1869.
THE PRINCE OF WALES AND SIR MOSES--CONSECRATION OF
JUDITH COLLEGE--NAPOLEON III. A PRISONER OF WAR--SERIOUS
CHARGES AGAINST THE JEWS OF DAMASCUS IN THE
_TIMES_ NEWSPAPER--SIR MOSES' ANSWER--DEATH OF SIR
MOSES' SISTER, MRS GOMPERTZ.
On January 1, 1869, Sir Moses was in Rome, and on March 4th at San
Remo. There Sir Moses and Mrs Gompertz were preserved from a serious
accident. They had been traversing the sides of very steep mountains,
and after entering French territory commenced a long drive down the
hills. Sir Moses had cautioned the driver to go "piano, piano," more
than once, as he felt very nervous, but when they had nearly reached
the level road, not far from the French Custom-house, a great rut in
the road broke the hind wheel of their carriage, and they were thrown
with a great jerk on the side. At first Sir Moses thought they were
in a ditch, but "Heaven did not expose them," he says, "to such a
misfortune." The coachman pulled up, and they were soon released from a
perilous situation.
A few minutes after the accident a very neat open carriage arrived
at the spot. The occupant, a lady, alighted, and most kindly and
courteously obliged Sir Moses and his sister to enter her carriage.
"She was only taking a drive," she said, "and they must go to Mentone
in it;" which they did, and were most thankful to her for her kindness
to them.
That lady was a Mrs Coste. "I shall never forget her kindness," Sir
Moses observes.
It may truly be said that the frequent rescues from perilous positions
with which Providence favoured Sir Moses recalls part of a verse in
which Solomon says (Prov. xxiv. 16), "A just man falleth seven times,
and rises up again."
Sir Moses returned home on March the 10th, the change of climate
appearing to have much improved his health, and he was again able to
attend to his occupations.
Having noticed in the daily papers a report of great distress among the
peasants in Russia, he called (April 14th) on Baron Brunnow, requesting
him to forward a letter from him to Prince Obelesko, the Governor of
Kowno, in Russian Poland, with £100 for the sufferers of all religious
denominations. His Excellency most cheerfully expressed his willingness
to accede to his request to distribute this sum. The Governor of Kowno,
in acknowledging the receipt of this donation, conveyed to Sir Moses
the special thanks of the Emperor himself in most gracious terms.
_May 31st._--This being the day appointed for the annual inspection of
St Bartholomew's Hospital by the Governors, the Prince of Wales, as
President of the Hospital, and the Princess of Wales, accompanied by
the Crown Prince of Denmark, paid a visit to the Institution, and took
part in the ceremony. The Governors mustered in unusual number on the
occasion.
The _Times_, giving a full account of the ceremony, and the reception
of the Royal party, notices that "during their tour of the wards the
Prince recognized the venerable Sir Moses Montefiore among the company,
and paused to present him to the Princess."
_August 29th._--Three gentlemen, selected from a number of applicants
for admission into Judith, Lady Montefiore's Theological College, were
this day introduced to him.
Each of them had filled the office of spiritual head of a congregation
for several years. Their learning, as well as their unblemished
character, was vouched for by high authorities.
Sir Moses received them with much cordiality, assuring them that it
would be a cause of much happiness to him if he were to see them happy
in the College.
He told them that the College was intended:--
(1.) As a memorial of his sincere devotion to the law of God as
revealed on Sinai and expounded by the revered sages of the Mishna and
the Talmud.
(2.) As a token of his love and pure affection to his departed consort,
Judith Lady Montefiore, of blessed memory, whose zeal and ardent
attachment to the religion of her forefathers adorned all her actions
in life.
It had for its objects:--
(1.) To promote the study of the Holy Law.
(2.) To provide for the accommodation of ten persons distinguished for
their learning in the Holy Law, as well as for their high moral and
religious character.
"It is my distinct wish," he continued, "that admission as members of
the College should be given to all Israelites, from whatever part of
the globe they may happen to come, provided their learning and moral
and religious character qualify them for the College.
"Only in case of there being among the candidates British-born subjects
and foreigners, both alike qualified by their learning and character,
should preference be given to the British-born subject.
"Students having completed their classical studies in a college or
university in England, or in any other country, who desire to qualify
for any of the high offices in the Synagogue and the community, are
admitted to all the lectures free of charge after having passed an
examination in Hebrew and Theological subjects to the satisfaction of
the Principal and Director of the College."
_Saturday Evening, September 4th._--The new members were invited to
witness the completion of a sacred scroll of the Pentateuch, which
was effected by Sir Moses, who, in the presence of his relatives and
friends, wrote the last verse of the Book of Deuteronomy.
