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by Isaac Leeser
Perhaps in no one thing is the present age more
distinguished than by the facilities it has opened to all classes of the
community to acquire books, by the great reduction which the
improvements in machinery have effected in the prices of nearly all
sorts of printed matter. There is, accordingly, hardly a cottage to be
met with in the remotest settlement in America where books and papers of
some kind are not to be met with; and thus a taste for reading has been
called forth which constantly demands new food to appease its insatiable
cravings. Booksellers and editors of popular periodicals have taken
proper advantage of this state of things, and have issued their wares in
large masses at an extremely cheap rate, in order to obtain through
large sales a remuneration for their outlays, though the profits on each
copy sold are extremely small. Formerly the high prices paid by the few
were looked to by publishers to compensate them; now the passes are
asked to buy cheaply to indemnify the caterers for their literary wants.
We are, however, not going to write an essay upon the merits and
demerits of the different systems of small editions and high prices
compared with large editions and low prices; all we wanted to do was to
show that there is constantly sent abroad among all classes of the
community, an innumerable quantity of books such as they are, and that
whatever be their contents is scattered into every nook and corner of
all countries where literature is left untrammelled by governmental
interference. Here emphatically there is the amplest liberty of the
press; and it is made use of in many cases to make itself felt by the
worthlessness of the things which it sends forth. All sorts of ideas,
all sorts of opinions, all sorts of systems have their advocates amongst
men; let any thing be ever so absurd, it will find its adherents, its
advocates and its propagators. It is therefore not to be wondered at
that words decidedly injurious in their moral tendency should be sent
forth in the cheap publications of the day, by those who either approve
of their contents, or are indifferent whether they increase their
worldly means by selling poison or wholesome food. In the same manner
the different sectarians, both political and religious, have nearly all
some association for the purpose of diffusing their peculiar views
through means of cheap publications, with the avowed intention of
producing an effect on the public mind. They perhaps reason thus: To
induce a man to purchase a dear book on any given subject, he must
already have some kind of interest in its contents. But if you give him ever so small a tract and request him to read it, it is
very likely that he will comply with your request, since the time
required is not long and he has nothing to pay for the indulgence of his
curiosity. The consequence
of all this is, that many books useful to the various classes of
religious and political sects have thus been produced, chiefly by means
of combinations of the many and small contributions at stated times,
aided by occasional donations. Whoever is acquainted with the operations
of the human mind must easily discover, that by this general circulation
of doctrinal works a strong impression is likely to be made upon the
persons who are brought under their influence, and what is more, a
greater uniformity of opinions and actions is produced among those who
read these various books and tracts, than could be expected from a mere
tacit agreement in sentiment avowed for any religious or political dogma
without such aid.
No doubt some persons attach too much importance to
certain works, and exaggerate their supposed influence. Still it admits
of no question that impressions may be conveyed by some means hardly
deemed adequate to produce them, at least the mind may become warped,
without precisely knowing how or when the bent was given to it. Relying
upon this, many zealous Christians have for years past deemed it their
duty to distribute, through means of tract and publication societies of
various kinds, many books and tracts of a peculiar, controversial
character, all intended to operate upon the Jewish mind, and to give it
a bias totally adverse to Judaism. Even the Holy Scriptures have been
perverted to effect a special purpose, by selecting such passages as are
vainly alleged to favour the truth of Christianity, and appending them
to Hebrew copies of the law, and then selling such falsified copies
extremely low or giving them outright to the poorer classes of Jews in
Great Britain and the continent of Europe. To judge from circumstances
we should say that the same thing has been extensively carried on also
in Asia and Africa, where the missionaries have penetrated in their
unrequited attempts to induce the Jews to apostatize. We are not now
going to discuss this point, as we have another object in view, though
at a future day and a fitting occasion we may likewise present our ideas
more in detail before our readers upon this scandalous manner of abusing
the sacred text, and upon the hypocrisy of offering to a Jew a Hebrew
copy of the law or the whole Bible which he receives or buys in good
faith, without dreaming that addenda have been appended thereto, which
the donor or seller intends as a means to induce him to give up his
religion. We only wish to call the attention of our religious friends to
this one consideration: If it is of importance in the eyes of Christians
to present to us their opinions in the shape of tracts, tales, sermons,
conversations and treatises, both large and small, it surely ought to be
of greater importance to ourselves that we provide reading for all
classes of Jews, calculated to strengthen them in their faith and to
give them correct ideas of our religion. Whoever will look back upon the
state of English-speaking Jews twenty years ago, will at once
acknowledge that at that time there were hardly any religious works
intelligible to them in circulation, and the whole collection of English
books on our religion consisted of “The Reason and Faith,” by Rabbi
De Cordova of Jamaica, “The Letters of certain Jews to Voltaire,”
David Levi’s “Dissertation on the Prophecies,” and his various
answers to Paine and Priestley, “The Elements of the Jewish Faith,”
“The Jew,” by Mr. Jackson of New York, and a few detached sermons,
printed at various times, when a special occasion called forth some one
of the people to deliver his opinions before the public. We are at this
moment not acquainted with any other religious work of that date; and
then it has to be observed that even those just enumerated were
carefully locked up in some book-closet for fear of any injury happening
to them, as they could not be replaced; and they can therefore hardly be
said to have been in actual “circulation.”
