CHAPTER XLIII.1884.
A GRAND OLD CENTENARIAN—PUBLIC GATHERINGS IN HIS HONOUR—RAMSGATE ILLUMINATED—SIR MOSES' HEALTH.
ALREADY in the beginning of the year, "Sir Moses Montefiore Memorial Committees" had been formed in many parts of the world, also in London. By the kind permission of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, a public meeting was held in the Egyptian Hall, at the Mansion House, in January, for the purpose of considering the best means of celebrating the approaching centenary. The Ramsgate Memorial Committee sent a special deputation to attend the meeting, but at the request of Sir Moses, it was indefinitely postponed.
Sir Nathaniel M. (now Lord) Rothschild, Chairman of the Montefiore Memorial Committee, issued the following circular countermanding the meeting:—
"New Court,21st January 1884."Dear Sir,—The newspapers will have announced to you this morning that the public meeting convened for to-morrow, at the Mansion House, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, will not be held."It had reached me that Sir Moses Montefiore had manifested to those around him, considerable disquietude as to the proposed movement by which his friends had intended permanently to commemorate his great services, and that while deeply appreciating the kindness of his friends, and touched by the feelings of regard, he was very unwilling, even tacitly, to sanction the collection proposed to be made. Under these circumstances, two members of the Executive Committee, Mr Joseph Sebag and Mr Lionel L. Cohen, went to Ramsgate, to ascertain Sir Moses' exact wishes on the subject."These were expressed in terms so distinct and so decisively adverse to the contemplated movement, that, as previously arranged with me, they put themselves in immediate communication with the Lord Mayor, who, acquiescing in the desire to conform to Sir Moses' wishes, decided to countermand the meeting."It only remains for me, therefore, to thank you for your intended co-operation.—I am dear Sir, yours faithfully,"N. M.de Rothchild, Chairman."
"New Court,21st January 1884.
"Dear Sir,—The newspapers will have announced to you this morning that the public meeting convened for to-morrow, at the Mansion House, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor, will not be held.
"It had reached me that Sir Moses Montefiore had manifested to those around him, considerable disquietude as to the proposed movement by which his friends had intended permanently to commemorate his great services, and that while deeply appreciating the kindness of his friends, and touched by the feelings of regard, he was very unwilling, even tacitly, to sanction the collection proposed to be made. Under these circumstances, two members of the Executive Committee, Mr Joseph Sebag and Mr Lionel L. Cohen, went to Ramsgate, to ascertain Sir Moses' exact wishes on the subject.
"These were expressed in terms so distinct and so decisively adverse to the contemplated movement, that, as previously arranged with me, they put themselves in immediate communication with the Lord Mayor, who, acquiescing in the desire to conform to Sir Moses' wishes, decided to countermand the meeting.
"It only remains for me, therefore, to thank you for your intended co-operation.—I am dear Sir, yours faithfully,
"N. M.de Rothchild, Chairman."
Meanwhile, biographical notices were published in Englishand foreign papers, and preparations on a grand scale were made to celebrate the centenary, especially in Synagogues, schools, colleges, and charitable institutions. Dinners, teas, treats of every description were to be given to the aged, the poor, and the school children of various communities. Charitable institutions were raised in most parts on the Continent, bearing the name of Sir Moses Montefiore. The tide of offerings once more flowed in upon Sir Moses.
The Freemasons all over the world sent their fraternal salutations. Some of these are on scrolls, with handles to them in the form of Hebrew Pentateuch scrolls for Synagogue purposes.
The number of addresses delivered at East Cliff Lodge was very great, and to sort and arrange them generally, as well as according to the various languages in which they were written, occupied the time of a diligent worker for several months.
On Monday, 27th October 1884, according to the Hebrew date, 8 Heshván, 5645 A.M., Sir Moses completed the hundredth year of his life.
Religious services were held in all the Synagogues of the United Kingdom. In London the principal service was at the Synagogue of the Spanish and Portuguese congregation in Bevis Marks, which was decorated with flowers and brilliantly lighted. The Delegate Chief Rabbi delivered a sermon, and the principal reader offered up a special Hebrew prayer composed by the Chief Rabbi.
Mr Joseph Sebag (now Mr Sebag-Montefiore) entertained a large party at dinner; the Jewish Working Men's Club gave a grand entertainment; six hundred poor were invited to a dinner at the expense of the Bevis Marks Congregation, and treats were given to the pupils of nearly all the Jewish schools in London.
