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THE BOY EMIGRANT 
 
BIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 NATHAN BARNERT 
 
 HIS CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS 
 
 INCLUDING 
 HISTORIES OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS 
 
 BY 
 
 MICHAEL T. BAUM 
 
 Published at the suggestion of the Board of Managers of the Miriam 
 
 Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School in order to awaken 
 
 an interest in the institutions founded by 
 
 Paterson's First Citizen. 
 
 The Worlds in which we live are two. 
 
 The world "I am" and the world "I do". 
 
 The Worlds in which we live at heart are one. 
 
 The world "I am", and the fruit of "I have done" ; 
 
 And underneath these worlds of flower and fruit. 
 The world "I love" — the only living root. 
 
 — Van Dyke 
 
 NEWS PKINTING COMPANY 
 
 PATERSON, N. J. 
 
 1914. 
 
Copyright, 1914 
 
 by 
 Michael T. Baum 
 
 FEB -6 1915 
 
 CI,A*i93561 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 Chapter Page 
 
 I. The Boy Emigrant ii 
 
 II. The Quest For Gold 17 
 
 III. Trying Times During the Civil War 23 
 
 IV. Miriam Barnert 29 
 
 V. In Ptiblic Life 37 
 
 VI. Mayor Nathan Barnert 41 
 
 VII. Re-election of Mayor Barnert 47 
 
 VIII. "By Their Deeds Ye Shall Remember Them" 69 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple 91 
 
 Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School 105 
 
 Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital 115 
 
 Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society i55 
 
 Independent Order B'Nai Brith 159 
 
 Paterson Hebrew Free Loan Association 163 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 The Boy Emigrant Frontispiece. ^ 
 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert (From Latest Photograph) Facing Page 14 \y^ 
 
 View O'f Main Street, between Market and Ellison Streets, in 
 1870, showing Old Town Clock, City Hall and Lock-up 
 
 Facing Page 26 *^ 
 
 Miriam Barnert Facing Page 36 \^ 
 
 Nathan Barnert (From Photograiyh taken in 1861) Facing Page 50 v^ 
 
 Alderman Nathan Barnert (From Photograph taken in 1874) 
 
 Facing Page 50 i^ 
 
 Mayor Nathan Barnert Facing Page 50 ^ 
 
 Barnert Homestead on Broadway Facing Page 70 i^ 
 
 Barnert Mausoleum (Mount Nebo Cemetery) .. .Facing Page 86 >' 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple Facing Page 100 l/" 
 
 Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School ... Facing Page 106 t^ 
 
 Outing of Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School 
 
 Facing Page 108 ^ 
 
 Testimonial Presented to Nathan Barnert by Faculty and 
 Pupils Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School 
 
 Facing Page 112 \/^ 
 
 Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital (Old Hoime) 
 
 Facing Page 118 / 
 
 Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital . . . Facing Page 140 x^ 
 
 Board of Directors Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial 
 
 Hospital Facing Page 152^-- 
 
 Synagogue Built by Nathan Barnert (Posen, Germany) 
 
 Facing Page 158// 
 
 Tablet Presented to Nathan Barnert Iby Hebrew Free Loan 
 
 Association Facing Page 164 v 
 
FOREWORD. 
 
 One seldom picks up a paper that one does not read a few 
 lines of those who have passed away to the mysterious beyond. 
 All the virtues possessed, and some of which the public never 
 heard, are there strung as beads upon a ribbon for the reading, 
 and even if the subject is a difficult one, the facile pen of the 
 eulogist finds some chance to make known the loveliness, the 
 efficiency, the gentleness or the generosity of the person under 
 discussion. Which is as it should be. If we can say no good 
 of the departed, say nothing, is a legend inscribed upon the 
 laws of writer folks early in their career. But personally, the 
 writer never reads one of these sketches; sees one of these 
 eulogies, that the thought does not pass his mind, "I wonder 
 how many or how few of those nice things were ever told to 
 the persons when living? Did they know, I wonder that 
 people thought them gentle, or found them to be kind?" 
 There you have the writer's prayer in a nutshell. Why keep 
 the good things until they can do no good to the person who 
 would have appreciated them? 
 
 We know generally w^hen a man is doing good work, or a 
 woman making life sweeter and better for those about her, and 
 we realize without being told that they are putting up a hard 
 right, or giving up much joy for themselves to serve those about 
 them. But yet, we hesitate, and neglect to tell them so, and 
 they w^ork along almost until the end comes, and then, on the 
 blank white paper, w^e spread for others the thoughts we should 
 have enjoyed to speak to them alone; the commendation of 
 their many virtues. 
 
 From the child who mows the lawn and carries out the 
 waste barrels to the man and woman who spends a lifetime in 
 
trying for some high goal, the human soul craves not adulation, 
 but appreciation; and the simple phrase of understanding said 
 at the right moment can do incalculable good. We are so 
 ready with criticism and blame, of suggestion, and of inference, 
 and so chary of our well doings, that it is necessary we should 
 have the truth thrust upon us, that a bit of humane under- 
 standing carries us further along the line of living, than is 
 realized until we stop and think seriously. When we do well, 
 we like to be told of it — every one of us — so why then withhold 
 the word of appreciation from our fellows, when they surely 
 deserve it and when the speaking or writing of it is not only 
 easy but natural? 
 
 In this appreciation of our most useful citizen, the Honor- 
 able Nathan Barnert, the writer has endeavored to extol his 
 works with sincere words of admiration, but has oftentimes, 
 felt impotent to give just due to his admirable qualities. Ever 
 heeding that Biblical injunction — "To Err Is Human To For- 
 give Is Divine," — a phrase which Mr. Barnert has been prac- 
 ticing daily, — the writer has refrained from dealing in per- 
 sonalities in narrating the political activities of Mr. Barnert. 
 This w^as a duty, which although difficult, was gladly per- 
 formed, for it must be remembered that many of the incidents 
 related were happenings within the ken of many and there are 
 generations living today, whose feelings must be respected. 
 This, also has been the earnest wish of Mr. Barnert. 
 
 Mr. Barnert's earlier activities were many and varied and 
 his experiences of a nature which have fallen to few of us. In 
 the best sense, he is a self-made man. No distinction of his 
 successful life is more characteristic of the man than the fact 
 that his success is being shared in by the community. He is 
 endowed with a genial nature, a keen sense of the beautiful in 
 art, of strong moral and religious convictions, far sighted and 
 capable, a man whose success inspires emulation. His sturdy 
 optimism, his unremitting devotion to his fellow man, his broad 
 
philanthropy, are well known to us all. The happiness of 
 others is dearer to him than his own, for the cardinal principles 
 of his creed are sympathy and kindness; loving to do good and 
 seeking opportunities to accomplish it. Amid the common cur- 
 rent of men and affairs, in the daily grind of life, it is a blessing 
 to have such a noble nature amongst us. And in Mr. Bar- 
 nert's character and in his conduct, Paterson receives honor and 
 praises among men. 
 
 The foundation stone of culture, "Thou shalt love thy 
 neighbor as thyself" was laid by his people and finds expression 
 in the every day acts of Nathan Barnert. He has ever remem- 
 bered that command *'Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto 
 thine brethren and shalt surely lend sufficient for his need that 
 which he wanteth." 
 
 He is so gentle, so upright in nature, so simple and so un- 
 affected in bearing a rude exterior covering an undaunted spirit 
 proving by his every act and word that — 
 
 ''The bravest are the tenderest — 
 The loving are the daring." 
 
 I wish to express my profound gratitude to Mr. Arnold 
 Levy, Mr. David Cohn, and all others who have given me 
 valuable aid in compiling this biography, and in the gathering 
 of statistics, w^ithout which the wTiting of the histories of the 
 various institutions herein touched upon, would not have been 
 as complete as was desired. 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., Dec. 24, 1914. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE BOY EMIGRANT. 
 
 On a spacious lawn, on Broadway, Paterson, New Jersey, 
 stands a picturesque and unique fountain. The central figure 
 is that of a boy, sturdy in physical structure and about eleven 
 years of age. There is a curious smile on that frank face 
 which seems to betoken confidence. His bare feet spread so 
 as to give the agile body a poise of solidity, are topped with 
 rough patched trousers, carelessly rolled at the bottoms. Home 
 fashioned suspenders, with the inevitable nail as a button draw 
 taut across a homespun shirt, patched and worn. The left 
 hand is thrust far into a trouser pocket while the right hand 
 holds above his curly dark locks, a leaky boot. 
 
 Not one of Paterson's historic landmarks has attracted more 
 attention nor has brought forth a wider range of interpre- 
 tations of its representations, than this fountain. To those 
 intimate with the life of its owner, whose unpretentious resi- 
 dence stands just beyond, the figure suddenly becomes an open 
 sesame to the early life of Paterson's foremost citizen. 
 
 Nathan Barnert was just this age, and just such a lad 
 when, way back in 1849, he gazed wonderingly from the emi- 
 grant ship for the first time on the "fertile shores of this 
 land of promise." 
 
 What tender memories linger around that fountain and 
 what day dreams that sturdy figure brings back to its dis- 
 tinguished owner, Nathan Barnert alone can tell, for they are 
 locked deep in his loving and charitable heart. 
 
 Today, Ex-Mayor Nathan Barnert is known as the most 
 philanthropic citizen in Paterson, the founder of great and en- 
 during institutions, pioneer builder of silk mills, father of the 
 present city charter and Paterson's original reformer. 
 
His was not a career "carefully fashioned by the hand of 
 preceptors" nor was it guided by any other forces than the 
 instincts of honesty, truth, and charity. He fought his way 
 in the world and his own right arm broke every blow. His 
 was a rough but salutary training, harsh and severe, but it 
 only strengthened and ennobled his character. The memory 
 of his difficulties, his contentions makes him value the happiness 
 of others. He struggled under sullen influences and adverse 
 circumstances, but 
 
 "Taught by that power that pitied hintj 
 He learns to pity them." 
 
 Like that ever-flowing fountain, that replica of his early 
 boyhood, ever flows his generous hospitality and charity finding 
 its source in the benevolent depths of his great heart. 
 
 The lessons of the life of Nathan Barnert will always 
 be treasured — they inspire the young — they are sermons to 
 those who have ventured and are hopeful — and may they 
 always prove a stimulating influence and a guide to the lives 
 of our young. 
 
 Nathan Barnert points with pride to the fact — and well 
 he may — that he was born on the holiest day in the Jewish 
 calendar, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, (September 
 20, 1838), which fast he faithfully and religiously keeps in con- 
 stant prayer within the walls of the synagogue. Mr. Barnert 
 is a man of culture and of piety, a strong minded Israelite of 
 orthodox proclivities. If there is aught he has strived for 
 it is the religious elevation of his people. The sentiments of 
 the hypocrite, the renegade, find no habitation in his bosom. 
 He is as devoted to his people and his people's God today 
 as he was when, with his parents, Meyer and Ida (Newfelt) 
 Barnert, he turned to these shores in 1849 from his native 
 home, in Posen, Kingdom of Prussia. He has ever fought to 
 have his co-religionists well thought of, honored and respected 
 by the community. 
 
 12 
 
Nathan Barnert obtained his educational advantages in his 
 native city and in the City of New York. It was a hard 
 struggle in the beginning for this young emigrant and when 
 he was not in his father's tailoring shop on Forsythe Street, 
 near Grand Street, New York, he would be devoting his 
 time to home study and in the Talmud Torah on Henry 
 Street. 
 
 It did not take Nathan long to decide that his father's 
 little shop held but little opportunity for him. It was at a 
 time when the country was gripped with the gold fever and 
 thousands, from the north, east, south and west, were hurrying 
 to the newly discovered fields of wealth in California. Nathan 
 was wont to listen to the wonderful tales of ''strikes" and 
 "finds" as related in his father's store, and the more he heard 
 of the fabulous fortunes being made, the more determined did 
 this emigrant boy become to cast his lot with the rapidly 
 swelling crowd of fortune hunters. 
 
 At this time the question of financing a descent upon the 
 gold fields of California was a momentous one. Nathan 
 thought of many schemes and devised several plans to raise 
 passage money. In those days electricity as an illuminant was 
 still an unheard of commodity of trade and gas a luxury that 
 few enjoyed. 
 
 BOUND FOR CALIFORNIA. 
 
 Salable necessities of the times were candles, and the 
 emigrant boy, with his keen perception of their demand and 
 worth decided to sell them and to garner the profits for his 
 western trip. As a side line the young merchant sold soaps. 
 It was a hard struggle from the beginning, and each day Nathan 
 went home and counted his small profits and his enthusiasm 
 increased with his slowly growing funds. Months passed, and 
 finally one evening, Nathan confided his ambitions to his 
 parents. They tried to persuade him that it was a fruitless 
 effort but early one morning, not without the misgivings of his 
 
 13 
 
folks, the boy, accompanied by another lad of his own 
 age, wended his way to Vanderbilt's Steamship agency on 
 Warren and West Streets, New York, and counted out $130 
 in small change. Passages were secured for Nicaragua. It 
 was a momentous day when the ship, loaded down with its 
 human freight of fortune seekers finally left its moorings at 
 Canal Street. 
 
 It was a strangely assorted gathering on ship board. There 
 was a strong feeling of comradeship all around as the hopes of 
 the voyagers ascended to wonderful heights. There were men 
 there in the seamy side of life and the way they scurried around 
 among their more youthful fellows, one would have thought 
 that they had become possessed of the secret of the imaginary 
 fountain of youth. Not one among that crowd could be found 
 who did not venture the hope, if not the belief, that untold 
 fortunes awaited them in the newly discovered gold fields. 
 And as they hoped, they danced and sang, starved and de- 
 prived themselves of as much of the necessities of life they 
 could. 
 
 There were groups of two and three and of even more, 
 all casting their lot in one common melting pot. This was 
 the sort of men, our young adventurers had thrown their 
 fortunes with for the time being and they made the best of con- 
 ditions among these rough gold maddened men and before long, 
 they too, after the first hours of home lonesomeness had some- 
 what worn off, joined in the following song: 
 
 "I Come from New York City, 
 
 With my wash'boiler on my knee, 
 
 I am going to California, 
 
 The gold dust for to see." 
 
 These verses were common property of every ship sailing 
 from the Atlantic ports for San Francisco. 
 
 The money paid for passage did not include meals, and 
 this phase of the adventure had never entered the minds of the 
 young voyagers. For the first couple of days this did not 
 
 14 
 
HOX. NATHAX BARXERT 
 From Latest Photograph, 
 
bother the boys but nature asserted herself finally and they 
 were constrained to seek something with which to satisfy the 
 cravings of hunger. One morning they entered the mess 
 room of the stokers. There they were surprised to find that 
 the coal passers were at least given some consideration as far 
 as meals were concerned. 
 
 15 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE QUEST FOR GOLD. 
 
 Nathan concluded that a coal passer's job with decent 
 food thrown in as compensation was better than hard tack and 
 indigestion and accompanied by his friend, went down to the 
 coal hole. The men were busy working under the direction of 
 a big, kind-hearted man in uniform. ''Cap," said Nathan, with 
 an unmistakable foreign accent, at the same time pointing at 
 one of the coal shovelers, "I am strong, I can do what that big 
 fellow is doing, give me a chance will you?" The officer 
 thus addressed was impressed with the boldness of the boy and 
 engaged him along with his companion. For three nights and 
 three days the boys worked hard and it was a relief when, 
 finally, the orders to retire were given and the announcement 
 made that the long looked for destination was near at hand. 
 Weary, begrimed, the boys made their way to the purser's 
 office and there were each given $36 for their labor. 
 
 "My cap maker friend from Newark and I certainly 
 looked a sight," said Mr. Barnert, telling of this experience. 
 "After we had washed, put on clean garments, we went to 
 the main deck, which was crowded with the hundreds eager to 
 get ashore and to the gold fields. 
 
 "My friend still carried a bundle of soiled garments and 
 in his delight at hearing the order to leave, threw his bundle 
 into the water. A moment later one of the darkies bathing 
 near the shore grabbed the bundle and scooted away. Hardly 
 had be disappeared when my friend realized that he had thrown 
 away all of his earthly possessions, including his $36, newly 
 earned money. It was too late, for the frantic mob was already 
 rushing from the ship." 
 
 17 
 
Filled with hopes as he noticed the big army of miners 
 returning from the fields of fortune to their homes, 
 Nathan overcame his sudden feeling of lonesomeness and pro- 
 ceeded to Marysville, California, and then on to Sacramento. 
 The mining camp was filled with stories of big "strikes." 
 Prosperity was everywhere. 
 
 Nathan Barnert joined a group of five young men who 
 engaged a room at the rate of $io a day. They turned their 
 money into a common treasury purchasing their outfits and 
 making daily forages into the mining regions. Each also took 
 turns in washing and ironing and cooking for the outfit. 
 Large camps extended northward as far as the North 
 Fork of the Feather, and into Mariposa County on the South. 
 By this time, the "Long Tom" system of finding gold had 
 given way to "Sluice Washing" where a long shallow box was 
 so inclined as to give a stream of water, flowing through it, a 
 good headway. Along the bottom of the sluice were fastened 
 low cleats of wood, or "riffles" where the much sought for gold 
 particles were caught. 
 
