CHAPTER XXXIV.1874.
UNVEILING OF THE BUST OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY AT ST PETER'S ORPHANAGE—SIR MOSES ON JEWISH CONVERSION—THE MONTEFIORE TESTIMONIAL—PREPARING TO START ONCE MORE FOR THE HOLY LAND.
NOVEMBER 14th.—Mr Weekes, the sculptor, who five months previously had submitted to Sir Moses a model of the bust of the Archbishop of Canterbury, which, with the consent of his Grace, Sir Moses had commissioned the sculptor to execute, now reported that it was ready for being unveiled at the Orphanage at St Peter's, Thanet. Sir Moses, believing that it would be a source of gratification to the Archbishop to see the bust of Mrs Tait placed in the same institution, wrote to that lady, asking her to allow him to give the sculptor an order to that effect. Mrs Tait's reply is as follows:
"Stonehouse, St Peter's,Thanet,November 15th, 1874."My dear Sir Moses,—Most deeply do we feel the kindness of your request in wishing me also to sit to Mr Weekes for a bust to be placed in St Peter's Orphan Home. I shall gladly comply, and thankfully accept your great kindness."We are truly grieved to hear of your being so unwell, and I shall be thankful if you find yourself well enough to join our party at luncheon on the 17th, without risk."Dr Loewe has promised to be with us, and will say a few words for you, should you be unable. He will also let me know if you have other friends you may wish to be present."The bust of the Archbishop is beautifully executed, and will, I am sure, be much admired.—Believe me to be, my dear Sir Moses, yours most sincerely,"Catherine Tait.""The Archbishop joins in very kind regards."
"Stonehouse, St Peter's,Thanet,November 15th, 1874.
"My dear Sir Moses,—Most deeply do we feel the kindness of your request in wishing me also to sit to Mr Weekes for a bust to be placed in St Peter's Orphan Home. I shall gladly comply, and thankfully accept your great kindness.
"We are truly grieved to hear of your being so unwell, and I shall be thankful if you find yourself well enough to join our party at luncheon on the 17th, without risk.
"Dr Loewe has promised to be with us, and will say a few words for you, should you be unable. He will also let me know if you have other friends you may wish to be present.
"The bust of the Archbishop is beautifully executed, and will, I am sure, be much admired.—Believe me to be, my dear Sir Moses, yours most sincerely,
"Catherine Tait."
"The Archbishop joins in very kind regards."
Sir Moses was too unwell to leave Park Lane, and great disappointment was felt by all present at the ceremony.
The Archbishop and Mrs Tait, however, were present to witness the proceedings. The Dean of Canterbury and most of the clergy resident in the neighbourhood, nearly all the clergyin the Westbere Deanery, many of the Sandwich Deanery, and a great number from other parts of the county, also attended. The company included several ladies. The bust was placed in the dining-hall, and the juvenile inmates of the institution were seated at one end of the room. A published report says:
"Dr Loewe attended as the representative of Sir Moses Montefiore, and unveiled the bust. It bore the following inscription:—
A BustofArchibald Campbell Tait,Archbishop of Canterbury,Primate of all England,Presented toSt Peter's Orphan and Convalescent HomebySirMoses Montefiore, Bart.1874.
"Dr Loewe began by reading the following letter from Sir Moses to Mrs Tait:—
"'I find with sincere regret that the state of my health precludes the possibility of my travelling, and will thus deprive me of the great pleasure and privilege of paying my respects to you and to the Archbishop at the Orphanage to-morrow, but allow me to assure you that, although I cannot be present, my fervent prayers will be united to those of your guests, who entreat the blessing of God on the noble institution in which they are assembled, and on its distinguished and benevolent founders.'
"'I find with sincere regret that the state of my health precludes the possibility of my travelling, and will thus deprive me of the great pleasure and privilege of paying my respects to you and to the Archbishop at the Orphanage to-morrow, but allow me to assure you that, although I cannot be present, my fervent prayers will be united to those of your guests, who entreat the blessing of God on the noble institution in which they are assembled, and on its distinguished and benevolent founders.'
"Dr Loewe then said he was sure the regret expressed by Sir Moses at being prevented attending this interesting ceremony was equalled by that of the company at being deprived of the presence of the great philanthropist. Sir Moses, whose heart always glowed with love and zeal for the cause of humanity, had watched with deep interest the great exertions and sacrifices made by that excellent lady, Mrs Tait, and her highly-esteemed husband, the Archbishop, for the purpose of calling this noble institution into existence.