Sir Moses forwarded a sum of £100, corresponding to the number of years in his life, to the late Mr Lionel L. Cohen, M.P., President of the Board of Guardians of the German Congregation, and a similar sum to the Board of Guardians of the Spanish and Portuguese community, to the Mansion House Poor Box, to each of the four Holy Cities in Palestine, and to various Continental congregations.
The proceedings at Hereson, Ramsgate, began with the ordinary service in his Synagogue at 8 o'clockA.M.and at 1.30P.M.there was a special service at which the DelegateChief Rabbi recited the prayer composed by his father, the Rev. Dr N. M. Adler.
Most of those who were present then proceeded to East Cliff Lodge. One of the local papers which I copy says:
"The festivities of the day commenced with the delivery of coals to the houses of poor people, and this was followed a couple of hours later by the distribution of a hundred pairs of blankets by the new Mayor, Mr Kennett, at the Town Hall, to as many necessitous individuals. All the blankets bore the motto of the day, "Think and thank," upon them.
"During the night workmen had been busy, and by the early morning the newly incorporated town had undergone a complete transformation. Almost every street was a mass of colour. Flags of every nationality hung across the streets and draped the houses, interspersed with appropriate mottoes. Red and gold were the prevailing colours, and the motto of the house of Montefiore, 'Think and thank,' was frequently repeated. In the harbour all the ships, including the Trinity yachtGalatea, were dressed in honour of the event. Even the stolid boatmen were obliged to give way at last, and joined the festive throng, admiring the profusion of flags and banners, and the complimentary inscriptions upon arches of evergreens, castellated trophies, and shop facias. The houses round about were gay with bunting, kept in constant motion by the wind. Harbour Street, High Street, King Street, and Queen Street were alive with the colours of all nations, paramount among them the Union Jack. The crowds of excursionists from the neighbouring towns and villages strolled along singly and in groups, stopping ever and anon to recite from the suspended banners such legends as, 'The man whom the people delight to honour,' and 'Europe claims his birth, all nations own his worth.' Two triumphal arches had been erected. That in High Street was most solid in appearance, being built to imitate a tower and a battlement, which were tastefully adorned with evergreens, while the one in King Street was entirely floral, and was decorated with flags. The Town Hall was prettily hung with banners across the front. Then came the procession, which marched with bands and banners from one end of the town to the other. The newly presented mace was carried at the head of the procession, and was greeted with loud cheers.After the mayors and officials of the neighbouring towns of Margate, Deal, Sandwich, and Broadstairs had driven past, came the Mayor of Ramsgate, the Deputy-Mayor, the Aldermen and the Councillors of the town. Then came what were called 'Illustrations of trades.'
"One of the most interesting features in the procession was the travelling carriage in which Sir Moses rode when on his philanthropic missions in Russia and Poland, France and Italy, in the old stage-coach days. It was drawn by six horses. The route was crowded with sight-seers."
I now take the reader to join the party, who on leaving the special service in the Synagogue, proceeded to East Cliff.
On being introduced into the presence of Sir Moses they found him surrounded by his nearest relatives and friends, with whom he conversed in high spirits. His voice was clear, his memory perfect.
It is a strange and fascinating picture! There, in the righthand corner of a large high-backed, old-fashioned chintz sofa sits a patriarchal figure supported by pillows. This impressive picture of age, tended by love and respect, is lighted from the right by a stream of sunshine, which pours through the upper panes of a large angular bay window, and rests gently upon a grand head, full of character, fringed with a short, closely cut, snow-white beard. One hand of Sir Moses is thrown negligently across a tall arm of the sofa, the other rests upon the ample skirts of a purple silk dressing gown. Close to the head of the sofa stands a table covered with baskets and great bouquets of flowers. Around on the walls are pictures of the Queen and the Royal family, and of scenes in the Holy Land, and a beautifully carved tablet with the inscription of the Decalogue over a standing desk, for the use of the reader when reciting the daily prayers; also a palm branch and a citron, over which he pronounced the blessings at the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Delegate Chief Rabbi now recited the prayer which he had previously offered in the Synagogue. Sir Moses insisted on standing during the greater part of it. He was much affected by several passages alluding to Lady Montefiore, and joined fervently in the prayer for the Queen.
At the conclusion of the prayer he expressed his thanks tothe Delegate Chief Rabbi, and spoke highly of his father, the Chief Rabbi.