 Water, however, became a thing that could no longer 
 be taken as it came, but had to be brought to the right place 
 often at much labor — and thus it acquired a market value, so 
 much per "miner's inch." 
 
 IN THE MINING CAMPS. 
 
 River bed mining, a bold and dramatic scheme, was another 
 method employed. Those who attempted this plan, were forced 
 to labor for weeks and to entail great hardships and when 
 victory seemed nearest, an early rainfall swept everything away. 
 
 And while the men, condemned themselves to one of the 
 hardest and often bitterest of lives, they at all events were now 
 banded together to build a society. Even while they organized 
 their private schemes, their camps became a town, themselves 
 townsmen, and their less fortunate mining brethern blazed 
 the way for the opening of the marts of trade. Of this latter 
 
 i8 
 
sect, young Barnert, was one of the pioneers. Deciding that 
 there was still another pathway in his search for gold, he 
 went to San Francisco, purchased a supply of candles and 
 scented soaps and made a visit of the mining camps. 
 
 As a young merchant, the boy became very successful. In 
 a short time he had saved fourteen hundred dollars. He then 
 decided that a little recreation was necessary and hunted up 
 his former mining companions. One Sunday night they — 
 there were five of them — started out on a pleasure jaunt to the 
 Eldorado on Kearney Street, a big white pretentious looking 
 building located next door to the city hall. Many were the for- 
 tunes won and lost in this gambling house in those days. Debts 
 were mostly paid with nuggets of gold. The rooms were gorge- 
 ously furnished with a superabundance of gilt frames, sparkling 
 chandeliers and ornaments of silver. "It was a rapturous and 
 fearful scene" as Mr. Barnert recalled it in after years. 
 
 There were Mexicans wrapped in blankets, smoking cigar- 
 ettes, Frenchmen in their blouses puffing at black pipes, country- 
 men fresh from the mines wearing flannel shirts and high 
 boots with pistols and knives in their belts — boys of ten and 
 twelve years, losing hundreds at play, and low browed men 
 from Australia. 
 
 The most popular game was monte, conducted by Mexi- 
 cans, faro, an American game, and rouge et noir and roulette 
 of the French. 
 
 There were many pretty women, handsomely gowned in 
 rustling silks, and wearing glittering diamonds, contrasting 
 strangely with the hairy faces, slouch hats, and flannel shirts of 
 the miners. 
 
 Then gambling was looked upon as a legitimate in- 
 dustry because the courts upheld gambling debts as valid and 
 authorized their collection. Gambling was licensed in San 
 Francisco, until 1855 and in Mar5^sville, until 1856. 
 
 Young Barnert took a chance, and needless to say, perhaps, 
 lost his hard earned money and with it his gold watch which 
 
 19 
 
he had treasured for years. "I then raised my hand," said 
 Mr. Barnert in speaking of the incident recently, "took a 
 pledge and have never played cards since." 
 
 DETERMINES TO BECOME A MERCHANT PRINCE. 
 
 Back to the mining camps with his now depleted stock 
 of candles and soaps went Nathan. He worked night and day 
 among the miners selling his wares with varying fortunes. 
 Tired of this career and determined to advance himself and 
 become a merchant prince, young Barnert went to San Fran- 
 cisco. There he learned that a man by the name of Dixon, 
 had once resided in Paterson and was conducting a big store, 
 one of the most extensive of its kind on the coast. Barnert 
 secured a position as an office boy, swept the floors and did 
 chores and through his engaging manners became acquainted 
 with the Dixon family. They esteemed and encouraged him. 
 Young Barnert had often said that he had appreciated the kind 
 assistance given him by the Dixons in those early days of his 
 trials and that he would some day perhaps be in a position to 
 repay them for those kindnesses. And the day came. It was 
 when the former office boy was Mayor of Paterson, that news 
 came of the terrible fire and flood devastation in San Francisco. 
 Mr. Dixon, had since died, having lost most of his fortune 
 during the Civil War, and his wife and two talented daughters 
 had a precarious time making a living. With the news of the 
 terrible disaster came the sad intelligence that the family had 
 lost all their belongings. 
 
 Mrs. Dixon wrote to Mr. Barnert, not for help, but for 
 security for a piano, for help in some way to enable her 
 daughters to teach. It was her only hope. Mayor Barnert, 
 with his characteristic determination, decided that the family 
 of his old employer should not want, and he went to New York 
 and bought a piano — the best that he could find for the Dixon 
 family — and shipped it off at once. 
 
 20 
 
Let us return to our story. Young Barnert worked for 
 several months in his new occupation and finally decided to 
 branch out for himself. He purchased a mule and peddling 
 outfit and returned to his old haunts in the mining regions and 
 by close application had amassed quite a sum of money. Young 
 Barnert was, however, not satisfied and seeking for new fields 
 of endeavor sold his outfit and branched into the express 
 business. The principal business at the time was conducted by 
 the Wells Fargo and Freeman's Express companies. 
 
 After a brief career in this line of business, young Barn- 
 ert visited the Hawaiian Islands and then hearing of the fortunes 
 being made in the gold regions on the Fraser River, took a trip 
 to that territory, and although he did not fmd what he had 
 sought, he had acquired a knowledge of that country and ex- 
 periences which to this day are cherished by him as sweet 
 memories. 
 
 21 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 TRYING TIMES DURING THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 Young Barnert, had now reached unto man's estate, and 
 although he was but eighteen, he was tall, rugged and broad 
 shouldered with a flush on his cheeks which told of bountiful 
 health. Life, mostly out of doors had worked wonders in the 
 little fellow of six years ago, and when in 1856, the young man 
 returned to New York, he was bubbling over with ambition. 
 Mr. Barnert now had a new view of life. He had broadened 
 his ability, had strengthened his character and his resolves and 
 immediately began to look out for new fields where there were 
 opportunities. His adventures as a pack peddler in the gold 
 fields stood him in good stead, and he quickly decided that the 
 clothing business offered a good investment for him. For two 
 years, Mr. Barnert, was engaged in this line of business and 
 in 1858, he decided to go to Paterson and there opened a 
 tailoring establishment in co-partnership with Marks Cohen, 
 on Main Street. Later, Mr. Barnert was associated in the same 
 line of business with Solomon Mendelsohn, whose interest he 
 subsequently purchased. Mr. Barnert's store was then located 
 at 149 Main Street, in the middle of Van Houten Street, be- 
 fore that thoroughfare was cut through. 
 
 The City of Paterson of those days was naturally an 
 entirely different commonwealth of that of today, as to the 
 nature of its geographic outline, its population and resources. 
 There were few of the Hebraic faith to be found, in fact, so 
 small a number that it was often found difficult to have the 
 number of worshippers, required by the Talmudic laws, present 
 in the old synagogue adjoining the Dagger mill on Mulberry 
 Street, facing the Passaic River. 
 
 In i860 nearly ten years after its incorporation, Paterson 
 
 23 
 
had a population of 20,428, inclusive of the gain by the act 
 of 1854, which added a portion of the Township of Manches- 
 ter to the city. In 1865, the population was 24,893- In 1870, 
 33,579 and in 1880, 50,950. At the beginning of Mr. Barnert's 
 first administration, the population was estimated at 55,000. 
 That Paterson was then holding an important position among 
 the cities of the State, is shown by stating that the assessed 
 value of the real estate property in the city in 1881, was 
 $16,952,258, personal property, $3,657,787, total, $20,609,545. 
 The total valuation of Paterson, 1914 was $106,002,102^ 
 and is given as an indication of how rapidly Paterson has been 
 growing since the early days. 
 
 In i860. King Cotton which had been regnant for a long 
 period of time was about to be dethroned, the "arm of iron" 
 was being bared, while the "sleeve of silk," was still in its 
 infancy. The building of locomotives as an industry, was in 
 a flourishing condition, the Rogers Locomotive and Machine 
 shops on Spruce Street, being in the height of prosperity. 
 
 The cry of the abolitionists of the North was being 
 resounded everywhere. The attack on' Fort Sumter, on April 
 12, 1 86 1, ushered in the terrible War of the Rebellion. 
 
 Those were critical times. With the first breaking out of 
 the war, came hard times and business in general in Paterson 
 became stagnant. Mr. Barnert was not idle and worked hard 
 to evolve some plan to aid the army of men in need of 
 assistance. The opportunity finally came when the need to 
 clothe the Union forces became imperative. Mr. Barnert suc- 
 ceeded in obtaining large contracts thus giving employment 
 to hundreds of poor persons who were on the verge of starva- 
 tion. That was Mr. Barnert's first real aid to the fellowmen 
 of his adopted city. 
 
 Main Street at this time was composed of stores and 
 dwelling houses, mostly buildings of rather ancient date, 
 and generally two stories in height. In i860 and in 1861, 
 Mendelsohn and Barnert's clothing shop was at 149 Main 
 
 24 
 
Street and in 1863, it was located at 134 Main Street. Next 
 door was the bookbindery and stationery establishment of 
 William F. Bertkau, who is still living. At 132 Main Street, 
 four doors from Van Houten Street, was Mrs. Dalling's 
 millinery parlor and fancy goods and dress trimmings empor- 
 ium. Nearby was the dry goods store conducted by Towle and 
 Van Dyke, and Michael Moss, a druggist, was located at 113 
 Main Street. 
 
 H. A. Williams was Mayor of Paterson, David Burnett, 
 Recorder and George Magennis, City Clerk. 
 
 Excise matters were placed in the hands of Judges, elected 
 from each of the Five wards. There were ten Aldermen, 
 elected, two from each district, the Fifth, North, South, East 
 and West Wards. The City Hall was located in the Blauvelt 
 Building on Main Street, also known as the Old Town Clock 
 Building, between Ellison Street and Congress Street, now 
 Market Street. When the Old Town Clock structure v/as 
 destroyed by fire, December 14, 1871, the City Hall was 
 moved to Washington Street, the present site of Police Head- 
 quarters, in a building formerly occupied as a residence by 
 Aaron S. Pennington. It was also the home of the Post Office. 
 
 IN A NEW FIELD OF ENDEAVOR. 
 
 The war over, the city eventually returned to its normal 
 and Mr. Barnert continued in business steadily expanding from 
 year to year. Mr. Barnert, was however always on the look- 
 out for opportunities to invest in real estate, 
 
 "I remember," said he recently while in a retrospective 
 mood, "that I could have bought all of Main Street on one 
 side of the street from Market Street down to Ellison Street, 
 forty-seven years ago, for $100 a foot front. I bought the 
 property where the Five and Ten Cent Store is now located for 
 $50,000 and people thought I was crazy, that something was 
 wrong in my head. 
 
 25 
 
"Samuel Van Saun was one of my best friends. He had 
 the property where the Boston store now stands. The property 
 was composed of stores, little one story places and you had to 
 climb four steps to get into them. There was a store right in 
 the middle of Van Houten Street, before that thoroughfare 
 was cut through. I was interested in a business on the oppos- 
 ite side of the street. I used to play checkers with Uncle 
 *'Sammy" every night. He was continually grumbling because 
 his tenants would "trim" him out of a month's rent. He got 
 fifteen dollars a month for the property. One night in particu- 
 lar while at a game of checkers he resumed his grumbling and 
 I said to him, 'I will rent that property from you; I will pay 
 you thirty dollars a month, but I want you to give me a lease 
 for ten or twelve years.' 
 
 "Mr. Van Saun said that the proposition was agreeable to 
 him. He then had his lawyer draw a lease for twelve years at 
 thirty dollars a month rental. I got a couple of men, jacked 
 up the building, put a cellar underneath and secured tenants 
 to occupy the stores at fifty dollars a month. That is where I 
 erred — the rent was far too cheap. I raised it to seventy-five 
 dollars a month the second year and the third year the rent was 
 one thousand two hundred dollars. 
 
 "After a while the tax assessors discovered what rent 
 was being paid for the building and they boosted the taxes. I 
 was paying three hundred and sixty dollars a year for my lease 
 and the tenants were paying me twelve hundred dollars. Mr. 
 Van Saun had to pay the increased taxes. Do you know that 
 he would'nt speak to me afterward. 
 
 "Property sold cheap in Paterson forty-seven years ago. 
 One day I came home to dinner and I could'nt eat. My mother 
 noticed my apparent indisposition and asked anxiously 'What 
 is the matter, Nathan?' I told her that I had had an oppor- 
 tunity that day to become a very rich man. I had the money 
 but I could'nt take it out of my business. My mother said to 
 me, 'Nathan, if you could buy an ox for a penny and you 
 
 26 
 
didn't have the penny, wouldn't it be rather expensive? You 
 go ahead and eat your dinner.' The property I then had in 
 mind was just above St. Boniface's Church on Main Street. 
 There were six acres, belonging to the Rafferty estate. I 
 could have bought the six acres for six hundred dollars. That 
 is what the father of Benjamin Kent, the druggist paid for 
 those acres." 
 
 Mr. Barnert continued in mercantile life until 1878, when 
 he retired in order to devote his attention to his extensive real 
 estate interests. In this field of endeavor, Mr. Barnert has 
 also succeeded. With his knowledge of the popular welfare 
 of what the people want and with rare foresight, Mr. Barnert 
 applied a part of his capital to the founding of a new industry 
 in Paterson, that of furnishing supplies for paper mills. He 
 formed the Annandale Screen Plate Co. Associated in this 
 enterprise with Mr. Barnert were Robert A. Haley, and 
 William C. Martin. Mr. Barnert retired from this company 
 in 1893- 
 
 Mr. Barnert, ever on the lookout for benefits for his city, 
 has been one of the most potent factors of his generation in the 
 promotion of the material interests of Paterson. He was one 
 of the first to undertake the erection of great modern mill 
 structures as a speculative project, and how well these hopes 
 were realized can well be attested in numerous ways today. 
 The first of his great structures, which still stands as a monu- 
 ment to his business sagacity is the Barnert mill, at the corner 
 of Railroad Avenue and Grand Street and Dale Avenue, com- 
 pleted in 1882. 
 
 27 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 MIRIAM BARNERT. 
 
 On September 2, 1863, Mr. Barnert married Miriam 
 Phillips, daughter of Henry L. and Jane (Chapman) Phillips. 
 Born in 1837, in Chelsea, England, she had come to this 
 country when a young girl and for some years the family 
 lived on Forty-Second Street, New York City. Her father 
 was, at the time, a furrier on Grand Street, New York, and 
 owned property on Main Street, Paterson, where Quackenbush 
 Si Co. is now located. 
 
 That Mr. Barnert owes as much of his success to Miriam 
 Barnert as he does to his own endeavors, he has often stated. 
 What aspirations, ambitions, ideals he held were strengthened 
 by her gentleness, her soothing touch, her magnetic personality, 
 her nobility of character. The couple were happily mated. 
 Through the splendid spirit, the kindly administrations of that 
 charming woman, the granite texture of his nature gradually 
 underwent a change, followed by a rich vein of imagination, 
 poetry and romance. Over their intense identification of the 
 present, hovered the mellow afterglow twilight of the past. 
 Pathos, research, logic, wit, humor, knowledge of mankind 
 were her instruments and she played them all for the best 
 service to humanity. 
 
 Like the Baroness de Rothschild, Miriam Barnert was the 
 friend of all members of the Israelitish race. Many times had 
 the press published news of the apprehension of poor Jewish 
 peddlers for selling wares without licenses. Later In the day, 
 Mrs. Barnert's carriage would stop st the police station and the 
 fine of the peddler paid. Usually Mrs. Barnert would send for 
 the unfortunate man and try to ascertain his condition. Were 
 he poor, Mrs. Barnert would present him with a purse of money 
 
 29 
 
and send him on his way with her best wishes. Was there a 
 sick of ailing family of the Jewish faith in Paterson, the 
 carriage of Mrs. Barnert would be seen at the door and money, 
 provisions and delicacies would pour in. 
 
 The same spirit of philanthropy animated Miriam Barnert 
 in her family life; she was devoted to her nephews and nieces 
 and a constant watcher of their welfare. In the fraternal world 
 she was the dominant spirit. In various entertainments planned 
 for charity, Mrs. Barnert was always in the lead. She was 
 an excellent impromptu speaker and her advice and instruc- 
 tions were invariably complied with. 
 
 When Miriam Barnert's life-long battle ended on Sun- 
 day afternoon, March 31, 1901, men, women and children 
 mourned her. They had lost a friend, whom they had deeply 
 revered, one upon whom they had placed so much reliance and 
 faith, a woman whose charity was unbounded and whose 
 sympathy had quickened the pulses of those with whom she 
 had come in contact. And what of her life long partner, 
 whose sorrows and joys she had shared? Ordinary measures 
 of estimate, sterotyped terms of descriptions are instruments 
 which fail in this analysis. The intense love, the admiration, 
 the reverence for Miriam Barnert have found expression in 
 the handsome memorials which have been built and which are 
 in the building today. 
 