"Dr Loewe then unveiled the bust, and concluded by calling down the blessings of heaven upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, upon his most excellent consort, and his most amiable family. 'May he enjoy perfect health, and be in possession of every prosperity that this world can possibly give; may he live to see the time "when the earth will be full with the knowledge of the Lord, even as the waters cover the sea," when truth, peace,and light will be the guardian angels of every man's house, when all will be united in enjoying happiness, sitting, as it were, under their own vine and fig tree, with all the blessing that God might bestow upon them. I believe, ladies and gentlemen, I have conveyed the sentiments of Sir Moses Montefiore. I need only say that I myself, and, I am sure, all of you cordially endorse the words which have fallen from my lips in the name of Sir Moses.'
"The Archbishop said—
"'I beg to express my best thanks to all who are here present for their kindness in coming to this Orphanage to-day, and I would return my very best thanks to Sir Moses for his great kindness, and for the very flattering opinion he has formed of our efforts here. Dr Loewe has most kindly represented him in his absence. This is not the first instance of his kind consideration for this charitable work which we have received. On the very first day when the foundation stone of this building was laid, Sir Moses Montefiore was present, though at his advanced age he might have well stayed away on a bleak, wintry day. Five years ago he was present here. Although prevented from joining our religious services, he showed that he was desirous of co-operating with us in every way in which he could do so conscientiously. In his carriage he drove close to where our Christian meeting was assembled, and joined in those Psalms of David which have been the solace of his life, and he ended that day by a large and handsome contribution to the charitable work which we were undertaking at that time. To-day he has kindly sent you this work by Mr Weekes, of which of course I can say nothing, except that I hope I may very faintly reflect the majestic appearance of that bust. (Laughter.) We have greatly to thank Mr Weekes for the pains and trouble he has taken with this work. We have greatly to thank Dr Loewe for the way in which he has performed his part as Sir Moses Montefiore's representative and friend of many years. But we have especially to thank the Great Giver of all good that He has so far prospered this work as to bring it to the degree of accomplishment it has now attained. I have said it was on a bleak, wintry day, five years ago, that the foundation stone was laid. I was not present, for it had pleased God to lay me on a bed of sickness, and I could hardly have expected I could live to be present five years after on such an occasion as this. Thank God, as I do with my household, this day for all His past mercies. Sir Moses Montefiore—and Dr Loewe, in expressing his sentiments—has been kind enough to speak of me in this matter. I am glad he has spoken of my wife, because I feel that it is to her that the whole prosperity of this institution is owing, and I will venture to say, though her husband, and in her presence, I believe there is scarcely another woman in England who, under the difficulties she has had to contend against, would have been able to bring the institution to that degree of accomplishment to which it has now attained. In England we still live under the barbarous law which makes the property of the married woman over to her husband, and therefore I cordially appropriate all that Dr Loewe has said of her virtues, and take them as if they were my own."'In conclusion I beg to return our best thanks to Sir Moses Montefiore for his kindness; tell him we shall certainly offer our prayers that his long life may be blessed, that as he has advanced far beyond the age which the Psalmist regards as the age of man, he may have comforts and blessings poured upon him, and may be kept in such health as his age allows.'"
"'I beg to express my best thanks to all who are here present for their kindness in coming to this Orphanage to-day, and I would return my very best thanks to Sir Moses for his great kindness, and for the very flattering opinion he has formed of our efforts here. Dr Loewe has most kindly represented him in his absence. This is not the first instance of his kind consideration for this charitable work which we have received. On the very first day when the foundation stone of this building was laid, Sir Moses Montefiore was present, though at his advanced age he might have well stayed away on a bleak, wintry day. Five years ago he was present here. Although prevented from joining our religious services, he showed that he was desirous of co-operating with us in every way in which he could do so conscientiously. In his carriage he drove close to where our Christian meeting was assembled, and joined in those Psalms of David which have been the solace of his life, and he ended that day by a large and handsome contribution to the charitable work which we were undertaking at that time. To-day he has kindly sent you this work by Mr Weekes, of which of course I can say nothing, except that I hope I may very faintly reflect the majestic appearance of that bust. (Laughter.) We have greatly to thank Mr Weekes for the pains and trouble he has taken with this work. We have greatly to thank Dr Loewe for the way in which he has performed his part as Sir Moses Montefiore's representative and friend of many years. But we have especially to thank the Great Giver of all good that He has so far prospered this work as to bring it to the degree of accomplishment it has now attained. I have said it was on a bleak, wintry day, five years ago, that the foundation stone was laid. I was not present, for it had pleased God to lay me on a bed of sickness, and I could hardly have expected I could live to be present five years after on such an occasion as this. Thank God, as I do with my household, this day for all His past mercies. Sir Moses Montefiore—and Dr Loewe, in expressing his sentiments—has been kind enough to speak of me in this matter. I am glad he has spoken of my wife, because I feel that it is to her that the whole prosperity of this institution is owing, and I will venture to say, though her husband, and in her presence, I believe there is scarcely another woman in England who, under the difficulties she has had to contend against, would have been able to bring the institution to that degree of accomplishment to which it has now attained. In England we still live under the barbarous law which makes the property of the married woman over to her husband, and therefore I cordially appropriate all that Dr Loewe has said of her virtues, and take them as if they were my own.