The representatives of the Anglo-Jewish community were next introduced to him, and he expressed his thanks to them in touching language.
I then introduced the scribe of Wilna, who had brought with him the Pentateuch scroll. Sir Moses kissed the scroll, almost overpowered with happiness. On opening it, the well-known blessing pronounced by the priest happened to be written in the column before him. He read it aloud, and expressed gratitude to Heaven for having permitted him to see it on this his day of joy.
It was now nearly two o'clock, and the procession from the Town Hall drew near East Cliff. A deputation from the town visited the Lodge, in order that Sir Moses might invest the new Mayor with his present of a new gold chain of office for the service of the newly-made corporation in perpetuity. The members of the Commemoration Committee soon followed. They all, together with a number of ladies and gentlemen, after having partaken of Sir Moses' hospitality, proceeded to his room. There the Vicar of Ramsgate read an address to him. Sir Moses was much affected by it, and expressed his thanks to the Vicar with great warmth, speaking kindly of the Ramsgate inhabitants.
The new Mayor then stepped forward, and Sir Moses placed over his head a magnificent gold chain of office, bearing prominently on a shield the Hebrew letter "Mim" (corresponding to the English letter M, the initial of the name of the donor), saying, "May Almighty God give you and your children and children's children happiness. You are the first Mayor in Ramsgate. May God in His mercy protect you! I am sure He will!"
The Mayor replied, "I do not know what to say, Sir Moses, to thank you for all your kindness." "Do not thank me," Sir Moses rejoined. "What I have done gives me sincere pleasure. As to the praise which has been more than lavished upon me, I take it as a compliment to my co-religionists." The Mayoress then presented him with a bouquet, and Sir Moses received the congratulations of a considerable number of friends. He spoke to most of them, and continued in excellent spirits; but he feltweak, and his medical attendant advising that the room should be cleared, all present withdrew.
It being now near the time when the evening prayers are offered in the Synagogue, the visitors repaired there, and met a large congregation.
Subsequently they proceeded to Judith, Lady Montefiore's Theological College, where the lecture hall was brilliantly illuminated. A profusion of choice flowers, tastefully arranged between numerous lights on steps in the bay window, gave it a charming appearance.
The Principal of the College held a special service, and addressed the assembly on the events of the day, concluding with a heartfelt prayer for the life of Sir Moses, in which all fervently joined.
With this service the religious celebrations of the day terminated.
The residents in the town and neighbourhood, the relatives and friends of Sir Moses, now assembled at a public banquet given in St George's Hall, under the presidency of the Mayor. During dinner the latter received a message, which he read to his guests. "Sir Moses wishes to send a message of friendly greeting to the Mayor of Ramsgate, and to his guests assembled this evening. He desires to drink a glass of wine with them, and wishes good health and prosperity to them and to the town. He regrets much that he is unable to be present with them to-night." The message was received with hearty cheers, and the Mayor proposed the toast of the evening, which was received with much enthusiasm, and acknowledged by Mr Joseph Sebag.
In the course of the evening a torch-light procession was formed at the Town Hall, and marched up to East Cliff, where a grand display of fireworks took place, the spot specially selected for it being not far from the bay window of Sir Moses' bedroom, to enable him to see it from his chair. The whole town was illuminated.
Thus the day passed in perfect happiness for Sir Moses and those who had taken part in the festivities. For the latter the sight of this grand old centenarian, who had won so much honour, esteem, and friendship, will never be effaced from their memory.
Great and numerous, however, as were all these manifestations of veneration and affection for Sir Moses in England and other parts of the world, the feeling must surely have arisen in the minds of many that the lights which illuminated the streets would soon be extinguished, the voices of the brilliant orators again be silent, the flowers which had this day decorated many a Synagogue become faded, and the words of the preachers forgotten; while the numerous charitable and educational institutions, which the recipient of so much homage had called into existence all over the world, will remain, and, while benefiting mankind in a high degree, will serve to keep alive the memory of his unselfish devotion.
The following morning he was better than could reasonably be expected after such an exciting event, but he was anxious to convey his sense of gratitude to the thousands who had honoured him with their congratulations, and at once gave orders for the purpose. His medical attendant, however, strongly advised him to refrain from too much exertion, and he wisely consented to remain quiet for some time.
Relatives and friends suggested that measures should be adopted by which he should be relieved of the necessity of answering his many correspondents. When weak and ailing he agreed to what they proposed, but the moment he felt a little stronger he invariably insisted on continuing his good work.