Litchfield Enquirer

Recent arrivals from England bring rumors that Baron Rothschild has abandoned the Hebrew faith, and embraced christianity. Statements to that effect have appeared in the London Morning Post, and the Standard. The London correspondent of the Asmonean, pronounces them "nonsensical," and treats them with levity. The editor, however, speaks less confidentially, and while unwilling to admit the "rumored apostasy," intimates that if such is the fact, it is to be charged to the account of personal ambition. In reference to this prince of Bankers, and the event referred to, the Asmonean speaks as follows:

"Lionel de Rothschild is a good practical man of business, gifted with strong animal spirits, which find vent in the pleasures of the turf and the chase. That he is, or ever has been, under the influence of strong religious fervor, so as to dispose him to inquire into the truths of this creed or that, is all moonshine. He is an Israelite because his parents trained him in the religion, and not because his faith has been built up by his personal studies.

Assuming for the purpose of the argument, that Baron Rothschild has gone over to christianity, we assert boldly from predicated causes, that he is not under the conviction that it is essential to his eternal welfare; and that it is the only plea which can justify be set up for throwing off the religion of our fathers. This plea we deny to him, as his alleged conversion (if true) is crude, hasty and incoherent; a thing of yesterday's growth without foundation in that yearning for the true and sublime which might induce such a result, after calm deliberation and deep research.

Christian Europe felt proud, and properly so, of the conversion of Neander, but his adoption of a strange creed was the purpose of his life, the axis of its destiny. It grew with the growth of the subtle powers of his mind, and although as Jews we may regret that he was not with us we must respect his sincerity. Do we feel the same in the present instance?-- No, assuredly not.

"We have a strong abhorrence of apostacy, both in politics and religion; in the former case, we grant that secret cases may arise to palliate or justify defection, so that we are not always rigorous in insisting that the changeling should purge himself of impurity of motive; but in the case of religion, we are inflexible in searching out the incentive influencing the proselyte. And when we find a total absence of that acute form of intellect, which is essential to investigate matters so abstruse, a deficiency of the habit of application, or love of contemplation tending to draw the individual to such studies we must descend lower, and seek in material matters of worldly personal interest the ruling power inducing the barter of principles. Trying the conduct of the reported London Proselyte by this test, we are at a loss to designate the means or the price to be paid for his conversion. Wealth, fame, position and influence all were his. Possessing access to all the courts of Europe and visited and feted by the aristocracy of all countries. What is further desirable? Is Baron an empty title in England, and is a Peerage to be the reward of conversion?"