Book Containing Folk Art Sketch of Soldier

Book Containing Folk Art Sketch of Soldier - Inventory Number: HIS 061

Identified to W. White – Inscribed March 5th 1865.  Contains folk art sketch of a solder, possibly White.  

The Converted Jewess – A memoir of Maria

Printed in 1847

 A Jewish woman with the unlikely name of Maria suffers a bad fall down a staircase and is laid up in bed. A Christian neighbor tends to her needs and starts to evangelize her. The neighbor reads to her Isaiah 53 and other messianic prophecies, and encourages Maria to believe and acknowledge that these passages refer to Jesus. However, initially Maria remains unconvinced, though she is not opposed to conversing about it and generally not irritated by the Christian's attempt at proselytizing. But later, after more conversations and some soul searching on Maria's part, our heroine comes to believe in Christ.

 The rest of the story is taken up in attempts by some Jews to "unconvert" Maria (unsuccessful of course). We also get to witness Maria's baptism, and finally her death. Before she is baptized she tells her father about her newfound beliefs and asks his permission to get baptized. [Why would she ever think that he would give his permission for her baptism??] He of course is upset and tells her that she was born a Jew and will die a Jew. She replies, "I have not forsaken my religion, it is the poor Jews who forsake it. [Yeah, right]. If they would read their Scriptures, they would then know that Jesus is their Messiah! He saves from sin. He alone has made me happy under all my pains. He died for me. It is my dying request" 

 But she's not dead yet! The final pages of the book are taken up in Maria preaching to the rest of her family (sister, mother, grandmother) before she dies. The author is careful to mention that "the memoir is in no degree a fiction"  but is a true narrative, having occurred a short time earlier in a small town in England. The author states that the last name of the family is not mentioned due to concern for their feelings since they continue to adhere to Judaism.            

Inventory Number: HIS 061