1883.
PRESENTATION OF AN ADDRESS FROM THE CITY OF LONDON--THE
CHOVAVEY ZION SOCIETY--PROGRESS OF THE AGRICULTURAL MOVEMENT.
_Thursday, November 22nd._--The City of London presented an address to
Sir Moses. This was unanimously voted by the Court of Common Council,
on the motion of Mr Loveridge, seconded by Mr Alderman Isaacs, and a
beautiful specimen of modern illumination on vellum was accordingly
prepared. The words of the resolution, skilfully engrossed, made
mention of the fact that Sir Moses Montefiore was Sheriff forty-six
years ago, and the writing was enclosed in a handsome and elaborate
border.
This richly ornamented address was conveyed from London by a deputation
of the Common Council, composed of Mr Loveridge, the mover of the
resolution, Mr Alderman Nottage, and twelve or fourteen deputies. Mr
Alderman Isaacs, the seconder of the resolution, was unfortunately
prevented by illness from accompanying the party.
[9]The vivacity, the heartiness, the wit, the cheerful readiness of
repartee with which Sir Moses Montefiore welcomed his visitors defy
all description. Vital force and high animal spirits seemed heightened
rather than diminished in this truly marvellous centenarian. He was
begged again and again to sit down, but said, "When all my guests are
seated I will be seated also." Thereupon the greater number sat down,
and Sir Moses took his seat on a couch beside Mr Alderman Nottage,
but this was only for a minute or two. Seeing that a few yet stood,
he was on his feet again in a moment, protesting his ability and his
desire to stand also. Mr Sebag introduced the deputation, and Sir Moses
could hardly wait for any formalities, so impatient was he to pour
forth his gratitude and goodwill--in simple, earnest, and impulsive
words. That he was greatly moved may be supposed by all who know his
sympathetic nature. The address was read by Mr Loveridge, who added
some appropriate words, and presented a magnificent bouquet, with
the inscription, "Jerusalem," in golden characters across it, this
appropriate gift being due to the thoughtfulness of Mr Courtney.
Then Sir Moses, with great feeling, uttered his evidently heartfelt
thanks. He spoke of the dear old city with which he had been connected
long ago; said it gladdened him to see the blue gowns of the Common
Council; that there never was a city more loyal to that Sovereign
whose portrait hung before them, and whom he prayed God in Heaven
long to protect. He said that he truly wanted words to express all
he felt. He could assure the deputation, one and all, that from his
heart he thanked them. As a matter of fact, no such assurance was
needed, for the voice in which it was expressed swelled with emotion,
and the hearers also were visibly affected. The pride with which Sir
Moses Montefiore showed his treasured chain of office, the gold casket
containing the freedom of the Fishmongers' Company, and other civic
souvenirs, was delightful to witness. All present passed before the
aged baronet and shook hands with him, and to each who addressed him in
turn, he replied with some apt and gracefully turned sentence, which
showed a freshness of heart and clearness of brain not frequently
found among men of any age. One member of the Common Council said he
was eighty. "Is that all?" exclaimed Sir Moses, and then he gravely
added, "You have much work before you, sir." The deputation of Common
Council was followed by one from the Merchant Taylors' Company, with
which Sir Moses was long connected. Subsequently all the guests were
entertained at luncheon, Mr Joseph Sebag presiding in place of Sir
Moses, who deputed him to say how cordially he felt the pleasure they
had conferred on him. Mr Loveridge, Mr Sebag, Mr Arthur Cohen, Q.C.,
M.P., and Mr Alderman Nottage, spoke after the repast, and whether the
immediate subject was their host or the City of London, the former was
remembered by name in every sentence, the last speaker quoting language
originally uttered in praise of Milton, to the effect that "if he were
sent to another planet from our globe he would be regarded as the
representative of a race who were the favourites and heirs of Heaven."
The writer having been requested to say grace after the repast, made
use of the ancient and venerable Hebrew language, the same being well
understood by most of the guests present.
Before leaving, the civic party, at the earnest entreaty of Sir Moses,
returned to his room to shake hands once more, and bid him adieu.
Sir Moses, being desirous of expressing his gratitude to those who
honoured him with their congratulations, addressed a letter to the
editors of the principal journals in the following terms:--
"SIR,--May I ask the privilege of expressing through your paper
my heartfelt thanks towards the very large number of friends and
public bodies who have so considerately offered me their esteemed
congratulations on the occasion of my entering this day into my
hundredth year?
"Grateful to Providence for the merciful protection vouchsafed to
me during my long life, I rejoice in the reflection that any feeble
efforts I may have made to advance the happiness and welfare of my
fellow-creatures have been so kindly judged.
"With a fervent prayer for the health and long life of our gracious
Queen, whose beneficent sway over this great and free country has
caused so much happiness to all classes of her subjects, reiterating
my thanks to my numerous friends, and acknowledging your courteous
and flattering remarks, I have the honour to remain, yours faithfully,
(Signed) "MOSES MONTEFIORE."
Subsequently he addressed letters of thanks to all who favoured him
with their congratulations, at the same time enclosing cheques in many
cases for charitable institutions. The following is a copy of his
reply, which was in most instances translated into the language of his
correspondent:--
"Your most esteemed letter, conveying to me your felicitations on the
occasion of my entering, by the blessing of God, upon my hundredth
year of life, has reached me on the eighth of Heshván, and I feel
great pleasure in expressing to you my warmest acknowledgments for
the kind sentiments you were pleased to evince therein towards me.
"In appreciation of the honour you conferred on me by your
communication, I have placed the same among the important documents I
keep in Judith, Lady Montefiore's Theological College, with a view of
making known to those who attend there for the study of our Holy Law
and the Hebrew literature, the kindness which prompted you to address
me on the auspicious event.
