The Jewish community of this city sustained a sad loss yesterday by the death of the rabbi, the Rev. B. Lichtenstein, who passed away at an early hour of the morning. The general feeling of regret will be still further intensified by the news of the death this morning, at a quarter to 1 o'clock, of his son Albert at the early age of 22 and from the same complaint — consumption of the throat. For some time past the Rev. Mr Lichtenstein had been complaining of not being well, but it was not thought until about a month or six weeks ago that he was seriously ill. Since then he has gradually grown worse, and at 20 minutes to 3 yesterday morning he succumbed to the malady from which he suffered. The deceased gentleman was 48 years of age at the time of his death, and came to the colony about 17 years ago, having previously occupied the position of rabbi to a congregation at Bath, in England. Ever since he came to Dunedin his congregation have held him in high esteem, he has also gained the respect of all other denominations in the community. He was a prominent Freemason, and an active member of the committee of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in whose work he took a great interest, but did not come much before the public in any other capacity. He leaves a wife and nine children, for whom universal sympathy will be felt in the sad and distressing double calamity which has overtaken them. -Otago Daily Times, 20/6/1892.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
The Friends of the late Rev. B. LICHTENSTEIN are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, and also the Funeral of his late SON ALBERT, which will leave the Synagogue, Moray place, for the Northern Cemetery, THIS DAY (TUESDAY), the 21st inst., at 2 p.m.
HUGH GOURLEY, Undertaker, Clarke and Maclaggan streets. -Otago Daily Times, 21/6/1892.
FUNERAL OF THE LATE B. LICHTENSTEIN.
The remains of the late Rev. B. Lichtenstein, rabbi of the Jewish congregation, and Past Grand Warden and Grand Chaplain of the District Grand Lodge of Freemasons, Otago and Southland, E.C., were interred on Tuesday afternoon in the Jewish portion of the Southern Cemetery. The Lodge Dunedin, 931, E.C., was opened at 1 o'clock by the W.M. Bro. H. E. Wait, and afterwards the R.W. Bros. Thomas Sherlock Graham, R.W.G.M., E.C., and James Gore, R.W.G.M., S.C., with their grand officers were announced, and received in due form. A procession was then formed by the W. Bro. R. W. McVilley, D.G.D.C., which proceeded to the Jewish Synagogue, where the funeral cortege was formed in the following order: —
Masonic Brethren. Board of Grand Stewards. The hearse. Masonic Pall-bearers — W. Bros. C. de L. Graham, John Stone, sen., S. de Leon, D. Macpherson, W. Ness, and J. Golder.
Next followed the hearse containing the remains of the late Mr Albert Lichtenstein, accompanied as pall-bearers by members of the Jewish congregation.
The sons of the deceased gentleman came after the hearses, and there was a very large assemblage of his personal and private friends.
The District Grand Masters, together with the Deputy District Grand Master, Bro. Sydney James, occupied a carriage, and the rear was brought up by fully 100 friends.
On arriving at the cemetery the religious ceremonies were very impressively conducted by the Rev. Mr Chodowski, of Christchurch, who, after engaging in prayer, delivered an address. It was a sad circumstance, he said, that had brought them together. They had come there to pay the last respects to a man who during his career had endeared himself to them all. They knew the old saying of their wise king, "That it was better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of festivity." All sages had asked the reason, and the answer was deep and wise. Life was compared to a vessel which was sent forth into an unknown ocean, and no one could foresee what misfortune might be in store for that vessel. We were all sent forth into the world to perform various duties. Some of us were weak, others did their duty in a half-hearted way, while others performed their allotted task firmly. This man, Brother the Rev. Lichtenstein, had performed his duties with all his heart and soul — not grumblingly or in a half-hearted manner, but with his whole soul. He was not merely satisfied with carrying out his duties to his Creator, but during his 17 years' stay in this town he had shown himself to be a warm friend to the poor and needy, and no one was turned from his door without assistance and a kind word. He (the speaker) would have them remember that a kind word was often of much greater value than monetary assistance. His family mourned his decease as having lost a loving parent and a good counsellor; and as for themselves, they had lost a good teacher and a good scholar, and one who had been considerate of all without distinction. He was of humble disposition, and this endeared him to his large circle of friends. He was not only a good scholar, but he was a consistent supporter of his faith. He was a good Hebrew and a good man. They might ask themselves had he gone, had he left them? Yes and no. What was material was gone, but that which was spiritual remained with them. His true, faithful heart had ceased to beat, but yet in his example he lived with them still. He (the speaker) was sure they would join him in prayer, that might ascend with the deceased's soul, that he might have all mercy and grace. As he had prayed for them, so let them pray for him that he might rest in peace, in Heavenly bliss, and in Heavenly grace.
After the coffin had been lowered into the grave the Masonic choir, under Bro. Robertshaw, District Grand Organist, sang the hymn "Days and moments quickly flying." The W. Bro. Wait delivered the usual invocations, all the brethren present making the responses. Bro. Chodowski, acting Grand Chaplain, offered a prayer, and then the R.W. Bro. Gore, D.G.M., S.C., delivered an impressive address. Invocations were again evoked by the W.M. of the Lodge of Dunedin, and the W. Bro. Sydney James, P.D.G.M., delivered an oration, and afterwards deposited in the grave the apron of the deceased brother, together with the scroll bearing the following inscription : —
I.T.N.O.T.G.A.O.T.U. ("in the name of the great architect of the universe")
In this grave lie buried the earthly remains of Bro. the Rev. Bernard Lichtenstein, Past Master of the Lodge of Dunedin, No. 931, E.C., Past Senior Warden of the District Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, E.G., and Chaplain of the said District Grand Lodge. Requiescat in pace. Sydney James.
Dunedin, June 21st, 1892.
An oration was next delivered by the W. Bro. Charles de L. Graham, P.D.G.S.W. and President of the Board of General Purposes, and afterwards the W. Bro. Sydney James delivered the final invocation. The Choir sang the hymn No. 400, A. and M., and the Rev. Bro. Chodowski gave the benediction. The Masonic procession then re-formed and returned to the hall in Moray place, where the Lodge of Dunedin was closed in due form at 5.15 p.m. -Otago Witness, 23/6/1892.
At a meeting of the Hebrew congregation yesterday it was decided to place the following resolution on the minutes and to forward a copy of it to Mrs Lichtenstein: — "The members of this congregation desire to place on record the great loss they have sustained by the demise of their respected minister (the Rev. B. Lichtenstein), who, during his seventeen years' sojourn in Dunedin, has rendered this congregation most valuable services, and who, by his kind and retiring disposition, endeared himself to the whole of his congregants and to the general community. Whilst deeply feeling his early removal from amongst them, they desire to convey to you and your family their heartfelt sympathy in your bereavement in having lost so loving a husband and so good a parent. The congregation also desire to express their deep feeling in the double calamity which has befallen you by the loss of your son Albert. They trust that you will receive consolation and help from our Heavenly Father, and that your young family may be spared to comfort you. Assuring you that at all times you will receive the sympathy and consideration of the members of this community." -Evening Star, 27/6/1892.
No comments:
Post a Comment