“WANDERING JEW”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 139, 14 May 1936, Page 2

“WANDERING JEW”

AN INTERESTING LIFE. 38 YEARS ON THE ROAD. 'U, l >reiS ent visiting Palmerston North in the course of Ins wanderings, which have extended over a period, of 38 years, is Mr P. Lewis, better known in Australia and New Zealand as “The Wandering Jew.” While in Palmerston North Mr Lewis ( has been the guest of Mr and Mrs J. E. Clausen, and on luesda.y evening gave an address to an audience at their residence on Fox-ton Line, dealing in the main with the return of the Jews to Palestine, a movement which has been in progress for -some years, In Palestine, said Mr Lewis, there ■vas no unemployment. There were many acres of land on which the build cities and carve out homes and there was always work to be done. Jews were pouring into the Holy City at a rapid rate, chiefly from the countries which were instituting a persecution campaign against them, and at iel-Avid. a large Jewish citv, there were already over 100,000 inhabitants. Here the mayor, councillors and all organising bodies were of the Jewish nationality and people were free to worship in peace. The finest oranges in the world were grown near this city, and vineyards and gardens were now replacing waste land. Australia jad presented the Holy Citv with hundreds of eucalyptus trees' for transplantation in various colonies, numbering about 140, and it had been found that the climatic conditions were suitable for their growth. In the colonies the official languages were Engish, Hebrew and Arabic, and education was free for all .An English comt>"nT was undertaking the draining of the Dead Sea from which valuable minerals were being mined, considerably increasing the country’s revenue. Money to pay the workers was not lacking, lor the Jews, who had had no opportunity of spending in hostile countries, had brought their savings •nth them. For this reason unemployment wa.s not rife. In conclusion Mr Lewis described the wonderful improvements that had been made in I alestine since the Mar and its bright outlook for security and happiness. A NOMADIC LIFE. Interviewed by a “Standard” reporter, Mr Lewis had many interest.ng tales to tell of his nomadic life. He was born, he said, in East London in 1871, s.nd came to Australia in 1896. He first obtained a job as an assistant in a large Sydney warehouse, but was ■soon destined to leave the city, and undertake his life’s work as a messenger of God. He first received his call to the work following a talk with two Australian bushmen, who complained bitterly of the way in which their young children were unable to learn anything of the spiritual side of life. No iniss.onaries ever visited them, they said, and their children were growing up as heathens. Inspired by their words, Mr Lewis determined that that -should be his task in life—the converting of heathens to the Christian faith. Accordingly he gave up his position, which carried with it a. salary of £5 a week, and after interviewing several mission circles, who promised support, r.-et out for the backblocks of Australia. Everywhere he went he was received with hospitality, and for 8 years lias carried on his good work until lie has become known as “The ’Wandering Jew,” the friend of the uninitiated. As must naturally befall a man who spends his life in the wilds, Mr Lewis has had many hairbreadth escapes from death. One which he rememliere vividly happened in Queensland while lie was visiting a backblocks farm. He had retired for the night, noticing nothing untoward, but on throwing pack the clothes preparatory to rising the next morning he was horrified to see a large black snake, one of the deadly species, slide from between his root on to the floor. How long the reptile had lain there without biting is not known, but Mr Lewis considers that he was nearer death then than lie lias ever been. On other occasions he ba-s been pursued by wild animals and almost taken by crocodiles, but none of his escapes have turned him from his work. In all his dealings with the natives of Australia Mr Lewis has found them courteous and kind, and it is his proud boast that in the 277,000 miles he has travelled since starting .on his first journey he lias not had to ask for assistance. People, he said, know him and what he stands for, and their help lias been freely given. As “’the Mantiering Jew, ,J Air lias walked 75.000 miles and is now using his 95th pair of boots. The reading of the Bible is his hobby and lie claims to have read it 52 times. This is the second time that he has had an opportunity of visiting New Zealand, but it is his first visit to the minor cities and towns. Though now becoming advanced in years, Mr Lewis is still lit and healthy and full of enthusiasm for new lands. “I have never regretted taking up mv work,” he said in parting “and if I could live my life again I would not hesitate to serve God in the same manner.”