 How well Miriam Barnert was beloved can be judged 
 when it is said that for the first time in its history, a woman 
 was buried from the Barnert Temple an unusual honor, for, 
 none but women, who have distinguished their lives by learn- 
 ing, benevolence or holiness, are accorded this privilege. 
 
 At the home on Broadway and at the Temple, thousands, 
 rich and poor, came to pay homage to their friend and bene- 
 factor. The funeral service was in keeping with her lovable 
 character — unostentatious. At the Temple, the Rev. Dr. A. 
 S. Isaacs, rabbi of the congregation, delivered a most intimate 
 eulogy. He was assisted by the Rev. Raphael Benjamin, of 
 
 30 
 
New York City. There was no floral display, a simple cluster 
 of forget-me-nots being the only adornment on the casket of 
 a woman, whose life had made adornment unnecessary and 
 whose memory will live through the years to come. 
 
 The bearers were Nathan Fleischer, Leopold Meyer, 
 Simon Opet, David Bohm, Marcus Cohn, Phillip Katz, 
 Alexander Simon and Jacob Levy. 
 
 On the heights of Mount Nebo, looking down the valley 
 of dead in Laurel Grove, is an imposing tomb, where is hidden 
 the mortal frame work of her 
 
 Who gave her honors to the world again, 
 
 Her iblessed part to Heaven and sleeps in peace. 
 
 EDITOR van's tribute. 
 
 ("Editor Van" the late Orrin Vanderhoven was an inti- 
 mate friend of the Barnert family. He was a conspicious 
 figure in Passaic County for several decades, at one time being 
 proprietor of the Paterson Guardian and of late years and 
 until his death having contributed articles to the Paterson 
 News under the heading "Editor Van's Series." The follow- 
 ing appreciation was published in the Paterson Evening News, 
 issue of Saturday, September 26, 1902, under "Editor Van's 
 Series.") 
 
 The good women mentioned in sacred writ, the honored 
 women of ancient Greece, and the noble matrons of Rome, 
 have left memories more enduring than monuments of stone 
 or tablets of brass. In these days we have just as true and 
 faithful wives and mothers in our own land as the former ages 
 or older worlds ever saw. 
 
 We can cherish the remembrance of maidens and matrons 
 as devoted as Joan D'Arc, or the Lady of Lourdes, and as 
 sacred to us as any who were ever led to a sacrifice at the 
 stake. 
 
 Last Sunday evening, April 20, 1902, a tribute of affection 
 and love for a noble woman was displayed in the Barnert 
 
 31 
 
Memorial Temple, in the architectural stone edifice, corner of 
 Straight Street and Broadway. It was not a tablet but a 
 most chaste and artistic work of art, which is so set as to 
 place its beautiful lights and shades, as a window to relieve 
 the eyes of all those who love to worship, here before the ever- 
 living and true God. It was a presentation from the husband 
 of Miriam Barnert, whose charity may truly be spoken of as 
 extending like a ladder of Jacob, from earth to heaven. 
 
 In good deeds all her life was spent, and hei charity had 
 no limit and her sympathy for those in sickness and distress, a 
 few parallels. Her first work in this country was to so organ- 
 ize those of her faith as to render extreme poverty or neglect 
 impossible. In sickness, no matter how difficult or contagious, 
 she was there, and none of the very poor were thrown out to 
 the public charge. She, with her willing helpers, was constantly 
 making up clothing for the worthy poor and the children, 
 even of the thriftless and profligate, were not neglected. In 
 all the Hebrew Benevolent Organizations she was the moving 
 spirit, and even as Joshua's hands were held up, so she held up 
 the hands of others who grew faint or weary in the work. 
 
 She was a cheerful light in the world and did not con- 
 fine herself to her own blood and race, but was just as kindly 
 and generously disposed toward all sects and races, and she 
 never tired in doing good. Such was Miriam Barnert, whose 
 grieving husband last Sunday evening had deposited as a me- 
 mento of her saintly character that beautiful testimonial in 
 the rear of the rostrum of the Memorial Temple, as a silent 
 and lasting witness of her angelic devotion and godly earth 
 work. 
 
 It is well that the enduring virtues of such a woman 
 should be kept before the eyes of the people in perpetual re- 
 membrance that others may strive to attain that perfection of 
 nature which served to embellish the character of Miriam 
 Barnert. It is helpful to think of one so lovely in every 
 trait and so free from blemish, and ^\'hose whole life was given 
 
 32 
 
most sacredly to the duties she so unselfishly and zealously 
 performed. 
 
 It is proper for one who for the last fifty years was 
 acquainted with the Phillips family, when they had their resi- 
 dence and store on Grand Street, New York, to write these 
 paragraphs, for he was a recipient of many kindnesses. A finer 
 father as a citizen and business man could not be found, nor 
 a more kindly mother and obedient daughter. They were 
 frequently in the store and never were any of these idle for 
 even in those days they were never without something to do, 
 if not for themselves, for a neighbor. Industry to them was 
 natural and it was a duty inherited by the Barnerts on both 
 sides, and when the old people at last faded away and died in 
 Nathan Barnert's home, it was a parting, sad for even a 
 passing friend to see although their whitened hairs went down 
 with love and honor to the grave. We had seen them in their 
 commendable and honest pride, in the full glory of their 
 strength, and to bid adieu to these old landmarks is ever 
 sorrowful; but the life of Miriam Barnert was so bright and 
 hopeful and her death was so sudden and unexpected, and was 
 such a loss to the sick and poor, that it seemed as if she were 
 needed here; but God loves a submissive spirit, and if ever a 
 soul deserved a transition from earth to heaven, it was this 
 woman, who was an angel of goodness, until God in His 
 wisdom said, "Come Unto Me." 
 
 TRIBUTE FROM THE CONGREGATION b'nAT JESHURUN. 
 
 At a general meeting of the congregation B'nai Jeshurun, 
 Paterson, New Jersey, held in the vestry rooms of the Barnert 
 Memorial Temple, April 14, 1901, the following preamble and 
 resolutions were unanimously adopted: 
 
 Inasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God to remove from 
 earthly usefulness our revered friend, Mrs. Mary Barnert, the 
 beloved wife of our esteemed president, Honorable Nathan 
 Barnert, by her death our president has sustained an irrepa- 
 
 33 
 
rable loss and the companionship of a worthy helpmate 
 whose counsels, amiable qualities and womanly virtues for 
 nearly a score of years, made home a haven of rest, joy and 
 happiness. 
 
 In her demise our congregation loses a valuable co- 
 worker, the community a woman of inestimable worth and 
 irreproachable character, the widows and orphans a true friend, 
 our religion a faithful daughter of Israel and the world, a 
 woman of generous benevolence. 
 
 Therefore, Be It Resolved, that we extend to our presi- 
 dent the Honorable Nathan Barnert our heartfelt sympathy 
 and may God in His mercy grant him the strength to bear 
 his affliction, having full faith in Him who doeth all things 
 well. Be it further 
 
 Resolved, that these resolutions be spread in full on the 
 minutes and a copy thereof suitably engrossed signed by the 
 officers and trustees with the seal of the congregation affixed 
 be presented to the bereaved husband, the Honorable Nathan 
 Barnert. 
 
 Jacob Levy^ Vice-President, 
 Nathan Fleischer, Treasurer, 
 David Bilder, Secretary. 
 
 HEBREW ladies' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY PAYS 
 TOUCHING TRIBUTE. 
 
 Tribute to the memory of our President, Miriam Barnert: 
 Bared in sorrow and grief stricken by the irreparable loss 
 which the Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society has sustained in 
 the death of its President, Sister Miriam Barnert, the members 
 assembled in order to place on record what must needs be an in- 
 adequate tribute to the memory of her whose loving devotion, 
 untiring energy and unflagging interest more than to all other 
 causes combined the success of this society and the faithful per- 
 formance of philanthropic and benevolent work which it has 
 undertaken, has been due. 
 
 34 
 
The announcement of her death -vill bring sorrow to the 
 large circle in which she moved and where her energy, her 
 generosity and her clear headed charity won for her the deep 
 esteem of her associates. Her death will sadden her relatives 
 and friends and be a great loss to her husband and to the 
 society whose presiding officer she had been since its organiza- 
 tion. Those who will mour her most deeply will be the 
 deserving poor, for whom her hand was ever outstretched and 
 for whom her purse was ever open. To these Sister Barnert's 
 life was a blessing. 
 
 Her memory will be an inspiration to them and to all who 
 had the privilege of knowing her. 
 
 To the bereaved husband we extend our heartfelt sympathy, 
 and while we know that no expression of ours can abate his 
 grief, we pray that He, who alone can temper hio sorrow, will 
 comfort him. 
 
 Paterson, New Jersey, April i6, 1901. 
 
 Rose Bohm^ 
 Marian Feder^ 
 Jennie Diamond, 
 
 Comjiiittee. 
 
 MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL WINDOW. 
 
 On April 20, 1902, a beautiful memorial window in honor 
 of Miriam Barnert was placed in the side wall of the Barnert 
 Memorial Temple, the gift of the Temple trustees. The 
 window is of hexagonal shape and is six feet high and seven feet 
 wide. Its coloring consists of beautiful shades of gold, blue and 
 red. At the top of the stained glass are Moorish ornamenta- 
 tions and directly underneath are two simple scrolls bearing the 
 inscription: "In Memory of Miriam Barnert." 
 
 EDITORIAL TRIBUTE, MORNING CALL. 
 Paterson, N. J., October 20, 1914. 
 Perhaps you did not know Miriam Barnert personally. If 
 you had known her and her wide range of charities that covered 
 
 35 
 
a period of forty years of this city's history, you would have 
 been impressed by the greatness of her heart. 
 
 Though a dozen years ago she passed to the Great Beyond, 
 her memory still lives. And now, more than ever, it will live, 
 for yesterday was laid the cornerstone of a great institution 
 to her memory — The Miriam Barnert Hospital — a structure 
 that will occupy one of the finest blocks on Broadway and cost 
 a quarter of a million dollars. It is the gift of her husband — • 
 former Mayor Nathan Barnert — to perpetuate her long and 
 noble life. 
 
 Miriam Phillips came of a wealthy Hebrew family, one 
 of her brothers being twice Lord Mayor of London, while 
 another brother had filled the office of a London Alderman for 
 any successive terms. But her life was largely lived in this 
 country, the most of it in this city. A domestic woman who 
 believed in a home, a patriotic woman who believed in the 
 American flag and government, a spcial woman who believed in 
 human relations; not the relations of the rich to the rich, or the 
 poor to the poor, or the educated to the educated, but the rela- 
 tion of humanity to humanity, without regard to condition or 
 circumstance of position; a woman believing in those common, 
 homely, eternal virtues that makes life rich and strong and sweet 
 and wholesome. 
 
 She went through the world doing good, leaving behind 
 her a path of light. It was not her wealth, though she had 
 plenty of it; it was not position that counted with her; It was 
 the use of wealth; the use of position, its faithfulness, its faith, 
 its hope. 
 
 The Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital will soon open its 
 doors to all suffering humanity and add another monument to 
 the woman whose life impressed us by the greatness of her 
 charities. 
 
 36 
 
MIRIAM BARNERT. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 IN PUBLIC LIFE. 
 
 Now we come to the public life of Mr. Barnert. His 
 exemplary honesty and uprighteousness did not fail him in public 
 station. In public as in private life, he has ever been the same 
 strict adherent of truth, the same champion of justice and the 
 same unswerving advocate of honest means and honest methods. 
 Mr. Barnert from his young manhood had taken a deep interest 
 in public affairs. With him this inclination seemed to be a 
 special genius for public and political life. 
 
 His fellow citizens honored him, and he honored them in 
 return in the faithful and conspicious discharge of official 
 duties. Paterson, in those days was naturally a Republican 
 city and notwithstanding that the Republicans were in the 
 control in public office, Mr. Barnert, a sturdy Democrat then, 
 as he is now, was delegated by the Board of Aldermen in 1870, 
 to make a special investigation of the city's finances and tax 
 accounts. At that time there had been undefined but general 
 belief in the popular mind that the city government was being 
 conducted exclusively for the benefit of the politicians and their 
 friends. That dishonesty was rampant, was freely rumored 
 and there were surface indications that certain persons, entrusted 
 with the conduct of municipal affairs, were indifferent as long 
 as they were not molested. 
 
 That was the condition of affairs when Mr. Barnert 
 began his investigation. Mr. Barnert soon found that he had 
 a tremendous task in hand, and despite apparently insurmounta- 
 ble obstacles, the work was at last finished. So thorough was 
 this work, that the city prosecuted a number of officials who 
 finally landed in the New Jersey State Prison. 
 
 37 
 
Gradually, Mr. Barnert increased his sphere of activity 
 and influence. He became a power in the politics of the city. 
 His political acumen became traditional. His loyalty was a 
 constant inspiration. His counsels were listened to in the 
 executive chamber and his voice was heeded. It was therefore 
 not surprising that the citizens of Paterson finally prevailed 
 upon him to relinquish the comfort of private life for the toil 
 and moil of public office. 
 
 The Sixth Ward, was then as strongly Republican as is its 
 lleanings toward the Democracy today. Mr. Barnert was given 
 the Democratic nomination for Alderman from that ward 
 and his opponent was **Bob" McCullough. Mr. Barnert and 
 his supporters waged an unrelenting campaign and in the 
 Spring, of 1876, he was sent to the City Hall, defeating Mr. 
 McCullough by a handsome majority. Mr. Barnert served 
 for two years and stood the test so well, that his constituents on 
 April 14, 1879, returned him to the Council Chamber for 
 another term. 
 
 Mr. Barnert had always opposed trickery and jobbery in 
 the city council and through his watchfulness of municipal 
 affairs had annually saved thousands of dollars to the tax- 
 payers. The proceedings of the Aldermen were always enlivened 
 by his presence and while his enemies poured their wrath on 
 him, the citizens generally admired and praised him and won- 
 dered at his unyielding fight against graft and grafters. The 
 public requirements of American character have been increas- 
 ing in their intensity from year to year. When a public man 
 is brought in contact with the universal observation of an 
 office such as held by Mr. Barnert, he undergoes the close, 
 careful inspection of all classes of people. Now when it can 
 be said that a man such as he, brought under this strict lens 
 of observation, has proved himself worthy of the confidence 
 of the people, what higher tribute can the tongue of man 
 pronounce ? 
 
 38 
 
NOMINATION AND ELECTION. 
 
 But the citizens of Paterson were not yet satisfied. There 
 was an insistent demand that Mr. Barnert run for Mayor. 
 He finally acquiesced to the wishes of his friends and per- 
 mitted the mention of his name as candidate in the election 
 the following Spring. 
 
 Mr. Barnert was nominated at the Democratic City Con- 
 vention held in the Germania Assembly Rooms, Market Street, 
 on Wednesday evening, April 5, 1883. The convention was 
 called to order at 8.20 o'clock by the late Thomas Flj^nn. 
 William J. St. Lawrence was elected Secretary and Dr. Quin, 
 permanent Chairman. 
 
 Nathan Barnert and Dr. Quin were nominated. The 
 First, Second, Third and Fourth Wards voted for Mr. Barn- 
 ert, the Fifth for Dr. Quin, and the Sixth, Seventh and 
 Eighth for Mr. Barnert who was made the unanimous choice 
 of the convention when Dr. Quin withdrew. 
 
 Mr. Barnert's opponent was David T. Gillmore, Republi- 
 can with Mr. Wiggin running on the Prohibition ticket. The 
 campaign throughout that week was a spectacular one with 
 nightly meetings held in the old Apollo Hall on Van 
 Houten Street, now the Lyceum Theatre, and in the highways 
 and byways of the town. There were bitter recriminations on 
 all sides, friends of both candidates equally raising the cry of 
 ''boodle" funds, to influence the election one way or the other. 
 Detectives were employed to ferret out those guilty of bribery, 
 so bitter and unrelenting was the struggle. 
 
 Finally, election day arrived, Monday, April 9, 1883. 
 There was a rush to the polls. The result swayed one way and 
 then the other. Toward the late afternoon, Mr. Barnert 
 suddenly gained new strength and spurted ahead of his rival, 
 and until the polls closed the result was never in doubt. The 
 final vote stood, for Mr. Barnert, 4,327; for Mr. Gillmore, 
 3,459, and for Mr. Wiggin, 292. Mr. Barnert's plurality 
 was 868. 
 
 39 
 
On the day following the election, Prosecutor Eugene 
 Stevenson, now a Vice-Chancellor in the New Jersey Court 
 of Chancery, made the following statement: 
 
 ''It has been the cheapest election on both sides that ever 
 took place in Paterson. Both parties had detectives employed 
 and I had detectives watching them both. I have not heard of 
 a case of suspected bribery. It was the most honest election 
 we have ever had." 
 
