Simon Muhr, of Philadelphia, whose untimely death in February, 1895, was mourned by Jew and Gentile alike, after making certain personal bequests and devoting a fund of $10,000 for the support of scholarships in the University of Pennsylvania, left the residue of his large estate to be divided into three parts, one part to be allotted among Jewish charities, one part among non-Jewish charities, and the third part for the improvement of the public school system of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Times concluded an editorial reference to the death of Simon Muhr as follows:
"It was his broad and simple tolerance, his unfailing charity of heart as well as hand, his willingness and even eagerness to take personal trouble, not only to relieve distress, but to right wrong, and to defend the victim of oppression, however humble or disreputable, that gave Simon Muhr a peculiar position in the community and a peculiar usefulness. He was an example in this way to many a professing Christian, whose reading of the parable leads him only to condemn the priest and the Levite, and not to imitate the Good Samaritan."
The instances of Jewish citizenship and catholicity here cited are but the more prominent examples of that spirit. Only less conspicuous, but with equal breadth and depth of feeling are many more that would likewise point a moral for us all.
FOOTNOTES:
[26] The appointment of Mr. Peixotto to the Roumanian Consulate was initiated and brought about by Hon. Simon Wolf, who afterwards made a tour among the lodges of the Order of B'nai B'rith for the purpose of raising funds to strengthen the Consul's position at Bucharest and to enable him to more effectively exert his influence in behalf of the persecuted Roumanian Jews.
In this connection mention may well and properly be made of Mr. Wolf's untiring efforts, both in his early home in Ohio and later in Washington, in behalf of the Union cause. The movements organized by Mr. Wolf in Washington for the systematic aid of the sick and wounded in the numerous hospitals then established in and about Washington gained for him the recognition of the Government and the friendship of General Grant. In this work Mr. Wolf enlisted the support of the mass of the Jewish citizens of the District and especially the active co-operation of the women of the Jewish community. General Grant, when he became President, appointed Mr. Wolf Recorder of the City of Washington and he was subsequently appointed by President Garfield to the mission at Cairo as Diplomatic Agent and Consul General in Egypt.—Editor.
[27] See Marken's "The Hebrews in America," New York, 1888; Judge Charles P. Daly's "Settlement of the Jews in North America," edited by Max J. Kohler, New York, 1893; "History of the Jews of Boston and New England," by A. G. Daniels, Boston, 1892; "Eminent Israelites of the 19th Century," by Henry S. Morais, Philadelphia, 1880; "The Jews of Philadelphia," by the same author, Philadelphia, 1894, and the publications of the American Jewish Historical Society.