"'In conclusion I beg to return our best thanks to Sir Moses Montefiore for his kindness; tell him we shall certainly offer our prayers that his long life may be blessed, that as he has advanced far beyond the age which the Psalmist regards as the age of man, he may have comforts and blessings poured upon him, and may be kept in such health as his age allows.'"
Sir Moses, to whom I made a full report of the proceedings at the Orphanage, requested me to call on the Archbishop and express his gratitude to His Grace for his great kindness towards him, upon which the Archbishop addressed Sir Moses as follows:—
"Stonehouse, St Peter's, Thanet,21st November 1874."My Dear Sir Moses,—Dr Loewe called yesterday to deliver your most kind message. Kindly and well as Dr Loewe performed his part on Tuesday, there was, I assure you, a universal feeling of regret that you were not present."You have heard from the published account, and privately, how happily the day passed."It was bright sunshine, and all things seemed propitious. Your absence and its cause were the only drawbacks."How different a day it was, through God's goodness, from that day five years ago when you kindly attended at the laying of the first stone of the Orphanage!"Trusting that your health will be restored, and that all the best blessings from above may rest on you and yours.—I am, my dear Sir Moses, yours very truly,"A.C. Cantuar.""Mrs Tait joins in all best wishes and in thanks."
"Stonehouse, St Peter's, Thanet,21st November 1874.
"My Dear Sir Moses,—Dr Loewe called yesterday to deliver your most kind message. Kindly and well as Dr Loewe performed his part on Tuesday, there was, I assure you, a universal feeling of regret that you were not present.
"You have heard from the published account, and privately, how happily the day passed.
"It was bright sunshine, and all things seemed propitious. Your absence and its cause were the only drawbacks.
"How different a day it was, through God's goodness, from that day five years ago when you kindly attended at the laying of the first stone of the Orphanage!
"Trusting that your health will be restored, and that all the best blessings from above may rest on you and yours.—I am, my dear Sir Moses, yours very truly,
"A.C. Cantuar."
"Mrs Tait joins in all best wishes and in thanks."
Some clergymen of the Church of England who were present at the ceremony called on Sir Moses, and, in the course of conversation, the question of the conversion of the Jews was raised.
As a proof of how carefully Sir Moses retained in his memory what he had once read, I will give the reader an opportunity of hearing Sir Moses' opinion on the subject:—
He said to his visitors: "I have once read a book entitled 'Three Letters humbly submitted to the consideration of His Grace the Most Reverend the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England and Metropolitan, on the inexpediency and futility of any attempt to convert the Jews to the Christian faith in the way and manner hitherto practised, being a general discussion on the whole Jewish question.' The Rev. John Oxlee, Rector of Molesworth, Hunts, is the author. In it he asks: How can it have happened that for seventeen hundred years and more the Gospel should have been freely announced and offered to the acceptance of the Jewish people without any corresponding effect? what rational hopes may now be entertained of their speedy conversion by the enthronement of a Protestant Jewish bishop at Jerusalem; and what proper steps ought henceforth to be taken so as to lead to a happy consummation?
"I ascertained," Sir Moses continued, "from the perusal of these letters that even Christians were enjoined not only toinculcate in others but to perform themselves the very smallest of the Mosaic precepts (p. 26).
"'The Scribes and Pharisees,' the author, quoting from the New Testament, says, 'sit in the seat of Moses; all, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do.' 'Here,' he says, 'we have it explicitly enjoined on the disciples not only that they should hold fast the written law of Moses, but that they should also admit the authoritative interpretations of the Mishnical doctors, so as to pay all due deference and respect to their solemn decisions.'
"With regard to the words of the Prophet Malachi, the Rector observes, 'Here in the very last of all the prophetic charges to be found in the Old Testament, the future and perpetual observance of the Mosaic Law is solemnly and emphatically enjoined on the children of Israel, as a thing never to be forgotten, together with all its special enactments whether relating to faith or discipline.
"'How then,' the Christian divine asks, ' can we conscientiously exhort the Jew (on his embracing the faith of the Gospel) to forsake and abandon the law which was not only commanded by God, and enforced by the very last of the Jewish prophets, but also strictly enjoined and practised afterwards by the founder of the Christian religion and His twelve disciples?' 'Christianity,' he says, 'was never intended to supplant Judaism, nor the Christian hierarchy to interfere with the sacred functions of the Aaronic priesthood' (p. 29)."
