A very important and scarce piece of history as it relates to the evangelization of the Jews in the United States!
The present sermon was preached less than two months [June 5th, 1816] after the original constitution of the Boston Female Society and Vicinity for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews. The society was formed after a number of prominent females, the most prominent of which was Hannah Adams, in Boston read Joseph Samuel F. C. Frey's The Converted Jew and pledged together to evangelize the Jews of the area. The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia says this society was the first Jewish "conversionist" society in America, making this seemingly the first Jewish conversionist society sermon preached in the United States. We are unable to locate a record of any previous to this, delivered just 9 weeks or so after the society's origination.
The sermon was delivered by Thaddeus Mason Harris whose father was killed during the American Revolution; Thaddeus himself was offered a Secretary position by George Washington, but contracted smallpox. He recovered, but the length of recovery prevented his being able to accept the position.
Harris, Thaddeus Mason. Pray for the Jews! A Sermon Preached at the Thursday Lecture in Boston, August 15, 1816. Publishing for the Benefit of the Boston Female Society and Vicinity for Promoting Christianity among the Jews. Boston. John Eliot. 1816. 20pp.
Very nicely housed in a probably 20th century plain paper wrap with facsimile of the title laid to the front. Interior begins with the title and is textually complete.
No copies on the market at any price; exceptionally rare!