"The trial terminated," the Chronik der Zeit says, "as we expected. We strongly relied upon the idea that there were still true judges in Hungary; judges whose calling it is to uphold the law, who in spite of agitation, creed, hatred, and prejudice, would not at the decisive moment allow themselves to be blinded to the truth."
Sir Moses, a few hours after the decision of the court had been given, received a telegram informing him of the result of the trial. He was greatly rejoiced, and immediately addressed letters of congratulation to all the liberated prisoners, enclosing to each of them a handsome present, on account of the sufferings they had undergone. A few days later he had the satisfaction of receiving their acknowledgments, couched in terms of deep gratitude, for the sympathy he had evinced towards them, from the beginning to the end of the sorrowful days during which the trial lasted.
Although nearly three months had still to elapse before the dawn of the day on which he was to celebrate the ninety-ninth anniversary of his birthday, poems, books, works of art, and numerous letters from distant parts of the world had already reached London; the authors and donors requesting their friends to present the gifts to Sir Moses when the day should arrive. The state of Sir Moses' health varied. It depended to some extent upon the weather, but there was seldom a case of serious illness. He complained of weakness, but was still able to go out for a drive now and then, and was cheerful in conversation with his friends and general visitors. He had all his letters read to him, and signed as many replies as were required. He himself wrote the principal part of the cheques he drew on his bankers, and signed them in his usual style.
The weeks and days were now counted impatiently by his friends for the advent of his ninety-ninth birthday, which was to be publicly celebrated on the 8th November (8th Heshván, Hebrew date), but the celebration already began on the 24th October, the last day of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. For upwards of fifty years Sir Moses had every year on this festival held the office of Hattan Thora (Bridegroom of the Law) in his own Synagogue, and in honour of the occasion received a large number of friends and relatives to luncheon at East Cliff, after the morning service in the Synagogue. On this particular day the company was more numerous than ever, many having come from London to congratulate Sir Moses. After the luncheon most of the visitors were admitted, a few at a time, to Sir Moses' room, to offer him their good wishes, and were delighted to find him so cheerful, happy, and grateful to Heaven for the mercy bestowed upon him. In the London Synagogues the preachers from the pulpit spoke of the auspicious event, holding out the high aim of Sir Moses' life as a noble example of virtue. Immense numbers of telegrams began to arrive from all parts of the world, in many different languages, some of them containing hundreds of words. The post-office officials had a heavy task in transmitting them. Large packages containing choice flowers and costly fruit were continually being sent by friends and admirers far and near, some even from perfect strangers. Visitors also began to call day after day, and, although numerous, formed, with the apparently endless arrival of letters, telegrams, and bouquets, only the vanguard of what was intended for the 8th of November. Early in the morning Sir Moses was serenaded by a party of sixty ladies and gentlemen stationed on the lawn, under his bedroom window, who sang hymns and songs composed in honour of the day. Sir Moses was greatly pleased by this attention, and had his window thrown open in order to hear the singing better. While sitting there listening, he had the honour of receiving a special telegram from Her Majesty the Queen, which was couched in the most gracious terms, congratulating him on the happy day, while complimenting him on his noble and useful career. As soon as Sir Moses had read it, he requested the ladies and gentlemen to sing "God save the Queen," which they did, following it up by hearty cheers for Her Majesty. Soon afterwards equally kind telegrams arrived from their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh. So many deputations from various towns, corporate bodies, and religious, charitable, scientific, and mercantile institutions were waiting to present addresses to Sir Moses, that it was quite impossible for him to see them all, although all were hospitably entertained at his house, and received every attention from Mr Sebag and Mr Guedalla, the relatives of Sir Moses, who, together with their wives, assisted him to receive the numerous visitors during the day. Whole vans full of boxes were brought to the house from the railway, containing works of art, choice flowers, costly fruit, and other presents. The telegrams arrived by hundreds, so that they could not even be opened, much less read, on that day. The post-office and railway companies had to engage a large number of extra officials to cope with the work. There were extra trains run, not only from towns in Kent, but even from London, to bring down the crowds anxious to witness the proceedings, or to take part in them. Ramsgate and all the neighbouring towns made the day a general holiday. All the shops and schools were closed; the streets were tastefully decorated with flags and garlands; handsome triumphal arches had been erected, with inscriptions containing good wishes for Sir Moses, and fervent blessings for all the good he had done in his long and noble life; the ships in the harbour were dressed with flags, and salutes were fired. Even the street lamps had been ornamented with the initials of Sir Moses' name in English and Hebrew letters of gold. Many thousands of visitors had arrived by train, and the authorities of the town had requisitioned one hundred extra constables to keep order in the crush that was expected. The streets of Ramsgate were filled with people, and the immense fields between the house of Sir Moses and the Synagogue soon became so crowded that when the hour came for the special service in the Synagogue, which