 Said the Paterson Guardian, Democratic, which paper 
 had warmly espoused Mr. Barnert's cause: "It is the first 
 time in the history of the Republican party in this city that they 
 were ever frightened out of buying the purchasable vote. There 
 was a large corruption fund raised, but they were afraid to 
 use it. Mr. Barnert spent no money except to pay for his 
 printing. Paterson wheels into the Democratic line. Greet- 
 ings to Chicago, Cincinnatti, St. Louis and Cleveland." And 
 two days later: "Mayor Barnert has only been elected one 
 day and yet Broadway has been cleared up already." 
 
 One of the political hits of the campaign which was widely 
 quoted was " 'And Nathan said unto David, thou art the 
 man' — That's going to get left." 
 
 40 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 MAYOR NATHAN BARNERT. 
 
 Although elected to the highest office within the gift of 
 the people of Paterson, Mr. Barnert was not exultant. He 
 knew there was a duty to be performed and he faced that 
 duty, rockribbed by integrity and probity. There was no 
 entrance for malignity and vindictiveness, but stern resolve 
 to honestly administer his duty. The enmity evolved by the 
 heat of partisanship and political strife passed by him as the 
 wind. The voice of duty alone prevailed. Mr. Barnert was 
 not troubled with illusions nor bound by theories. He was 
 practical, yet sympathetic; a master workman, determined to 
 do his best and seeing to it that his fellow men in office did 
 likewise, in accordance with the sworn oaths they had taken. 
 
 One week following the election, April i6, 1883, Mayor 
 Barnert read his first message to the Board of Aldermen. The 
 City Hall was then located on Washington Street, the present 
 site of Police Headquarters. Mr. Barnert's first recommenda- 
 tion was an appeal for the erection of a commodious park 
 "where the laboring men of our city, with their wives and 
 children after their labors are ended, may resort to for comfort 
 and refreshment. They would not only be useful for refresh- 
 ment and ornamentation, but would also furnish a place where 
 sick children and convalescent children of the city might be 
 taken to enjoy fresh air and pure water." 
 
 Mr. Barnert had a further recommendation that the city 
 ''Construct at proper places free public hydrants where pure 
 water can be obtained by the people for themselves and horses." 
 
 The Mayor, pointed to the obstruction of the "Horse 
 Railroad," declaring that the corporation should be compelled 
 to comply with the provisions of its charter in the matter of 
 
 41 
 
street repairs. This was followed by a recommendation that 
 the city should undertake the construction of a city hospital, 
 for the treatment of isolated cases. In referring to the message 
 the Guardian said: "Mayor Barnert's first message has several 
 points deserving commendation. The principal one is its 
 brevity. It is the short, sharp, terse, practical communication 
 that we might expect to come from a business man. He says 
 more within the limits of a column than some mayors have 
 expressed in several columns. Mayor Barnert, a year hence 
 cannot make his message any better by making it longer 
 than this." 
 
 Mayor Barnert, ever guarding the city's interests, was in 
 constant attendance at meetings of the Board of Aldermen and 
 frequently made suggestions and more frequently participated 
 in the debates. That there were some city fathers who evidently 
 had the idea that the only duty devolving upon the Mayor, 
 was the reading of his annual message, became manifest In the 
 course of several spirited meetings. There was a rumbling of 
 rebellion and how serious was the situation can be judged from 
 the following reprinted from the Guardian, of May 19, 1883: 
 
 "There are several Aldermen who think that the Com- 
 mittee on Licenses should report to the Board before licenses 
 are granted. While there is a little question about this being 
 the correct Idea, yet it is very doubtful if enough votes can be 
 obtained to secure its adoption. Some of the Republican Alder- 
 men think the Mayor has no right to participate in the dis- 
 cussions of meetings of the Board of Aldermen. "If he don't 
 let up we're going to sit down on him," said one of them. 
 That would make some fun, for Mayor Barnert is not a man 
 who can easily be sat on." 
 
 MAYOR BARNERT BEGINS REFORMS. 
 
 Mr. Barnert soon found he had a herculean task in his 
 reform movements as the City Charter practically gave him 
 
 42 
 
no power and the Republican Aldermen as a result persisted 
 in ignoring him. 
 
 There was faulty inspection, stupid bungling work in the 
 laying of sewers and grades of streets, notably Broadway and 
 Clay Street. Mayor Barnert made a personal investigation 
 of the Broadway sewer where no connections had been made 
 to the side walk. It was the old story, the work had to be 
 torn up and done properly. Mayor Barnert insisted wherever 
 it could be done all supplies should be purchased after due 
 advertisement and should go to the lowest bidder. He objected 
 to borrowing money at six per cent from the banks to meet 
 maturing notes when the city money was lying idle in the 
 same banks. He insisted that Aldermanic committees should 
 meet in accordance with their rules. He held that sewers 
 should be built of the best material and sufficiently adequate to 
 meet the needs of the future. He suspended a city official for 
 carelessness which action was approved of by the Board of 
 Aldermen. He had a change made in separating the sane 
 inmates of the Almshouse from the insane. He compelled 
 the superintendent to keep proper books of accounts of all 
 transactions relating to the city's farm. 
 
 On one occasion Mayor Barnert refused to sign bonds 
 for the Eastside sewer, contending that it should be constructed 
 of brick and not of cement. The matter was taken to court 
 and the Mayor eventually won. It was estimated that the 
 Mayor had saved the city over $100,000 in this matter alone. 
 
 Interests inimical to Mayor Barnert set up a howl and 
 charges were made that "the Mayor was too hasty." Mayor 
 Barnert promptly made his enemies run to cover and in an 
 excellently written article to the Paterson Press, defended his 
 position, if any defense was necessary. How the Mayor stood 
 in the matter was clearly told in these trenchant words: 
 
 "Now I am fighting the faults of the system, not any 
 incumbent and it does the man no good to attempt to put in- 
 dignity upon me. What I am; and the value of my word can 
 
 43 
 
be vouched for by the good people of the community, who have 
 known me for thirty years. My existence does not depend 
 upon 'public pap' nor the caprice of politicians. I can get 
 along comfortably without the 'respect' of him (referring to an 
 inspector in charge of some city work) and his ilk, when 
 conscious of no wrong. A comparatively obscure stranger, he 
 cannot make me swerve, even single handed, if necessary, from 
 my purpose to fight loose methods and mismanagement, no 
 matter whose toes are trod on. 
 
 "My 'political aspirations' are overestimated^ Public 
 office has no charm for me. To be serviceable to the people 
 who have put their trust in me as executive, is my aim. It is 
 my only object to accomplish a more careful, honest, systematic 
 method of business." 
 
 Neither the partiality of friendship nor the interests of 
 individuals warped his judgment or tinctured his decision. 
 Through all his official acts that peculiar quality of clear- 
 sightedness seemed to clothe him with wisdom and directed him 
 with unerring certainty. Courage of a high order, inflexible 
 determination were manifest. The rigors of office did not 
 harden the softness of the Mayor's heart. The fountain of 
 human sympathy on the contrary was ever warm and living, 
 and he preserved an open mind not only to the necessities of the 
 public but also the needs of the individual. 
 
 THE NEEDY NOT FORGOTTEN. 
 
 To care for his fellowman is a task highly congenial to 
 Mr. Barnert's soul. His donations of his official salary as 
 Mayor to the hospitals and the poor, irrespective of creed, 
 surprised the public and even his enemies. It was an example 
 of political liberality that is rarely met with. 
 
 The wolf had been kept away from many a poor man's 
 door by his helping hand and the recipient of his bounty often 
 remains ignorant of his benefactor's name, as often the world 
 at large. "The blessed of the Almighty are the rich who have 
 
 44 
 
the humility of the poor and the poor who have the magnani- 
 mity of the rich." 
 
 David Henry, of the David Henry Building Company, 
 told this incident which took place during Mayor Barnert's 
 first administration. 
 
 "One winter," said Mr. Henry, *'I had my sympathies 
 attracted to a poor Swede, whose family through an accident 
 was deprived of support. They were in grievous distress. Sick- 
 ness and hunger prevailed in the little household." Mr. Henry 
 told Mr. Barnert of the circumstances and the Mayor said: 
 
 "I've a month's salary now due, which I was about to 
 give as usual to some charitable institution; but I guess that 
 it will do as much good in this family as anywhere else." 
 Mr. Henry got the money, went to the poor Swede's house 
 and handed it to his wife. The poor woman could hardly 
 understand this good fortune and utterly refused to receive the 
 money, saying they would all be murdered if they kept so much 
 money about them. She would not take more than $4 at a 
 time and made Mr. Henry keep the rest, and to give her $4 
 each week. Concluded Mr. Henry, "that distressed family 
 had been living on that money all winter." 
 
 Mr. Barnert's various activities in the fields of philan- 
 thropy will perhaps never be known. No distinction of his 
 successful life is more characteristic of the man, his ideals, his 
 aims and ambitions, than the fact that his success is shared 
 by the community and is participated in by his fellow citizens 
 in all walks of life. It was his early identification with the 
 popular welfare, his knowledge of what the people want, his 
 power both to lead and to express public opinion, which 
 enabled him to triumph over obstacles and which has given 
 him the wide and commanding influence of today. There is no 
 affectation in Mr. Barnert. Charity and goodness of heart 
 are natural to and exercised by him in an unostentatious way. 
 In his intercourse with men there is also prevalent a spirit of 
 
 45 
 
kindness and good will. To one and all his deportment is 
 amiable, unassuming. 
 
 How well these official duties were guarded can be noted 
 from the records. During his administration an Alderman was 
 indicted for receiving money from a butcher for giving him a 
 contract for supplies. Another city officer was indicted for 
 embezzlement and malfeasance in office, a superintendent was 
 indicted on serious charges, another city board secretary was 
 indicted for malfeasance in office. Mr. Barnert's conduct was 
 just and honorable, his dignity spurned all that was worthless 
 and mean and his virtues lent a charm that won him a legion 
 of friends. 
 
 With this proud record before them, it was therefore 
 natural for the honest voters of the city, at the end of his first 
 term in office, to demand that Mayor Barnert be nominated and 
 elected for a second term to continue the work of reform. 
 
 There was great rejoicing when Mr. Barnert finally con- 
 sented to run for another term, this determination to continue 
 in office if possible, becoming stronger as *'the interests" grew 
 bolder and defied him. The Republicians placed in the field 
 their best available candidate, Charles D. Beckwith, who was 
 highly honored and esteemed in the community. It was a bold 
 master stroke the Republicians played and with the aid of 
 every agency known only in those days, encompassed the defeat 
 of Mr. Barnert. 
 
 This was in the Spring of 1885. In the following year, 
 a delegation of prominent Democrats called at Mr. Barnert's 
 home on Broadway and persuaded him to take the nomination 
 for Congress. Mr. Barnert, however, at that time had under- 
 taken an extensive program of charitable works and was also 
 busy retrieving the business interests neglected somewhat in 
 the heat of the campaign. Through the influence of Mr. 
 Barnert, the nomination was given to Mr. Cornelius Cadmus, 
 who was elected to that high office. 
 
 46 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 RE-ELECTION OF MAYOR BARNERT. 
 
 In 1888, the people of Paterson finally persuaded Mr. 
 Barnert to reenter politics being accorded the mayoralty nomi- 
 nation of his party, opposing Peter Ryle, Republican. 
 
 The Democratic City Convention was held in the Ger- 
 mania Assembly rooms, on Market Street, on Monday evening, 
 April I, 1889. It was 8.15 o'clock when Frank McCaffrey 
 ascended the platform and read the call. On motion of ex- 
 Sheriff William Douglas, Alderman Thomas McCoy of the 
 Second Ward was chosen temporary Chairman and John J. 
 Brady of the Seventh Ward, temporary Secretary. 
 
 When the convention was called to order, the committee 
 on permanent organization reported in favor of William J. 
 Douglas, of the First Ward for permanent Chairman and John 
 J. Brady of the Seventh Ward for permanent Secretar>^ This 
 report was unanimously adopted. Nominations for Mayor were 
 declared to be in order. The First, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth 
 Wards named Nathan Barnert, the Second Ward, Ex-Judge 
 Frank Van Cleve and Barnert, the Sixth Ward, Van Cleve 
 and Ex-Judge Elliott and the Seventh Ward, Aldermen Rj^an 
 and Fanning. When the name of the Alderman from the 
 Eighth Ward was called, he at once stated he wished to with- 
 draw in favor of Mr. Barnert. The first ballot resulted as 
 follows : 
 
 The First, Fourth, Fifth and Eighth Wards, five 
 votes each for Mr. Barnert; the Second Ward, three for 
 Mr. Van Cleve and two for Mr. Barnert; the Third Ward, 
 three for Mr. Barnert and two for Mr. Van Cleve; the Sixth 
 Ward, five for Mr. Van Cleve; the Seventh Ward, five for 
 Mr. Ryan. Alderman Ryan immediately withdrew his name 
 
 47 
 
in favor of Mr. Barnert, whose nomination was then made 
 unanimous. 
 
 Mr. Barnert at his home was about to retire when Alder- 
 men Fanning and Ryan and Mr. James C. Sigler, called on 
 him, informed him of his nomination and requested his appear- 
 ance at the hall. 
 Mr. Barnert's Speech of Acceptance of Nomination. 
 
 Although Mr. Barnert had suffered severe pain during 
 an illness of two month's duration, the excitement of the cam- 
 paign, with the harmless "bombast" of his enemies, seemed to 
 have revived his old time buoyancy. As he stood on the plat- 
 form, the audience quickly noticed a set determination in his 
 expressive eyes which seemed to indicate victory ahead. He 
 raised his hand to enjoin silence and said: 
 
 "Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: To accept this nomi- 
 nation or not, that is the question presented for my consideration. 
 If I were to consult my inclination for rest, my health and 
 comfort and my private affairs, I ought certainly step back 
 into private life. But I have the feeling within me that I 
 ought not desert the cause now, when the success of the 
 hungry pack around the City Hall would embolden them to do 
 bolder acts of plunder." 
 
 Mayor Barnert then launched into a defence of the city 
 charter form of government for Paterson, which was being 
 advocated in the Legislative halls at Trenton, rehearsed the 
 various scandals brought to light during his administration. 
 He continued: 
 
 "I may be stepping on somebody's toes but I cannot help it. 
 Some of our newspaper men belong to cliques and are com- 
 pelled to write at the dictation of their party bosses. One of 
 the main features of the new charter is to do away with this 
 system, as it provides for a commission, which would regulate 
 that part of the city's business in such a way that no news- 
 paper would ever be handicapped by bossism. * * * 
 Now my friends let me tell you right here that I have not 
 
 48 
 
sought this nomination and will now willingly give $500 to the 
 Sister's Hospital and an equal amount to the General Hospital, 
 if you will relieve me and select another candidate. I know I 
 need rest as I have been abused by those rascals in the City 
 Hall. It was the ''ring" connected with the City Government 
 that defeated the new charter, and I am prepared to prove 
 it with the assistance of others who were with me at 
 Trenton. * * * They tell you that I threatened to expose 
 matters and that I have utterly failed to unearth anything 
 that would bring the blush of shame to a Republican cheek. 
 Have I not broken up one of the worst houses that ever 
 existed on the face of the civilized globe? Have I not 
 listened to the pleadings of clergymen and laymen to spare 
 the man who conducted this place? Are you aware that as 
 many as eighty persons of high standing in this city went 
 before the grand jury and defeated justice? * * * ^t 
 the present time there are seven indictments hanging over 
 the head of the man who managed the affairs of the Alms- 
 house, and I have evidence in my possession that would cause 
 twenty-seven more to be issued against him. 
 
 "Now that I have mentioned that institution, allow me a 
 few minutes to explain how the * * * visitors enjoyed life 
 there, in addition to profiting from the toil of the paupers. 
 Knowing that things were crooked at the Almshouse, I con- 
 cluded to make an investigation. One morning I sent a very 
 intelligent pauper there and provided him with a book. Another 
 morning I went to the farm and inquired of the superintendent 
 if he had received any money from the product of the land. 
 Being informed that not one cent was being derived by the 
 city, I told him of my information and advised him to make 
 a return of the money, or I would have him arrested. The 
 next morning Cyrus W. Baldwin, the city treasurer received 
 $90 from that institution. * * *" 
 
 49 
 
RE-NOMINATION RATIFIED. 
 
 The re nomination of Mayor Barnert was ratified amid 
 stirring scenes in the old Turn Hall, Cross and Ellison 
 Streets. It was not strictly a Democratic meeting, but an 
 outpouring of the masses of people having a common interest 
 in the conduct of the municipal government and as administered 
 by Mr. Barnert. 
 
 The meeting was called to order shortly c^fter eight o'clock 
 by Edward Cody, chairman of the Democratic City Com- 
 mittee, who called for nominations for president of the meeting. 
 Albert D. Winfield was selected. The first speaker was lawyer 
 George S. Hilton. He said in part: 
 
 *'Mr. Barnert has devoted his time to seeing that there was 
 no jobbery and I suppose a good many people did not like him. 
 They would much prefer to have him stay away from the City 
 Hall and attend to his private business. What they want is a 
 mere figurehead, a Mayor who will come and go only at the 
 bidding of subordinate officers. But our Republician friends 
 may ask, 'what has the Mayor done?' Well, now suppose that 
 he did not accomplish anything; don't we all know that he is 
 constantly on the watch, and people who know that they are 
 being watched will do less wrong than if they knew nobody 
 was watching them. The Mayor, however, has proved by his 
 discoveries that the Board of Aldermen need watching. He 
 has shown up corruption, something which none of his prede- 
 cessors ever attempted." 
 
