“`Swears Back' What He Swore.” New York Times, June 23, 1893, page 8.

“SWEARS BACK” WHAT HE SWORE.

Isaac Herzfeld Declares Emphatically that He Is a Christian Convert.

In the discussion recently carried on in THE NEW-YORK TIMES as to the proselyting of the Jews by Christian missionaries, A. Benjamin, an agent for the United Hebrew Charities, was conspicuous by his attacks on the Christian Jews who are doing missionary work among their people in this city. Missionary Warzarviack, who has charge of the Home for Persecuted and Inquiring Christian Jews, at 65 Avenue D., seemed to be particularly obnoxious to Mr. Benjamin.

Mr. Benjamin even went so far as to send to THE NEW-YORK TIMES affidavits made by Jews who had been at Mr. Warzarviak's home declaring that they had only gone there and professed Christianity for what they could get out of Warzarviak. In these affidavits Warzarviak and his teachers were branded as hypocrites, who were carrying on their work only that they might get money from rich Christians.

One of the affidavits was made by Isaac Herzfeld. At the time it was made Mr. Warzarviak was greatly surprised, for he had done much for Herzfeld and had great confidence in him.

He then said that he thought Mr. Benjamin must have influenced Herzfeld by giving him money or presents, and also that the young man did not really appreciate what he was signing. Yesterday Herzfeld made the following affidavit:

I, Isaac Herzfeld, declare that I swore falsely in the affidavit published in my name in THE NEW-YORK TIMES of 5th May, 1893.

That affidavit was made up and written by A. Benjamin, who asked me afterward to sign it, and who promised me for signing it a ticket to Ocean Grove, N. J., and a good situation if I did not get work there, a pair of shoes, and waiter's clothes.

The affidavit has things in it that I never thought and words that I do not understand. I never said that I settled here “with a view to work less and earn much.” I never said I was taught to give testimonies. I never said that I never believed in Christianity.

I do not know the meaning of the following words in the affidavit I signed: “irreligious associations,” “influence,” “inspired,” “oath,” “dogma,” “economic,” “lavishing.”

I now swear back what I swore before. Mr. Warzarviak, the missionary to the Jews, never asked me to be baptized. I did not ask him to baptize me, and of course it is not true that he promised me anything if I would be baptized. I was baptized before joining the Missionary Training College. I swear that I believe that none of those who were my teachers is a hypocrite.

I now renounce publicly those words that I swore before falsely. I believe in Jesus Christ, and will believe till the end in Him as my Saviour. I did believe in Christianity before. It was only the devil that attacked me, and the few dollars' worth that A. Benjamin gave me that made me fall; but I say now that I have come back to Jesus, and I hope to be true to Him forever. I would like to remain as truthful as my teachers are.

I am twenty-three years of age.

I. HERZFELD.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 22d day of June, 1893.

HETDOLPH WINKOPF,

Notary Public, City and County of New-York.