Arab family gave us their guest chamber, and were most hospitable, taking nothing in return. We found them in trouble, a child of the family being sick, and the father started off at 9 p.m. for a four hours' ride, begging the doctor to come. I could not but think of a similar call, Sir, come down ere my child die.' We waited for his arrival, and returned with him the following morning.

"Since our arrival we have all been immensely busy, getting the doctor's house, which was unfurnished, into some sort of order. It does not need much in this country to furnish a house, a few mats on the ground, divans round the room, which is built with a raised part for this purpose, a table, and a few chairs, and, by way of ornamentation, some reeds, thistles, wild flowers, and grasses, and we look quite comfortable; camp-beds, with packing-cases for tables and washstands, form our bedroom furniture.

"The need of a Medical Missionary here has been already shown. Each day about 100 patients (Jews) have awaited the doctor at the dispensary, and his afternoon is taken up in visiting cases in their homes. He has scarcely time for meals, and looks so tired when he comes in, as the heat just now is very great. Mrs. Stern is with him all the morning, and told me to-day that she had washed and anointed more than thirty with bad eyes.

When the out-patients are assembled,Mr.Friedmann gives them an address in Hebrew, and is there to converse with any who wish to speak to him. I have been once or twice to talk to the women, and once to interpret for the doctor, but I have been more needed in the house, as some one must abide by the stuff.

"I found some of my former pupils (of the night school) here, and they have been to see me, and one man, who, with his wife, is an enquirer, has been to read the New Testament.

"Last Wednesday we invited any who liked to come and visit us in the afternoon, and especially a bridal party, at whose house we had been. They came in full force, and stayed at least two hours. We gave them lemonade, sweets, and coffee, and entertained them as best we could, though we felt the want of Arabic, the only language that some of them knew. I can only manage a smattering of this. These of the wedding party were Persian Jews. The ladies wore very handsome gold ornaments. The bride did not appear. It is not the custom for her to go out for a fortnight after her marriage. We saw her when we went to call, in her bridal dress of pink silk; a very pretty girl, and very intelligent-looking. Mr. Friedmann says she is an excellent Hebrew scholar,

"I am sure the Jews greatly appreciate the benefit of a doctor. One of them told me they had been praying that God would send them one, and keep asking, 'Is he going to stop?' asking, 'Is he going to stop?' One sad case came

before them yesterday. A fine tall young man came to show his eyes, as the sight was failing him, and the doctor had to tell him there was no cure; he must always be totally blind. The poor young fellow threw up his hands in utter despair. Mrs. Stern says she was quite overcome as he walked away. She is such a wonderful help, so capable, so strong, and so bright. I cannot but hope that when the month is ended she may, seeing the great need, volunteer for a longer period.

There are schools here taught respectively by Miss James, Mrs. Friedmann's sister, and Miss Friedmann, who came over two years since from Russia to join her brother, and has since been baptized. She has a wonderful power in training the infants, and I was utterly astonished to hear a mite of about four years old know and point to all the places of interest on the map of Palestine. Another child repeated the 23rd Psalm without missing a word. They learn to work on the Kindergarten system. The elder children. repeated many portions of Scripture in Hebrew and Arabic. And I was much struck by the perfect order that prevailed.

"I strolled out last evening (Friday) to the Jewish The Sabbath had quarter between 6 and 7 p.m. begun; all were in Sabbath dress, the men with their fur caps, and the women in their best dresses and ornaments. Some of the men were wearing the purple velvet robe, but I notice that the prevailing colour is orange or yellow for the men's dress. The women's shawls are worn over their heads when they go out.

"Since commencing this, I have been with Mr. Friedmann to visit a Jewish colony, one established by Baron Rothschild, about an hour's ride from Safed. One of the first colonists was a Jew, who, Mr. F. tells He reads me, is not far from the kingdom of God. and loves the New Testament, but he has not come out yet as a disciple of Christ. Will you remember him in prayer? Our ride was through grand scenery. After passing through some pretty valleys, we rode through a narrow defile between the mountains, and, suddenly emerging from it, saw the vast Jordan plain and Mount Hermon. To the left were the waters of Merom. To our right the Sea of Galilee, a calm, blue lake.

"It was a view I shall never forget, or the ride back in the cooler air of the evening.

I must now end my chat for this month. I expect the next, if I live, will find me again in Jerusalem."

JERUSALEM NOTES.

