1884.
A GRAND OLD CENTENARIAN--PUBLIC GATHERINGS IN HIS
HONOUR--RAMSGATE ILLUMINATED--SIR MOSES' HEALTH.
Already in the beginning of the year, "Sir Moses Montefiore Memorial
Committees" had been formed in many parts of the world, also in
London. By the kind permission of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, a
public meeting was held in the Egyptian Hall, at the Mansion House, in
January, for the purpose of considering the best means of celebrating
the approaching centenary. The Ramsgate Memorial Committee sent a
special deputation to attend the meeting, but at the request of Sir
Moses, it was indefinitely postponed.
Sir Nathaniel M. (now Lord) Rothschild, Chairman of the Montefiore
Memorial Committee, issued the following circular countermanding the
meeting:--
"NEW COURT, _21st January 1884_.
"DEAR SIR,--The newspapers will have announced to you this morning
that the public meeting convened for to-morrow, at the Mansion House,
under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, will not be held.
"It had reached me that Sir Moses Montefiore had manifested to those
around him, considerable disquietude as to the proposed movement
by which his friends had intended permanently to commemorate his
great services, and that while deeply appreciating the kindness of
his friends, and touched by the feelings of regard, he was very
unwilling, even tacitly, to sanction the collection proposed to
be made. Under these circumstances, two members of the Executive
Committee, Mr Joseph Sebag and Mr Lionel L. Cohen, went to Ramsgate,
to ascertain Sir Moses' exact wishes on the subject.
"These were expressed in terms so distinct and so decisively adverse
to the contemplated movement, that, as previously arranged with me,
they put themselves in immediate communication with the Lord Mayor,
who, acquiescing in the desire to conform to Sir Moses' wishes,
decided to countermand the meeting.
"It only remains for me, therefore, to thank you for your intended
co-operation.--I am dear Sir, yours faithfully,
"N. M. DE ROTHCHILD, Chairman."
Meanwhile, biographical notices were published in English and foreign
papers, and preparations on a grand scale were made to celebrate the
centenary, especially in Synagogues, schools, colleges, and charitable
institutions. Dinners, teas, treats of every description were to
be given to the aged, the poor, and the school children of various
communities. Charitable institutions were raised in most parts on
the Continent, bearing the name of Sir Moses Montefiore. The tide of
offerings once more flowed in upon Sir Moses.
The Freemasons all over the world sent their fraternal salutations.
Some of these are on scrolls, with handles to them in the form of
Hebrew Pentateuch scrolls for Synagogue purposes.
The number of addresses delivered at East Cliff Lodge was very great,
and to sort and arrange them generally, as well as according to the
various languages in which they were written, occupied the time of a
diligent worker for several months.
On Monday, 27th October 1884, according to the Hebrew date, 8 Heshván,
5645 A.M., Sir Moses completed the hundredth year of his life.
Religious services were held in all the Synagogues of the United
Kingdom. In London the principal service was at the Synagogue of
the Spanish and Portuguese congregation in Bevis Marks, which was
decorated with flowers and brilliantly lighted. The Delegate Chief
Rabbi delivered a sermon, and the principal reader offered up a special
Hebrew prayer composed by the Chief Rabbi.
Mr Joseph Sebag (now Mr Sebag-Montefiore) entertained a large party at
dinner; the Jewish Working Men's Club gave a grand entertainment; six
hundred poor were invited to a dinner at the expense of the Bevis Marks
Congregation, and treats were given to the pupils of nearly all the
Jewish schools in London.
Sir Moses forwarded a sum of £100, corresponding to the number of years
in his life, to the late Mr Lionel L. Cohen, M.P., President of the
Board of Guardians of the German Congregation, and a similar sum to
the Board of Guardians of the Spanish and Portuguese community, to the
Mansion House Poor Box, to each of the four Holy Cities in Palestine,
and to various Continental congregations.
The proceedings at Hereson, Ramsgate, began with the ordinary service
in his Synagogue at 8 o'clock A.M. and at 1.30 P.M. there was a special
service at which the Delegate Chief Rabbi recited the prayer composed
by his father, the Rev. Dr N. M. Adler.
