Obituaries Australia

By the death of Mr. [Morris] Moses Moss, a well-known figure in commercial circles, has been removed and the Jewish community of Sydney suffers the loss of a member who ever took a prominent and active part in all its religious and social movements. It is about 43 years since the deceased gentleman landed in the colonies, and the first portion of his colonial life was spent in Launceston, where he entered upon the business of a general merchant. After a residence there of several years he returned to London, but again embarked for Australia, and in 1851 settled in Sydney, since which time he conducted his business as a general merchant in our midst. For many years he was treasurer and president to the Jewish congregation, and was a member of nearly all the Jewish associations, and also cooperated heartily with his many Christian friends in their works of charity and philanthropy. For about 20 years he was a member of the commission of the peace. He was interested in many commercial enterprises, being for a short time a director of the Australian Joint Stock Bank. As a citizen he was highly esteemed, and bore with him through life a spirit of peace and a love of goodwill that was manifested in acts which sought to rob opposing elements of their antagonism, and promote harmony and concord in the daily lives of men. He was seized with an epileptic fit and, after lingering in pain for three weeks, expired on Thursday at his residence, No. 185 Macquarie-street. He was aged 61 years, and leaves a widow, six sons, and five daughters. Yesterday afternoon the body of the deceased gentleman was buried at the Rookwood Cemetery. The funeral was attended by, besides the relatives of the deceased, a very large number of prominent Jewish and Christian citizens, among many others present being the Hons. L. W. Levy, S. A. Joseph and H. E. Cohen, Messrs Burton Bradley, S. Hoffnung, D. Marks, M. Gotthelf, Louis Phillips, Charles Tennant, M. Baur, G. J. Cohen, N. S. Cohen, M. Meyerfeld, D. Phillips, and all the employees of the firm. The service for the dead was conducted by the Rev A. B. Davis assisted by the Revs. D. Wolinski and Phillipstein. The Rev A. B. Davis delivered an address, in the course of which, after referring to the religious aspirations of the deceased, his death and the devotion shown to him during his illness by his relatives and friends, he said, "He was for many years chief warden and treasurer of the Synagogue, and would willingly have served it in any capacity in which the suffrages of its members would have placed him. He was a liberal contributor to its funds, and would have served it day and night. This is too well known and, I hope, acknowledged than to require more than passing mention. He was a member for years of the committee of the Philanthropical Society, and was also associated with the day and sabbath schools, and also, so far as I can remember, was on the committees of the Randwick and Benevolent Asylums, and I may say in all sincerity that no appeal was ever made to him but met with a ready response, indeed he was never to my knowledge known to refuse a subscription to any worthy object, irrespective of creed or opinion. He was also enamoured of peace–a disciple of Aaron–and endeavoured, by his advice and earnest efforts, to cement and promote good feeling. He was a good and indulgent husband, an affectionate and tender father, a fast and faithful friend, an excellent citizen and kind master; to sum up all, a lover of mankind, and what more can be said of any one who lived so many years?