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

Prompted by the great love he ever felt for Jerusalem, he had desired to have his head covered with a cap which had been specially worked for him in the Holy City; he also wished, in commemoration of his happy union with Lady Montefiore, to have the prayer-shawl which he used during the solemnisation of their marriage in the Synagogue, placed on his shoulders, in addition to the customary plain linen attire used in the case of all the dead, poor and rich alike.

Mementoes from the Holy City, papers referring to certain recipients of his benevolence, which he did not wish to destroy, but only to hide from the sight of the world, were also in compliance with his request, placed with him. He had likewise expressed a desire that the dust from the Holy Land, which he himself had brought with him from the Valley of Jehoshaphat, should be placed in his coffin, and that some of this should be sprinkled on his face in token of his deep veneration for the Land of Promise.

I need not say that all his wishes were scrupulously fulfilled.

When the solemn proceedings of the Lavadores were concluded, his near relatives entered the room to take leave of their beloved kinsman. Little change had taken place in his countenance, his benign features leaving a lasting impression on the mind of all present.

The body was now placed in a coffin made of plain deal boards, and covered with black cloth, on the lid of which two lighted wax candles were placed, light being emblematic of the soul of man (Prov. xx. 27).

After the intelligence of Sir Moses' death reached London, great numbers of people arrived in Ramsgate, most of them walking round East Cliff Lodge, or up and down outside the gates. Then with the morning trains of Friday (July 31st) all the Representatives of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Synagogue, to which Sir Moses belonged; their elders, wardens, ministers, and most of the members of their congregations; special deputations from most of the charitable and educational institutions in London; clergymen belonging to various Christian churches, and others, all came to pay the last token of respect.

It was the desire of Sir Moses that his funeral should be plain and private, and that no carriages should follow, yet the line of roadway from East Cliff Lodge to the College was crowded with people, among whom were thousands who sincerely mourned for the departed.

Precisely at two o'clock the coffin was placed on a bier, and borne out of the house by ten of the Lavadores and friends. The senior minister of the Portuguese Synagogue in London, accompanied by his colleagues and the ministers of the Ramsgate Synagogue, preceded the bier, chanting in mournful tones appropriate verses from the Sacred Text.

The chief mourners were Mr Joseph Sebag Montefiore, Mr Arthur Cohen, Q.C., M.P., Lord Rothschild, Mr H. Guedalla, Mr A. Sebag Montefiore, Lord Rosebery, Mr S. Montagu, M.P.; Mr Lionel L. Cohen, M.P.; Mr Henry L. Cohen, Mr Jacob Montefiore and his son, Mr L. I. Montefiore, Mr H. Montefiore, Mr C. Montefiore, Sir Julian Goldsmid, M.P.; Sir Albert Sassoon, K.C.S.I.; Baron H. de Worms, Dr Woodman, Mr William Johnson, the Rev. Dr H. Adler, Delegate Chief Rabbi; the ministers and representatives of all the London Synagogues, and the ministers and wardens of the congregations of Edinburgh, Dublin, Manchester, Liverpool, Brighton, Bradford, Newcastle, and other provincial Hebrew communities from all parts of the United Kingdom, as well as the Rev. A. Vivanti, representing the Hebrew community of Ancona, and gentlemen from Brussels and Jerusalem. Following them were the representatives of the city of London in their official robes, the Mayor of Ramsgate, wearing the chain presented to him by Sir Moses, accompanied by his two chaplains, the Vicar of Ramsgate, and the Vicar of St Laurence. After them came the representatives of the Town Council, the Mayors of Margate, Sandwich, and Deal, and the Broadstairs Local Board. These were followed by the Magistrates, the clergy, and hundreds of gentlemen who came in their private capacity.

As the mournful procession entered the outer field it was met by a guard of honour, composed of persons representing several local institutions, and deputations from religious and other bodies.