We cannot say that our stock is much increased of
late years, but there have certainly been made considerable additions,
and we honestly think that it only requires encouragement to bring out
many other writers, who now hold back, because there is absolutely
speaking but too little encouragement for them to come with their
productions before the people. No one need think that it is for want of
sufficient intellect and information that Jewish pens are not engaged
upon Jewish subjects; but simply because the public (we speak of the
English and American Jews) has hitherto looked upon all attempts at
publishing works on our religion with too much indifference. Some small
editions of a few necessary works may perhaps find a slow sale; but
nothing like that generous support, which incites the author to more
vigorous efforts, has yet been witnessed. We do not say this because we
have been engaged ourself in this species of labour, indeed it has been
a powerful reason with us for holding back our opinion for fear of
exciting in the people an idea that we spoke from disappointment and
slighted self-love. On the contrary, if we survey the field of our
labour, we have every reason to be thankful to a gracious Providence for
the assistance we have received from his undeserved mercy, and to be
grateful to our fellow-Israelites and many Christian friends for the
kind reception they have always given our various works, which even to
our own apprehension have been rather too frequent, and would surely
have been less so, if we had not deemed that the age required the
species of labour which we thought we could in a measure supply. Perhaps
there is some vanity in thinking oneself fitted to fill up a vacuum; but
at least it is the same feeling which impels to the greatest acts,—the supposed ability
discovered in oneself to be useful to others. If we have erred in our
self-estimation, we are sure of one thing, that we have done no injury
designedly to the cause we meant to advocate; and hence, though we
cannot boast of much success in our efforts to enlighten others, nor of
superabundant encouragement at the hands of the public, we see no reason
why we should not continue for some time longer, whilst our strength is
spared, to labour for the Jewish cause. But generally speaking, there is
a want of stimulant to urge even the religiously-minded to compile
religious books for Jews; for there is too little demand for them, and
consequently in a mercantile point of view it is hazardous to send them
before the world. It may be said that pecuniary considerations ought not
to weigh with those who are sincere in their professions. But we beg our
friends to consider that every one is not blessed with an independence
in his worldly circumstances, and hence he cannot devote the time to
write without some compensation; and if would even be willing to
sacrifice some hours taken from the time of labour or employ a portion
of the night which others devote to sleep or pleasure for the benefit of
his religious associates, he may lack the means of publishing his work,
with the almost certainty of meeting with pecuniary loss in the
speculation. It must be observed, that few publishers, if any, will be
willing to undertake on their own account the publication of Jewish
books, since the speculation is likely to result in a loss, or in no
profit at least, whilst they can earn a considerable per centage upon
miscellaneous or scientific books; besides which, it is not likely that
Christian booksellers will trouble themselves much with an effort to
bring Jewish writers favourably before the public, or to risk any thing
in their behalf, if the works should simply concern our religion; and it
is well know that we have not enough booksellers of our own persuasion
to give currency to any publication by their own unaided efforts.
Nevertheless it is true that there are Jews enough in the United States
alone, not to mention the adjacent countries, to patronize sufficiently
any book of merit that is likely to be presented to them; and if it were
once ascertained that such would be the case, there would be no longer
any difficulty of ushering books of this kind before the public, without
the now absolutely requisite precaution of gathering subscribers before
putting any work of the least magnitude to press, if one does not wish
to incur absolute loss in the enterprise, which has hitherto, with few
slight exceptions, been at the authors’ own risk and expense; and we
mention here incidentally, that the impossibility of finding a publisher
for our own works hitherto, has been the only cause why we have engaged
in the mercantile branch of book-making likewise, when we should have
been more satisfied, in the commencement at all events, to have nothing
father to do with them than to see them safely through the press. Our
readers will also see that every one capable of writing has not the
facilities of coming before the public through the connexion and
official standing which we have had; and hence our partial success must
not be taken as a criterion that others with even more merit can in
future succeed as well. We beg pardon for speaking of our own concerns;
but it is necessary to make our readers understand what we wish to urge
upon them.