 Mr. Hilton then called the attention of the audience to 
 extravangantes in the purchase of harness, horses, and elbows 
 for plumbing at the Almshouse. "These elbows," said Mr. 
 Hilton, ''cost the city $2 apiece when they could have been 
 bought for fifty cents each." 
 
 William B. Gourley, who was then County Prosecutor, 
 also made an address, part of which follows: 
 
 "We are met to-night to ratify the nomination of Nathan 
 Barnert for Mayor and judging from the applause heard here, 
 
 50 
 
we have assurances that he will be successful on next Monday. 
 * * * In a list of delicacies read to you, Mr. Hilton did not 
 say anything of the high seasoned groceries which had been 
 carted o£E to the Almshouse at the expense of the taxpayers. 
 Nor did he tell you of the revelations made by the Grand Jury 
 composed of honest men of both parties. * * * Who told 
 you that old men were put in the cubby hole at the Almshouse 
 and chained to the walls for hours? Was not all this brought 
 to light by Mayor Barnert, and now do the people want to 
 make the city more infamous by failing to re-elect him? Again, 
 who helped to bring to light the charge upon which an indict- 
 ment is now hanging over the head of one Alderman who is a 
 candidate for re-election? * * * I say that good govern- 
 ment requires the success of Nathan Barnert in this campaign." 
 
 Mr. Barnert waged his campaign on the issue of "Munici- 
 pal Reform." Every other question was secondary and sub- 
 servient. The question to be decided was whether a faithful 
 public servant was to be beaten or rewarded for his excellent 
 services to the community. 
 
 The campaign was a spectacular one the same bitter 
 recriminations being hurled by supporters of both candidates 
 and the same methods being employed to encompass Mr. 
 Barnert's defeat, as in the previous pre-election struggle. The 
 political battle was waged right along to the very eve of elec- 
 tion, and although the leaders on both sides made their usual 
 exaggerated predictions for the public, still they had a strong 
 doubt as to the outcome when the ballots had been counted. 
 
 51 
 
The election was held on April 8, 1889, and how close 
 was the vote can be seen from the following table: 
 
 
 
 Barnert 
 
 Ryle 
 
 Beggs 
 
 Ward 
 
 District 
 
 Dem, 
 
 Rep. 
 
 Pro. 
 
 First 
 
 First 
 
 226 
 
 357 
 
 7 
 
 First 
 
 Second 
 
 195 
 
 501 
 
 5 
 
 Second 
 
 First 
 
 285 
 
 457 
 
 13 
 
 Second 
 
 Second 
 
 465 
 
 542 
 
 ID 
 
 Third 
 
 First 
 
 157 
 
 217 
 
 
 Third 
 
 Second 
 
 270 
 
 407 
 
 3 
 
 Third 
 
 Third 
 
 226 
 
 370 
 
 13 
 
 Third 
 
 Fourth 
 
 179 
 
 221 
 
 I 
 
 Fourth 
 
 First 
 
 135 
 
 276 
 
 7 
 
 Fourth 
 
 Second 
 
 238 
 
 454 
 
 5 
 
 Fourth 
 
 Third 
 
 86 
 
 154 
 
 ... 
 
 Fifth 
 
 First 
 
 424 
 
 247 
 
 I 
 
 Fifth 
 
 Second 
 
 567 
 
 465 
 
 4 
 
 Sixth 
 
 First 
 
 149 
 
 248 
 
 2 
 
 Sixth 
 
 Second 
 
 283 
 
 203 
 
 2 
 
 Seventh 
 
 First 
 
 367 
 
 123 
 
 3 
 
 Seventh 
 
 Second 
 
 368 
 
 195 
 
 
 Eighth 
 
 First 
 
 449 
 
 173 
 
 
 Eighth 
 
 Second 
 
 320 
 
 125 
 
 6 
 
 Eighth 
 
 Third 
 
 701 
 
 295 
 
 9 
 
 
 Total 
 
 ..6,090 
 
 6,030 
 
 91 
 
 Maj( 
 
 :)rity for Barnert. . 
 
 52 
 
 ..60. 
 
 
PATERSON DAILY GUARDIAN. 
 Paterson, N. J., April 9, 1889. 
 
 HIS RECORD APPROVED. 
 
 The citizens of Paterson are to be congratulated upon 
 Nathan Barnert's election to the mayoralty. It was a substan- 
 tial triumph for honest municipal government, showing that a 
 public official who does his whole duty, without fear or favor, 
 cannot be deprived of a place in popular confidence by persistent 
 calumnies or beaten at the polls by a profuse expenditure of 
 money. During the recent brief campaign, Mr. Barnert was 
 personally maligned in the most brutal manner, and a larger 
 sum was expended to accomplish his defeat than had ever before 
 been disbursed at a charter election in this city. His victory 
 over mis-representation, money and treachery in the ranks of 
 his own party, was due to the record he made when Mayor 
 of Paterson. The Republican politicians and organs courted 
 this issue, and it brought them disaster. Mr. Barnert was 
 elected Mayor because a majority of the people remembered 
 his former administration of the office, and wished it repeated. 
 They believed that he would be watchful of their interests and 
 earnestly strive to promote the progress of the city. It is 
 greatly to be regretted, however, that the Mayor will not have 
 the cooperation of a Board of Aldermen in political sympathy 
 with him. Properly supported, he could bring about a great 
 many reforms in the administration of municipal affairs and 
 inaugurate a series of improvements which would render 
 Paterson the comfortable home for its residents and the pleas- 
 urable attraction for strangers that its population, wealth and 
 natural advantages should contribute to make it. Mr. Barnert 
 holds that the taxpayers should get a dollar's worth for every 
 dollar entrusted to their official representatives, but he also be- 
 lieves that money judiciously spent for public improvements, 
 is wisely invested. During his previous term as Mayor a 
 
 53 
 
Republican Board of Aldermen maintained an attitude of angry 
 opposition to him, but we hope that the board about to be 
 organized will show good sense and public spirit. 
 
 mayor's message to aldermen. 
 
 During the first year of Mayor Barnert's second adminis- 
 tration, countless faults were found with the "system," efforts 
 were made to rectify conditions generally. That first year's 
 work is best told in Mr. Barnert's annual message to the Board 
 of Aldermen. On March 20, 1890, Mayor Barnert once more 
 called attention to the flaws in the municipal government 
 system, the derelictions of officials and the urgent need for 
 reform. Mayor Barnert deplored the fact that the new Char- 
 ter had not become a reality. 
 
 "Friendly co-operation and not partisanship will attain 
 the best results," he said, adding: "If on some matters we will 
 not think alike, let us strive honestly to reconcile our views 
 and by careful, unceasing devotion to public business achieve 
 successful government. 
 
 "That too many assume the power to expend money is the 
 great defect of our frame of government. Responsibility lacks. 
 Uppermost in the minds of the city is the crying need of 
 reform. For the practical needs of to-day something ought 
 to be effected now, if at all, "by much sloth the building 
 decayeth." 
 
 "Afflicting events were visited upon sister cities, fires, inun- 
 dations, cyclones and epidemics; the Johnstown, Pa., deluge 
 being especially notable for great loss of life, the greatest in 
 modern history. With characteristic generosity our people 
 quickly met the emergency by a handsome contribution of 
 money, food and clothing. We have been spared by a merciful 
 Providence and favored with a gratifying, unprecedented 
 growth; our industries have prospered and our working classes 
 have been employed. To keep pace with our city's rapid 
 
 54 
 
development the outlying districts particularly will demand all 
 our energy. 
 
 "While heartily favoring liberal measures of improvement, 
 waste of money or improper municipal legislation (the rule 
 rather than the exception heretofore) will find in me a stubborn 
 opponent. To induce committees to attend to the routine of 
 the duties has been found impossible; they will not meet regu- 
 larly, as required to examine bills. Irregularity and shiftless- 
 ness, the inevitable result, was lately fruitfully experienced; 
 the sad fall of one officer from a position of public trust to 
 that of an absconder, defaulter, forger; the suspension and 
 removal of another * * * for illegal acts; the pre- 
 sentment of still others for wrong-doing by a grand jury, and 
 exposures in abundance of abuses and excesses in the public 
 service — Almshouse abuses in particular. But a few days ago 
 a case in point came to light. Harness at an exorbitant price 
 was bought for the fire department without the least pretense 
 of authority. One of the committee, weeks after the said pur- 
 chase, comes to the Board meeting to ask for authority. As in 
 the "Gallagher" lamp swindle, so in this and numerous similar 
 cases — first they commit themselves illegally and afterward get 
 the required authority from an indulgent Board. Much can 
 justly be said on this head, would occasion allow. Suffice it to 
 state that no mercantile house would for one moment tolerate 
 such loose methods." 
 
 Referring to an excess of $56,334.68 derived from the 
 revenue from liquor licenses, the Mayor demanded; "What 
 has become of the balance? What public benefit has it 
 wrought? New indulgences, unjustifiable outlays — rather than 
 put the money to the legitimate use of paying our debt. Per- 
 nicious has been the moral effect; every pretext under the sun 
 has been used to obtain "grabs," engineering jobbery, degen- 
 eracy. "Easy comes, easy goes," money with nearly every in- 
 dividual." 
 
 55 
 
That politics also seriously handicapped the police depart- 
 ment, is inferred from the following: 
 
 "This department, if any, is in sad need of reform. Dis- 
 cipline is seriously affected by the influence of political and 
 other causes. To improve our police, a system, independent of 
 political interference, should be provided. 
 
 "The wilful defiance and disobedience of the orders of 
 those higher in authority will not then be possible by an officer 
 who may happen to have some political "pull" and the discipline 
 of our police force will then be properly enforced." 
 
 "This department," (referring to the Almshouse), "I 
 regret to be compelled to say, merits no favorable mention. It 
 has been demonstrated by palpable proof that squandering to 
 an almost incredible extent and abuses have been going on. But 
 far worse than all, occurrences unfit to particularize here have 
 made this institution of public charity into a house of horrors. 
 "Touching the excesses, the costly extravagances which a par- 
 tial investigation of this one branch of the public service has 
 brought to the surface, it is safe to assert, that $io,ooo to 
 $12,000 were squandered here last year, and that if the 
 Almshouse could be placed under the control of an independent 
 commission, it could be run for one-half of the $24,523.43 it 
 cost the past year." 
 
 After calling attention to other rules that could be enforced, 
 the lack of proper enforcement of the fire laws, the Mayor 
 commended the Board of Health, and other departments for 
 their good work, and then closed his message with the follow- 
 ing words: 
 
 "It has been the crowning act of shame and fair-minded 
 men were outraged by the sorry spectacle of narrow-minded 
 partisanship, which in the matter of chairmanships of Board 
 Committees, last year stooped so low as to ostracize acknowl- 
 edged worth of years of eminent service by setting up inexperi- 
 ence above experience. Such partisanship I hope will cease, it 
 
 56 
 
being unbecoming, unchivalric, unwise. To conclude, great 
 material opportunities are in your reach to win public respect 
 and commendation." 
 
 Notwithstanding these warnings, conditions were far from 
 satisfactory to the Mayor, and nearly four months later, on 
 July 7, 1890, Mr. Barnert addressed the following communi- 
 cation to the Board of Aldermen: 
 
 OFFICE OF THE MAYOR. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., July 7, 1890. 
 The Board of Aldermen: 
 
 I am compelled to refer to an unpleasant matter in the 
 belief that an abuse of a very flagrant nature may be corrected. 
 A review of your recent official minutes shows your proceedings 
 are a delusion and a farce, and anything but creditable to the 
 city. From what I am about to disclose, it will be plainly 
 demonstrated that a more responsible management is wanted, 
 and that the duties of a President of the Board should be 
 clearly defined, to include the practical carrying out of the 
 Board's measures. In your proceedings on April 7th, a 
 measure was adopted substantially as follows: — That two sets 
 of harness be procured for use of the Fire Department, and 
 that they be procured by soliciting proposals. Now, please 
 note what was done since. Nearly three months have elapsed, 
 and Board meeting upon Board meeting and Committee meet- 
 ing upon Committee meeting have taken place, and yet no 
 proposals have been solicited, no action taken and no apparent 
 intention manifested to live up to the proceedings of April 7th. 
 Do the Board proceedings go for anything? Or are they 
 merely a matter of form? Grover Cleveland, ex-Mayor of 
 Buffalo, who since acquired first place in the respect of the 
 nation quoted the following words in his message eight years 
 ago: "It seems to me that a successful and faithful administra- 
 tion of the government of our city may be accomplished by con- 
 
 57 
 
stantly bearing in mind that we are the trustees and agents of 
 our fellow citizens, holding their funds in sacred trust to be 
 expended for their benefit; that we should, at all times, be pre- 
 pared to render an honest account of them, touching the 
 manner of their expenditure, and that the affairs of the city 
 should be conducted, as far as possible upon the same principles 
 as those by which a good business man manages his private 
 concerns." 
 
 These words apply very aptly to our city's administration. 
 I have a claim for harness before me, which were bought from 
 Mr. Hopson in March — recollect please, March — for several 
 hundred dollars, the identical harness then bought illegally 
 without authority. It is this claim which it is sought to be 
 foisted on the city by make believe legislation of a too indulgent 
 Board on April 7th. Does it not look bad in the minutes? 
 Does it not show that your proceedings are a sham and a farce. 
 That it should be made the duty of some one, say the presiding 
 officer of your body, to see to the carrying out of the measures 
 of your Board? Ought not your body as a measure of self- 
 protection, self-respect, right itself on this issue taking it 
 specially in hand and thus purge itself of wrong or faulty mat- 
 ters? In deference to public sentiment alone, your Board 
 should not allow this matter to pass by without adequate 
 action. 
 
 Nathan Barnert, Mayor. 
 
 THE "GALLAGHER^' LAMP INCIDENT. 
 
 Mr. Arnold Levy, tells the following incident, one of many 
 which enlivened the proceedings of the Board of Aldermen in 
 the old days: 
 
 "Alderman — ^we will call him Gallagher — at a regular 
 meeting of the Board of Aldermen, proposed that the city pur- 
 chase street lamps. The Mayor made up his mind to investi- 
 gate, and one day on his rounds, discovered at the old city scale 
 
 S8 
 
house on Bridge Street, something like 1,500 lamps, which were 
 in fairly good condition and could be used for awhile to come. 
 He naturally meant to mention that at the next meeting of the 
 Board. However, to his amazement, at the next Board meet- 
 ing, Mr. Gallagher stated that 1,800 lamps had been purchased 
 from a New York firm at a cost of $3.75 each. The Mayor 
 knowing something about the value of lamps, made up his mind 
 to investigate the matter very thoroughly. He secured the 
 name of the firm who supplied the lamps and made a trip to 
 New York, going to the lamp concern and stated that he was 
 from Pittsburg and that the city of Pittsburg needed 1,000 
 lamps. If they would quote him the closest possible price, no 
 doubt they would get the order, providing their samples were 
 satisfactory. They were glad to take the order at $1.75 per 
 lamp and were told by the Mayor to send a sample lamp to a 
 wholesale clothing house (where the Mayor was doing busi- 
 ness with at the time), and marked them for Mr. Blank, of 
 Pittsburg. In the meantime he instructed the clothing house to 
 forward the lamps to him by express. 
 
 "The night of the meeting of the Aldermen when the bill 
 for the lamps was to be presented arrived, and the city fathers 
 were assembled and duly called to order, when Mr. Barnert, 
 with an imposing looking package under his arm, in strange 
 contrast with his usually dignified bearing, strode in. There 
 was an onimous shifting of feet, for the entrance of the Mayor 
 on these occasions invariably meant that there would be a cross- 
 fire of questions, with consequent disastrous results to those 
 whose interests were inimical to that of the city. 
 
 "Mayor Barnert, being given permission to address the 
 Aldermen, arose and made this startling announcement: "I 
 am going to sell some lamps!" 
 
 From the audience there came half suppressed laughter, 
 In which several of the Aldermen, believing they scented a 
 joke, also joined. 
 
 59 
 
"Yes, gentlemen; I am going to sell you some lamps," re- 
 affirmed the Mayor. 
 
 ''Yesterday," he continued, "I underwent the painful 
 ordeal of going under an unassumed name, to-night I am 
 Nathan Barnert." The Mayor then told of his investigation 
 and his trip and purchase, and then presented his bill together 
 with the lamps which he had bought for $1-75 each. There 
 was an uproar at the meeting where all sorts of charges were 
 made and the matter was finally dropped after an opera bouffe 
 attempt to remedy matters." 
 
 A POETICAL RESPONSE. 
 