Most of those who were present then proceeded to East Cliff Lodge. One
of the local papers which I copy says:
"The festivities of the day commenced with the delivery of coals to the
houses of poor people, and this was followed a couple of hours later by
the distribution of a hundred pairs of blankets by the new Mayor, Mr
Kennett, at the Town Hall, to as many necessitous individuals. All the
blankets bore the motto of the day, "Think and thank," upon them.
"During the night workmen had been busy, and by the early morning the
newly incorporated town had undergone a complete transformation. Almost
every street was a mass of colour. Flags of every nationality hung
across the streets and draped the houses, interspersed with appropriate
mottoes. Red and gold were the prevailing colours, and the motto of
the house of Montefiore, 'Think and thank,' was frequently repeated.
In the harbour all the ships, including the Trinity yacht _Galatea_,
were dressed in honour of the event. Even the stolid boatmen were
obliged to give way at last, and joined the festive throng, admiring
the profusion of flags and banners, and the complimentary inscriptions
upon arches of evergreens, castellated trophies, and shop facias. The
houses round about were gay with bunting, kept in constant motion by
the wind. Harbour Street, High Street, King Street, and Queen Street
were alive with the colours of all nations, paramount among them the
Union Jack. The crowds of excursionists from the neighbouring towns and
villages strolled along singly and in groups, stopping ever and anon to
recite from the suspended banners such legends as, 'The man whom the
people delight to honour,' and 'Europe claims his birth, all nations
own his worth.' Two triumphal arches had been erected. That in High
Street was most solid in appearance, being built to imitate a tower
and a battlement, which were tastefully adorned with evergreens, while
the one in King Street was entirely floral, and was decorated with
flags. The Town Hall was prettily hung with banners across the front.
Then came the procession, which marched with bands and banners from
one end of the town to the other. The newly presented mace was carried
at the head of the procession, and was greeted with loud cheers. After
the mayors and officials of the neighbouring towns of Margate, Deal,
Sandwich, and Broadstairs had driven past, came the Mayor of Ramsgate,
the Deputy-Mayor, the Aldermen and the Councillors of the town. Then
came what were called 'Illustrations of trades.'
"One of the most interesting features in the procession was the
travelling carriage in which Sir Moses rode when on his philanthropic
missions in Russia and Poland, France and Italy, in the old stage-coach
days. It was drawn by six horses. The route was crowded with
sight-seers."
I now take the reader to join the party, who on leaving the special
service in the Synagogue, proceeded to East Cliff.
On being introduced into the presence of Sir Moses they found him
surrounded by his nearest relatives and friends, with whom he conversed
in high spirits. His voice was clear, his memory perfect.
It is a strange and fascinating picture! There, in the righthand corner
of a large high-backed, old-fashioned chintz sofa sits a patriarchal
figure supported by pillows. This impressive picture of age, tended by
love and respect, is lighted from the right by a stream of sunshine,
which pours through the upper panes of a large angular bay window,
and rests gently upon a grand head, full of character, fringed with a
short, closely cut, snow-white beard. One hand of Sir Moses is thrown
negligently across a tall arm of the sofa, the other rests upon the
ample skirts of a purple silk dressing gown. Close to the head of the
sofa stands a table covered with baskets and great bouquets of flowers.
Around on the walls are pictures of the Queen and the Royal family,
and of scenes in the Holy Land, and a beautifully carved tablet with
the inscription of the Decalogue over a standing desk, for the use
of the reader when reciting the daily prayers; also a palm branch
and a citron, over which he pronounced the blessings at the Feast of
Tabernacles.
The Delegate Chief Rabbi now recited the prayer which he had previously
offered in the Synagogue. Sir Moses insisted on standing during the
greater part of it. He was much affected by several passages alluding
to Lady Montefiore, and joined fervently in the prayer for the Queen.
At the conclusion of the prayer he expressed his thanks to the Delegate
Chief Rabbi, and spoke highly of his father, the Chief Rabbi.
The representatives of the Anglo-Jewish community were next introduced
to him, and he expressed his thanks to them in touching language.
I then introduced the scribe of Wilna, who had brought with him the
Pentateuch scroll. Sir Moses kissed the scroll, almost overpowered
with happiness. On opening it, the well-known blessing pronounced by
the priest happened to be written in the column before him. He read it
aloud, and expressed gratitude to Heaven for having permitted him to
see it on this his day of joy.
