Ruth King

Israel will soon celebrate its sixtieth anniversary. Much will be written about Israel’s birth pains, wars and accomplishments as well as the prophets of Zionism and early settlers whose faith and commitment made May 1948 a reality.

I suspect much less will be written about nineteenth century American Christian Zionists like Dr. William Eugene Blackstone, a man of many achievements including numerous scientific findings in astronomy, botany and biology.

Born in New York, a Methodist, William Blackstone was drawn to the Christian Evangelical movement at an early age. During the Civil War, Blackstone, as a member of the United States Christian Commission, served under President Grant as coordinator of medical services for injured combatants. In June of 1870 he and his wife Sarah Lee Smith settled in Oak Park, Illinois where he worked in building and real estate. He turned increasingly to religion and as he ministered across the nation, one of his overriding themes was the restoration of Jews to their ancient home in Palestine.

His book Jesus Is Coming, published in 1881, was translated into over 42 languages, including Hebrew and Yiddish. The Hebrew version, published in 1925, was entitled The Second Appearance of the Messiah. In it and in subsequent sermons appended to the book, Blackstone passionately invoked a biblical mandate for Jews to be restored in their land. He proclaimed in writing and the spoken word: “Divest yourself of prejudice and preconceived notions, and let the Holy Spirit show you, from His word, the glorious future of God's chosen people."

Blackstone’s initial focus was on the return of Jews to the Holy Land as a prelude to their conversion to Christianity, in order to hasten the coming of the Messiah. However, his emphasis changed as he became increasingly concerned with the plight of European Jewry and the necessity to create a haven in the form of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

In 1887 he became a founder of the Hebrew Christian Mission, which became the Chicago Hebrew Mission and then, in 1889, The American Messianic Fellowship. A fellow of the Mission, Mrs. T. C. Rounds described Blackstone: "A tall, fine, intellectual man with sideburns rose with Bible in hand and gave a short, most interesting talk on the Jews, a people chosen by God to manifest His power and His love to. . .a world steeped in deepest idolatry."

In 1888 Blackstone traveled to Palestine with his daughter and came back convinced that a return to their ancient homeland was the only solution to Jewish displacement and persecution. Blackstone organized the “Conference on the Past, Present and Future of Israel” held on November 24-25, 1890 which was attended by leaders of the Christian and Jewish communities, with the notable absence of most of the leaders of the Jewish Reform movement.

Blackstone was not content with rhetoric on the plight of oppressed European Jews. His campaign for the resettlement of Jews in Palestine culminated in 1891 in a petition, the “Blackstone Memorial” which was presented to President Benjamin Harrison and signed by 413 leading Americans, Jews and Christians, including William McKinley, John D. Rockefeller, J.P. Morgan, The Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, editors of such major newspapers as The Boston Globe, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Washington Post, and university and seminary presidents, mayors, legislators and leading businessmen.

The petition argued:

"What shall be done for the Russian Jews? It is both unwise and useless to undertake to dictate to Russia concerning her internal affairs. Where shall 2,000,000 of such poor people go? Europe is crowded and has no room for more peasant population. Shall they come to America? This will be a tremendous expense, and require years.

Why not give Palestine back to them again? According to God's distribution of nations it is their home, an inalienable possession from which they were expelled by force.

Why shall not the powers which under the treaty of Berlin, in 1878, gave Bulgaria to the Bulgarians and Serbia to the Serbians now give Palestine back to the Jews? These provinces, as well as Roumania, Montenegro and Greece, were wrested from the Turks and given to their natural owners. Does not Palestine as rightfully belong to the Jews?”

Blackstone also pressed the legality of Jewish claims in Palestine, quoting international law, and averring that since the Jewish people have never given up their claim, but rather, were dispossessed, no law of “dereliction“ or abandonment could obtain “for they never abandoned the land. They made no treaty; they did not even surrender. They simply succumbed, after the most desperate conflict, to the overwhelming power of the Romans...the Jewish claim is legal…”

While many in the Reform movement, with the notable exception of Rabbi Bernard Felsenthal, leader of the German Reform Synagogue of Chicago, fretted about possible charges of dual loyalty, Blackstone inspired many Jews to join the cause of Zionism. The Chicago Hebrew Literary Society was formed to learn to read and speak Hebrew instead of Yiddish, and The Knights of Zion raised funds for the purchase of land for Jewish settlement in Israel.

Although President Benjamin Harrison did not accept the terms of the petition, he was moved to write a scalding letter to Russia on May 9th, 1891:

"This Government has found occasion to express...to the Government of the Czar its serious concern because of the harsh measures now being enforced against the Hebrews in Russia. By the revival of anti-Semitic laws, long in abeyance, great numbers of those unfortunate people have been constrained to abandon their homes and leave the Empire by reason of the impossibility of finding subsistence within the pale to which it is sought to confine them.

The immigration of these people to the United States—many other countries being closed to them—is increasing...It is estimated that over 1,000,000 will be forced from Russia within a few years.

The Hebrew is never a beggar; he has always kept the law--life by toil--often under severe and oppressive civil restrictions. It is also true that no race, sect, or class has more fully cared for its own than the Hebrew race.

This consideration, as well as the suggestion of humanity, furnishes ample ground for the remonstrances which we have presented to Russia."

Blackstone remained committed to Zionism and in May of 1916 sponsored another petition, this time to President Woodrow Wilson, asking him to advocate for a Jewish homeland when World War I ended. Although Wilson rebuffed him, the American Jewish community showed its appreciation. Nathan Straus, a prominent New York businessman and philanthropist (Netanya bears his name), wrote to Mr. Blackstone in a letter dated May 8, 1916:

"Mr. Brandeis (Louis D. Brandeis, first Jewish Supreme Court Justice) is perfectly infatuated with the work that you have done along the lines of Zionism. It would have done your heart good to have heard him assert what a valuable contribution to the cause your document is. In fact he agrees with me that you are the Father of Zionism, as your work antedates Herzl."

Blackstone continued to speak and preach on behalf of Zionism until his death in 1935.
The rest, as they say is history, but supporters of Israel everywhere owe a debt of gratitude to the Evangelical Movement in America--then and now.