 Although suffering excruciating pain. Mayor Barnert 
 forgot his torments for a time when news reached him of a 
 fatal mishap to a Scot who was not blessed with a superabun- 
 dance of the world's goods and devoted his salary for the month 
 of February, 1 891, to the relief of the unfortunate man. Fol- 
 lowing the death of the Scot, who was John D. Downie, the 
 following was written by Alexander Bell, "The Dublin Springs 
 Poet," who died recently: 
 
 107 Pine Street, City. March 3, 1891. 
 "My Dear Mayor Barnert — 
 
 "Honorable Sir: — I hope you will excuse me, a humble 
 mechanic of this city, and the organizer of the Painter's Union, 
 in taking the liberty in writing you these few lines at a time 
 when grief and sickness are in your home, to thank you heartily, 
 in my own humble way, for your kindly act to the family of 
 of the late John D. Downie, who was a member of our union, 
 a dear friend of mine, and a Scotchman, like myself from the 
 "land of brown heath and shaggy wood." 
 
 60 
 
When cries go forth, and salt tears well nigh Wind; 
 
 Surely such one as this doth better bind 
 
 Heart unto Heart with cords of perfect love, 
 
 I own my laggard pen dotlh scarcely move, 
 
 Nor can I somehow speech best worthy find 
 
 That 1, in fitness might in passing tell 
 
 Of him who boasts not, nor doth posture take, 
 
 As one who flaunts his deeds in faces wan; 
 
 But in and out doth move becomingly well. 
 
 Lover of all that's good, this tribute make 
 
 I unto you, true hearted gentleman. 
 
 Alexander Bell. 
 
 EX-MAYOR BARNERT^S VIEWS ON MUNICIPAL REFORM. 
 
 Editor Evening News: 
 
 Allow me to comment in your enterprising paper on the 
 salutary legislation for our city, just enacted. It is a matter 
 for the sincere congratulation of all good men that our new 
 Senator, John HInchliffe, has accomplished to some extent, a 
 welcome change in our city laws, and evidence of able, resolute 
 statesmanship, that stamps him at once as a Democrat of 
 sterling order, a consistent and true man. Thanks to him and 
 an enlightened Legislature, this long suifering constituency will 
 enjoy a long respite from misrule and Incompetency In city 
 management. It Is only now charged In our hall of legisla- 
 tion at Trenton that to secure appointment In Paterson meant 
 a fee of $200 to $300 apiece to an alderman as the price of an 
 appointment. Just as If this were not well known here, when 
 It has not time and again been openly alluded to. Indeed, the 
 placing of twenty more new men on the force was on the pro- 
 gramme. In anticipation of matters not remaining longer under 
 the present defective system ; which was desisted from, only on 
 the ground that it could not well be done under existing limi- 
 tations. ' 
 
 A little while ago you beheld the edifying spectacle of a 
 "saintly" paper and another of like Ilk, working hand in hand 
 
 61 
 
with the clique ruling the city hall, in bringing about treachery 
 at Trenton. Then it was that the anxious hopes of an over- 
 taxed people, and the earnest unselfish work of a few devoted 
 men of known probity of character was rendered nugatory and 
 reform was stifled for the time. Hushed was the voice of this 
 canting hypocritical paper, the self-constituted "great leader 
 of moral ideas," though it will be recalled to the memory of its 
 readers that at a time when wholesale official dishonesty was 
 unearthed, and laid bare in all its revolting aspects to the pub- 
 lic gaze, it was shamed into a reluctant admission of the crying 
 need of reform, only after public excitement and indignation 
 had culminated to an unprecedented point. After reform was 
 stifled at the capital, not a whisper escaped its lips for the 
 checking of the evils of our system. Were not the very men 
 the very offenders on trial, patted on the back, as it were, by 
 this partisan gang, and their faithful subsidized cohorts, the 
 Republican organs? Was not the miscarriage of justice 
 brought about through the medium of the leeches that are 
 drawing the life blood of this city. Were not self-confessed 
 notorious wrong-doers, men with the taint of fraud, not only 
 allowed to go unpunished, but even made the standard bearers 
 of their degenerated party? 
 
 That the Republican party was the dominant one, and had 
 the opportunity in their grasp to earn the gratitude and affec- 
 tion of our people, by a brave assertion of determination to 
 stamp out what was so palpably bad in the administration of 
 our city, by helping to root out obvious defects not one of the 
 party will dare to deny. Why was it left undone? Because 
 their leaders themselves were tainted. They worked with a 
 vigor worthy of a better cause, in a direction just contrary to 
 reform, fearing to lose their hold on the purse strings of the 
 public treasury. Some of our influential, well meaning citi- 
 zens were misguided into countenancing these enemies of re- 
 form (it is said financiers and silk dyers at that) and were 
 
 62 
 
made to contribute heavily to their campaign fund. Mortify- 
 ing as this is, it results from the blind confidence usual on the 
 part of some, which always has been a menace to the liberties 
 of the people. Even now the few honest men in our boards 
 do not know everything that is going on in the councils and 
 intrigues of the rest, and it is a matter of record that occasions 
 have arisen when they have been made aware of the commis- 
 sion of bribery by some, yet they themselves are disinclined to 
 expose them in a direct way. The fact and figures relating 
 to our city debt point to a serious, significant tale. Let the 
 good work of reform legislation go on until every department 
 is reformed, and the Augean stables are cleaned. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 Nathan Barnert. 
 Paterson, N. J., Feb. 26, 1892. 
 
 MAYOR BARNERT AND THE POOR HOUSE FOOD. 
 
 Many slurs had emanated from the City Hall because 
 Mayor Barnert had the temerity to dare to look at the bills for 
 the supplies at the Almshouse. The items on the bills as 
 printed in the Guardian in 1889, created quite a sensation at 
 that time. The first bill printed was for May, 1888, and during 
 that month, among the list aggregating $3P00) were found six 
 dozen oranges, lemons by the dozen, bananas, maple sugar, 
 canned peaches, pine apple and canned tongue. The purchase 
 of 200 pounds of bacon and other necessaries was no surprise, 
 but there was also found: 
 
 3 gallons of Apple whiskey, at $3.00. . .$ 9.00 
 2 gallons of Rye whiskey, at 4.00... 8.00 
 2 gallons of Holland Gin, at 5.00... 10.00 
 
 Total whiskey for May $27.00 
 
 That the paupers drank something else beside whiskey was 
 shown by the bill for August. During this month there was 
 
 63 
 
consumed 200 pounds of coffee at 25 cents a pound, and 100 
 pounds of Oolong tea. Forty pounds of nutmegs and ten 
 pounds of mustard, show that the paupers did not suffer for 
 lack of spice. 
 
 The bill for September was next unearthed, where there 
 was a charge for one box of lemons. There was also a charge 
 of $75.00 for coffee. There is also another bill for whiskey, 
 with a total of $48.00. The October bill calls for the usual 
 modicum of figs, bananas, oranges and lemons and canned 
 tongue, etc., and only four gallons of apple whiskey at $3.00 a 
 gallon, and two of Rye at $4.00 a gallon. There was also a 
 charge of 200 pounds of coffee and 150 pounds of tea. 
 
 There was the usual charge for 310 pounds of coffee and 
 $88.79 for tea during November, with fruits as a side dish. 
 Another bill called for $i5-35 ^^^ French candy from a New 
 York firm, and a plumbing bill for sixty days work charged at 
 $3.00 a day. 
 
 ACROSTIC. 
 (Composed after reading of Mayor Barnert's visit to the 
 Almshouse). 
 
 Ndblest and gentlest of thy ndble race, 
 At the head of "Aldermanic Board," 
 Thou shalt endure When others in disgrace 
 Have left the riches they unjustly hoard. 
 And long in homes and hearts of men, 
 Nathan, thy name and deeds shall live. 
 
 Because unto the poor, again and again, 
 A goodly portion of thy store thou gavest; 
 Ready to assist the needy in distress, 
 Never weary of exposing wrong. 
 Every inmate of the Almshouse will bless, 
 Revere thy name and wisih thy days be long, 
 Tho some may hate thee, never mind. 
 
 May God be with you from first to last, 
 Attending on the crippled and blind. 
 Yes, it was done in days gone past, 
 Of sweet mercy thou shalt honor find, 
 Recorded in the book and volume of the past. 
 
 A. Blyerelland. 
 Paterson, June 27, 1890. 
 
 64 
 
RETAINS INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 
 
 Mr. Barnert, since he retired from active political life, 
 has retained his interest in public affairs. How strong a hold 
 he still has In the public mind was illustrated when he intro- 
 duced Woodrow Wilson to the public of Paterson, when he 
 first ran for Governor of New Jersey. Mr. Barnert was 
 chosen as chairman of the great outpouring of citizens at the 
 Paterson Opera House. Later when Mr. Wilson was nomi- 
 nated for President, Mr. Barnert was again honored with the 
 chairmanship of the big mass meeting held in the High 
 School. 
 
 Efforts had been made when Mr. Barnert relinquished the 
 office of Mayor to induce him to be a candidate for Congress, 
 but to the delegation of prominent citizens that called on 
 him, Mr. Barnert declined all proffers of further political 
 honor. 
 
 One of the most cordial friends of the late Hon. Garret 
 A. Hobart, he contributed his hearty support to that distin- 
 guished citizen of Paterson for the Vice-Presidency in 1896, 
 and to the cause of sound money represented by the McKInley 
 and Hobart ticket. He was one of the members of the com- 
 mittee of citizens who had in charge the erection of a statue to 
 Mr. Hobart. 
 
 On January i, 191 2, Mr. Barnert was named by 
 Mayor Andrew F. McBride, a member of the Finance Com- 
 mission, the governing body of Paterson. Mr. Barnert's 
 selection was a most popular one to the community and came 
 unsolicited. Mr. Barnert was grateful for this appointment 
 not only that he could still further serve the people, but for the 
 fact that he is the father of the present appointive commission 
 form of government, and for which he had fought hard during 
 his administrations. 
 
 65 
 
PASSAIC CITY HERALD 
 December 5, 1889. 
 
 EDITORIAL. 
 
 Few men have achieved greater success in business life and 
 w^on for themselves a more deserving fame than Mayor Bar- 
 nert, v^ho is a public spirited, enterprising, conscientious and 
 honest man in all the relations of life. We will not weary our 
 readers with a biographical and chronological review of Mayor 
 Barnert's life. His honorable connection with the Masonic 
 fraternity, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and other 
 charitable institutions is already well known. 
 
 What is the secret of his success ? This is what we would 
 impress upon the young men of today, that they may feel 
 encouraged to emulate his example is all that is commendable 
 and lofty. First, he started in life with the correct and manly 
 idea that "success is a duty," and that it invariably attends 
 honesty, perseverance and industry. These three characters, 
 "stronger than bands of iron," founded the motive power of his 
 life, and will undoubtedly crown with success the efforts of 
 every young man who starts in life boldly with a laudable 
 ambition to succeed. Honesty is like confidence, which Lord 
 Chatham declared to be "a plant of slow growth, indigenous 
 to every soil and climate," but it needs cultivation, care, watch- 
 fulness. Every young man at the outset of life's journey is 
 surrounded by innumerable snares; his footsteps wander over 
 slippery paths; and to counteract the evil influences that 
 environ him and withstand the temptations that allure him, he 
 must be fortified by integrity of heart, purity of morals and a 
 will strong enough for him to fight and overcome. 
 
 As municipal chief of the large and growing city over 
 which he presides. Mayor Barnert has proved himself a tower 
 of strength in exposing the dishonesty and corruption of city 
 officials. Wherever he strikes, he "makes the fur fly." He is 
 
 66 
 
thoroughly fearless and uncompromising — decided in his con- 
 victions and firm even to austerity in enforcing obedience to the 
 law. A more efficient mayor the city of Paterson never had. 
 In matters of public concern, he may sometimes err in judg- 
 ment, but no man dares to question his honesty of purpose and 
 the purity of his intentions. If at times he is imperious in 
 manner and self-willed, it is because he believes in his own 
 integrity and is conscious of his own self-respect and honor. 
 He is one of the most charitable of men, and at his beautiful 
 residence on Broadway, he dispenses generous hospitality. As 
 friend, companion and citizen, he is a man to be ever trusted 
 and honored. Blessed Is he whose honorable life in business — 
 whose honesty, industry and integrity — set to the youth of the 
 land an example worthy of imitation. 
 
 67 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 "by their deeds ye shall remember them." 
 
 At his home on Broadway and Summer Street, Mr. Bar- 
 nert has a large number of interesting gifts from friends and 
 admirers. There are two manuscripts, both works of art, 
 which are both interesting for the sentiments therein expressed, 
 and these were the gifts of the trustees of the Miriam Barnert 
 Memorial Temple, and the faculty and scholars of the Hebrew 
 Free School. The latter, a magnificent work of art, was pre- 
 sented to Mr. Barnert on the occasion of his birthday anniver- 
 sary which fell on October 13, 19 13, which was also celebrated 
 as Yom Kippur. On one parchment is inscribed the signa- 
 ture of the scholars, they showing in this way their appreciation 
 for the many kind and generous acts of their benefactor. 
 
 OLDEST LIVING MEMBER PATERSON-ORANGE LODGE OF MASONS. 
 
 Mr. Barnert recently came across a small book containing 
 the rules and by-laws of Paterson-O range Lodge of Masons, 
 and published in i860. As Mr. Barnert has been a member 
 of this fraternity for more than fifty years, it will not be amiss 
 to give a short history of the interesting career of this lodge. 
 
 According to Trumbull's History of Paterson, the first 
 local masonic lodge of which there is any record, is Paterson- 
 Orange lodge, founded very shortly after the town of Pater- 
 son was located, and granted a warrant by the Grand Lodge 
 in 1796. The organization was maintained until about 1825-6 
 and little was done by the members for about ten years when 
 Passaic Lodge No. 13, was organized mainly by former mem- 
 bers of the pioneer lodge. 
 
 69 
 
Masonry languished in Paterson from about 1840 until 
 1853, when a movement was started for a revival, and in 1884, 
 Joppa Lodge No. 29, was organized and began a prosperous 
 existence with Isaac Van Wangoner, as W. M. Paterson- 
 Orange Lodge No. 43, was formed in 1856, and in 1857, 
 Benevolent Lodge No. 45, was organized. Falls City Lodge re- 
 ceived a warrant about 1867, and the next year a dispensation 
 was granted for the formation of Ivanhoe Lodge No. 88. In 
 1870, Humboldt Lodge No. 114, was formed. Beethoven 
 Lodge No. 154, was instituted under a dispensation October 
 17, 1882, and granted a warrant February 12, 1883. These 
 latter two are largely German organizations. 
 
 Former Nathan Barnert and William F. Bertkau are the 
 two oldest living members of Paterson-Orange Lodge. 
 
 A PRETTY SENTIMENT. 
 
 I have expended. What I have given, 
 I have kept. What I expended, I had, 
 Wihat I gave, I have; What I kept, 
 I lost. 
 
 Nathan Barnert. 
 
 HIS NATURALIZATION PAPERS. 
 
 In 1862, although there was no necessity for his obtaining 
 papers, his father having been naturalized, Mr. Barnert secured 
 citizenship papers from the late Thomas D. Hoxey, County 
 Clerk, and which he highly values to-day. It is a citizenship 
 which has done honor to its possessor, his family and faith, and 
 to his country. 
 
 LETTER FROM A SCHOOL TEACHER. 
 (After referring to the gift of a book) 
 No. 6 School — 376 Van Houten Street. 
 Mr. Nathan Barnert. 
 
 Dear Sir: — We often talk of you in No. 6 School, and 
 I try to inspire in the pupils to turn and lend a hand as you 
 have so nobly done in our city. 
 
 70 
 
BARNERT HOMESTEAD ON BROADWAY. 
 
AN APPRECIATION FROM JOHN W. GRIGGS. 
 
 Letter from John W. Griggs, former Attorney General of 
 the United States, and former Governor of New Jersey, who 
 was for four years City ' Attorney of Paterson, during Mayor 
 Barnert's administration : 
 
 Board of Education, May 29, 1884. 
 
 Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 Gentlemen: — My friend, Hon. Nathan Barnert, of Pat- 
 erson, N. J., informs me that he is likely to have some business 
 transactions with you. I take much pleasure in assuring you 
 of the high character of Mr. Barnert and of his entire responsi- 
 bility for any engagement he may make. He is worthy of any 
 courtesy which you are able to show him. 
 
 John W. Griggs 
 
 APPRECIATIONS FROM LATE PRESIDENT WILLIAM MC KINLEY. 
 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert, ^^"'°"' ^^''°' J"''' 7' '90O. 
 
 Paterson, N. J. 
 My Dear Mr. Barnert: — 
 
 President McKinley sends his regards for the kindness 
 extended to him by you at the recent visit of the President to 
 
 P-'^^-^o"- Respectfully yours, Q.^.g, p Cortelyou. 
 
 EXECUTIVE MANSION. 
 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert, Washington, D. C, Nov. .4, .900. 
 Paterson, N. J. 
 My Dear Sir:— 
 
 Please accept my cordial thanks for your message of con- 
 gratulation which was duly received. 
 