THE Rev. J. E. Hanauer's journal contains the following interesting information: "There is a great deal of stir amongst the Jews on account of the proposed conscription amongst Jewish Turkish subjects. Different persons have inquired of ine whether, by 'joining the Mission,' they would obtain British protection, and not be obliged to serve in the Turkish army. They were surprised when I told them that our Mission work differed from that of the Russians and Latins in not being backed by political powers. The question, however, afforded splendid opportunities for speaking of the reasons why English Christians are so anxious for the conversion of the Jews, and make such efforts in order to bring the Gospel to them.

"Hebrew Service and Instruction. Visited Hospital Wards. Found there a Russian Jew, a colonist from the 'Rehoboth' settlement near Jaffa. He knows nothing of Hebrew, except to read the Hebrew Prayer, a word of which he says he does not understand. (There are many such cases.) He can, however, read Russian, and gladly accepted a Russian New Testament. In my conversation I found that he knows nothing whatever either of Judaism or Christianity. Visited Jewish shops. Had long conversations. Gave away a Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Read to and addressed Jewish women assembled at Miss Barlee's Monthly Missionary Meeting in C.C. Lecture Room. The English Address was given by Rev. J. Longley Hall, C.M.S. Visited a Jewish shop where I had a long conversation and a good opportunity for putting forward the claims of Christianity. Visited Jewish colony Nahal-Sheva.' In a Jewish house the conversation turned upon the recent scandalous revival of the ' ritual-murder,' or 'blood-accusation' calumny at Leipsic. This afforded a good opportunity for speaking of the depths of infamy to which the human soul may sink, and of the only way in which a man can escape from being dragged down into sin, and can be enabled to walk in newness of life.

Beit-Joseph,'

"I walked out to the Jewish settlement on the eastern declivity of the Hill of Evil Counsel. The 'colony' consists of two rows of one-storied houses, or single rooms, running parallel to cach other, one row occupied principally by Ashkenazi Jews standing on one hill terrace, and the other, in which several Sephardim live, standing at a lower level on another terrace. There always is more or less friction between Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews, and at 'Beit-Joseph' the state of feeling between the two sections is no exception to the rule. The Ashkenazim would not allow their Sephardi neighbours to worship in the room they had fitted up to serve as a synagogue, and consequently the Spanish portion of the com

munity, who are very poor, were obliged to hire a 'Sepher Torah,' or 'Roll of the Law,' and a little room to serve as a place of worship for themselves. This was a heavy burden for them to bear, and they were sore put to it in order to meet the expense. One afternoon, about a year ago, I happened to visit the colony, and found the Sephardim very much excited. The time had come for the rent of the Synagogue-room to be paid. They had not been able to find all the money for the coming year (in this country rents are always paid in advance), and the landlord or owner of the room was clamouring for the key, as he wanted to turn the synagogue furniture out. He had already waited for some time for the rent, and refused either to accept the money that his tenants had succeeded in raising as part payment or to wait any longer. The key was just going to be given up, and the hired' Roll of the Law' returned to its owner, when your

Missionary appeared on the scene, and inquired as to the cause of ll this hubbub. Matters were explained to him, and after some talk with the landlord, he succeeded in persuading him to have patience for two or three days longer. In the meantime the Bishop and the Rev. A. H. Kelk, to whom the case was made known, kindly contributed the missing sum of £1 16s., so that the Sephardim were able to remain in undisturbed possession of their little place of worship. The Rev. A. H. Kelk further very kindly gave, through Miss Birks, some Hebrew Bibles for the use of the worshippers, and in consequence of this, I have always been very well received whenever I visit Beit-Joseph,' and enabled to deliver my message without let or hindrance. This afternoon I had a most glorious opportunity for doing so. A young Ashkenazi Jew who was listening made some rude remarks, but was at once silenced by the others, who had asked me into the arbour of a garden there, brought me refreshments, and asked me when I rose to leave to gather what flowers I liked to take home to Mrs. Hanauer. I gave away a good many tracts, and just as I was going away the same Ashkenazi Jew came up to me and asked me, in a respectful tone, to explain to him in German, as he could not understand all I had said in Arabic, the reasons why we Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah; so I told him over again what I had told the others. As 'Beit-Joseph' is too far from town for their little ones to attend school, I was asked by the Sephardim whether, as the time for taking on the synagogue-room again for another year was close at hand, our Mission would not help them to hire a teacher to instruct the little ones in the same room. I promised to lay the matter before Mr. Kelk. As I was going home I overtook a Russian Jew from the Ashkenazi row of 'Beit-Joseph.' He stopped for me, and said that he had seen me coming to the settlement, but did not wish to be seen speaking to me there, and consequently had preceded me on the way to town in order to get a word with me when I came up. We conversed for some time, but he only wanted temporal help, and declined to accept a tract, saying that he does not understand Hebrew.

