Omaha daily bee., 1885-10-05
THE MONTEFIOUE MEMORIAL
Commemorative Services on the Death Of
the Great Hebrew Philanthropist,
Bulogics on His Remarkable life and
Character Listened to by
Iiarge Congregation
Tse Addresses.

The ICmpiC OF Israel was iiiicd 10 It's
utmost capacity yesterday afternoon on
the occasion of the memorial services for
Sir Moses Montciiorc, tho Hebrew phil
anthropist whose death occurred in tho
one hundred aud first year of his age
few weeks ago. 1t was not rcprcsenta-
tives Of single race who were present TO
do honor to tho memory of this noble
man, but both jews aud GcHtiles gsye
testimony by their presence and words to
their appreciation of his efforts TO ameli-
orato the condition of tho downtroddcn
of the whole human family.
The services began at s.S0 O'Clock, sud
although they lasted for two hours the
interest did not lag for an instant After
the organ voluntary by Prof, Dworzack.
prayer by Dr. Benson and the singing of
Worship the Lord Most High" by tho
CHOIR, Rev. W. +. Copeland, pastor OF
Unity church, delivered tho following
address:
REV. w, E. CoPELAND'S ADDRESS.
Nothing in history is more remarkable
than the part played by tho ISraclite in
the intellectual development of Europe.
At tho beginning of the Christian era we
find the Hebrew people driven from their
home in Palestine, their capital de-
stroyed, their temple leveied with the
earth. Before this time they had bccn
carried away into captivity, ten tribes
had been swallowed up by the Assyrians
and the remaining tribes held as capdves
in Babylon From this captivity. pOr-
ton of the Hebrew people had re-
turned to Judca and fad rebuilt
Jerusalem and the temple. Once more
Judca was populouS, the nation prosper
Gus, the dreams of the prophet about to
be realized, when II new enemy appeared
and Rome in her conquest of tho world
beat down the noble and patriotic en-
dcavors of the Hebrew people to main
tain their Independence. Tho ISraelite
would not bend. therefore he was com.
pcled to break, and WAS driven away from
his ancient home. He had returned be.
fore and had restored the glory of his
nation, but after this conquest there WAS
no return. Had Rome alone been con-
ccrned, there might have been u hopo
of repeopling Judca with its
ancient Inhabitants, but other
influences were powerful. BY
some call chance, but which we may
better name as the will of God, tho
God of Israel became the God of the
civilized world, the sacred book of Israel
became the treasure of Europe, the re-
ligion of Israel, driven from its home in
Palestine became the religion of the
world But it was not the God of ancient
time, the sacred book had been enlarged,
the historic religion changed. Still it
was the Hebrew who guided the destinies
of II large portion of the human race.
Still the Hebrew literature was tho
sacred book of civilization. StillJchoyah
was worShiped by the Gentilcs.
Christianity has its root in Judaism, but
has drawn into its circulation lifc.giving
thought from many other religions of the
world. And in the formation of the the
ology, ritual and morals which are now
accepted rs divine by II large part of the
civilized world, Christianity changed SO
much from the original Judaism which
gave it birth, that the Hebrew people
could not accept it. With wonderful
tcnacity they clung to the religion of
their fathers, and almost re-
fused to accept Christianity. Added to
this refusal was the fact, enlarged upon
by all Christian teachers, that the rulers
of Jerusalem had condemned to death the
prophet of Christianity. Whether this
accusation WAS true or not the followers
OF the Nazarenc teacher believed it. and
the hostility of the Christian to the jew
was greater than that which prevailed
between the ancient enemies of Judea
ana It's Hebrew inhabitants.
A Hebrew religion, not that Of ancient
Judea, became thcreligion OF the Roman
empire, and the heaviest anger fell on
the Hebrew who would not conform to
its requirements. Every means to com
pei conformity was employed COnisca
tion of property, enforced residence in
the meancSt parts OF the cities of Europe.
a peculiar dress, were the least penalties
Thousands of Hebrews lost their
Al,....
enemies called Stubbornness. The Hebrew
was indeed u man without country;
his hand was raised against. every one,
and every ones against him. he was
driven from place to place, as his persc-
cutors pleased; he was esteemed the low
est OF all mem wealthy and refined, he
must hide in the Ghetto and appear on
tho street in garb which exposed him
to insult from every passer-by; he must
the enemy, who gave him no peace; he
wandered over the wide world, and to all
appearances was the most wretchcd of
men; he could never hope to return to
the home of his people, which was still
Holy Land, to which pilgrims from all
parts of tho known world resOrted.
His enemies had much TO say OF Gods
anger against the jew, as evidenced in
the dispersion of this people and their
miserable condition. Yet this dispersion,
this persecution. this wrctchednGss, did
more for the Hebrew people than the
forty years sojourn in the wilderness did
for the bondsmen of Pharaoh. Com.
PEELED to avoid the public gaze. they
were driven to the bosom of their fami-
lies and the Jewish home was indeed the
dearest place on earth. Compelled to
wander, they became the merchants of
the world. Forbidden to own land, they
became tho bankers OF kings. Refused
the pleasures enjoyed by others,
they had pleasures of their own,
and in their homes cultivated music
literature, philosophy and science. When
the rest of Europe was in the darkness of
the middle ages the Hebrew Ghetto was
frequently the one place where the light
sliined brightly.
The justice of God finally prevails, and
out of the furnace OF ailliction the He
brew emerged with his mind refined and
cultivated above all the people among
whom he dwelled AS civilization ad,
Vanced, he came ever more to the 'front.'
as merchant banker physician teacher,
composer, author and statesman, he
began to assume the position
for which his long and severe
discipline had so well fitted him
ChriStcndom enjoyed his music, read
with delight his books, depended on his
I'm. ninl