The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-26
SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE.
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thropist, make up from beginning to end
wholesome life, one of honorable endeavor
crowned with success in all things under
taken. That this man of affairs and of organ
ized and magnificent charities should so con-
serve his vitality as to see the sun rise on his
hundredth birthday, with good prospect of
added years, attests his wisdom, his modera-
ton, and his freedom from that spirit of greed
that eats the better life out of so many men
possessed of such wealth that can be estimated
without being realized in its vastness. Sir
Moses owed much to his estimable and sensi-
BILE wife, who, it appears was woman of
more than ordinary virtue and goodness.
Comparatively early in his long life she pre-
vailed upon him to retire from business when
he had acquired much more than cOmpeten-
cy. ''Thank God, be content was her adj
vice, and he, adopting it, has lived another
half century, never for moment to regret
his action. Relieved from the
occupation for his active mind in ministering
to the needs of his people, so sadly distressed
in the closing years of the last century and
the first half of this. His charities have
known no limit, either as to the amount of
money expended or the extent of territory
embraced. The distressed and oppressed Of
his race have been made the recipients OF his
bounty in every European country, as well as
in Asia Minor and Palestine. Better still than
mere gifts of money, he has by his great infiu-
ence wrought out better sentiment in the
Christian world toward his race, and made its
progress comparatively easy. The old restric-
tions, enacted by prejudice, have been largely
torn away, and the almost insurmountable
distinctions over which he had to climb no
longer impede the upward way of the less
fortunate of his people. The millions he has
expended in tangible charity, in the way of
hospitals, schools and colleges, may be multi
piled ten-fold, or not computed at all, in the
many reforms he has been instrumental in
accomplishing. The oppression of preju-
dice is now the exception instead
of the rule, and the bitter experience
tradition, while their descendants now en-
joy all the privileges of citizenship. No won
der Jews are becoming more liberal. Ac-
corded their meanest rights, they are quick to
affiliate and to reveal the better nature of cor
dial fellowship we'll nigh crushed to death in
centuries of bloody persecution.
Sir Moses Montefiore has exemplfed in his
life that one may grow old in years while still
young in all that ennobles manhood and en-
dears the individual to his fellows. Probably
no other man in the world occupies so high
place in the esteem and affection of his less
fortunate fellows than does this venerable
centenarian. A hundred years old, a million
aire, and beloved personally in all parts of the
world over which his people are dispersed.
! The good he has done is monument to his
fame that can never perish There is some
thing in living long and living well, and in
both of these respects this man has succeeded
almost without parallel. The man of bust
ness struggling for ''more,' seldom
stops until compelled to, and rarely at
tempts to turn his possessions to account
in ameliorating the condition of the less for
tunate. This great fnancier and eminent
philanthropist has honored not only himself
and his race, but mankind in general. Gen
erous in all his princely gifts to the needs
of Hebrews, he has never staid his hand
when appealed to by the necessities of the dis
tressed of any race There is enough in his
life and benevolence to serve as lesson for
ing others, he himself has been blessed in
years, in wealth and in honor. His reward is
sure:
"a century of life of life extending
Up to the glorious mansion of the best
| While at eech step the peaceful scene extending.
| Joins heaven and earth--in holy union blending
The life of labor and the life of rest.
"a century of faith--of faith preserved
From base surrender and from weak denial;
For the fierce conflict with the faithless nerved
| With secret power, answering and unswerved,
Through the long century of ceaseess trial
| "a century of love-wh ose sacred flame,
| Kndled by faith, by works of mercy fed,
! Invited by all its light and warmth to claim,
| Shone brightly on the weary pilgrims head
And lit with cheering ray the sufferers bed.
THAT century of life of faith, of love,
Can never diel ne pass in gloom away;
| The Eternal One the Lord who regns above,
To whom thousand years are as day,
Will make it His-a pure. though earthly gem,
Fixed in the circlet of His diadem."
MINOR COMMENT.