"Had some interesting talk with an elderly Jew in the Hospital, who some days previously had received a Hebrew Bible and a Hebrew New Testament from me. It was evident he had been reading the latter with great interest, and that its contents had made a deep impression on his mind. He said, 'I have never before seen a New Testament, and had only heard of it as a foolish and useless book, and of Jesus of Nazareth as a sorcerer and a blasphemer, but I now see that it is not a bad book, but contains many beautiful and true words.' On my asking him to tell me what had especially struck him, he mentioned the story of Zechariah (Luke i.) and our Saviour's words as He was being led away to crucifixion, to the daughters of Jerusalem (Luke xxiii. 27-32), and remarked that it was a wonderful thing

that He should be so forgetful of His own troubles as to be troubled about and foretell the sorrows that since then have come upon the Jews. I was most thankful to hear the old man say this, and told him to ask God to open the eyes of his understanding that he might be enabled to see yet more of the wonderful things contained in His Word. I further told him that I hoped that when he should be well again, and able to return to his family at Jaffa, he would tell them about what he had read, and advise them to read the New Testament themselves, and not to judge of it from mere hearsay. This he said he would be sure to do, and he begged most earnestly to be allowed to take the books I had given him away with him when he leaves the hospital.

"Again visited 'Beit-Joseph.' Enquired (at Rev. H. A. Kelk's suggestion, to whom I had spoken about the Sephardi commanity's desire for assistance towards a school) as to whether they were willing to allow their children to learn the Messianic prophecies printed at the end of the Haphtorahs we distribute, and to have them examined in the same from time to time. I found only one or two Jews on the spot. They promised to mention the matter to the rest and let me know. I left them a Haphtorah for them to see exactly what we wished the children to be taught.

"Visited Jewish settlements, BeitYankoo,' 'OhelMoshe,' and 'Kerem,' and was able to give away a few tracts. On returning home found two men from 'BeitJoseph' waiting for m. They came to say that if they can get the help they ask for towards a school, they and their neighbours are willing to allow the Messianic prophecies to be taught the children. Whilst returning, I was fol

THE JEWISH NEW YEAR.

The advent of 5654 serves to remind us that considerable differences of opinion have prevailed among Chronologists as to the age of the world reckoned from the birth of Adam. Jewish tradition fixes the Creation at 3760 B.C., which added to the number of years that have elapsed since the commencement of the vulgar era gives the date of the present year as 5653 A.M. Archbishop Usher's chronology differs from this by 244 years. He gives the date of Creation as 4004 B.C. There are no less than 144 variations upon this point. It may 'interest our readers to be told a few of them. The Indian chronology gives it as 6174 B.C.; the Babylonian, 6158; the Chinese, 6157; Abulfaragius, 5508; Julius Africanus, 5500; the Anglo-Saxon Chroniclers, 5199; Kepler, 3984; Scaliger, 3050. Rabbi Lipman makes the date to be only 3616, so that according to him the world would be 5510 years old on Sunday night, or 144 years less than the currently accepted number.

lowed by a young Jew, who begged me to give him an English Bible with a New Testament.' After some conversation, I invited him to call on me in a couple of days and I would see about it. Visited Navon's Jewish settlement on Damascus road. Met there a couple of nephews of the late Mr. Carol, the L. J. S. Spanish Scripture-reader. They invited me to sit down, and I had a good opportunity of pressing on them the truths they had so often heard before from their late relative. One of them had received a Hebrew New Testament some months ago. He now begged me to give him a Judeo-Spanish one instead, as he found it difficult to understand the Hebrew. Gave away a good many tracts, and then went on my way to the new settlement, chiefly of Arabic-speaking Jews from Aleppo, 'Nahal-Shimeon.' A man, whom I asked the name of this new colony, invited me into his house. Several others came in, as well as women and children, and after some general conversation, I was able to speak freely on the subject of Christianity. I gave away nearly all the tracts I had with me,"

Although Archbishop Usher's chronology differs, as we have een, from the tradional computation by 244 years, he is usually represented as following the authority of the Hebrew text. Other chronoogists follow the LXX. and Josephus, while they maintain that the Hebrew text has been greatly vitiated in the matter of chronology. It may be said that there are three principal systems in vogue-the Long System, the Short, and the Rabbinical. The first of these, represented by Hales, adopts the LXX.'s figures for the lives of the patriarchal generations, and the long interval from

the Exodus to the foundation of Solomon's Temple. This interval is computed at 648 years (632, according to Josephus), and is arrived at by the addition of a number of detailed intervals. The Short System of Usher rests, like the mundane era of Hillel, on the passage in Kings vi. 1, which states explicitly that the number years from the Exodus to the Building of the Temple was 480, for which the LXX. has 440. The Rabbinical differs from Usher's system in other particulars which cannot be dwelt upon here. -Jewish Chronicle.