To proceed then without any father preface: the
American Israelites are surely deeply concerned for their religion, and
we cannot be mistaken in supposing that the majority of thinking men
among them would hail with pleasure the spread of enlightenment and
knowledge among all classes of our brethren. Now we, at least, know of
no method more likely to produce such a result than to foster carefully
a taste for useful reading, and then to provide such books as will
judiciously gratify this taste after it has been excited. But, as we
have said above, there has hitherto been too little interest displayed
by the community to permit any one to think of printing a sufficiently
large edition of books of the nature under discussion, to diffuse them
among a large number of readers; consequently the price has been
necessarily high, in order to allow a remuneration of the outlay from
the disposal of the limited number of copies required by those whose
habits lead them to institute religious inquiry. This was, by the bye,
all that individual enterprise could accomplish, to print a few books to
be more as records of the impress of the age than to serve as the
reading for all. But it is evident to every one who bestows the least
reflection on the subject, that we are not discharging our duty to each
other, whilst we employ no adequate means to enlighten the masses of our
people. Judaism is effectually a plant of civilization, of publicity, a
product for the people emphatically so called. They, therefore, who have
the means of acquiring information, and they who have knowledge which
they can diffuse, ought to see that others also participate in the
benefits which circumstances have placed at their disposal. No one
however, can excuse himself in the premises by saying that it is not his
business; nay, it is his business, because he is equally interested with
every other Israelite, in the spiritual welfare of his people.
The only thing requisite for all is to enter in
ASSOCIATIONS. The various Christian and political sects understand this
principle of action quite well, and daily you see notices of Bible
societies, Sunday School unions, tract societies, book concerns, boards
for education, domestic and foreign missions, prayer-book societies,
collegiate endowment meetings, not to mention the clubs and unions of
politicians, since with these we have no concern at present. Our readers
know as well as we do, that no one individual could have produced the
powerful effects which the Bible and tract societies have done in
America and Great Britain; but that one man aiding the other, and
calling upon others who at first felt, perhaps, disinclined to
co-operate, at length established those powerful combinations which,
through their agents, visit every house and supply the destitute with
the word of God. We know not, indeed, how the matter was organized, nor
the gradual steps by which it arrived at its present prosperity; but
enough for us that it exists, and we call upon the American Israelites
to do something of the kind for themselves, in order to bring into
circulation among all classes of our people such books as will give to
Israelites a more correct appreciation of their religion than they now
possess. The effects of association will be, first, to circulate more
widely the few works already existing; secondly, to induce several
persons, we speak within limits, to make their manuscripts public; and
thirdly, it will be an incentive to urge those capable of discussing the
interests of their religion, to lay their ideas and researches as an
acceptable offering before the people. All this will effect for the
people a greater amount of accessible information, and for authors the
assurance of safety from pecuniary loss for volunteering in defence or
illustration of the principles of their faith, and, incidentally, to
remove from this meritorious class the necessity of humiliating
themselves by waiting upon the rich for their patronage, and upon the
many for their individual subscriptions, which are often refused, or
granted in such a manner that the blush of shame mantles upon the cheek
of the applicant, as though he had been refused, or received alms which
he had asked to relive his pecuniary distresses. Experience has taught
us a lesson, and we would gladly spare others the same feeling, if we
possibly can do so. People do not always consider that a good book is a
greater benefit to them than the price thereof could possibly be; and
many think literature and literary men superfluities which the world can
readily dispense with, and that wealth requires nothing ennobling to
make it valuable to the owner. It may be perhaps in the nature of things
in a commercial country like this, and commercial communities like the
Jews mostly are; the greater therefore is the necessity to place the
true benefactors of the age, the producers of good moral books, upon a
higher level than they can now readily attain, and to extend at the same
time their now limited field of usefulness.
With these ideas premised, we beg to call the
attention of our readers to the article in our last number headed “The
Jewish Miscellany,” in which we announced the publication of a small
book, “Caleb Asher,” a tale taken from an English publication,
called the Cheap Jewish Library, which has been in existence for rather
more than three years, occasionally enriching our popular literature by
simple stories intended for the improvement of the labouring classes. We
have not been able to ascertain who are the persons to whom we are
indebted for this blessed effort to draw the mind of the humble from
their sufferings, and to fix it upon bright hopes and holy aspirations.
But glad should we be, could we see the enterprise seconded and exceeded
in this country, and we are sure that, if a commencement is once
properly made, it will not be suffered to fall soon into decay, so clear
will be the benefits which will result therefrom. The few who have
started the idea of the Jewish Miscellany in this country (and they are
but five or six) thought that, by putting the price of their first
publication at the low rate they have done, they could succeed disposing
of a large edition, and scatter thus the impression which the above tale
has left upon their mind, over the length and breadth of the land among
Israelites. But the simple circulation of this one little work,
interesting though it be, is not the only object they aim at: they wish
to let this be the commencement of a series, and they therefore desire
that an association should be formed, all over the country, to
contribute funds towards publishing such works as may be deemed fitting
by a publication committee, to be appointed by a meeting of the
subscribing members of the proposed society. The provisional committee
(self-constituted for the present) have upon their own responsibility
printed the first number, and will go on with more, if the receipts will
enable them to do so; but it is their earnest wish to place the matter
out of their hands, and to call in the active aid of all those whose
business it is, equally with them, to aid in the good work. It is
wonderful, truly, that the subject has not long since claimed public
attention; but it is to be hoped now, that it will not be suffered to
fall through for the want of the countenance of those whose means or
influence enable them to give it effectual aid.
