Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-16
THE SCOURGE IN MEMPHIS.
Enc Noble Part the IsraeIites Took
A Compliment WOrthiIy BESTOWED.

| compliment WOrthiIy Bestowed.
From the Memphis Ledger, Nov. 10.
No class of our population suffered more
than the Israelites in proportion to num-
bers, and none worked better at home and
abroad. When the fever was announced
officially on the 18th of September, many of
them were East buying goods, or had not
rettlrned from summer trips of pleasure to
Europe or distant parts of the country. The
people OF this peculiar nation and faith
usually take care of their own poor, and in
this great emergency they not only stood by
| each other, but made common cause with
the whole community. The name of A. E.
| FARMLAND, their distinguished representa-
| tive, who, perhaps, did more service among
the sick of all classes in person than any
other man, is known all over the land,
| although he was by no means I'M
known before, having been a lead
| ing Mason and member of other
benevolent associations and prominent
| citizen here for many years. He was an
untiring member of the Howard Associa-
| tion, the Citizens Relief Committee and
one of the Hebrew Societies. A more
faithful and philanthrOpic public servant
was never enlisted in the cause of suffering
humanity. The many good deeds of Lou
Leubrie; of B. E. Barinds, Rabbi NJ. Sam
field, who was day and night among the
sick and dying, and performed the funeral
| services for all the dead of his congregation;
David Tighman, Frankland's shadow
Isaac Heiligers, who was to the orthodox
congregation what Frankland was to the
whole community, and who lost his life
in the cause; j. B. Washer, who also died
at the post of duty, and host of others
will not soon be forgotten by the numerous
recipients of their generous kindness. But
ii was OF the absentees that we began to
speak. Several of the leading business
men were in New York where they had a
voice and influence among the wealthy. At
the first appeal for aid MessIs. Henry
Rice, 4. SeeSel, j. S. Menken, 3. Lowen-
slime organized into a committee to collect
funds, and were remarkably successful at
time of great stringency in money matters, |
and even when the panic was at its height. |
The amount they actually raised we do not !
now remember, but it was over ten thous- |
and dollars. The city of New York after |
ward voted $4,000 for the relief of ourdes- |
titute, and this was no doubt result in a |
part of having such able and responsible |
friends on the ground to properly present /
our case. Cincinnati, next to New York. |
has been most liberal in her contributions. |
and our Hebrew friends took the lead in
the good work of enlisting sympathy and
raising funds. A copy of the Isrdelite,
published in that city, and edited by Dr.
Isaac NJ. Wise, an eminent Rabbi, is before
us, and gives some very interesting reports
of relief meetings held in that and other
cities further North. Mr.. H. NJ. Lowen-
slime, of this city, arrived at Cincinnati on
the 18th of October, direct from
Memphis, and went to work in earnest.
With DR.. Wise, he visited the newspaper
offices, and both made addresses before a
congregation of the temple and before the
City Council. When all was done that
could be, and Cincinnati had appropriated
$4,000 to Memphis, DR.. Wise, accompanied
by Mr.. LOwenstine, visited the cities of In
dianapOlis, Cleveland and Detroit, and in
each place liberal appropriations were Sc
cured for our sufferers. Mayor Johnson's
dispatch, that no more funds would be
needed, brought them back. DIR. Wise, at
ter stating these incidents, and paying a
compliment TO the energy, sympathy and
ability of Mr.. LOewenstine, makes some
very instructive and beautiful remarks,
which we cannot help adding to this al
ready long article:
"The telegraph and railroad officers, like
|
and praiseWorthy liberality and generosity.
giving us all we needed, free of charge, and
doing it in a manner which deserves special
credit The experience thus made is very
valuable to us. We have learned once
more that the political press is after all the
most liberal and most generous among our
public institutions. Il is not merely the
beacon light OF liberty; it is also the great
and powerful lever in every good and
humane enterprise. Those gentlemen
welding the pen and EmOlding the history
of the day, are in full sympathy with the
joys and woes Of the people. They stand
high above the common politicians, because
they are men of letters, whose first object
is to do justice to the masses. We have
learned to count them among the better, if
not among the best, class of our people, al
though we are aware of the exceptions. In
the third place, and this is most important
and most satisfactory to us, we have
learned that a feeling of genuine charity
is widely spread among the people, a
feeling of charity which is energetic and
easily accessible. Notwithstanding our i'm
projections and Shortcomings, we are hui
manized, our impulses are youthful and
generous, our hearts are with the suffering,
and our hands open to render aid and sup
port. This is an extremely pleasing lesson
to us. Not a word was uttered by anybody
against the proposed aid. Numerous are
the friends of the suffering. Railroad men,
telegraph managers, aldermen, soldiers, pol
iticians and non-politicians, perfect stran-
gers to us heretofore, treated us with touch
ing kindness and genuine courtesy. We
have learned a good lesson, one which
teaches us to respect and love our fellow
citizens. In conclusion, it must be stated,
if there exists any prejudice down South to
Northern men, it is unjust. We find none
in the North. Peace and good will pre-
vail, and ought to govern all"
Such work and practical sympathy does
honor to our Hebrew fellOw-citizens, and
the sentiments of DR.. Wise reflect equal
credit to his head and heart. Long may he
live to preach and practice such noble char
ity for the benefit of mankind.