On Monday, September 6th, corresponding to the first day of the year
5630 A.M., the consecration of the College took place, in the presence
of all the members of the community, the readers of the Synagogue,
and of relatives and friends of Sir Moses specially invited for the
occasion.
A procession was formed, headed by Sir Moses bearing the sacred scroll
of the Pentateuch. After him came the members of the College and the
readers of the Synagogue, carrying books containing the Scriptures and
Commentaries thereon, whilst the rear was brought up by the general
company, and all proceeded towards the College door. As Sir Moses
approached he exclaimed, in the words of the Royal Psalmist, "Open unto
me the gates of righteousness, I will go in and praise the Lord," upon
which the doors were immediately opened from within, and all present
entered, ascending the staircase leading to the Lecture Hall.
Sir Moses, and those who carried the volumes of the Scriptures, made
seven circuits round the hall, chanting impressively seven psalms. At
the conclusion of the last Sir Moses ascended the pulpit, and expressed
his great happiness to see the day on which his ardent wishes had been
realised. He also dwelt on the noble character and exalted virtues of
her in whose memory the College had been established.
After him, the Principal of the College addressed the assembly,
concluding with a special prayer for the prosperity of the new
institution.
Sir Moses then declared the College open, and from that day to the end
of his life there was no break in the prescribed order of duties. The
members attended regularly, lectures were delivered on every Sabbath,
and on special occasions during the week addresses on literary or
historical subjects were given to the general public. Often when the
state of his health permitted he would himself attend the lectures, his
presence always attracting a large number of visitors.
About the end of December he was present at the laying of the first
stone of the Orphans' Home at Broadstairs, by Mrs Tait, the esteemed
wife of Dr Tait, late Archbishop of Canterbury, on the land given by
Mrs Tait for that purpose, adjoining the Archbishop's residence. The
weather was most unfavourable; there was, nevertheless, a numerous
attendance of nearly all of the most distinguished families in the Isle
of Thanet.
The Archbishop had been very ill, and he was for this reason not able
to be present at the ceremony. Sir Moses drove to Stone House to
enquire, and on hearing from Mrs Tait that his Grace was progressing
favourably, left his card and an envelope, enclosing two cheques for
the Orphanage,--£50 from himself, and £50 in memory of his beloved wife.
During the month of January 1870 Sir Moses was frequently confined to
his room by indisposition, and daily visited by his medical attendant.
This, however, did not prevent him from having the daily papers read to
him. It was a habit with him to read himself, or to have read to him,
two of the leading journals every day whilst at dinner when no special
guest happened to be present.
_Wednesday, January 26th._--The _Times_ gave an account of a dinner
to the Archbishop of Syra and Tenos in the Jerusalem Chamber at
Westminster Abbey.
The Dean, in proposing the toast of the evening, "The health of the
Archbishop of Syra and Tenos," introduced two sentences, which appeared
to be of peculiar interest to Sir Moses.
"We are seated," the Dean says, "in the chamber of Jerusalem. What
happier name or place to receive the representative of those far-off
Eastern Churches of which Jerusalem is the mother and mistress?"
"It is useful even for Englishmen to be reminded, by the presence of
our guest, that there is a land more dear to us from our childhood
even than England; that there is a city more sacred even than Rome, or
Geneva, or Westminster: that land is the land of the East, and that
city is Jerusalem."
Sir Moses, though in a state of great weakness of body, on hearing
the above read to him, roused as by an electric flash, raised himself
from his couch, and, addressing the person who had just been reading
to him, exclaimed with great emotion: "And what ought Israel to think
of Jerusalem? How ought we to receive the representatives of our
communities in the Holy City when they come to visit us? What ought our
attachment to be to the land of our forefathers? Ought it not indeed to
be at least as intense as that of the venerable Dean of Westminster?
I wish every one of my young friends of the rising generation would
read the words of the Dean, and be reminded, even as Englishmen, of the
words of the Royal Psalmist, 'If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my
right hand forget its cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue
cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my
chief joys' (Ps. cxxxvii, v. 5 and 6)."
A few weeks later he received a communication from Jerusalem, reporting
another season of famine, drought, and ravages by locusts, and he lost
no time in sending a copy of the letters he had received to the daily
papers, stating that he would take charge of any donations in aid of
the sufferers.
His appeal was most successful, and he had the happiness of becoming
the medium of rendering early help to thousands of suffering families.
The month of July was devoted to a short trip to Belgium, where
he visited the chief stations of the Gas Company, of which he was
President.