But as several persons have already signified their
readiness to assist if they only knew how their services could be
rendered useful, we offer in all humility the following outlines of a
society, perfectly willing to submit it for discussion, alteration and
amendment, to the Jewish public.
Plan of a Jewish Publication Society.
1. This society shall be known as the American Jewish Publication
Society.2. Its object shall be to reprint, in a cheap and convenient form,
such books already in existence, as may from time to time be approved of
by the publication committee; and to aid Jewish authors or gentiles
writing works of interest to Israelites, to bring their respective books
before the people without any risk of loss on their part, and, if
possible, to grant them such compensation, according to the respective
merits of their works, as the funds of the society may admit of.
3. The annual contribution to the society’s funds shall be one
dollar; but donations will be received, especially in the commencement,
for the purpose of establishing a fund with which to commence
operations. Members are likewise at liberty to give a larger annual
contribution than one dollar.4. The above annual subscription will entitle every person to the
benefits resulting from the distribution of the publications hereafter
to be provided for; but no one except a male Israelite of the age of
twenty-one years shall be allowed to vote at any meeting of the society,
or to hold any office.
5. The society shall consist of a parent society, to hold, for the
present, its meetings in Philadelphia, until otherwise ordered, and such
auxiliary societies as may from time to time be formed in the different
cities of America.6. The officers of the parent society shall consist of a president,
vice-president, treasurer, recording-secretary, corresponding secretary,
and three managers.
7. The board shall elect three persons as a publication committee,
either from themselves or the society at large.8. Auxiliary societies are to elect each a president, treasurer, and
secretary.
9. A member of any auxiliary society shall have the right to vote at
a meeting of the parent society.10. Whenever the benefit of the society can be promoted by the
change, some one of the auxiliary societies shall assume the functions
of the parent society, provided the change is made with the concurrence
of the majority of the societies constituting the society at large.
11. All moneys obtained from subscriptions, donations, and sales of
books are to be placed in the hands of the treasurer of the parent
society, to be drawn out by the order of the president, as is usual in
all societies.12. The publication committee is to print nothing without having it
carefully revised beforehand, and to see that nothing objectionable
shall appear in the publications of the society.
13. They are to publish as often as the funds of the society will
admit such works as have been approved of.14. Members contributing one dollar per annum are to receive at least
one copy of all the publications of the society, and in the same ratio
for larger contributions.
15. One tenth of all the publications is to be set aside for
gratuitous distribution among the poor; the remainder to be sold as
above, and the proceeds to be added to the general fund.16. Should any author obtain compensation for his works, the
copyright thereof becomes the property of the society.
17. There shall be appointed three trustees, in whose names all the
funds not required for the current expenses, investments, and
copyrights, are to be placed; these trustees are to be removable by the
society, for any misconduct in the discharge of their duties.18. Should hereafter the society obtain a charter of incorporation,
all the property vested in the trustees is to be conveyed by them to the
society.
The above is a mere outline, which will,
doubtlessly, require a good deal of amendment before it can be put in
practical operation; still, imperfect as it is, and thrown off merely on
our own responsibility, we see nothing in it to make us doubt of its
being able to be carried into effect in its main features. We have, with
the concurrence of our colleagues in this enterprise, sent off copies of
Caleb Asher (to which the prospectus which we published last month is
annexed) to several persons in other cities, and we hope that they will
use their endeavours to bring the matter up for discussion whenever
opportunity offers, and to communicate with us or the persons mentioned
in our last, of the success or failure of their attempts. It will strike
our readers that the enterprise is not for the individual benefit of any
one; and hence we are sure they will feel themselves more strongly
impelled to do the subject justice, seeing that it is one eminently
calculated to give that bias to the Jewish mind, which is so necessary
in order to preserve the purity of our faith. We may recur to the
consideration of the plan we have proposed, in a future number, as soon
as we see that it has been in a measure carried out; but, for the
present we forbear, leaving it to the good sense of our readers to
supply any deficiency which they may discover in the above.
N. B. Several persons in Philadelphia have already
joined the original projectors, in the few days which have elapsed since
the appearance of the first number of the Miscellany; and we confidently
look forward to an equally prompt spirit in other towns. We are always
sufficiently ready to give charity to relieve the bodily wants of the
poor; let us then once do something to relieve the spiritual wants of
both poor and rich. |
