1873.
ADDRESS TO THE CZAR ON THE OCCASION OF THE MARRIAGE
OF THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH--THE CZAR'S
REPLY--DEATH OF SIR MOSES' SISTER, MRS COHEN--SIR
MOSES READS HIS OWN OBITUARY--HE RESIGNS HIS OFFICE
AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DEPUTIES.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, on the occasion of the betrothal
of the Duke of Edinburgh to the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of
Russia, voted an address of congratulation to the Emperor of Russia.
Sir Moses, as President of the Board, himself offered to take the
address to St Petersburg and present it to the Emperor in person,
but Count Brunnow, on becoming acquainted with Sir Moses' intention,
persuaded him not to undergo the fatigue of travelling, and the journey
was reluctantly abandoned. His Excellency himself forwarded the address
to the Emperor.
Monsieur de Westmann, acknowledging the receipt of the address in the
name of the Emperor, wrote to Count Brunnow as follows:--
"Les sentiments dont cette adresse contient l'expression, dans
une circonstance si chère au cœur de Sa Majesté Impériale, L'ont
profondément touchée. Elle a été particulièrement sensible au désir
manifesté par Sir Moses Montefiore de se rendre lui-même en Russie,
pour être l'organe des felicitations de ses co-religionnaires.
Sa Majesté Impériale n'a pu qu'approuver l'attention que vous
avez eue d'epargner à Sir Moses Montefiore les fatigues d'un si
long voyage. Elle m'a donné l'ordre exprès de lui faire parvenir
ses remercîments par l'intermédiaire de Votre Excellence et de
l'assurer qu'ayant conservé le meilleur souvenir du séjour de
Sir Moses à St Petersbourg, Elle maintient invariablement les
dispositions bien-veillantes qu'Elle lui a témoignées tant pour lui
personnellement que pour ses co-religionnaires, dont il a plaidé la
cause avec tant de chaleureux dévouement.
"Veuillez, Monsieur le Comte, faire part à Sir Moses Montefiore de
ces sentiments de notre Auguste Maître et recevez, &c."
During the next three months the serious illness of his sister, Mrs
Cohen, caused Sir Moses great anxiety. All the time he could spare
from official duties he passed by her side, trying to alleviate her
sufferings, and to cheer her by his conversation. But the dread
decree had gone forth, and in spite of all that was done for her, she
succumbed to the malady. On the 29th of October we read the following
entry in Sir Moses' Diary:--
"It has pleased the God of our fathers to relieve my dearly beloved
sister from all suffering. She was called to eternal glory this morning
at seven o'clock, expiring without a sigh, passing from earth to Heaven
most peaceably in a sound sleep. Oh, may my end be like hers! Peace be
to her soul! 'The Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the
name of the Lord.'
"It is a sad loss to me. She was the youngest of nine children. I, the
oldest, by the mercy of God, still remain, I hope for the purpose of
doing some good.
"May God comfort my dear sister's children, bless and preserve them.
Amen."
_October 31st._--"My dear sister," he says, "looks calm and happy,
free from all pain. God rest her soul! The coffin had a covering of a
neatly-made glass." "My sister," he continues, "desired to be clothed
in the gown and cap I gave her as a present on the New Year.
"_November 4th._--Her mortal remains were taken to the grave this
morning. There was a very numerous attendance of friends. I was too
weak to follow to the grave."
During the seven days of mourning he received a great many visits of
condolence. He sometimes felt poorly, had a cough, and his hand was
unsteady for writing, but, "Thanks to the God of our fathers," he
says, "My head is clear." "May God's blessing continue to me now and
evermore. Amen."
_November 27th._--The entry in his Diary reads as follows:--"I feel
very weak and low, but have had great pleasure to-day by the receipt
of a most kind and pleasing letter from His Grace the Archbishop of
Canterbury, written last evening immediately on his return from a visit
with Mrs Tait and their family to my dear Judith College, where they
had passed more than two hours.
"Believing the perusal of the letter would be pleasing to our esteemed
Chief Rabbi, I have sent it to him."
