National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-09
MOSES lIENDELSSOHN.
RABBI STERN'S EUL0GY UPON THE
HEBREW PHILOSOPHER.
His Successful Efforts to Prevent Ger
many Following In the Lead of France
in Frivolity and Atheism-A Great
and Patriotic Israelite.

IN anu NAA'Nt
and Patriotic Israelite.
Rabbi J.. Stern, Of the Eighth Street
Hebrew Congregation, delivered an elo-
quent address before his congregation on
the life of Moses Mendelssohn, the great
philosopher, on last Sabbath Saturday at
the temporary resting place Of the congre-
cation, at Grand Army Hall, which the
congregation viii occupy during the re-
pairs to its synagogue. The life Of the
great philosopher, who was born in the
year 1920, and died at the age OF 81 years,
was reviewed, and the struggles which he
went through In rising TO eminenco COM
mented upon. Rabbi Meudelssohn was
not rabbi by profession, though he studied
ms such. lie was bookkeeper and was q
man Of business, and found his great de-
light In study, and his greatest desire was
philosophy. lie was born at Dessau, Ger
many, and was patriotic TO Germany
when the Jews in that country
were hardly tolerated. He tried his utmost
TO keep his country from initiating the then
fashionable French style, at the time when
Noltaire was at the court OF Frederick the
Great, that monarch being infatuated with
the great FrCnchman and the customs ofhis
many contained enough of good to be proud
Of her own customs.
Mendelssohn was brought up as Hebrew
boy, his only language being the Hebrew
and a little Of German mixed with the He
brew, which was at that time a iargon Of
the German spoken by the Jews generally.
In order to continue his studies the boy
went to Berlin and entered the city through
the Rosentahl gate, the only gate Of the
city through which the Hebrews were per-
mitted to enter. He pursued his studies
under the greatest difficulties. He was
poor, and eked out sufficient living by
doing copying for his teachers. Ills life as
evidenced by the historical accounts of the
food he ate. He could procure only enough
money TO buy loaf of bread alone, aud
this he divided in daily allowances, which,
with u cup Of water, formed his regimen.
Among his writings was his "Phaeton,"
a book treating on the immortality OF tue
soul. lnfdelity at that time was very gen.
eral, and to overcome this was his desire
His book became very popular among the
masses Of the people.
MendelssOhn's most intimate friend was
Gotthold Ephriam Lessing, author of
"Nathan the WISE" the principal char
acter Of which work was drawn from the
character Of Mendelssohn.
Among the interesting anecdotes told of
the great philosopher is the one relating to
his marriage.
Moses Mendelssohn was at the baths of
Pyrmont when he became acquainted with
iugenheim, merchant OF Hamburg.
Rabbi Noses" said Gugenheim, one day,
I'VE all admire you, but my daughter most
" all. II would be the greatest happiness
% me to have you for o son-in-law. Come
and see us in Hamburg"
Mendelssohn was very shy in consequence
Il his sad deformity, being a humpback,
Tut at last he resolved upon the journey,
nd on his way visited Lessingat Brunswick
He arrived at Hamburg and called upon
i'ugenheim at his office. The latter said,
Go up stairs and see my daughter. She
will be very pleased to see you. / have
old hel'sn much about YOU"
He saw the daughter, and the next day
uGme to see Gugenheim, and presently asked
D. im what his daughter, who was a very
charming girl, had said Of him.
- ~GAl, mCst honored rabbi" said Gugen-
nainlpf Shall candidly tell youW
"cN course"
UWSl, as you are a philosopher, wise
u,f o-raat man, you will not be angry with
Ge girl. sfe>sai1 she was frightened on
"Becausc i have humpm
Gugenheim nodded.
81 thought SO, but will still go and take
ave OF your daughter
He went upstairs, and sat down by the
Gung lady, who was sewing. They
nversed In the most friendly manner, but
re girl never raised her eyes from the
Eork, and avoided looking at him. At last
len he had cleverly turned the converse
on in that direction, she asked him:
"Do you believe then, that marriages are
made in Heaven?h
"Yes, indeed" said he, sand something
scially wonderful happened to me. Al
A, birth Of "a child, proclamation is made
Do heaven he or she shall marry such and sucl
ne. When was born my future wife
80 named, but at the same time 4
s sa Alas, she will have u dreadful
30 God ia, then, "a deformed cir
r.N tcg.- ,ubirtcred and unhappy
,-"as ,hg should hu beautiful. Deal
.... LI...ar 'Ir hur rDi, and let the
IS. iaan u. wrU malg .u. ug7eyot'r.n
Scarce. r.. .0sus MtsaC,sy. IN fin
ed sp,a' I- . 4uI the dr. t|.rar holHsl
U1 On his net. SNa .llerWd-l become ht
VIE. They live happily together Rn'
had good and ham, e lhil1r.u nggs.
Ggscendants are still liviL.
Felix Mendelssohn. the ITr NJ @. np.alr
waI grandson Of the great pa n,3pheg,
and many other Of his descendants hlgG
lClieved greatness