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."
Meanwhile, biographical notices were published in English and 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.