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בס"ד

New York German Hebrew Benevolent Society.

 

The second anniversary of the above truly laudable institution was celebrated by a public dinner, on Wednesday, the 19th November, at the Minerva Rooms, Broadway. H. Kayzer, Esq., President in the chair, supported on the right by the Rev. S. M. Isaacs, Rev. J. Hecht, and a number of influential Christian gentlemen; on the left by the Rev. Dr. Lilienthal, late preacher at Riga, (Russia,) Rev. J. Mertzbacher, and the officers and leading members of the Franklin Street Synagogue; the lower table under the management of Isaac D. Walter, Esq., V. P., was filled right and left by S. Dittenhoffer, Esq., Treasurer, and the members of the society, I. Bernheimer, Esq., and a number of wealthy merchants. Upwards of two hundred gentlemen assembled to partake of the dinner and the other festivities of the evening. The Rev. Mr. Isaacs, of the Franklin Street Synagogue, was selected to pronounce the benediction after meals. The indefatigable President then rose to propose the first toast, which, being duly received, he reported the society’s proceedings since its organization, detailing some interesting particulars, and declaring the determined intention of its members to devote their means to the amelioration of their unfortunate brethren. Loud manifestations of applause followed his statement. He then introduced the Rev. Mr. Isaacs to address the meeting; several minutes elapsed before the enthusiastic cheers of the meeting permitted the reverend orator to proceed; but when they had subsided, he rose and delivered one of the most eloquent addresses on charity that had ever been listened to; so successful was he in his appeal, aided by the liberality of the company, that the unprecedented sum of twenty-seven hundred dollars was the amount announced as the donations of the evening.

Alderman Underwood, an invited guest, followed the reverend gentleman, and declared that, until this evening, he was quite ignorant of the genius of Judaism. J. Warren, Esq., bore testimony to the worth of the Jews; he had been connected with them in business transactions for many years, and knows no class of citizens who were more honourable in their dealings, more prompt in their payments. The only regret he felt was, that they should still cling to the term “Jew,” which was, by the ignorant, considered a name of reproach; he would have them adopt the more euphonious name of “Hebrews,” their original and proper title. The eloquent gentleman detailed at length his secret meditations when contemplating the Hebrew observing his Sabbath and holidays with scrupulosity, yet still enabled to be liberal to the cause of humanity; it convinced him that Israel’s God had not and would not desert them.

The Rev. Mr. Mertzbacher followed in the German tongue, and spoke eloquently and with much feeling on the duties of man. The reverend orator was loudly cheered.

The Rev. Dr. Lilienthal followed, and spoke with much force, in German, of the gratification he felt in being on freedom’s soil, in contemplating Christian and Jew united in the divine cause of benevolence; he gave an interesting, although a deplorable account, of the sufferings of Israel in Russia, and in other lands, where the name of charity was again eclipsed by the cloud of despotism. The reverend gentleman resumed his seat amidst general applause.

W. Kobbe, Esq., Prussian consul, an invited guest, spoke with much fervour of the love he bore his fatherland, and the attachment he bore towards the land of his adoption. The eloquent gentleman was loudly cheered.

Richard Carroll, Esq., an invited guest, next gave a vivid feature of true Americanism, and the love and sympathy he felt for Judaism.

Alexander Kursheedt, Esq., a member of the New York Bar, and an invited guest, being next called upon, delivered a truly heart­stirring address in the true spirit of Judaism. He dwelt with much force on the increase of his brethren since his venerable father first left Germany, to seek an asylum in the land of liberty, and on the readiness his brethren ever evinced to discharge their duties as citizens of earth, and as candidates for immortality. The eloquent counsellor sat down amidst enthusiastic applause.

Several other speeches followed, and the company separated at one in the morning, gratified themselves at the mental treat they had enjoyed, and at the munificent amount of money they had received for the poor.

The donations were on the most liberal scale. The Directors of the Croton Insurance Company, $100; the Hendricks family, rising $100; H. Kayzer, Esq., President, $50; I. D. Walter, Esq., Vice President, $50; I. Bernheimer, Esq., and S. Dittenhoffer, Esq., Treasurers, $50 each; W. Kobbe, Esq., $50; Alderman Underwood, $50; Messrs. Porter and Livingston, $50; from the members of the Franklin Street Synagogue near $400. Other sums equally liberal from the company present, and from those whose prior engagements compelled their absence.

Our correspondent regrets his inability to furnish us with a full report of the speeches, as all the addresses of the evening were extemporaneous.