 Assuring you that your kindly comment and good wishes 
 
 are appreciated, believe me, ,7- . , 
 
 Very smcereiy yours, 
 
 William McKinley 
 71 
 
PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON's REPLY. 
 
 Communication from Woodrow Wilson following his 
 election as President of the United States: 
 
 November 15, 19 12. 
 My Dear Mr. Barnert: 
 
 "Your kindly telegram of congratulation has given me a 
 great deal of pleasure. It strengthens me greatly to feel that 
 I have the support of men experienced in affairs v^^hose oppor- 
 tunities for observation and influence have made them in some 
 sense the spokesmen of their neighbors and the community." 
 
 WoodroviT Wilson. 
 
 MR. BARNERT IS FURTHER HONORED. 
 
 When Mayor John Johnson died the reins of the city 
 government were taken over by President William N. Berdan 
 of the Board of Finance as chief presiding officer, until the 
 election of Dr. A. F. McBride, when Mr. Berdan relinquished 
 the office to his successor. On this occasion, the Hamilton Club 
 tendered a dinner to the incoming and outgoing mayors. It 
 is interesting to note from the following letter from General 
 Joseph W. Congdon, late Judge of the New Jersey Court of 
 Errors and Appeals that Mr. Barnert was the only officially 
 invited guest: 
 
 January 7, 1908. 
 My Dear Mr. Barnert: 
 
 (After referring to the reason for the gathering) — "You 
 will be the only officially invited guest and the members of the 
 club will be glad to do you honor as one of the most useful 
 and efficient mayors Paterson ever had and as one of its most 
 highly esteemed charitable and public-spirited citizens." 
 
 7a 
 
THE BOY BARNERT. 
 
 The following anonymous communication was published 
 in a Paterson newspaper: 
 
 "It was way back in the fifties when a wayward lad by 
 the name of Nathan Barnert, came to this city, carrying all his 
 worldly goods in a small gripsack, and saddling himself upon 
 his cousins, who were doing a prosperous business. Nathan 
 was a very clever young man; he enjoyed fun most hugely, and 
 it mattered little to him whether it cost a *'slug" or a bit, if he 
 could keep abreast of the times, and that was all in those days 
 that could be desired. Young Nathan Barnert had a surfeit 
 of the good things which this city afforded, and was not of that 
 class of men who did not like to have their gold dust minted, 
 but gambled it away in its native purity, by the ounce and by 
 the pouch, and left for the East in 1855, where society was 
 more settled, and where gambling is not being done on the 
 ground floor, with bands of music in front of the house, invit- 
 ing the knights of rouge et noir to try their luck at the tables 
 of sophisticated sirens, who, by day and by night, presided over 
 the green-cloth, and had a taking way with them in all the 
 ancient, modern and profane languages. I now learn that this 
 same Mr. Barnert, like unto Dick Whittington of old, has 
 become Mayor of Paterson, N. J., and I congratulate him, and 
 those who had the good sense to vote for him, upon the success 
 of electing a man who never betrayed a friend, and who always 
 walked uprightly before all men. It is not to be supposed that 
 Mr. Barnert knows who I am ; but I know him, and that 
 answers my purpose." 
 
 73 
 
New York, Dec. 6, 191 3. 
 
 Nathan Barnert, Esq., 
 
 Paterson, N. J. 
 
 Dear Mr. Barnert: — I note in to-day's "Sun" the good 
 news of your munificent purpose of erecting a hospital to the 
 memory of your wife. I congratulate your city that it has such 
 a splendid man as you for a citizen, and congratulate you that 
 you are one of those who make good use of the wealth they 
 have acquired. 
 
 Wishing you a long life to enjoy the fruit of your labor, 
 
 I am, 
 
 Very Sincerely Yours, 
 
 Henry Clews. 
 
 September 30, 191 4. 
 
 My Dear Brother: — 
 
 I am instructed by Paterson-Orange Lodge, No. 43, F. and 
 A. M., to tender to you our very sincere congratulations on 
 this your 76th birthday. I pray you may long be able in health 
 and strength to carry on the noble work you have done in the 
 past, for the benefit of the poor and needy, and sick and 
 afflicted. 
 
 Fraternally yours, 
 
 William Elliott, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 74 
 
Paterson, N. J., Oct. i6, 1914. 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert: — 
 My Dear Sir:— 
 
 I am in receipt of an invitation to attend the laying of the 
 cornerstone of the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial 
 Hospital on Monday, October 19, inst., for which please accept 
 my sincere thanks. 
 
 I fear I shall have to forego the pleasure of being present, 
 as I am due to attend a meeting of the Paterson archdeaconry 
 at Ridgewood, on the afternoon of that day, vs^hen all the clergy 
 of the district are expected to be present. 
 
 With best w^ishes for yourself and the laudable enterprise 
 you have undertaken to accomplish in the erection of the 
 splendid memorial. 
 
 I am very truly yours, 
 
 S. A. Weikert. 
 
 Rector of St. Mark's Church. 
 
 October 17, 191 4. 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert, 
 
 Paterson, N. J. 
 Dear Mayor: — 
 
 While I shall be unable to be in attendance at the banquet 
 commemorating the corner-stone of the Nathan and Miriam 
 Barnert Memorial Hospital, I cannot allow the opportunity to 
 pass without extending to you my felecitations on this mem- 
 orable occasion. You certainly deserve, and are receiving, the 
 commendation of your fellow citizens of Paterson, for your 
 notable charities. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 E. T. Bell, 
 294 Broadway, Paterson, N. J. 
 
 75 
 
ST. John's rectory. 
 
 Mr. N, Barnert. P^^^^^°"' N. J., Oct. 17, 1914. 
 
 My Dear Sin- 
 Please accept my thanks for your invitation to the corner- 
 stone laying of your grand hospital. I don't go to big gather- 
 ings any more. You will please excuse me. 
 
 You and your deceased wife have been models of benefac- 
 tors of the poor. The hospital will be a crowning act of your 
 
 ^'^^'^'^'y- Yours truly, 
 
 W. McNulty. 
 
 tr TVT .u -D . Chicago, 111., Oct. 18, 1914- 
 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert: — ^ ' ' » ^^ *r 
 
 I congratulate you and your city on this joyous day. May 
 God spare you to us for many years of health and helpfulness. 
 This, your munificent gift to the suffering — a perpetual monu- 
 ment to yourself and your saintly wife, will forever inscribe 
 your names in the Book of Life. 
 
 Dr. Albert B. Yudelson. 
 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert:- ^^^ ^"^^> ^^^- '^^ '^''^' 
 
 We have learned with pleasure of the laying of the corner- 
 stone of the Barnert Hospital. We extend to you the greet- 
 ings of our Board of Directors, and wish to add a word of 
 encouragement and good cheer, and our hope that your institu- 
 tion may from the moment of erection, be a boon and a bless- 
 ing to the Jewish community and to the city of Paterson. We 
 hope you will be spared for many years to witness the growth 
 of your institution and the good which it will accomplish, so 
 that you will be encouraged to do other good deeds and work 
 in other good causes. 
 
 Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America. 
 
 76 
 
"paterson's greatest and noblest benefactor." 
 My Dear Friend:— October 19, 1914. 
 
 I write to express my thanks to you for the ticket to the 
 banquet. Since receiving it, I have been congratulating myself 
 upon the anticipation of a real good time, but alas! "Man pro- 
 poses and the Almighty disposes." 
 
 I have just sustained an attack of acute indigestion, con- 
 sequently I cannot enjoy any kind of pleasure; neither can any 
 one who may happen within the sound of my voice. 
 
 The monumental undertaking you are now engaged in 
 rounds out a life of gloriously cheerful giving and unquestion- 
 ably bestows upon you the exalted title of Paterson's Greatest 
 and Noblest Benefactor. 
 
 By honoring Miriam Barnert, you are honoring yourself, 
 and I can conceive of no surer confirmation of the belief in a 
 life hereafter than is evidenced by the love and affection you 
 have shown to the memory of the late partner of your joys and 
 your sorrows. 
 
 With best wishes, I am yours sincerely, 
 
 William Berdan. 
 
 Rectory of Our Lady of Lourdes, 
 Dear Mayor Barnert:— Paterson, New Jersey. 
 
 I deeply regret that I was unable to be present at the re- 
 viewing stand with you yesterday. From the distance, being 
 late in arriving, I saw you and rejoiced in your deserved 
 happiness. May God bless you with many years to see much 
 fruit for the generous deed of philanthropy and charity you 
 have sown. 
 
 It was a pleasure to see the general appreciation of the 
 public as evidenced at the corner-stone laying of your splendid 
 
 ^°'P^^^^- Faithfully yours, 
 
 October 20th. Anthony H. Stein. 
 
 77 
 
PASSAIC COUNTY CLERK^S OFFICE. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., Oct. 20, 191 4. 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert. 
 Dear Mr. Barnert: — 
 
 At the last moment I was detained and unable to attend 
 the exercises of yesterday. I take this opportunity to offer my 
 apology, and to join with many citizens in commending your 
 most worthy act. 
 
 May you live long to realize the great benefit you con- 
 ferred on afflicted humans. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 John J. Slater, 
 County Clerk. 
 
 FROM FORMER COUNTY JUDGE^ FRANCIS SCOTT. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., Oct. 20, IQH- 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert, 
 
 258 Broadway, City. 
 My Dear Mayor: — 
 
 The city of Paterson yesterday paid a very just and noble 
 tribute to one who has been officially our first citizen, and ever 
 since has been really one of our first citizens. I know of no 
 man who has contributed more largely to the public benefit. 
 When a great institution is constructed and donated for the 
 general relief by a philanthropic citizen, it shows generosity and 
 unselfishness. When it is done also as a memorial for a lost 
 and loved one, it shows tenderness and devotion, the highest 
 characteristics of a man. Nothing too good can be said about 
 you. I regret that I was prevented by a previous engagement 
 from attending the banquet. I should have been pleased and 
 happy to have thrown a lance for Paterson's First Citizen. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 Francis Scott. 
 
 78 
 
Paterson, N. J., Oct. 21, 19 14. 
 Hon. Nathan Barnert, 
 
 Paterson, N. J. 
 My Dear Mayor: — 
 
 It certainly must be a source of much pleasure for you to 
 contemplate the great outpouring of the people of this city in 
 your honor on Monday, at the laying of the corner-stone of the 
 hospital you are erecting, which surely was a great testimonial, 
 and while I was privileged to attend the ceremonies in the 
 afternoon, my being prevented from being present at the ban- 
 quet, was, I feel, a distinct loss of mine. This honor you have 
 received and which is so justly merited, should be one of great 
 pride for you to carry with you throughout the remainder of 
 your life. 
 
 I extend to you my sincere congratulations. 
 Very sincerely yours, 
 
 Robert J. Nelden, 
 President, Paterson Savings Institution. 
 
 ASKED MR. Roosevelt's aid. 
 
 To the Editor of the New York Herald. 
 
 Our worthy and good President in reply to a request from 
 representative citizens to intervene in behalf of the suffering 
 Hebrews in Russia, deplored his inability to do so. Count 
 Witte in his telegram to Mr. Jacob SchifE, stated that he could 
 do nothing, owing to the excitable condition of the country. 
 
 I see that Emperor William has offered his ships to aid 
 the Russian Government in restoring order. Why could not 
 President Roosevelt have shown similar zeal and thus power- 
 fully helped in preventing further outrages? 
 
 It might almost seem that our President was too quick in 
 his efforts to promote peace before the little but courageous Jap 
 had utterly exterminated the Russian bear. 
 
 79 
 
If Mr. Roosevelt did not think that he could officially in- 
 tervene when 25,000 men, women and children had been wan- 
 tonly slaughtered, he might at least, as an individual, have 
 written a personal letter to the Czar, for, he has saved the 
 Czar's honor in the Japanese war. He can still write that let- 
 ter, if he only will, and thus save thousands of lives. 
 
 Nathan Barnert. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., Nov. 13, 1905. 
 
 HIS HOME LIFE. 
 
 Mr. Barnert is a marvel of regularity in his business and 
 home duties. He retires early and also arises at an early hour. 
 He still delights to occupy himself about the Barnert Mill, and 
 he amuses himself in spare moments watching the mammoth 
 Corliss engine which furnishes the motive power for all the 
 machinery in the building. He is fond of horses and can be 
 seen daily in his carriage, with his almost inseparable companion 
 "Pat" Tighe, his coachman. Years ago, Mr. Barnert owned 
 three Hambletonians, with no mean degrees. His stable has 
 every modern accommodation and adjoins his residence. 
 
 The residence on Broadway has been occupied by Mr. 
 Barnert for nearly forty years. There were many governors in 
 the State and other dignitaries entertained during the life of 
 Miriam Barnert. 
 
 Mr. Barnert holds steadfast to the religion of his fathers. 
 On Yom Kippur he can be found in earnest prayer within the 
 walls of the House of God. On Tisha B'ab commemoratinj.'; 
 the destruction of Jerusalem and its sacred temple by the 
 Roman general Titus, Mr. Barnert can be found in an all- 
 day fast, prayer and meditation, beside the body of his beloved 
 wife, which lies in an imposing tomb at Mount Nebo. 
 
 Nathan Barnert is a member of many fraternal organiza- 
 tions, including the Independent Order of B'Nai Brith, Ancient 
 
 80 
 
Order Free and Accepted Masons, Knights of Pythias, Inde- 
 pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and numerous charitable and 
 public institutions. He has been a member of the Malbish 
 Arumiii for fifty years. In addition to his donations to Jewish 
 charities and religious and educational institutions, he con- 
 tributed liberally to the building funds of the Young Men's 
 Christian Association, the Young Women's Christian Asso- 
 ciation and Holland and German schools. Recently Barnert 
 Place, where the Barnert Place school is located, was named 
 in his honor. 
 
 EDITORIAL TRIBUTES. 
 
 PATERSON EVENING NEWS. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., October 17, 1914. 
 
 ''and the greatest of these is charity.'" 
 In the laying of the cornerstone of the new Nathan and 
 Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital, on Monday afternoon, 
 those who are fortunate enough to attend will witness the 
 realization of the ambition of an unselfish life. 
 
 Nathan Barnert, humanitarian and philanthropist, has 
 for years in his innermost heart desired to render some real 
 and lasting service that would be of benefit to mankind, and 
 in the completion of the magnificent hospital structure made 
 possible through his broad charity, this dream of service will 
 become a reality. 
 
 Fifty-six years ago there came to Paterson, a young man, 
 who was blessed with but little of this world's goods, but 
 whose soul was afire with ambition to achieve and to succeed. 
 He started in life's work in a humble way, doing the things 
 that came to him to be done, uncomplainingly, and steadily 
 striving, with unfailing energy and industry to improve his 
 condition. It was not surprising that to this young man as the 
 years mellowed his experience, success came, and that now as 
 the hand of time has streaked his hair with grey and he has 
 
 81 
 
passed the mark of three-score and ten, he is able to look out 
 among his fellow men and to have the joy in his heart of know- 
 ing that they have been better for his stay among them. 
 Nathan Barnert has served the public well, as Alderman, as 
 Mayor, and as Finance Commissioner, and in every public 
 office, his salary has always been given to charity. His indeed 
 has been honest, unselfish public service. 
 
 Nathan Barnert, in the gift of the Barnert Memorial 
 Temple, the Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School, 
 and the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital, has 
 created monuments of steel and stone that will last for cen- 
 turies, but he has builded better than he knew, for in human 
 hearts beating, in undying gratitude, there will for all time live 
 the grateful memory of this man of men, this humanitarian, 
 who took from the fruits of his years of industry the necessary 
 means to create these wonderful structures for human help. 
 The Synagogue, for religion; the Free School, for education, 
 and the Hospital for the aid to the weary, the foot sore and the 
 wounded. He has indeed bound up the wounds of his fellow 
 men. He has made it possible for them to educate their 
 children and to make their appeals to the God of Israel and 
 on that final day when men stand shoulder to shoulder before 
 that infinite power on high, to face their final judgment, there 
 will be thousands who, if they are given voice to do so, will cry 
 out in their gratitude: *'Oh, God of Israel. There is one 
 among us who is deserving of your greatest blessings, for he by 
 his life's work has made our lives brighter and better. He has 
 eased our pains and he has inspired us with the highest of 
 ideals. He has made charity his religion and he has given new 
 hope to thousands of us. For Nathan Barnert, Oh Lord, may 
 we ask your blessing, for he is deserving of your love and con- 
 sideration." 
 
 Monday will be a proud day for Paterson and for its 
 
 82 
 
Jewish residents, and Jew and Gentile alike will realize that 
 any community is indeed blessed for having had in its midst a 
 man of the broadness of mind, the charity and the lovable 
 qualities of Nathan Barnert. 
 
 PATERSON GUARDIAN. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., July i8, 1914. 
 
