The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-22
MOSES, THE SON OF MAIMON.
LECTURE BY REV. DIR. +. DE sALA MENDEs
BEFORE THE YOUNG MEMS HEBREW AssoCIA-

LECTURE BY REV. DIR. +. DE sALA MENDEs
BEFORE The YOUNG MEMS HEBREW AssoCIA-
TIoN ON MOSES BEN MAIMoN.
DR.. Mendes delivered his concluding lecture in the
Hebrew Language and Literature before the
Henrew class originated by HIM ut the Dung Mems
Hebrew Association, last evening" at the rooms
oil Forty-second street and Sixth avenue The Doc
tor introduced his subject by stating that although it
somewhat ahead Of the period reached by the class
in Its studes he had selected the great Maimonides
a fitting theme for the closing lecture account OF
the bright lessons OF hberalily OF thought his life az
forded. Moses Msmon born the year 1895 at
Cordova, in SPAIN HIS father himself an intelligent
man. resolved that his should receive oil the lib
eral education which the age afforded. Conseq ueny
young Moses duly instructed in the natural SCI
euces, medicine philosophy, while from hts father be
received thorough Biblical and Tamudicai education
HIS characteristic his cearness omethod his power
OF sorting and grouping the diverse details.
Like Aristotle, he was the Toe OF confusion and dis
order He did not much esteem poetry; its loosencss
and exaggeration OF expression variance with
his precise and sober nature. Yet his whole literary
aim may be called poetic one; he strovc 10 demon
srato to religions OF the world that thoy were all
cxcoled in all noble features by Judaism; that tho
truth to be found with Abrahams seed. HIS cdu-
cation, as well hts abors, were frequently inter-
rupted by the religious persecution Of the fanatic
Alnohades, Moorish caliphs. Tho family OF Maimon.
ides emgratsd Fez in Morocco, tho very hotbed Of
persecution
FORCED PRosELyTIsM.
The Mohammedans forced the Jews to adopt Islam
externally, 20 visit the mosques, &c. Quite little
discussion account OF some Hebrews who de-
clared that all who pronounced the Isamic confession
OF faith ceased to be Hcbrews-were doiaters in fact
Moses combated this view and bis FIRST work OF any
Importance proved that was not wrong TO yield to
such violent proselytisms when 1t was merely exte-
raj His nrst great work was commentary upon the
Misnnah text Of the Talmud, published IN Egypt,
whittier he and his family next migrated. He drew
his pen as It were, through the voluminous discus
sions and arguments OF that work aud retained only
the legal decisions. II was an independent
edition of Mishnah, compiled by the light OF
the science OF tho age. He especially delighted
IN showing how tho rapbs were quite abreast OF
the science OF the times, ana attempted TO demon
strale that the Arstoeian psychology contained
rabbi nsm. TINS OF course Was detect aitriOuta-
bic to the age in which he lived. Maimondes wrote
several letters encourage the suffering brethren in
all parts. and the Jews OF Yemen included his name IN
their daily In ll5O he published his second
grea, work. the mighty Hand, II IS called, after
ten years OF iaoor. Ii may be considered, said tho
Doctor, completion OF the plan OF his orncr work.
That retained the decisions OF the TaWudc doctors.
but In the me conf fused order NJ the Ianud For
instance The laws aboN mourning are to be found In
the treatise upon festivals Maimonides the
whole IN logical order that any man could At once
refer chapter and section. As this threatened 10
DO away with the necessity Tor tho study OF
the TaInud, ho was severely blamed by ths biud o.
thodox party. who also offended at his rational
explanations OF Scripture. Personal jealousy, too,
played It's part. During all this time Mamon dos was
exercising the profession OF physician, to which his
poverty had driven him. and MAS appointed body ply
Stefan the Sultan oil Egypt The Doctor read I'm ex-
tract from letter OF his IN winch he describes be
prosrating oil LABOR he had 10 undergo IN tho
exercise oil his Office He yet found time 10 write
third great work, the 'Guide TO the Perplexed " the
most important work In Jewish philosophy. THIS
work. too, prescribed w The ultra orthodox Clique
and its liberal author censured. The Doctor gave
few illustrations OF Mauon ides' views ~ explanation
OF the sacrllccs, the laws OF party, The o0d iaws,
tho prohibitions VI meat and butter combined,
OF shaving, Of diverse garments, &c. This work
was rapturousy applauded wherever Jews could
road AraOc ana several congregations asked him 10
have II translated into Hebrew. This was in The year
1000 HIS reply To tho people OF 1une IS the last writ
ing OF Maimonides extant. He says:-"l ioei myself
old, though not Ia years. Ny reason oil sickness"
Four years later he dec. Jcws and hohamncdans
kept three days strict mourning N Egypt, while IN
Jerusalem public last was held. Hall u nation ac-
Co panied his Remains 10 Iiberas On his tomDst one
an unknown hand truced the words, "Here lies maU
and yet man: II man thou wort, angel being WINS
thy iathern Years later this was enaced, and one
read s.Here lies Noses Iaim0nidss, AN excommuni
Gated lundcLn However greatly these verd cts OPP
posed ighienod postcrity has but opinion. II
~ that OF hundreds OF Hebrew writer's; II runs
'From Moses 70 Moses there was none like Moses"