of

Some interesting facts may by gleaned from an account recently published of the Jews in Aleppo. They number about 10,000 and form one twentieth of the population. There is one Jew in the municipality and from 15 to 20 hold various important posts in the magistracy. Nearly all of them have been decorated by the Sultan. The Great Synagogue has seating accommodation for 3.000 worshippers. According to the date hewn on one of the stones, it would seem to have been built in the year 170 after the destruction of the Second Temple. The last synagogue erected is 400 years old.-Jewish Chronicle.

"This seems to be appreciated by the Jews more and more. On Easter Eve, April 1st, preceding my departure for Athens, the attendance was good, many voices were heard expressing satisfaction at the Hebrew, and others that it was translated into French. Several Jews afterwards applied for the Old and New Testaments, and one specially asked for the Book of Common Prayer. Nearly half of those present attended the Spanish Service on Easter Day, conducted by Mr. Querub.

On Saturday, the 22nd April, there were fortythree Jews present, besides my own people; to the latter I afterwards administered the Holy Communion.

"On Saturday, May 13th, the Iron Church was filled, and the yard might have been filled too if steps had not been taken to prevent a crowd and excitement. This time the prayers and a subsequent Baptism were all in Hebrew. The sermon was on 'The last Words of David,' who concentrated all his hopes on Christ, whom Isaiah calls the sure mercies of David.' It is said that the language of dying men enforces attention like deep harmony,' but as the subject treated was uttered by inspired men, the Jews present seemed to listen with burning hearts. The convert baptized is young Neriah, of Persia, who in time

FOUND THE RIGHT CRUMB.

"Our readers may be aware that on the Eve of the 14th of Nisan, the Jews are directed by the Rabbis to search for crumbs by the light of a candle. When seventeen to eighteen years of age Neriah, aiding in the meritorious search, found in the corner of one of the beams of the house a small object covered with dust and cobweb. To his surprise it was a little volume in the Hebrew tongue. He read it, and kept the contents secret. He afterwards met American Missionaries in the east, and was charged with an important Mission to the west, when he again met with Missionaries, and read tracts on the subject of the Messiah, who, he thought, came according to Moses and the Prophets. As soon as Neriah had fulfilled his mission, he settled his correspondence at Smyrna, came to Constantinople, and the following

morning applied to me for Baptism. His letters, which, I regret, I have not the time to translate and copy, are of wide interest. At the conclusion of the last letter, he writes: 'I am now free of all flesh and blood; by my own desire I left family and kinsmen because I heartily cleave to and wish to put on Christ. I hope to arrive at it by faith in His righteousness. "Ask and it shall be given you," is written, and "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."

'I KNOW WHERE I AM GOING."

"Not all who believe have the courage to confess before men as Neriah did. The great majority of Jews are rabbi-ridden by traditional prejudices, difficult to shake off because they have assumed national proportions, prejudices which are proof against Scripture, against all human influence, and which have been strengthened and embittered by argument and controversy. There are striking exceptions; there is many a Joseph of Arimathea in these days. A Smyrna Jew lately died at Haskeuy, who was a serious enquirer, and anxious to confess Christ. The fanaticism of his brethren, and his timid nature made him remain to his death a secret believer. He had the grace to live as a Christian, but not the power to confess Christ. Even on his death-bed he had not courage to say with Job, 'I know that my Redeemer liveth.' Instead, he said, 'I know where I am going,' but those who knew him believed him to die in the faith of Christ. His children are at school in England, and his mother is a professed Christian there. He was a wealthy man, and known by his deeds of charity.

WIDOW BLUMENTHAL.

"On the 31st of May last year, Colporteur Blumenthal died at Mulhouse, aged seventy-four. I referred to him (see Intelligence, 1892, page 175) as being the first Jew I had the privilege of leading to the foot of the Cross.

On the 1st of May this year, he was followed by his wife Theresa, aged sixty-four, she being my second convert, though the first to receive Baptism, in 1855.

THE INDUSTRIAL HOME.

"On leaving the service on Sunday morning, when the Home girls were as usual waiting outside in two lines for us to pass, Dr. Chaplin was strongly reminded of the six girls and one boy whom he saw in 1886 at Haskeuy, as compared with the present number, about sevenfold. These girls literally startled the Pera population by their singing, recitations, action songs, and general neat and happy appearance at the