Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-18
THE OLD MAN BENEVOLENT.
HOnors to be Paid the Hebrew Phi.
lanthrOPist,, Sir Moses MOnteffore.

HOnors to be Paid the Hebrew Phi.
| lanthroPist,. Sir Moves MOnsefiore.
ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR THE CELEBRATION IN
THIS CITY OF THE COMPLETION OF HIS CEN.
TENNIAL BIRTH YEAR, SKETCH OF HIS LIFE
| AND THE NOBLE ACTS WHICH HAVE MARKED
IT.
The celebration of the completion of the CEN
tennial birthday year of the distinguished Jew
ish philanthropist, Sir Moses Montef1ore. will be
observed October 26th in all parts of the civil
| lied world by communities regardless of sect OF
| creed. as his many acts Of benev olence were not
| confined to such limits. The Israelites of this
city have made arrangements for holding pub
| lie meeting In the synagogue on Sth street SUM-
| day afternoon, October Goth Owing to the
| limited accommodations of the synagogue invi-
| tations have not been extended to other races
and creeds to join in this testimonial as is the
| case in other cities. All the Jewish congrega-
tons OF this city, as well as of Georgetown
and Alexandria. have been invited, and the
| occasion promises to be one of great
| interest. The program arranged for that occa-
| sion embraces Biographical sketch of the ''Old
man benevolent" by Mr. Lewis Abraham and
| an address by Rev. Mr.. Stern. The choir OF
the Sth street congregation will furnish the
music, and Miss Agnes Barnes will render an
| appropriate vocal selection. 1t was the inten-
Hancock and dedicated to Sir Moses Montifiore
rendered on this occasion, but copies could not
be procured in time. In addition to this meet
| ing the Adas Israel congregation at their usual
Friday evening service in their synagogue on
9th street, will hold appropriate memorial ser
vices.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
The man whose noble and useful life has been
the admiration of humanitarians. the world
over was born in LeghOrn, October 24th 1884
The MontefOres were of Italian descent and
made their first appearance in England. it is
stated. not long after Marasseh-ben-Israels elo-
qnent intercessiOn with Cromwell procured the
re-admissiOn of the Jews. From this period
also, the Jews date England's commercial pros
perty, on the ground that being then shut arbi.
trary from arts agriculture and all professions
they concentrated upon and became prosperous
pr0ficients in trade. Later. when the debarred
professions were thrown open. they won sue
cesses in law, learning. art and craftsmanship
and members of the MontefOre family distin-
gushed themselves in science and literature, as
well as in commerce.
Moses Montefiore received commercial train
ing, and was admitted to membership in the
Stock Exchange. In 1919 he married Judith,
daughter of l.. B. Cohen, ESQ.,. and the sister of
Judith united the Montefiore and Rothschild
families by becoming the wife OF Nathan Never
Rothschild. In 1914 Sir Moses was elected gabay
or treasurer, of the Portuguese synagogue. and
In 1874 assisted in founding the Alliance 1nsur-
ance office, OF which he was elected the first
president, which position he has held to the
present time-a period of about sixty years.
THE PROSECUTED JEWS.
With the aid and sympathy of his wife Sir
Moses Montefore devoted himself to philan-
thropy the condition of the Jews in the Holy
Land especially appealing to his large hearted
liberality. In 1887. when Syria after being
visited by earthquakes, was ravaged by plague
Sir Moses and his devoted wife at once left
England and overcoming many difficulties en-
camped on the Mount of Olives. where the work
of relief and tender ministrations was at once
begun. On his return to London he was elected
sheriff of London and Middesex. and in this
capacity was knighted by the queen on the &C.
casion OF her first visit to the city. In 1910
friar Thomas, Roman Catholic priest at Da-
mascus. and his servant mysteriUusiy disap.
peared. and the assertion being made by the
enemies Of the Jews that they had been killed
by the Jews in order to use their blood in mix
ing passover cakes. a bloody and barbarOus per-
sPcution was begun. meeting was held in Lon
don and $1,000 were subscribed 60 400 of which
was paid by Sir Moses Montcfore. He polun-
TERED to go in person and by his mediation
with the pasha of Egypt the imprisoned Jews
were released and the safe return Of all fugitive
Jews was assured Not satisfied with the sue
cess OF this appeal Sir Moses went to CONSTANT
nople where he induced tine sultan to grant to
the Jews equal rights with other people on
turkish soil. On his return he received
NUMEROUS TESTIMONIALS
from both Jews and Christians in England. and
the queen showed her pleasure by granting to
him the distinction of bearing supporters to his
family arms, a privilege which is only conceded
to peers of the realm and to knights of the
various orders.
In 1912 Sir Moses established dispensary in
Jerusalem and sent out physician at his pri-
Eatp pyOpuSp When in 1916 thp m. ~
10y the car against the Jews In Russia became
particularly distressing Sir Moses went to st
Petersburg and as the result of his intercesson
the ukases were first suspended and then aban-
doned. He was distinguished by the friendship
and protection of the car in a journey which he
then undertook through the chief towns of Rus
STA and western Poland to ascertain the condi-
ton Of the people of his own sect. His journey
was characterized BY acts OF generosity and was
of great benefit to the Jews On his return to
England Queen Victoria made him d baronet
When the famine broke out in the Holy Land
in 1854, Dr.. Adler. chief rabbi of the Jews. and
Sir Moses realized 10000 by public appeal. and
the latter went to the Holy Land to slIptrlntend
its proper administration. He acquired land in
Palestine, and erected wind mills and aims
houses
The ce lebFated M0rtGra case in 1858 enlisted
the active efforts of Sir Moses. and occasioned a
VISIT to Rome, although he was in his seventy
fifth year
DEATH OF HIS WIFE.
His devoted wife died in 1862 and her bus-
band perpetuated her memory by ''redoubling
his benevolence toward the living" The years
that followed were crowded with noble deeds
and efforts in behalf of humanity In 1858
when the Druses fell upon the Christians in
Syria, Sir Moses fastened to their rescue, and
IN the spring OF that year he visited the new
Sultan at ConStantinopie in behalf of his race
In the fall of 1868 he was called to Spain by the
persecution OF the Jews in Morocco and con-
tinued his Journey to that country. where his
efforts were crowned with success Some
months later he went to Roumania to intercede
for the jews there and again visited Russia
He soon after made sixth journey to Pales-
tine, where he relieved the people suffering
from a severe drought. In his nineteth wear
Sir Moses made his seventh and last journey to
the Holy Land, and his return was marked by
striking demonstration OF love and respect
A TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT GARFIELD
When President Garfield was on his bed of
death Sir Moses telegraphed to Palestine re-
Iuesting that prayers be offered up in all the
synagogues for his recovery.
recent writer in an appreciative article upon
the life and character Of Sir Moses says:
''Sir Moses now in his hundredth wear
though suffering some physical languor retains
in tteir full power his mental forces and all the
quickness of his human sympatiiies y
tie is q tall man Of majestic presence; his hand
some features unwontedly firm in repose have
the most attractive mobility when he speaks or
smiles. His interest in all matters of import
ance to mankind continues unabated"
DIR. ADLERs ESTIMATE OF MS LIFE.
When Dr.. Adler. the distingui shed English