Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-28
SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE.
ms ONE HUKDREDTH BIRTHDAY
Addresses Here by Rev. A. Hnrr'' M" w
Curry, and By Rev. Messrs. ha'per'" ana
Goldberg.

Addresses Here by Rev. A. Harris nm" D''
Curry, and By Rev. Messrs' ha'pe''" an"
Goldberg.
Tbrouyhout the world on Sunday there
were assemblages Of people OF a' cIee"s ~,
celebrating the hundrcdth Dirtnuay OF Sir
Moses Monteficre and doing honor 10 him
Tor the pure philanthropy and noble deeds
that have marked oil the years OF his long
life. Here. nj the Eieyenth-Strcet syna-
Cogrie, at 4sP, NJ. there was crowded con-
ereeatI9n. composed Of all denominations,
and including Rev. Messrs. Peterson,
SchaefIcr, Tupper. and Howison, and
Friend John Il. Crenshaw and others.
Over The ark was the name "Moses
Montctiorc in living flowers and the two
dates {" I7s4v and .1SS4"; the year Of bis
Lirtb and that Of his centennial anniyer-
saTy.
The altar was dressed with potted plants,
and in front Of the ieading-desk was a pic.
ture OF him whom the people had met 10
honor.
The regular choir did not ofiiclate, but
Mr.. Manly Ramos kindly presided at the
organ and Miss Bertha Voelker and MI.
Moses May volunteered and sang excellent
solos.
First. there was liturgical prayer by Rev.
A. Harris, the pastor; then q hymu; then
Psalms read by the pastor; then HYMN:
prayer in English; and then Mr.. Harris
spoke as follows:
ADDRESS OF MR.. HARRIS.
We have. my friends. assembled 10 do
honor 10 great and good man. We feel
proud OF this great and good man because
he belongs to our people, our race. We
feel proud Of him because he has ever
been proud Of being an Israelite, and
although he has stood before emperors and
kings, and be en- treated. may say, rs an
equal. his ,ove for the religion OF his an
cestors has through lille shown conspicu-
ously In him. Such men az he are very few
and far between, not only In our age but
in any age.
From time TO time they appe1r on the
stage OF life TO teach us to what a lofty
height on the ladder Of perfection man is
capable OF rising. They teach us that
lie Of disinterested goodness, life
OF philanthropy, life devoted 10
the promotion Of the happiness Of suffer-
ing humanity, is not only dearer In the
eyes Of God, but likewise in the eyes OF
man, than all earthly greatness. We are,
my friends, assembled to-day together with
our brethren in all psrts OF the world to
do honor 10 man who is the impersona-
tion OF goodness and Of greatness, result
ing from goodness. We have assembled
TO thank God for having preserved such a
beautiful LIE to such an extraordinary ripe
old age. We have assembled TO thank God
for having allowed such a grand character
10 shine so long as bright model before
the eyes Of men. and il there be one thing
more than another for which we admire
the msn in whose honor we have assembled
il is this the uDsectarian character Of his
He ever felt that the Chris
tian was az much his brother az the
Israelite; TO him they were all the
beloved children OF the Universal
Father, created In his divine image.
His energies, powers, influence, and wealth
were ever at the service Of the unfortunate.
the down-trodden, the prosecuted, the op-
pressed, irrespective OF race or creed. When
the Christians OF Bulgaria were cruelty per-
secuted by the Druses he as readily started
OH a mission to their aid rs he would have
done had bis own people and race been
Some years ago was informed
by his private secretary that every morning
a large pile OF letters asking for assistance
was carefully read through by his lady and
himself; the merits and wants Of the appli-
cants were discussed and inquired into and
help administered with lavish hand. His
religion might be summed up in the words
" glory to God in the heights and peace and
good will and brotherly love TO all men,"
II mankind would take him and the like OF
him as their model for imitation, then hu-
manity in the noblest sense Of the word
would become the highest point OF re-
hgion; then the earth, with the beautiful
vault, would become great holy
temple OF the eternal Gsd; then mankind
would become a great choir from whose
breast great halleluiah 10 the honor OF God
would resound far and wide: then love to
man, fidelity to duty, and the practice Of
kindness would he the angels
that would proclaim Holy, holy, holy is
the eternal God OF hosts: the whole earth
IS full OF His glory. We will now give
very brief extract from GustavsOn's bio
graphical sketch Of Sir Moses Nontefore,
ii with few remarks which
it suggested to our mind.
SIR Moses Nontefiore is OF Italian de-
scent. as his name implies, which means a
OF flowers. lie was born in
Leghorn a hundred years ago, and to-day
has been selected by The Israelites all over
the globe TO do honor 10 him, il being a
day on which work is generally suspended.
sir Moses received in early life CONNER
cial training in England. and became a
member Of the Stock Exchange. In 1912
he married the sister Of the Baroness Meyer
de Rotbschiid, and the Nontefore and
Rothschlld families thus became united.
Already as a very young man his integrity
and courtesy gained him the esteemed
Of all with whom he had deal
ings, and that IN an extraordinary degree.
TO name one OF the many proofs OF this,
| would mention the fact that for 4 period
OF sixty years he has been president Of
large and influential insurance company,
Of which he was one OF the founders.
His wife, lady OF fine mental end0wments
and great charm Of character, entered zeal
ously into all his lofty aims and aspirations.
They devoted themselves TO philanthropy.
They made that the chief business OF life.
Their interest in all good causes spread
over and beyond Europe.
Refined courtesy was one OF the great
Of Sir Moses, and one Of
these acts Of refined courtesy. it Is said.
was destined to be productive for him Of
much good fruit.
He and the Duchess Of Kent were next
door neighbors. and the young daughter OF
the Duchess. now Queen Victoria, was very
fond Of visiting his lower-gardens. which
were famous far and wide. Sir Moses
had private entrance made, OF which
be sent the key 10 the Young princess,
that she might enter and leave unobservcd
whenever she desired. This act OF courtesy
was never forgotten by the future Queen.
from whom Sir Moses received autographic
letters whenever he started on any OF his
important missions abroad, and this cir
cumstance gave 10 them and him dignity
and prestige which perhaps nothing else
could have given. II would be utterly i'm
possible to attempt a description OF the
private benefactions OF Sir Moses, as every
day OF his long life was spent IN doing
coed. A Roman Emperor who made 1t
rule to do some good every day exclaimed
after days carousal with his friends,
4" Amici perdidi diem my friends l have
lost day. Sir Noses had seldom, II ever,
cause 10 make such an exclamation. IL Is
SAID that he spent a small fortune on the
widows aud orphans alone OF those wrecked
in the fishing fleets of Ramsgate, his home.
SIR Moses has always been great friend
OF education. lie has for many years con-
tributed to the support OF the free schools,
where nearly 5000 poor children receive
liberal education and are provided In VIM
ter with good, substantial, warm dinner,
and those boys who give evidence OF ability
are sent TO the university and supported
mill they o,raduafe MANY OF these latter