Mrs. Eddy Mentioned Them May 28, 1960 Issue

Maurice de Hirsch, 1831–1896

[Mentioned in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 287]

"My son I have lost, but. not my heir; humanity is my heir." These words, spoken at the death of his only son, furnished a key to the character of Baron de Hirsch, German financier and philanthropist.

He owed his title to his paternal grandfather, who was raised to the rank of nobility when he was appointed Bavarian court banker. From his father he inherited a large fortune; he acquired another by his marriage to Clara Bischoffsheim, whose father was a senior partner in a banking house in Brussels. He himself made a third fortune by building railways in Austria, Russia, Turkey, and the Balkans and by financial speculation. Through his railroad construction activities, he knew many of the rulers in Europe, including the czar of Russia and the sultan of Turkey. Through these same activities he became acquainted with the misery of the Jews in these countries and their lack of practical education. He immediately made generous contributions to the Alliance Israelite Universelle, an association which worked to further the education of the Jews in the East.

In 1888 the Baron offered $10,000,000 to the czar for the opening of modern schools in Russia, in which manual training should be taught. The sole stipulation was that there should be no distinction in admission in terms of race or religion. The offer was declined. The Baron then devoted his efforts to helping Jews emigrate and establish themselves outside Russia. In 1891 he founded the Jewish Colonization Association. Through it, colonies in South and North America were established.

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Maurice de Hirsch, 1831–1896

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