Evening star., 1935-04-09

am only lamely giving voice to the
general recognition Of very great
newspaper-the greatest in my opin-
ion-of . very great journalist and Of
. very great citizen"
The New York Times had two not
able "firsts" on its record. In 1918
Columbia University awarded 1t the
first Pulitzer gold medal and In 1880
the School Of Journalism OF the Uni
versity Of Missouri selected the paper
for the first Of its annual awards, both
prizes being "for meritorius public
service"
Mr.. Ochs' personal honors were
numerous. In October, 1919, the
French government made him q
chevalier Of the Legion Of Honor, pro-
NOTED him TO officer In 1925 and TO
commander In 1927. His list Of hon.
orary degrees included M. A.. Yale.
Dartmouth, 1892: LIT. D., University
of Chattanooga, 1926; New York Uni
versity, 1925. and Lincoln Memorial
University, 1928.
Active In Charity.
An outstanding charitable work
sponsored by Mr.. Ochs through the
New York Times was the annual
Christmastide appeal for "the hum
dred neediest cases" in the metropolis.
That number was set for the goal
when the fund was inaugurated in
1912 and when $3.50 was subscribed.
But yearly the fund increased in size
and scope until in 1890 it totaled
S32s 900, which provided necessities
for q whole year for 542 cases en-
bracing 1000 individuals. In 20 years
the fund received more than $4,000, 900
In cash and dispensed uncounted
benefits in food, clothing, child adop-
ton and preservation Of families.
Other notable benefactions by Mr..
Ochs included q 100000 temple
which he erected for MiZpah Congre-
CATION at Chattanooga in memory Of
his parents. Also he was chairman
Of the Endowment Fund Commission
Of Hebrew Union College at Cincin-
natl, founded by his father-in-law.
This commission raised nearly $5,000.-
600, Of which $500, 600 was given by
Mr. and Mrs. Ochs.
Outside the field Of pure philan-
thropy, Mr.. Ochs was also generous.
He underworld for five years the
American Year Book and advanced
$500.000 for preparation Of the monu-
mental Dictionary Of American Biog-
raphy, which for years has engaged
the attention of the learned societies
of America, embracing IS scholastic
organizations Of national scope.
Protected Park.
Public parks formed another inter
est. His effort to defeat every at
tempt to alter Central Park in New
York City from its original purpose
made the Times known as "the
watchdog Of Central Park" He orig
mated the project for the Lookout
Mountain and Chattanooga Park. was
one Of the originators of the Chick
amauga Chattanooga National Park
and aided In establishment Of the
Saratoga Battlefield Park.
Although always intensely inter-
ested In national. State and munic-
ipal affairs, Mr. Ochs held only one
public office. He was q member Of
the Chattanooga School Board in
1885.
The descendant on both his moth
er's and fathers sides Of long lines
Of cultured, devout Bavarian Jews, Mr..
Ochs inherited love Of family life
and an ingrained sense Of religious
values. In 1925 he presented to the
Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Of st.
John the Divine in New York Q pair
Of candelabra for the high altar,
which were designed after the Menorah
of Solomon's Temple. The gift was
regarded as notable because it was by
a member of the Jewish faith to q
Christian church. but associates OF
Mr.. Ochs saw broader significance
In 1t. They referred to q letter which
he wrote In October, 1881. to viii
Durant, replying to an inquiry as to
what meaning life had for him and
what help religion had been. He said !:
my Jewish home life gave me q
spiritual uplift and a sense Of respon-
sibility to my subconscious better
self--which think is the God within
me, the Inexphcable, the Unknowable.
This makes me believe am more
than an animal, and that this life
cannot be the end Of our spiritual
nature"