Finally, at the age of 49, this restless soul had found its calling
IN 1840, Warder Cresson, a wealthy Philadelphia area farmer and devout Quaker, became acquainted with Isaac Leeser, the minister of the Spanish-Portuguese congregation Mikveh Israel. He began to attend his lectures, and discovered a religion to satisfy his lifelong spiritual quest. He was also influenced by the messianic ideas of Mordecai Manuel Noah, who advocated a movement for the return of the Jewish People to its ancient homeland.
In 1844, Cresson persuaded Secretary of State John C. Calhoun to appoint him America’s first-ever consul to Jerusalem. Shortly thereafter he was on his way to the Middle East.
He later wrote of his departure for Jerusalem as follows: “In the spring of 1844, I left everything near and dear to me on earth. I left the wife of my youth and six lovely children (dearer to me than my natural life), and an excellent farm with everything comfortable around me. I left all these in the pursuit of the Truth, and for the sake of the Truth alone.”
Shortly following his arrival in Jerusalem, he discovered that his appointment had been rescinded. Nevertheless, Cresson chose to ignore the order and continued to act as consul. He began to fight against the efforts of local missionaries and proudly noted that “they failed to apostatize even one Jew.” He was greatly affected by the surroundings of the Holy City, and as he developed relationships with the local Jewish community it was clear that finally, at the age of 49, this restless soul had found its calling:
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