It was now nearly two o'clock, and the procession from the Town Hall
drew near East Cliff. A deputation from the town visited the Lodge, in
order that Sir Moses might invest the new Mayor with his present of a
new gold chain of office for the service of the newly-made corporation
in perpetuity. The members of the Commemoration Committee soon
followed. They all, together with a number of ladies and gentlemen,
after having partaken of Sir Moses' hospitality, proceeded to his room.
There the Vicar of Ramsgate read an address to him. Sir Moses was
much affected by it, and expressed his thanks to the Vicar with great
warmth, speaking kindly of the Ramsgate inhabitants.
The new Mayor then stepped forward, and Sir Moses placed over his head
a magnificent gold chain of office, bearing prominently on a shield the
Hebrew letter "Mim" (corresponding to the English letter M, the initial
of the name of the donor), saying, "May Almighty God give you and your
children and children's children happiness. You are the first Mayor in
Ramsgate. May God in His mercy protect you! I am sure He will!"
The Mayor replied, "I do not know what to say, Sir Moses, to thank
you for all your kindness." "Do not thank me," Sir Moses rejoined.
"What I have done gives me sincere pleasure. As to the praise which
has been more than lavished upon me, I take it as a compliment to my
co-religionists." The Mayoress then presented him with a bouquet, and
Sir Moses received the congratulations of a considerable number of
friends. He spoke to most of them, and continued in excellent spirits;
but he felt weak, and his medical attendant advising that the room
should be cleared, all present withdrew.
It being now near the time when the evening prayers are offered in the
Synagogue, the visitors repaired there, and met a large congregation.
Subsequently they proceeded to Judith, Lady Montefiore's Theological
College, where the lecture hall was brilliantly illuminated. A
profusion of choice flowers, tastefully arranged between numerous
lights on steps in the bay window, gave it a charming appearance.
The Principal of the College held a special service, and addressed the
assembly on the events of the day, concluding with a heartfelt prayer
for the life of Sir Moses, in which all fervently joined.
With this service the religious celebrations of the day terminated.
The residents in the town and neighbourhood, the relatives and friends
of Sir Moses, now assembled at a public banquet given in St George's
Hall, under the presidency of the Mayor. During dinner the latter
received a message, which he read to his guests. "Sir Moses wishes
to send a message of friendly greeting to the Mayor of Ramsgate, and
to his guests assembled this evening. He desires to drink a glass of
wine with them, and wishes good health and prosperity to them and
to the town. He regrets much that he is unable to be present with
them to-night." The message was received with hearty cheers, and the
Mayor proposed the toast of the evening, which was received with much
enthusiasm, and acknowledged by Mr Joseph Sebag.
In the course of the evening a torch-light procession was formed at
the Town Hall, and marched up to East Cliff, where a grand display of
fireworks took place, the spot specially selected for it being not far
from the bay window of Sir Moses' bedroom, to enable him to see it from
his chair. The whole town was illuminated.
Thus the day passed in perfect happiness for Sir Moses and those
who had taken part in the festivities. For the latter the sight of
this grand old centenarian, who had won so much honour, esteem, and
friendship, will never be effaced from their memory.
Great and numerous, however, as were all these manifestations of
veneration and affection for Sir Moses in England and other parts
of the world, the feeling must surely have arisen in the minds of
many that the lights which illuminated the streets would soon be
extinguished, the voices of the brilliant orators again be silent, the
flowers which had this day decorated many a Synagogue become faded, and
the words of the preachers forgotten; while the numerous charitable
and educational institutions, which the recipient of so much homage
had called into existence all over the world, will remain, and, while
benefiting mankind in a high degree, will serve to keep alive the
memory of his unselfish devotion.
The following morning he was better than could reasonably be expected
after such an exciting event, but he was anxious to convey his
sense of gratitude to the thousands who had honoured him with their
congratulations, and at once gave orders for the purpose. His medical
attendant, however, strongly advised him to refrain from too much
exertion, and he wisely consented to remain quiet for some time.
Relatives and friends suggested that measures should be adopted by
which he should be relieved of the necessity of answering his many
correspondents. When weak and ailing he agreed to what they proposed,
but the moment he felt a little stronger he invariably insisted on
continuing his good work.