This was a most eventful year. Queen Isabella of Spain, dethroned in
1868, resigned her crown in favour of her son, Alfonso, Prince of
Asturias; but the Spanish people elected the second son of King Victor
Emanuel, Prince Amadeo, in preference; and the Franco-German war broke
out, in consequence of the candidature of the Prince of Hohenzollern
for the Spanish throne.
_August 3rd._--Sir Moses attended the Board meetings of the Alliance
Marine, and Alliance Life and Fire Insurance Company, and of the
Imperial Continental Gas Association. "The political horizon," he
says, "is most threatening, our shares dreadfully depressed." The bank
unexpectedly raised the rate of interest to six per cent.
_August 12th._--He entertained the greatest fears for the Emperor
Napoleon. On September 3rd he read the despatch referring to the
capitulation of General Wimpffen at Sedan. "I am deeply grieved for the
Emperor of the French. I believe him to have been a sincere friend of
England, and a lover of peace. He was basely betrayed into the war to
secure his succession."
_September 8th._--Sir Moses received an invitation to the consecration
of the new Synagogue of the British Jews. It was signed by the late Mr
Simon Waley, Warden. Feeling a sincere and deep anxiety for the unity
of the Jews, he sent to Mr Waley, and expressed his wish to see unity
happily restored before the day of consecration, with his hope that he
and his brother, with Dr Adler, the Chief Rabbi, might accomplish the
object he had so much at heart.
But Sir Moses was not permitted to indulge long in the pleasures of
promoting communal and charitable objects at home, his attention being
most unexpectedly drawn to a matter of serious consequence abroad,
which required his immediate exertions.
As the hundred-headed Hydra is that terrible monster, "Hatred of race,"
even in the present enlightened age, it requires the labour of a modern
Hercules to destroy it. This is unfortunately shown by the insertion of
a letter in the _Times_ on October 31st, 1870, addressed to the editor
by Mr E. H. Palmer, of St John's College, Cambridge, and Mr C. F.
Tyrwhitt Drake.
"The massacre of Christians at Damascus ten years ago," these gentlemen
write, "created an excitement over the whole of Europe, but with
Tien-tsin and Sedan to engross the public attention, such a trifle as a
fresh outbreak in Syria has been quite overlooked.
"The events to which we allude occurred shortly after we had left the
country, but we have received full details from both native Christians
and Mahommedan correspondents in Syria.
"On August 26th it was rumoured in Damascus that a general massacre
of the Franks by the Moslem inhabitants was contemplated, and affairs
actually assumed so serious an aspect that most of the Christians
precipitately fled from the town. Open menaces were uttered, the
fanatical part of the population became clamorous, and evidently
bent on mischief, and indeed the danger seemed imminent since the
authorities took no step to suppress the popular agitation, when,
thanks to the energetic conduct of Her Britannic Majesty's Consul,
upon whom the management of the affair devolved, as the other European
representatives retired from the scene of action, who seems to have
himself addressed the Turkish soldiery, and insisted on proper steps
being taken by the Government, the riots were quelled, and a most
serious calamity averted.
"One of the causes which appears most to have excited the fanaticism
of the mob was the presence, in the streets of Damascus, of crosses
chalked up on the most conspicuous places. On subsequent inquiry by
the Government, this was discovered to be the work of the Jews, the
same people who, during the former massacre, distinguished themselves
by standing at the doors of their houses, and voluntarily offering
lemonade to refresh the Mahommedans, hot and weary with the slaughter
of the Christians, and who, in many well authenticated instances,
offered aid and concealment to the terror-stricken Christians, and then
brought in the Turks to murder them.
"Some three hundred of these Jews are under the protection of various
European Consulates, and can thus with impunity laugh at the authority
of the Turks, and wreak their hatred on the co-religionists of their
protectors.--We are, Sir, yours obediently,
"E. H. PALMER, St John's College. "C. F. TYRWHITT DRAKE."
"_October 27th._"
Sir Moses at once sent the following letter:
_To the_ EDITOR _of the "Times."_
"SIR,--I read with pain and surprise the letter which appeared in
your paper of yesterday, bearing the signatures of Mr E. H. Palmer
and Mr C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake.
"I am astonished, and I regret that gentlemen so intelligent as I
assume Mr Palmer and Mr Drake to be, should be so ready to give
credence to any absurd rumours that may be propagated against my
co-religionists. I am in possession of authentic information which
proves that these gentlemen have been entirely misled by their
correspondents in Syria, and that the charges against the Jews, to
which they have given currency in your influential columns, are
devoid of truth.