The following is a copy of this letter:--
"STONEHOUSE, ST PETER'S, THANET, _November_ 26, 1873.
"MY DEAR SIR MOSES,--I have just now returned from a most interesting
visit with Mrs Tait and all my family to the College near your house.
I must write a few lines to thank you for your kindness in arranging
for our reception. Dr Loewe was most kind in explaining to us all the
various objects of interest and treasures accumulated in the College.
"I beg to thank you for the kind presents of the report on the famine
in Persia, of the statutes of the College, and of a copy of the
Shah's letter.
"It is a cause of much regret to us that you should have suffered
the affliction which has lately visited you, and which has prevented
us from seeing you during our stay here. My son especially was most
anxious to express to you personally how much he feels indebted for
the letters of introduction with which you furnished him for his late
visit to the East.
"Trusting that God may long preserve your life, and that He may keep
you and guide you in all your ways.--I am, my dear Sir Moses, very
faithfully yours,
"A. C. CANTUAR."
Whilst His Grace was proposing and drinking the health of Sir Moses
in the College, and the latter at East Cliff was expressing his
gratification at the visit of the Archbishop to the College, the people
in Ramsgate were lamenting the supposed sudden death of Sir Moses.
Indeed, _The Kent Coast Times_, Thursday, November 27, 1873, had a
paragraph to that effect. Sir Moses, on being told of it, and having
subsequently read that paragraph himself, said, pleasantly, "Thank God
to have been able to hear of the rumour, and read an account of the
same with my own eyes, without using spectacles."
_April 16th._--The representatives of the several Hebrew congregations
in Jerusalem addressed a sorrowful letter to Sir Moses respecting a
famine which threatened to destroy the lives of many inhabitants in the
Holy City.
"A wet and stormy season at its beginning ruined the prospects of the
early crops, which should have been reaped on the plains of Sharon
towards Jaffa and down the Ghor, the Jordan Valley, and around Jericho.
In ordinary times ample food is obtained from these wide plains, but
this year the Jordan flooded its banks, and all about Ramlah on the
western side of the hills was a swamp. The consequence has been famine,
actual famine, and in deep distress the Jews of Jerusalem utter a cry
of anguish to their well-tried friend."
Sir Moses gave publicity to the letter he had received, and several
daily papers had leading articles on the subject. He and others did
all they could to alleviate the distress, but seeing how often similar
calamities befel the people in the Holy Land, he wished to ascertain
from the best informed and most trustworthy persons in that country
the best means of securing for them some permanent help either in the
direction of agriculture or mechanical work or some suitable business.
Accordingly Sir Moses addressed the Háhám Báshi and the representatives
of the several Hebrew congregations in Jerusalem.
"It has ever been my earnest desire," he writes, "since I first
had the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the state of great
poverty and distress that prevailed among you, to ameliorate your
condition and cause salvation to spring forth in the Holy Land by
means of industrial pursuits, such as agriculture, mechanical work,
or some suitable business, so as to enable both the man who is not
qualified for study, but fully able (by his physical strength) to
work as well as the student, who, prompted by a desire to maintain
himself by the labour of his hands, may be willing to devote the day
to the work necessary for the support of his family, and part of
the night to the study of the Law of God, to find the means of an
honourable living.
"Already in the years 5599 and 5626 I entreated you to assist me with
your wise and judicious counsel, and begged of you to point out to me
the right path. I then forwarded to you statistical and agricultural
forms to enable you to record therein all the information required,
and you most cheerfully complied with my request, and gave me all the
particulars referring to these subjects.
"I on my part made known to all my friends and acquaintances the
information I received from you; but, unfortunately, from various
causes I met with little success in asking for assistance to carry
out this great work, and your condition remained the same as before.
"Having again this year noticed all the troubles and hardships you
had to undergo from scarcity of bread, and from want of means to
procure it, I thought I would again try to ascertain whether any
of your suggestions regarding the best mode of ameliorating your
condition, either by agriculture or by mechanical work, within or
without the house, or some suitable business pursuits, if clearly
and distinctly set forth to our brethren, might not, under present
circumstances, be more favourably received, and induce them more
readily to hasten with their succour to a most deserving class of
people, so as to procure lasting comfort among you.
