National Republican., 1884-10-25
MOSES MONTEFIORE.
CELEBRATION or THE HUSDRETH BIRTH
DAY OF THE HEBREW PHILAyTHROPIsT.
Services st the sixth Street Synagogue
Last Night-Lcuis Abraham's Eulogy OF the
Venerable Israclite--sir Noses Last visit TO
Jerusalem and Return.

The celebration Of the Tooth birthday
OF Sir Moses Montefore, the great Hebrew
philsnthropist, was begun in this city last
night with q special service In the Sixth
street Tor orthodoxy synagogue. Similar
services are being held In every part of
the civilized world to commemorate the
auspicious evont They occur at various
times from last night to Sunday night
The traditional nature of all Hebrew
obsorvancos makes this departure from
custom all the more noticeable. The
feeling Of devotion to the person Of the
venerable patriarch. which tho occur
renee Of his centennial birthday has do
veloped, is almost unprecedented, and is
certainly novelty In tho history of tho
present generation OF tho Jewi sh race.
The orthodox Hebrew service is very
solemn ono. rs the synagogues are somber
and devoid of decoration. The Sixth
street building was filled to overaowing
last night, many from tho Reformed tenn
pie on Eighth street being present, and
| not few Christians wero conspicuous by
appearing with uncovered heads, the rest
Of the congregation, of course, keeping on
their hats. Rabbi l. w. Samuols opened
the proceeding with tho chanted prayer
usual at the service commencing the jew
ish Sabbath, and which Ia the nearest ap-
proauh to music that is made in the
churches of this section of the ancient
faith. A lay brother Of the reformed
congregation then made second
prayer, introductory of the especial sub
ject of the service.
Mr.. Lewis Abraham then appeared boz
fore tke altar with o book and picture Of
the great centenarisn. The latter be
exhibited to tho congregation, who
seemed deeply impressed with the vener-
able and benevolent features depicted.
From the earliest ages, he said, the
Israelite has been taught to consider old
ago as q reward for piety and signal
token Of Gods favor. We might, then,
of tho good man who that day completed
his centennial year have earned for him
heavenly blessings, while even yet re-
J naming as dweller on earth. The
aged always occupied prominent place
in the political and social system OF the
Jewish people. When, then, coupled
!. with ripe old age, mercifully vouch-
safed to him by the grace of the Most
. High, we find o man endowed with
? virtues and qualities that endear him to
all men of right thought aud feeling
without regard to creed or nativity, such
7 as distinguish Sir Noses Montenore, the
: congregations of Israel but carried out
: the leading principles of their faith by
t assembling In their public places to dc
him honor, and to testify their apprecia-
tion for his unspotted character.
Mr.. Abraham then gave sketch Of the
life Of Montefiore, closing with au &C
= count of the patriach's last visit to Jeru
salem at the age of 92. On the occasion
of his coming home ceremonies somewha
akin to those that are now being hell
a took place in the Portuguese synagogue
= There, said tho speaker, stood tho grant
r old man. stately and erect, and in the mids
= of n close pressed assembly heard his nam
. borne to the Throne Of Grace In one Of tn
most splendid and soul-stirring prayer
n ever uttered by man. When the sorvic
/. was over every one pressed forward I,
touch the hem Of his garment. A simila
,o scene took place at the great synagogue
"A And at the distance Of time and spac
81 where, under the broad shield of tb
American constitution, the hateful breat
80 of persecution Is stitled, where ever
oo man can sit beneath his vine and fig tire
- and worship according to the dictates
III his conscience, the members of the col
gregation Adhs Israel tako up the pray'
10 were their brethren in England left OF
= and with hearts full of Joy and Thankful
ic ness at the privilege granted to them wi
10 from that sacred edifce swell the anthem
, that are whispered devoutly to Heaye
i from every corner Of the globe.
20 20 Similar prayers to those which inarke
70, the opening Of the ceremonies signalzie
~ their close, and the congregation di
u persed. A union service will commen,
p at $50 o'clock this morning in the Eight
street temple.
Is' Much diversity Of opinion exists as
the pronunciation of Sir Moses nam
es especially outside his brethren in fait
oI Many insist upon sounding the final sc
nc as was doubtless done originally at Le
ke horn, the birthplace of the centensris
ne One gentlemen in this city, who h
d. written a fine poem upon him, makes Il
name rhyme with "hero." The prop
pronunciation is the obvious one, the a
cent being placed on the last syllable
M Mon te.f-ore, the rhyme being with SUI
- words as "yore."