October I, 1943
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
I6
never do the dastardly things ones be honored. By their graves
continues her work for this cause club spirit increase in strength? which the Nazis are doing today. we dedicate ourselves to the up-
VALOR
There is obviously no use in call- If she does yield to the popular lifting of our thoughts and feel-
indefatigably.
to the purification of our
ing ourselves Jews unless in this cries of revenge, she will have ings,
All
the
time
that
Lily
Mon-
conduct, to the furthering of
(Continued from Page 12)
to
lower
her
standards,
until
they
hour
of
disaster
we
feel
that
tagu was working for Liberal
deeds of love, mercy and good.
cial service work is no exception. Judaism, she was strongly op- God, our Guardian, neither slum- cannot be distinguished from Nazi ness."
standards.
Not
so
can
our
dear
Lily Montagu's club on Dean posed by her father who was the bers nor sleeps. His spirit fills
Street, Soho, was the first social leader of the Orthodox group, the universe. Our tragedy does
settlement for women in England. and who in fact forced some of not affect our faith. How can it?
Soon Miss Montagu found the the original members of the Jew- War is a denial of God's teach-
girls, and the girls found her. ish Religious Union to drop theif ings, and war created our trag-
But girls have families and, as affiliation. When Samuel Mon- edy. The challenge has come to
the years went by, the West Cen- tagu died, he left only a relu- us unmistakably to order our own
tral Club became the social cen- tively small estate to Lily and lives anew, to turn our hearts
tore of the whole community. Marion because of this interest Godward, to listen to God, and
Fathers without jobs, brothers in of theirs. The terms of the will to dedicate ourselves more earn-
difficulties, mothers beset with a still cause the gossips of London estly than ever to the cause of
thousand troubles, all streamed to shake their heads; and even peace and freedom. You who real
to Miss Lily for advice and help. this money that he left, Miss this paper, as well as I who
No one has ever been neglected. Montague can never use for the write it, belong to a small group
Eventually, Lily Montagu was furtherance of Liberal Judaism. of very ordinary folk, but if
offered that very high position She, therefore, cannot join the every small group feels as we do
in English life, the office of Jus- Liberal Jewish synagogue, al- there is no doubt that a better
tice of the Peace, the first worn- though she speaks from the pul- life will be established.
"As I left Whitefield's after
an so honored. Her work has pit regularly. She is president of
never been perfunctory. Even the West Central Liberal Jewish our beautiful service on Saturday,
today she writes personal letters Synagogue of London, of which April 19, a man pressed my hand
every week to hundreds of her the author once had the privi- in a kindly, sympathetic way, and
girls and friends scattered now lege of serving as minister, and said: 'All right, Miss Montagu,
in every corner of the world. there she serves as lay preacher. we shall have our revenge! If
Lily Montagu is helped by her Even as a young girl, Lily he meant that a Berlin woman
We extend sincere good wishes for a
sister Marion, who shares coin- Montagu was religious. To her, who had given her life to some
New Year filled with happiness and
pletely all of her activities and faith' and action are one concept. piece of work for nearly 50
all of her ideals. Lily makes no The author has the prayers which years should experience my kind
blessed with full measure of prosperity
important decisions without con- were written for her Jewish of heartache, when she saw the
and may these wishes continue to find
suiting Marion. The two of them working girls when she was but outward shell destroyed in a few
together have practically sup- 20 years old. They are often minutes; if he meant that an-
fulfillment into the many years beyond.
ported the Girls' Club, which poorly phrased, sometimes naive, other woman should see the place
was enlarged and rebuilt near the so different from her sure, pre- shattered which had echoed night
original location. Lily Montagu cise style today, but these pray- after night for 27 years with the
CHARLES H. LOTT
was once the sister of the corn- ers show a religious character joyous sounds of young people
munity, then the mother, now that passes understanding. It is bent on recreation and education,
General Manager
the grandmother. Her girls meet said that when she came to and revelling in activity; if he
once a year for a reunion. Some America in 1929 to receive the meant this, then indeed he offered
of them are literally grandmoth- honorary degree of Doctor of me a poor form of consolation.
ers. There is a Lily Montagu Letters at the Hebrew Union In memory of our dead, I would
would not be complete without College, Lily Montagu could not urge you to cast hatred out of
DCTHOIT. MICHIGAN
telling of her work as the foun- pay her own fare because of your hearts, as hatred is destruc-
der of Liberal Judasim in Eng- her father's will. Nothing, how- tive, and through hatred we lose
CASS—BAGLEY
land, as Isaac M. Wise was in ever, deterred her, and it is re- our standards and aspirations.
America. • Together with her markable that she still maintains We love our country, our Eng-
friend, the late Dr. C. G. Monte- a deep love for her father. In land, and insist that she must
fiore, founder, editor, and patron the biography in which she wrote
of the famous Jewish Quarterly of her father, she says of their
Review, she assembled a group relationship: "There was just a
of like-minded men and women painful silence, beneath which
in 1902 at the home of her sister, hearts ached to commune. Only
Mrs. E. L. Franklin. Soon regu- the daughter, and those of her
lar worship services were held, family who shared her point of
and a prayer-book was prepared view, could fully understand that
with the assistance of the late this silence was beyond the con-
Dr. Israel Abrahams, then teach- trot of human will, as they both
er of homiletics at Jews' College. had been touched by `the• time-
The movement grew, and an or- force' which offers no escape."
ganization, known as the Jewish The religious and social welfare
Religious Union, was formed, of work which Lily Montagu start
which Miss Montagu was the ed continues despite setbacks and
leading spirit. In 1926 she, Rabbi hardships. In a letter, which she
Israel Mattuck, and Dr. Monte- wrote to some of her friends after
fiore founded the World Union the Settlement Club which was
for Progressive Judaism, uniting destroyed and in the bombing of
Liberal Jews all over the world. which 27 people lost their lives,
Regular conferences of the World she said:
"How are we going to allow
Union were held until the very
outbreak of the war, and they this disaster to affect our lives?
will be resumed when the war is How are we going to honor the
over. Lily Montagu, as organiz- memory of our beloved 'dead?
ing secretary of the World Union, How are we going to make the
DETROIT-L(1AD -HOTEL
on the eve of
A NEW YEAR
• With deep gratitude in our hearts
• With hopeful prayers on our lips
• With thanks for the opportunities in America.
THE UNITED DAIRIES
SAM GRANADIER
Another year has passed with the
march of progress. I always at this
time pause for a moment to exchange
felicitations. Stepping a little further
than merely wishing you a Happy New
Year, I wish you all to continue in
good health and lots of happiness!
•
izr:r rizit
"May you be inscribed for a Happy New Year"
S. A. GRANADIER
Young Men's Tailor
5th FLOOR—UNITED ARTISTS BLDG.
Wishes to express their
appreciation for the loyal
patronage of the many
thousands of Jewish
customers we have
been privileged
to serve
and
extend our sincerest wishes for
HEALTH, HAPPINESS
and SECURITY
UNITED DAIRIES, Inc.
4055 PURITAN
CH. 4193
UNiversity 1-2800
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