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Our readers must excuse us for
devoting a brief space in our magazine to the record
of ancient friendship which has subsisted between a
venerated relation and another equally venerable
Israelite, both having gone down to the tomb in the
fullness of years and honour. It is full sixty years
ago, when a strange, young Israelite arrived, on the
eve of [Yom] Kippur, at the then small city of
Baltimore. It was but to gratify a passing fancy
that he had embarked for the distant shore of
America; and hence came without any letter of
introduction to friends in this country, which
otherwise would have been given him from many
respectable quarters. Thus unacquainted, he
traversed the streets of Baltimore on the morning of
the Day of Atonement, in search of Israelites, to
celebrate with them the holy season of our faith. He
was attracted by the mercantile sign of Isaac & Levi
Solomon. He entered their domicile, announced
himself as a brother Israelite, who longed to spend
the day with them in due solemnity and devotion; and
these worthy men, and their estimable relatives,
gladly allowed the stranger to stay with them, to
pray to the Throne of Grace in the society of his
brothers in belief and hope, and to break with them
the bread of friendship after the solemn day had
closed.
It was thus that a long and
lasting friendship sprung up between the late Zalma
Rehine, our own maternal uncle, and the Messrs.
Solomon,—together with their nephews and nieces, the
Etting family, so long and favourably known both in
Maryland and Pennsylvania. One by one have these
worthy sons and daughters of Israel dropped into the
silent grave, most of them at an advanced age which
but few are permitted to reach; and they have left a
name and memory to be long revered.
Mr. Rehine departed this life,
as an infant falls asleep on its mother’s bosom, at
the age of eighty-six years and five months, on the
night between and second and third of July,
<<227>>5603 (1843); and he was followed, first by
Mr. Solomon Etting, and then
Miss Hetty Etting, as
we already announced at the time of their decease.
The only surviving brother, Mr. Reuben Etting, was
summoned hence at the age of eighty-six, on Sabbath
morning, the 3d of June, 5608 (1848). He had filled
the office of United States Marshal for Maryland, beginning with
the year 1801, under President Jefferson, who
appointed this sterling Israelite at a time when the
Jews were excluded by the law of the state from all
official promotion,—the President thus emphatically
giving his testimony against the proscriptive policy
then prevailing in that state, and proving that he
desired only to break down the barriers of bigotry
and intolerance; the appointment was, therefore,
honourable alike to him who bestowed, as to him who
received it. Mr. Etting, also, was the first captain
of a volunteer company, the Baltimore Independent
Blues, we believe, from June, 1798, when the country
was threatened with a war against the French
Republic, till 1803, when he resigned the command,
in consequence of the duties of his office
conflicting with the attention to his military
engagements. An address highly complimentary to him
was sent by the members of the company on his
retirement; and only a few years ago, whilst Mr. E.
was a resident of our city, the company came hither
to pay an official visit of respect to their former
commander, though an entire new generation had
sprung up since their connexion had ceased. Upon the
decease of Mr. E., complimentary resolutions of
condolence were passed by the same body; and it is
owing to the omission of a relative of the deceased,
by not furnishing us with a copy thereon, which we
waited for according to promise, that hitherto we
have not duly noticed the departure of Mr. Etting.
But a new and sudden
bereavement which the family have met with, gives us
the melancholy opportunity to do an act of justice
to departed worth, in consonance with a friendship
which has subsisted between our families for a
period of sixty years. We allude to the death of
Gratz Etting, Esq., a son of the preceding, which
occurred on Sabbath morning, the Eve of Shebuoth,
the 26th of May last. Mr. E. was in his 54th year,
and had devoted himself early to the study of the
law, and was at one time district attorney for
Centre County in this state, when an afflictive
disease darkened the bright prospects which his
friends had just cause to anticipate for him. He was
a sincere friend, and a dutiful and attached member
of his family; and though often suffering himself,
he was not thereby prevented him thinking on the
ills which befell others; and well do we recollect
how he inquired daily after the health of one sorely
diseased, though himself at the time the martyr of a
tormenting malady. His religious
<<228>>convictions
were sincere, though unostentatious, and he took an
active interest in the affairs of the congregation;
and it was only a few days before he was called away
from the earth and its trials, that he was present
at and participated actively in a meeting of our Kahal. We knew not of his illness, till his death
was announced to us by a near relative of the
deceased, or else we would have been anxious to be
present at the melancholy closing scene; but he was
happy in being surrounded by those who were dear and
near to him, and they will have long cause to
reflect on the unpretending virtues of him they so
dearly loved. May they be comforted, and may his
portion be with those who have obeyed the will of
their Father in heaven.
Died on the night of the 14th
of May, Mr. Abraham Gumpert, aged 83 years.
Oh, some celestial form of
light,
God in his mercy sent to thee,
To soothe thy parting pangs that night,
And whisper pardon full and free.
Some holy spirit sent from
heaven,
Too glorious for our mortal eye,
Hovered ‘till life’s chord was riven,
Then bore th’ enfranchised soul on high.
Thy pallid lips proclaimed the
power
Of the pure ritual of thy faith,
Like the crushed perfume of a flower,
That yields its sweetness most in death.
R. H.
Died, on Tuesday, P. M. June
5th, Henry, son of Mr. J. L. Hackenburg, aged 10
years.
Thy life’s brief day has passed
and gone,
Never shall winter stern and dread,
Nor fervid heat of summer sun,
Disturb thy lonely quiet bed.
Freed from all the ills of
life,
No heavy sins to be forgiven,
Rest thou from thy mortal strife,
Frail child of earth, high heir of heaven.
R. H. |