"Most fervently do I pray to Him, who has ever been, and ever will
be, the Guardian of Israel, to cause His choice blessing to alight
upon yourself and your respected family, so that you may be permitted
to continue in your praiseworthy work of benevolence for many years
to come in full enjoyment of every happiness.--With reiterated
thanks, I am, &c."
Up to the last day of December, letters, books, poems, and costly
presents continued to arrive. In Austria, Galicia, Roumania, Russia,
Russian Poland, Italy, and many towns in America and Australia,
charitable institutions were established bearing his name, and reports
of the same, accompanied by photographs of the buildings and of the
principal officers, were sent to him.
Even in 1884, when he had attained his hundredth year, Sir Moses
would not give himself the rest he deserved. He continued to take the
liveliest interest in charitable and educational institutions, and even
signed documents sent to him by his favourite companies--the Alliance,
and the Imperial Continental Gas Association.
Sometimes in the course of conversation with his friends he would say,
"Can I believe that I am a hundred years old?"
What interested him most this year was the movement at Warsaw by the
promoters of agriculture in the Holy Land. They formed themselves into
a society, adopting the name of "Chovavey Zion" (the friends or lovers
of Zion), and had an excellent likeness made of him by a distinguished
artist, which they sold in Russia, Holland, and Germany, the amount
realised being intended for the benefit of Jewish colonists in the
Holy Land. Many thousands of copies were sold, and the names of the
purchasers and the amounts received were published in the Hebrew and
German papers. Most of the purchasers gave considerably more than the
stipulated price, in order to manifest their high appreciation of Sir
Moses' character, and of the object the society had in view. It was a
source of very great happiness to him to hear of the progress made by
the Jewish agriculturists in the Land of Promise, where there were now
seven colonies.
That for which he had been longing full sixty years of his life
he now saw being realised by the strenuous efforts of the society
"Chovavey Zion," by the agricultural Hebrew associations in Roumania
and elsewhere, and by private gentlemen, who individually exerted
themselves for the good and great cause. Foremost among them stands the
great friend of colonisation, Baron Edmond de Rothschild in Paris.
Sir Moses had the satisfaction of being enabled to send his
contributions on his ninety-ninth birthday to six colonies, viz.:--
Ge-oni, near Safed; Rishon le-Zion, two and a half hours from Jaffa;
Beney Bilu; Sámárin, near Haifa; Yahood, two and a half hours from
Jaffa; Pe-kee-in, near Safed, the Bokea.
He also had the satisfaction of receiving Mr David Gordon, a delegate
from twenty-three congregations in Russia, who presented him with an
album, containing fervent wishes and prayers for the prolongation
of his life, with the signatures of 1562 representatives of fifty
societies bearing the name of "The Friends of Zion," all branches of
the above-named society at Warsaw.
They celebrated his centenary by holding a general meeting of the
members in the town of Kattowitz, in Upper Silesia, a place chosen by
them on account of its vicinity to the frontiers of Russia, Austria,
and Prussia, for the purpose of arranging all the particulars referring
to a "Sir Moses Montefiore Institution," having for its object the
cultivation of land in Palestine.
In America, in Pratt Country, Kansas, a colony bearing the name
"Montefiore," and consisting of refugees from countries in which the
blessings of liberty have not yet been allotted to their brethren, sent
him an address in pure Biblical Hebrew, conveying the expression of
their gratitude for his exertions to ameliorate their condition, and
forwarded for his acceptance specimens of the produce of their colony.
His regular medical attendant and others paid him frequent visits, but
he seldom left his room. Sometimes great anxiety was felt by those
round him when attacks of bronchitis or a severe cough disturbed his
nights, but he would rally again, so strong was his constitution. Sir
William Jenner once came down. Sir Moses was not informed he had been
sent for, or he would not have consented. The eminent physician, after
a careful examination, made the satisfactory statement that his pulse
was wonderfully well for a man of his age, but, of course, he observed,
his life was, as it were, hanging on a thread. However, by great care
and unceasing attention, he might yet, comparatively speaking, continue
to enjoy health and good spirits.
Very frequently, as I walked from Broadstairs to East Cliff Lodge, I
was stopped on the road by rich and poor, eagerly inquiring, "How is
Sir Moses?" and whenever he took a carriage drive, which was now but
very seldom, many groups of people might be seen awaiting him on the
roads through which he would have to pass, so as to catch a glance of
him.
His Synagogue and College continued to engage his mind. To visitors,
who purposely came from London or elsewhere to Ramsgate to see him,
he would say, "Have you been to see the Synagogue? Have you seen the
College?" Not being able to attend the College himself, he had copies
made of the lectures, and on a Friday night or Sabbath morning he would
invite the lecturer for the day to come and read the same to him.
The order for writing a scroll of the Pentateuch was again sent to
Wilna, in accordance with his custom ever since his first visit to that
place in the year 1846, and he awaited its arrival with impatience. He
often expressed the wish that he might soon have the happiness of again
writing the last verse in the sacred manuscript.
He used to join his friends at the dinner table, although, for the last
two years, he could no longer partake of the same food as was prepared
for them, but he would remain on the sofa and join them in drinking the
healths of some of those present.
He still enjoyed the Friday evenings (the commencement of the Sabbath)
to a high degree. When his Sabbath lamp illumined his chamber, and
prayers were being recited, he would join in singing the hymns and
psalms; afterwards he would drink the wine out of the Sabbath cup, over
which the benediction of the hallowed day of rest had been pronounced,
and partake of the Sabbath bread. He would then be in the best of
humours, and would delight every one with his conversation.
Thus the weeks and months glided away on the path of time, and the
hundredth anniversary of his birthday drew near.
[Footnote 9: Description of presentation taken partly from _Daily
Telegraph_.]