"Let me therefore entreat you to fully acquaint me with your views
on this subject: point out to me what I am to do in order to hasten
thereby the cause of bringing salvation into the land. Consider well
which is the proper path, appearing most clearly to you, to produce
the remedy you stand in need of.
"By doing so you will comply with the wishes of your brethren, who
love and kiss, as it were, the dust of the Holy Land.
"Be strong and of good courage. Do not say 'Our words are of no
avail,' but send speedily a reply to him who holds you in great
esteem, and prays for the welfare of his people."
To this letter Sir Moses received replies from the congregations of
Jerusalem, Jaffa, Safed, Tiberias, Haiffa, giving full particulars
respecting the matters to which he had referred, and these letters
he subsequently submitted to the Palestine Committee of the London
Committee of Deputies of the British Jews. At the end of May the Board
of Deputies of British Jews sent a deputation to Sir Moses to again
request his acceptance of the Presidency over that body. Sir Moses was
very reluctant to accept duties which the state of his health might
not permit him adequately to fulfil, but the solicitations of the
deputation prevailed upon him, and putting his trust in God to help
him, he again accepted the honourable office.
During this year the Fishmongers' Company of London held a meeting, at
which, on the motion of the Prime-Warden, Mr W. C. Venning, the freedom
of the Company was unanimously voted to Sir Moses; and at the end of
June a deputation from the Company, headed by the Prime-Warden, came to
Ramsgate to present the document to him, enclosed in a golden casket of
beautiful workmanship.
_July 1st._--He had the honour of being graciously invited by Her
Majesty the Queen to an evening party at Buckingham Palace, but was
prevented by indisposition from availing himself of it.
_July 6th._--"I should have been pleased," Sir Moses writes in his
Diary, "had I been strong enough to go to London. I feel a deep
interest in the question now under consideration of the London
Committee of British Jews, for assisting our brethren to cultivate
land in Palestine. I am confident if capital could be raised for the
purpose, the people, the country, and the contributors would all be
greatly benefited by the work. I should suggest that a million sterling
should be obtained by 1,000,000 of £1 subscriptions, and I believe I
could obtain, within one year, that sum for the purpose from the Jews
in the four quarters of the globe."
_July 26th._--"I feel deep anxiety on the subject of the projected
scheme for agriculture in the Holy Land. I would suggest that a
committee should be sent to Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias, and Hebron to
report. I should be willing to accompany the commissioners at my own
expense, should it be the desire of the Board of Deputies."
_August 4th._--Finding his health failing, he resolved to resign the
Presidency of the Board. His nephew, Mr Joseph M. Montefiore, came down
to him, and Sir Moses acquainted him with his wish. Before he left,
Sir Moses read to him the letter which he afterwards posted to him as
Vice-President of the Board, and of which the following is a copy:--
"EAST CLIFF LODGE, RAMSGATE, "_August 4th_, 5634 (1874).
"MY DEAR JOSEPH MAYER MONTEFIORE,--It is with unaffected pain that I
have to place in your hands my resignation of the Presidentship of
the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews.
"The considerations which have urged this step have reference to my
state of health, which is, unfortunately, such as utterly to preclude
that unremitting attention on my part to the duties of the office
which their responsible nature demands.
"In retiring from a post which it has been my distinguished privilege
to occupy during a lengthened period, I can only assure you that I do
so with great regret, and with every earnest wish that, under your
able direction, the Board may long continue to exercise its powerful
influence for the good of the community, and that every blessing may
be enjoyed by yourself and those esteemed friends who represent so
worthily the congregations of this kingdom.--I have the honour to be,
my dear Joseph Mayer Montefiore, yours very truly,
MOSES MONTEFIORE."
I now quote from the Board's First Annual Report of its proceedings to
its constituents, Session 5634, p. 9.