"As regards the outbreak that occurred at Damascus ten years ago, it
is enough to state that I have been an active member of the Syrian
Relief Fund from its establishment in 1860, and I can confidently
assert that until now I have never heard of the cruel accusations
brought against the Jews of Damascus in the letter of your
correspondents.
"I am sure, Sir, that you will sympathize with me when I express my
sincere regret that at this late period of my life, notwithstanding
the spread of education and the principles of religious toleration,
I should still have to refute such idle charges, and I am confident
that you will not be disinclined to insert in your paper this my
reply.--I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
"MOSES MONTEFIORE."
"_'The Times,' November 2nd, 1870._"
Messrs Palmer and Drake then wished to know what was his authentic
information. To this Sir Moses replied by another letter in the
_Times_, dated November 9th.
Subsequently three other gentlemen addressed the Editor of the _Times_,
one under the signature of S. H. S., the other a Christian clergyman
and a native of Syria, the Rev. Dr Anton Tien, K. C. M., Cumberland
Terrace, Gravesend; and the third, also a native of Syria, Mr Selim
Bustros, a Christian merchant, residing at Liverpool.
The letters are as follows:
_To the_ EDITOR _of the "Times."_
"SIR,--I have watched with great interest the correspondence in your
columns about the Damascus Jews.
"I was in Constantinople at the time of the Syrian Massacre in
1860, and translated for the British and American Governments the
Arabic documents relating to that subject; in none of these did I
find anything to implicate the Jews, nor in the letters of my noble
friend, Abdel Rader, when he made his own simple statement of the
affair, and the course adopted by him for the protection of the
Christians.--Yours faithfully,
"A. TIEN."
"_November 14th, 1870._"
_To the_ EDITOR _of the "Times."_
"SIR,--Having the advantage of possessing accurate knowledge of all
the details concerning the outbreaks in Damascus, 1860, being there
at the time, I can fully corroborate all that Sir Moses Montefiore
has written you in exculpation of the Jews. No greater mistake could
be made than to suppose that the Jews were in any way responsible for
the troubles of that country; but even if they were, what object is
to be gained by reviving a matter that is so long out of date, unless
it be to excite hostility against them?
"I am a Christian native of Syria, and without egotism may say that
my name is well known throughout that country, therefore I have no
other object in addressing you these lines, than to remove the false
impression that is likely to be made on the minds of your readers
less acquainted with the facts of the matter than myself, by the
perusal of the communications made to you by your correspondent, Mr
Drake.
"Syria is, happily, now free from the spirit of fanaticism, and a
perfect unity of sentiment pervades all classes of the community.--I
remain, Sir, yours obediently,
"SELIM BUSTROS."
"LIVERPOOL, _November 11th, 1870._"
Sir Moses concluded his December work by distributing £100 among
the poor of Ramsgate, who, he had just been informed, were in great
distress.
_January 8th, 1871._--The Hon. Benjamin Franklin Peixotto, who had just
been appointed American Consul in Roumania, was now in England, on his
way to Bucharest. He came to see Sir Moses, and acquainted him with
his proposed mode of action in matters concerning the Israelites in
Wallachia. "He is a very agreeable and highly educated gentleman," the
entry of that day records, "and should he act as he speaks, I hope he
will be successful in the object of his appointment."
In the course of the conversation which Sir Moses had with the Consul,
the Juda Touro Almshouses in Jerusalem were mentioned, and this little
incident alone was sufficient inducement for Sir Moses on the following
day to send £100 for distribution among the inmates in commemoration of
the visit of the Consul, a countryman of the benevolent founder of the
Almshouses.
During the following three months Sir Moses suffered great anxiety on
account of the illness of his sister, Mrs Gompertz. In order to be near
her, Sir Moses went to London, but was taken ill himself. Her death
in March affected him greatly, but with pious resignation he submits
to the will of God, only adding, "she was a devoted daughter, wife,
and mother, a loving sister, and a friend to all in need! May we all
benefit by her bright example. It is a sad loss to me."
_April 7th._--Sir Moses received the news of an outbreak against
the Jews of Odessa, but fortunately the disturbance was quelled by
the troops, and there was therefore no further occasion for him to
intercede on their behalf. In reply to the telegram he received on
that subject, he expressed his confidence that His Imperial Majesty's
Government would secure the safety of the Jews and punish the
evil-doers.
"I should like," he says, "to go to St Petersburg to thank the Emperor
for the prompt measure that had been taken by the Government at Odessa
to put an end to the outbreak against the Jews."
_June 22nd._--Sir Moses received Her Majesty's command to be present at
a concert at Buckingham Palace, but the state of his health would not
allow him to come up to London.