Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-30
MONTEFIORE.

In the death of Sir Moses Montefore
the world has lost one of its greatest bene-
factors. The record of his life is known
wherever benevoleuce, charity and the
dictates of humanity have an abiding
place in the hearts of men Montefore's
distinguishing trait was the wisdom with
which he dispensed his benefactions, and
the singular courage that animated him in
his work in behalf of suffering mankind.
1t is said that he was never deceived by an
applicant for relief, that he never misap-
piled one of his charitable benedictions,
and that there lived no prince or potentate
with whom he could not secure an audi
ence Certain it is he never failed in that
direction. But it is also to be remembered
that he never sought the foot of throne,
or the seat Of an oppressor, except to urge
the claims Of humanity. He bearded the
Turk, and made the Porte do deeds of jus
tee Others could not wiring from him. He
made his way to the Gar, and pleaded
successfully the cause of his down-trodden
people where all others had failed. Des-
pots were only men in his eyes, and none
OF them were to be feared. He believed
that every heart has its tender chord, and
that success follows the touching Of it by
the applicant for relief lie believed that
in every man the sense of justice resides,
and that in none is it 50 dor
mant that it may not be awaken
cd to some degree Of activity lie
believed that all men are merciful,
though in some the divine quality is so
cased over as to be wholly hidden from the
world Wherever Sir Moses interfered, it
was in behalf of the weak and suffering,
as against the strong and the oppressor.
His life graced Jewish character, gave
jews the highest claims to be proud
Of him, and justified them in indulgence in
raphsodies of praise for the noble repre-
sentative OF their faith lie lived far be-
yond the ordinary leasc Of life; but his
mentality was intact at one hundred years
Of age, and he seems to have been spared
as a special example of the possibilities to
which men may attain by life Of purity,
disintcreStedneSs and charitable works. Ii
was because all men knew the grand old
hero of so many moral victories to be pure
as snow, as unSelfSh As the sunlight, and
courageous as the wind that stays for no
man, that he welded among them such
marvellous power. His life proved great
deal for himself and such As he, but it
proved great deal more for men. 1t
demonstrated that they are quick TO the
touch of the good and true and courage
Gus, and that in all conditions mercy, jus
tice and charity are to them white-winged
angels, kings to command, and masters to
direct. There could have been no
Monteiiore except there was humanity
upon which such lofty character could
operate. Sir Moses would never have
been what he was but for the fact that
men responded to his CALL and thereby
testified to the possession Of the same quail
ities-only in lesser degree, perhaps-that
made him the friend Of all men, The con
temptation of such life as his is full Of
texts and OVERLOOKING with sermons 1t /.
a lesson TO all beings that dwell on the
face of the globe, volume Of wisdom, .
casket richly sci, as has been no other, with
Jewels Of charity and peace, and inclosing
as rare and as radiant an example o
human tenderness ard love for human
kind, as has been known to modern time
Others have loved as well and sincerely
others have been as unselfsh and as pure
but to Montefiore was given the means tc
make the desire Of his heart the work Of
his hand. Hence it Is, that he of all the
givers Of modern times has been mos
widely known. There can be no Heaven
if the soul of Montefore does not there re-
pose The religion that breaches his eter-