"Considering Sir Moses Montefiore's lengthened association with the
Board, his exalted character, his potent influence in the councils
of monarchs and of ministers, and the rare judgment and tact which
he exhibited in directing the affairs of the Board, the Deputies
contemplated with deep concern and regret the possibility of his
retirement from their body."
Earnest efforts were again made to induce him to alter his
determination, but unfortunately without avail, and, bearing in mind
Sir Moses' advanced age, and that he had retired on the ground of
failing health, it was felt it would not be right to persuade him
further to retain an office involving at times arduous and responsible
duties.
In parting with its venerated President, the Board expressed its
sentiments in the following resolutions, which, being engrossed on
vellum and emblazoned, were signed by every Deputy, and presented to
him.
"Resolved unanimously--
"That this Board accept with profound regret the resignation by Sir
Moses Montefiore, Bart., F.R.S., of the office of President, which he
has held with so much honour and distinction since the year 1841.
"That during that long and eventful period this Board has had the
proud satisfaction of co-operating with Sir Moses Montefiore in many
of his numerous benevolent undertakings in the cause of civilization
and humanity.
"That by his unremitting and successful efforts on behalf of the
weak and persecuted, Sir Moses Montefiore has kindled a spirit
of enlightenment and toleration in foreign countries, which has
already led to a material improvement in the condition of oppressed
nationalities.
"That by these means Sir Moses Montefiore has acquired for himself a
glorious and imperishable renown, and the enduring gratitude of his
co-religionists.
"That this Board will ever cherish the remembrance of its association
with Sir Moses Montefiore, whose wise and discreet counsels have
prompted the efficiency and success of its labours, and whose uniform
urbanity and kindliness of manners have won for him the affectionate
regard and admiration of his colleagues.
"That it is the earnest wish of every member of this Board that Sir
Moses Montefiore may yet enjoy many years of happiness and repose,
cheered by the consciousness of having devoted himself to the
promotion of the welfare and prosperity of his fellow-creatures.
"(Signed) [Members of the Board.]"
"It was still felt," the Board reports, "that something more
was required to satisfy the feelings of affection and gratitude
entertained by the Board and its constituents towards Sir Moses
Montefiore.
"A Committee was therefore appointed to consider and report as to the
best mode of recording his long and valuable services in a permanent
and useful form. It was thought, moreover, that our co-religionists
in all parts of the world would gladly seize the opportunity
of acknowledging the invaluable services rendered by Sir Moses
Montefiore in vindicating on so many memorable occasions the rights
of our brethren, and in protecting and assisting the suffering and
oppressed, without distinction of creeds or nationality."
Sir Moses was invited by the Board to indicate the nature of the
memorial which would be most congenial to his own feelings, and, when
a deputation from the Board awaited upon him at Park Lane, he at once
recommended works for the improvement of the condition of the Jews of
the Holy Land.
It had happened that during the session Colonel Gawler, F.R.G.S.,
had submitted to Sir Moses Montefiore a scheme for the promotion of
agriculture and other industrial occupations in the Holy Land by means
of colonisation. Sir Moses Montefiore had referred the scheme to the
Board, who had appointed a Special Committee, by whom it was carefully
considered. Acting on a report from this Committee, the Board came to
the conclusion that, whilst Colonel Gawler was entitled to its warmest
thanks for the benevolent zeal which he had evinced in the matter, his
scheme was of too vast a character to be undertaken by the Board with
any reasonable prospect of success; but the Committee suggested an
undertaking for permanently improving the condition of the Jews of the
Holy Land, by the promotion of industrial pursuits, the erection of
improved dwellings, and the acquisition and cultivation of land on a
moderate scale, strongly urging at the same time that the funds which
might be raised should be entirely devoted to the assistance of those
who were really desirous of helping themselves, and that no portion
whatever should be applied in almsgiving.
These suggestions were carefully considered by the Board, and were
adopted, and were found to be most pleasing to Sir Moses Montefiore.
The Deputies therefore formed themselves into a Committee of the whole
body for the purpose of carrying the proposed objects into effect.