The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-27
AN AGED PATRIARCH.
Approaching Centennial OF Sir Moses Nom
tefiore, the Hebrew Philanthropist.

Approaching centennial or SIR MOSES Nom
tefore, the Hebrew Philanthropist.
New York World.
The venerable Hebrew philanthropist, Sir
Moses MontefOre, celebrated his nine
ty-ninth birthday and entered upon the
one hundredth year of his life on Wednes-
day of this week. One year from that day
Sir Moses Montehore's centenary will be
celebrated with fitting honors in Europe and
America
Like that of our own Peter Cooper, the
life of Sir Moses Montefiore has been an adj
mrable example of a long career of philan-
thropy and noble efforts on behalf of his less
fortunate lellow-creatures. He was born at
Leghorn, Itaty, October a, 1874. His father
was of Italian origin but belonged to FAM
lily of Jewish merchants who have been set
tied i'll England since the time of Cromwell.
Sir Moses received a commercial training
in England and was admitted to member
ship in the London Stock Exchange. In
1912 he was married to Judith, the daughter
of Mr.. l.. B. Cohen, another daughter of
whom became the wife of Nathan Meyer
Rothschild. Much to the regret of the Mon
tehores, the union, though happy one, was
childless. In 1914 he was elected treasurer
of the Portuguese Synagogue, and in 1924 he
was elected the first president of the Alli-
\ ance Insurance Office, position he still
holds. His wife was lady of fine mental
endowments, and shared in her husbands
interest in his many philanthropic schemes,
besides doing no inconsiderable work on her
own account for the improvement OF the
condition of the poor. She wrote an inter-
esting diary of their first trip together to
Palestine in 1927. In 1887 the worthy pair
set out for Syria, which had been racked the
previous year by earthquakes and was then
being devastated by plague. They travelled
from village to village dispensing relief to
the sufferers. On his return to London he
was elected sheriff of London and Middle
sex and knighted by the Queen.
The massacre at Damascus and the perse-
cution and outrages which followed in 1910
aroused great sympathy for the Jews
throughout Europe; FL 600 were subscribed
in London, of which sum Sir Moses contrib
uted GO, 400 and went at once to Egypt and
successfully pleaded the cause of his core
ligionists before Mehemet Ali and afterward
went 10 Constantinople and induced the
Sultan to grant the Jews equal rights with
other people in the dominons of the Porte.
On his return from this mission the Queen
showed her appreciation OF his work by
granting him the distinction OF bearing sup
porters to his family arms.
The patriarchS untiring efforts with Car
Nicholas in behalfof the Russian Jews ia
1916; his able and successful labors with
Louis Philippe. King of France i'll reference
to the persecution of 1917, and his pleadings
with the Grand Shereef of Morocco in 1868
in regard to the massacres there, are all re-
membered with gratitude by the down-trod-
den of his race who have been benefited
through his exertions. On his return from
Russia in 1876 he was made baronet by the
Queen and Sir Robert Peel.
Lady Montefiore died Sept. %, 1862, Her
husband expressed his grief by rebuilding
his benevolence toward the living and low
ingly connecting her name with every good
work he accomplished.
lie is described as a tall man of majestic
presence with handsome mobile features
He lives quietly in beautiful house known
as East Cliff Villa at Ramsgate and retains
the full power of his mind. His interest in
! ali matters OF concern to mankind continues
unabated.