was to be attended by the friends of Sir Moses and the heads of the deputations, it seemed impossible for them to get through the crowd. By the help of mounted constables a way was cleared, and the building was soon filled to its utmost capacity. Handsomely printed copies of the order of service were handed to the visitors. After the usual afternoon service, the Rev. Dr. Herman Adler, the Delegate Chief Rabbi, opened the ark, and offered up a fervent prayer composed by him for the occasion. As soon as the service was concluded the visitors had to hurry back to East Cliff Lodge to witness a grand procession, which was one of the principal features of the day, and which had been arranged most successfully by Messrs Ben Twyman, of Ramsgate, and Mr Hodgman, the Chief of the Post-Office of the town. The procession was two miles in length, and took nearly an hour in passing through the grounds of Sir Moses' estate. It was composed of military bands, detachments of firemen and police, mayors and members of town councils, lifeboat men, Foresters, Oddfellows, Druids, allegorical groups, and members of deputations from Jewish communities in different parts of England and the Continent. The rear of the procession was brought up by several thousand school children from nearly all the schools in the neighbourhood. Sir Moses stood on the balcony of his drawing-room, overlooking the garden, to witness the procession. It was a touching sight to see each separate part of the procession, as they came to the balcony, make a halt, lower their flags before the venerable hero of the day, and send up ringing cheers for him. Sir Moses lifted his cap and waved his hand in response. He several times attempted to address a few words to them, but was too deeply moved to give them utterance. The scene made an indelible impression on the heart and mind of the writer of this memoir, and few of the many hundreds of friends who surrounded Sir Moses on that day are ever likely to forget it. After the procession more deputations were received by Sir Moses, and in the evening a lecture was delivered at the Montefiore College by the Principal on the words of the Psalms, "With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation," and of the prophet Isaiah, "He gives power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, but they that wait upon the Eternal shall renew their strength; they shall mount up as with the wings of eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint." The Hall was brilliantly illuminated, and filled to its utmost extent, many being unable to find room. A grand banquet was given in honour of the day at the Granville Hotel by Mr Vale, the Chairman of the Ramsgate Improvement Committee. The poor also had their share in the festivities. The proprietor of the Granville Hall gave a dinner to 300 sick and poor people, and the Rev. J. C. Collins entertained a like number of poor children at tea. The Commemoration Committee also gave a large number of dinners to the poor; at Grave's Hotel nearly 400 were entertained, besides 150 at Christ Church Parish Hall. St Luke's Parish gave a dinner to 120, and a still larger number sat down at St Lawrence. The Congregationalists, the Baptists, the Wesleyans, and the Primitive Methodists all did honour to Sir Moses in this way, knowing that it was the way he would most approve. Naturally, the Jewish poor were not forgotten on this occasion. In the evening the whole town of Ramsgate and the harbour were splendidly illuminated, and large bonfires were lighted. The rejoicings were brought to a close with a grand display of fireworks in the vicinity of Sir Moses' residence.
Anything so grand had never before been witnessed in Ramsgate, and it was unanimously conceded that the inhabitants of the Isle of Thanet had done honour to themselves by sparing neither trouble nor expense in showing honour to him who for upwards of half a century had been one of their most respected fellow-citizens, and during all this time had never allowed an opportunity to pass without giving substantial proofs of his goodwill, wherever required, without distinction of creed or nationality.
It was a source of great thankfulness to all the friends of Sir Moses that he bore the extraordinary excitement and fatigue of this ever memorable but trying day so well. He received one deputation after another until mid-day, saying something pleasant to each, and thanking them all most heartily. From two o'clock until three he stood on the balcony to view the procession, and after it had passed, continued receiving deputations until five o'clock. So many visitors were anxious to shake hands with him that all the rooms of his house, with the stairs and passages, did not suffice to contain them; many had to remain in the garden for hours until there was room for them upstairs. No one seemed to mind waiting. The costly and beautiful presents were spread out in every room; the lovely flowers and choice fruit turned the house into a veritable paradise, although only those could be displayed which had arrived before the day, upwards of a hundred boxes not having been opened for want of time. The addresses from all parts of the world are too numerous to be named singly. Many of them were splendidly mounted. One was from America, an album of immense size, mounted in velvet, with silver ornaments; another, from Warsaw, in ivory, most artistically carved. Several contained lovely pictures by noted artists; others in exquisite needlework covers. They are all kept in large glass cases at Judith College, and are the admiration of all who see them. In every synagogue throughout the world special services were held in honour of Sir Moses, and large benevolent institutions were founded in his memory on the Continent, in America, and in Australia. It was universally acknowledged that before this time no such honour had been shown to any private individual, but that Sir Moses had received no more than his just reward.
Footnotes
[8] Born 1543, died 1620. He resided at Safed, Palestine, and
was a disciple of Isaac Luria. The book in question, which
forms part of the book Etz Chajim, was printed in Zolkiew,
Wilna, and Jerusalem.