywhere on this occasion, and there were funeral ora­ tions. Rabbi Kuk, who is the Chief Rabbi of all the Jews in Palestine, rec­ ognized by the Government, made a most touching appeal to Israel to re­ turn to God, and seek from God His favor. His address was marked by its spiritual tone, and reconciliation and acknowledgement of sin. If he could have added one passage to it, just stat­ ing the way a man can reach redemp­ tion, salvation and forgiveness, through the Blood of the Lamb, the whole Christian Church could have accepted his oration without the alteration of a single word. There were plenty of tears shed, and one’s heart was sad in­ deed. What of the Future ? My fears for the future are very grave. If the Arab delegation comes back With failure, which they are bound to do, because Great Britain is not go-

270 ties. I read it in English and trans­ lated it to the best of my ability into Arabic for those who did not under­ stand English. I cannot give you the least idea of the debate which took place after that. I could not leave the drawing room until one o’clock. All I can say is, that I was satisfied that we were privileged to bear fruitful tes­ timony, and to give those present plenty of food for thought, and I believe a good many of their prejudices have been removed, and good is bound to result. Visiting the Jewish Hospital Early in the morning, after the usual devotions and a hearty breakfast, I proceeded to the Jewish Hospital, where the seriously wounded were lying, and by the kindness of my good old friend, Rabbi P., I had the privilege of talking to each of the wounded persons; some of them were seriously ill, and X brought to them a message of good will and peace. My arrival was at rather a sad mo­ ment, because Rabbi Salman Reuben, the head of the Jewish communities in Jerusalem, a man who was held in very high esteem, and who was a represen­ tative on practically all Jewish com­ mittees there, died of his wounds. He was stabbed in a number of places, and though every possible care and atten­ tion was given him, he at last suc­ cumbed. The custom in Jerusalem is that when a man dies he is buried as soon as possible. The orthodox Jews still adhere to a passage in the Psalms which they interpret to mean that the soul departeth at the return of the body to earth at once. Though the Rabbi only died early in the morning, the funeral was announced for twelve o’clock. It was an opportunity to meet with many leading Jews, and thus not only bear testimony, but to express On behalf of God’s people, whom I rep­ resent, our abhorrence of these terrible

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