Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, Volume 2 (of 2) / Comprising Their Life and Work as Recorded in Their Diaries, from 1812 to 1883

by Sir Moses Montefiore; Lady Judith Cohen Montefiore

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'clock A.M. and at 1.30 P.M. there was a special service at which the Delegate Chief 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 yacht Galatea, 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.