The visitors would not argue the subject in question, but were pleased to have had an opportunity of hearing Sir Moses' views.
December 2nd.—Sir Moses suffered for six weeks from a severe and troublesome cough, requiring the frequent medical attendance of his neighbour, Dr Billing, but he was eventually sufficiently restored to health to leave Park Lane for Ramsgate.
February 8th, 1875.—The Sir Moses Montefiore Testimonial Committee, numbering 102 members, advertised their first list of 412 subscribers.
"Remitted £150 to Jerusalem to complete the Touro Houses. Blessed be the memory of Mr Touro, nevertheless his legacy has cost me £5000."—Extract from Sir Moses' Journal bearing date 18th March1875.
May 11th.—He went to London to see Lord Tenterden at the Foreign Office, informed him of his intentions to go toJerusalem, and requested Lord Derby to give him letters of introduction to Her Majesty's Consuls.
May 25th.—Prior to his departure from England he attended the meetings of all his various companies in the city, thus, at the age of ninety, giving evidence of his intellectual powers in matters of finance. We shall now follow him on his seventh journey to the Holy Land, and find that in all matters connected with the welfare of his brethren in that country, his judgment and counsel were as clear and sound as at the time when he was in the prime of life.
On his return from his seventh pilgrimage to the Land of Promise, Sir Moses printed, but did not publish, a "Narrative of a forty days' sojourn in the Holy Land," in which he stated what his object was in undertaking so fatiguing a journey at so advanced an age, and I propose giving the reader extracts of the most important passages in Sir Moses' own words.
He says:—
"With the intention of assisting the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews in their endeavours to improve the condition of our brethren in the Holy Land, I presented the reply which I received to my letter, addressed to the authorities in the Holy Land on the 29th July 1874, to the Palestine Committee of that Board, by whom they were subsequently published for circulation among their members."However satisfactory," he continues, "these letters may have been to me, and to all those who, like myself, had the opportunity of knowing the Holy Land, there were still some who expressed great doubts regarding the correctness of all the statements made therein, and being afraid lest such doubts, when spread amongst the Hebrew communities, might damp the ardour of those who appeared ready to offer a helping hand in the great object in view, I resolved, notwithstanding the entreaties and remonstrances of dear relatives and esteemed friends, to proceed at once to Jerusalem, so as to be enabled to confer personally with those who had addressed to me the letters in question, as well as with others whom I had not the opportunity of seeing during my former visits to the Holy Land."
"With the intention of assisting the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews in their endeavours to improve the condition of our brethren in the Holy Land, I presented the reply which I received to my letter, addressed to the authorities in the Holy Land on the 29th July 1874, to the Palestine Committee of that Board, by whom they were subsequently published for circulation among their members.
"However satisfactory," he continues, "these letters may have been to me, and to all those who, like myself, had the opportunity of knowing the Holy Land, there were still some who expressed great doubts regarding the correctness of all the statements made therein, and being afraid lest such doubts, when spread amongst the Hebrew communities, might damp the ardour of those who appeared ready to offer a helping hand in the great object in view, I resolved, notwithstanding the entreaties and remonstrances of dear relatives and esteemed friends, to proceed at once to Jerusalem, so as to be enabled to confer personally with those who had addressed to me the letters in question, as well as with others whom I had not the opportunity of seeing during my former visits to the Holy Land."
Sir Moses continues—
"I purpose in this my narrative of a forty days' stay in the Holy Land, simply to state what I have seen and what I have heard, and to accompany all important statements by documents emanating from the several communities, or from other persons of undoubted veracity, confirming, in every respect, the highly favourable opinion I have hitherto entertained of our brethren in Palestine."June 15th.—After having offered up my prayers in the mausoleum of her who, like a guardian angel, so often sustained me on my journeys with her loving affection and judicious counsel, I left East Cliff about mid-day for Dover."
"I purpose in this my narrative of a forty days' stay in the Holy Land, simply to state what I have seen and what I have heard, and to accompany all important statements by documents emanating from the several communities, or from other persons of undoubted veracity, confirming, in every respect, the highly favourable opinion I have hitherto entertained of our brethren in Palestine.
"June 15th.—After having offered up my prayers in the mausoleum of her who, like a guardian angel, so often sustained me on my journeys with her loving affection and judicious counsel, I left East Cliff about mid-day for Dover."
Sir Moses was accompanied on this self-imposed Mission by Ed. Aikin, Esq., M.R.C.S., Ed. Samuel, Esq., and by the writer of this.