 The Broadway hospital will be the largest gift that Mr. 
 Barnert has announced. He is known as one of the most 
 generous citizens of Paterson, and has been progressive and 
 thoughtful in doing good that reaches people who need the 
 friend at the right time. When a city official, serving as alder- 
 man, as mayor, as finance commissioner, the salary he received 
 was no attraction for him, other than to add it to the treasuries 
 of local charitable institutions for the relief of the sick, the dis- 
 tressed and the aged. 
 
 He has spent many years of his life in planning for others, 
 having as monuments to his generosity in this city such build- 
 ings as the Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, where the peo- 
 ple of his race may worship God and be happy; he also gave 
 the Hebrew Free School at the corner of Broadway and the 
 Erie railway that the youth in Hebrew families may be prop- 
 erly instructed in the religion of Israel, and he has provided a 
 place for the sick to be cared for properly. His latest act 
 means that his thoughts for the remainder of his life will be 
 occupied in planning for the comfort of people who are stricken 
 with all kinds of diseases, and will go further than that, for it 
 means cures for cases that the poor would have no means to 
 have treated with skilled physicians. In the evening of his life 
 he will surely realize the truth of "Blessed is he who considereth 
 the poor." 
 
 83 
 
^ THE PATERSON GUARDIAN. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., October 19, 1914. 
 
 THE BARNERT HOSPITAL. 
 
 The laying of the cornerstone of the Nathan and Miriam 
 Barnert Memorial Hospital this afternoon, was quite properly 
 made the occasion of a public demonstration of appreciation. 
 It marks a notable stage in the erection of an institution that is 
 to be at once a fine object lesson in practical philanthropy and 
 an architectural ornament to the city. 
 
 The striking feature about the project is that it is to be 
 the achievement of one man. The entire cost of the building 
 and its equipment is to be borne by ex-Mayor Nathan Barnert. 
 Not a dollar is asked or desired of the public. It is a volun- 
 tary gift to the community, inspired by its donor, as vi^as Abou 
 Ben Adhem, by love of his fellow man. For this reason it will 
 be doubly cherished by the city of which he has so long been an 
 honored resident. 
 
 All Paterson uncovers to-day to Nathan Barnert for his 
 princely munificence. Few cities breed so high a type of citi- 
 zenship. 
 
 THE PATERSON PRESS. 
 Paterson, N. J., October 20, 1914. 
 
 THE BARNERT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. 
 
 Paterson, is indeed, fortunate in having among its citizens 
 a philanthropist of the quality of Nathan Barnert. The im- 
 pressive ceremonies attending the laying of the cornerstone 
 yesterday afternoon of the magnificent hospital to be erected 
 for the use of our city without respect of creed, class or color, 
 signalized the beginning — or rather the development into its 
 
 84 
 
full flower — of a beneficent work which will through all the 
 coming years stand as a monument to Mr. Barnert and the 
 great-hearted wife to whose fragrant memory this hospital was 
 yesterday dedicated. 
 
 This gift of ex-Mayor Barnert to our city is thus not only 
 magnificent in its proportions, but pathetic in its interest. The 
 hospital will be a most notable addition to the equipment of 
 benevolent institutions to which our city can point with just 
 pride. The good it will do in the generations yet to come 
 cannot be estimated. For it the thanks of our entire com- 
 munity to its generous founder are dtie and will be un- 
 stintedly given. 
 
 THE MORNING CALL. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., July 20, 1914. 
 
 A significant circumstance in the history of this city will 
 occur to-day in the breaking of ground for the new Barnert 
 Memorial Hospital on upper Broadway. The plans for the 
 home call for an extensive and commodious-looking building, 
 of good architectural design, standing on a plot of ground 
 which will allow ample room for air and light. It will be an 
 imposing structure occupying one entire block and will cost in 
 the neighborhood of $250,000. When completed it will be a 
 splendid institution that will have a capacity of seventy-five 
 patients. The munificence of Nathan Barnert to supply the 
 ground and the money for this handsome and attractive institu- 
 tion is only another evidence of the good in this distinguished 
 citizen, who it would seem has already given his full quota of 
 institutions for the benefit of mankind. His splendid example 
 should engender other wealthy citizens who have civic pride 
 and broad charity, to emulate. 
 
 85 
 
With the construction of this building, Broadway will con- 
 tain three institutions as monuments to Mr. Barnert and his 
 deceased wife. The Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, at 
 Broadway and Straight Street, was the first to mark his gener- 
 osity and perpetuate his name. Then followed the Miriam 
 Barnert Free School, further down Broadway, to keep in living 
 memory the name and good deeds of his wife. She had jour- 
 neyed long and far through life with him, from the time he 
 was a poor man, until he laid the foundation of a great fortune. 
 None knew, as he, how faithful, how loving, and how encour- 
 aging she shared with him the vicissitudes of life ; and none but 
 those who have, like him, passed through the valley of that 
 great sorrow, can appreciate the extremity of grief and abyss 
 of loneliness which were his. It was to her memory that he 
 erected the Free School where children of Hebrew faith are 
 taught their mother tongue and instructed in religious worship. 
 Now comes a beautiful hospital to perpetuate the name of Mrs. 
 Barnert; an institution that will throw open its doors to all 
 suffering humanity and prove an endless blessing to mankind. 
 
 What greater monument than this? 
 
 THE MORNING CALL. 
 
 Paterson, N. J., July 2.2, 1914. 
 
 No one can meet Nathan Barnert without becoming con- 
 vinced of his devotion to the cause of humanity. In the ser- 
 vice of this cause he is untiring. It absorbs his attention, if 
 not completely, at least a greater portion of it. With the 
 apostle he can say, "This one thing I do." Men and women 
 with this sort of flaming zeal are the men and women who 
 achieve the reforms of the world. If Mr. Barnert had been 
 content to lead a quiet life of routine work, he might have en- 
 
 86 
 
joyed more ease. But he would have missed the larger hap- 
 piness of service — and there would have been no Barnert 
 Memorial Temple, Miriam Barnert Hebrew Free School or 
 Barnert Memorial Hospital, as his noble and enduring 
 monuments. 
 
 That new Barnert Hospital will show a fine example of 
 private charity applied to public purposes. 
 
 MASONIC REGISTER. 
 
 Jersey City, N. J., November i, 1914. 
 
 NATHAN BARNERT. 
 
 One of the greatest events in the history of the Masonic 
 Order of the State of New Jersey, occurred Monday after- 
 noon, October I9th, at Paterson, which was the laying of the 
 cornerstone by the Grand Lodge of the Masonic Order of the 
 State, of the new $250,000 Nathan and Miriam Barnert Hos- 
 pital in that city, which was made possible by the grand 
 philanthropy of Brother Nathan Barnert. Brother Barnert 
 has attained distinction in all walks of life and is beloved by 
 all who know him, as it was through the efforts of himself and 
 his beloved wife, Miriam Barnert, now deceased, that Paterson 
 has the Miriam Barnert Memorial School and the Barnert 
 Memorial Temple, which were presented to the city by them at 
 other times. Brother Barnert has attained all the degrees of 
 Masonry and has lived up to its teachings in every respect; he 
 is a modest man and believes in "deeds and not words," as will 
 be attested by his speech on that memorable day, which will be 
 found on another page of this issue. 
 
 The following acrostic of Biblical names cleverly arranged 
 by Jane Jacobson, niece of Nathan Barnert, is a most inter- 
 esting contribution to the brilliant works of that author and 
 will be read with much enjoyment by her many friends: 
 
 87 
 
TO NATHAN BARNERT, 
 On his 76th birthday, September 30, 19 14. 
 
 AN ACROSTIC OF BIBLICAL NAMES. 
 
 N-oah Because of his righteousness he was saved from 
 
 the mighty flood. 
 
 A-bel Whose offering was accepted by God. 
 
 T-erah The father of Abraham, from the land of Ur of 
 
 the Chaldees. 
 
 H-ezekiah Who in answer to his prayers when death was nigh 
 God granted to him a promise of fifteen years 
 longer to live. 
 
 A-aron The first high priest of Israel. 
 
 N-athan A distinguished prophet of Judea, who by his wis- 
 dom conveyed to David through a most beautiful 
 parable, King David was made to condemn himself. 
 
 B-oaz A descendant of Judah, a man of the highest char- 
 
 acter and integrity, who married Ruth, the 
 Moabitey, from whence came the Royal House of 
 David. 
 
 A-braham Who by his obedience to God's will, through him 
 the seed of all Israel was blessed. 
 
 R-euben Jacob's eldest son. 
 
 N-ehemiah A distinguished Jew born in captivity, becoming 
 cup bearer to King Artaxerces, by his wondrous 
 influence with the King, he was commissioned to 
 visit Jerusalem and repair its ruins He was 
 made Governor forthwith. 
 
 E-zra A priest and scribe who with Nehemlah was in- 
 
 strumental in restoring once again the worship 
 of Israel, and the Sacred Books were compiled 
 and collected under their direction. 
 
 R-Iches And Honor are with me; yea durable riches and 
 
 righteousness. Proverbs, Chapt. 8 V. 18. 
 
 T-he TIshbite Elijah, favored by God with miraculous 
 
 power, transported to heaven in the presence of 
 Elisha and fifty other persons. 
 
 Jane Jacobson. 
 
 88 
 
BOOK II. 
 
NATHAN BARNERT MEMORIAL TEMPLE, 
 
 CONGREGATION b'nAI JESHURUN. 
 
 The Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, perhaps more gener- 
 ally known as the Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, has an 
 unusually interesting history. It is the oldest Jewish congre- 
 gation in Passaic County, early records showing that it was in 
 existence in the early forties. 
 
 A copy of a deed of land, to the congregation, for ceme- 
 tery purposes In the possession of Counsellor David Cohn, was 
 recently brought to the attention of the writer. It was 
 executed on December 23, i847- Joseph W. Ashman, one of 
 the pioneers of the faith, at that time had deeded land to the 
 trustees of the congregation situated In Acquackanonk Town- 
 ship, in a place called Centreville, now Athenia. The deed 
 was drawn In what was known then as the "Town" of Pater- 
 son. 
 
 The cemetery was abandoned on November i, 1888, 
 when the Congregation purchased from Cornelius R. Benson, 
 a tract of over twenty acres of lanH In Totowa, for the con- 
 sideration of $8,000. This resting place is now known as 
 Mount Nebo Cemetery. 
 
 Although the early records unfortunately have not been 
 preserved and have either been lost or destroyed in the big fires 
 and floods which have visited Paterson, it is known that the 
 congregation at least as late as 1858, worshiped in an old 
 structure on the southerly side of West Street, three doors from 
 Water Street. A few years later, the congregation bought a 
 new home on Mulberry Street, adjoining the old Dagger Bob- 
 bin Mill, where the handful of the faithful of the Chosen Race 
 were wont to gather on the Sabbath and on Holy Days. 
 
 91 
 
At that time, there were hardly more than a score of Jews 
 in Paterson, and there were frequently times, according to 
 Nathan Barnert's recollection when it was necessary to make 
 the trip to Passaic, a no easy journey in those days, to gather 
 sufficient to the faith to make a "minyan." 
 
 There was quite an influx of Jews shortly afterward, and 
 as their numbers increased there was a demand for better ac- 
 commodation. 
 
 The Congregation purchased a one-story frame structure 
 on Van Houten Street, between Washington and Church 
 Streets. This property had at one time served purposes as a 
 church and also as a private school for girls which had been con- 
 ducted by the mother of Vice-Chancellor Eugene Stevenson. 
 
 The sexton of the congregation had his living quarters in 
 the basement of the building. The main floor was used for 
 the purposes of worship, which was fitted plainly with wooden 
 seats. There was also a vestry and a room for the religious 
 school. The form of worship was strictly orthodox, there 
 being no organ. 
 
 It was in this building that the first Jewish religious 
 school had its inception in Paterson. The late Myer S. Hood, 
 father of Louis Hood, former Prosecutor of Essex County, in 
 the early days of the congregation on Van Houten Street, was 
 then engaged by the members of the *'Chevra" to give private 
 religious instruction to their children. Mr. Hood came from 
 Newark and daily made the trips to Paterson. 
 
 In 1883, the religious school was formed with Mr. Hood 
 as Rabbi, and he taught until 1892. There are a number of 
 his scholars living to-day who are successful and firm believers 
 in the Faith of Israel, and who revere the memory of that 
 pleasant faced and noble instructor. Mr. Hood had the happy 
 faculty of inspiring his charges to be up and doing noble deeds 
 and it was with sincere regret that the congregation and the 
 scholars parted with this divine, who died at the ripe age of 80 
 years. 
 
 92 
 
THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL. 
 
 How thorough and extensive was the course of instruction 
 in this school, can be gleaned from the following program given 
 by the pupils at the Chanukah Festival, on Sunday afternoon, 
 December 6, 1885: — 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Prelude — Miss Janle Phillips. 
 
 Hear O Israel— Class, "Hymn." 
 
 Psalm xxvii. — Emanuel Harris. 
 
 Whom Shall We Thank?— 
 
 M. Bernstein, F. Cohn, B. Schwartz. 
 Don't Strike a Man. — 
 
 Charles Levison, Charles Cohen. 
 Resolution — Bertha Harris. 
 Songs of the Nation — Etta Newman. 
 Cheer Up — Bertha Cohn. 
 Self-Support — Fannie Barnert. 
 Charity — Hattie and Mamie Levine. 
 Remember Me — Myer Stenchever. 
 Judaism in Metaphor — George Feder, II. 
 Sabbath — Eveline Barnert. 
 Carving a Name — Minnie Clyne. 
 Help Thy Brother — Rachel Barnert. 
 Life — L. Pinner. 
 
 Nasty Words — Rosie Levy, Rachel Cohn. 
 Be Firm — Leo Feder. 
 There's a God — Henry Lowenthal. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 Hymn — "Shadals Praise." 
 
 Hallel — Miriam Cohen, Fannie Bernstein, Bertha Cohn, 
 
 Julia Barnert, Bertha Clyne. 
 
 93 
 
Psalm Cxlv. — Rachel Klenert, Joseph Harris. 
 
 Mincha — A. Benjamin, M. Cohn, B. Benjamin, D. Cohn, 
 
 Emanuel Harris, M. Feder. 
 Chanukah Hymn — Class. 
 Chanukah — Fannie Simon. 
 Zum Chanukahfest — Julia Barnert. 
 
 Israel — ^Joseph Harris. German. 
 
 Fahne, Schwert, Losing — Rachel Klenert. 
 Das Menshenherz — Fannie Simon. 
 The Tongue — Albert Benjamin. 
 What We Should Have— Morris Cohn. 
 A Hebrew Parable — Bernhard Benjamin. 
 Israel — Isadore Klenert, David Cohn. 
 
 PART III. 
 
 Song — "Our Four Friends." 
 
 A Period of Jewish History — 
 
 L. Brown, S. Levison, W. Levy, M. Feder, I. Klenert, 
 G. Feder, D. Cohn, Emanuel and Joseph Harris. 
 
 Hannah — Bertha Clyne. 
 
 The Bible — ^Joseph Harris. 
 
 I Love and Have Cause — Rachel Klenert. 
 
 Truth — George Feder, I. 
 
 The Mystic Tie— Melville Feder. 
 
 Past, Present and Future — Julia Barnert. 
 
 Olenu — George Feder, I. 
 
 Hymn— Class. "Praise Ye." 
 
 NEW TEMPLE OF WORSHIP. 
 
 Early in the Spring of 1889, the congregation of the 
 B'Nai Jeshurun and the Jewish community at large in Pater- 
 son were overjoyed with the announcement that Mr. Barnert 
 had decided to build a new Temple of Worship. It was at a 
 
 94 
 
time when the tide of Jewish immigration to this country was 
 at its height with Paterson receiving quite a large share of this 
 influx of most desirable future citizens. The majority of the 
 newcomers came from Germany and Russia, men and women, 
 they were of firm religious convictions, seeking a haven where 
 they could have more freedom in their material and spiritual 
 pursuits. 
 
 On May i6, 1889, Nathan and Miriam Barnert deeded 
 the plot of land at the southeast corner of Broadway and 
 Straight Street, and running westerly along Van Houten 
 Street, to the trustees of the congregation. The purposes of 
 the transfer were set forth in the following language: 
 
 "The said land hereby conveyed is to be used by the said 
 party of the second part, and their successors as and for a site 
 for a synagogue to be used and occupied for the worship of 
 God according to the manner of the Israelitish people, and for 
 a parsonage for the use of the said party of the second part in 
 connection with the said Synagogue and for no other purpose. 
 And this conveyance is made and the said party of the second 
 part are to have and hold the said land upon the following con- 
 ditions, namely: A Synagogue for the purpose aforesaid to be 
 designated 'The Nathan Barnert Synagogue' shall be erected 
 thereon within three years from the date thereof. 
 
 Regular services chiefly in the Hebrew language shall be 
 held in the said Synagogue, from and after the time the same 
 shall be erected as the aforesaid, every Friday evening and 
 Saturday morning, and on all Jewish Festivals, and all other 
 Holy days at each which said services at least ten men profess- 
 ing Judaism shall be in attendance. At each and every of 
 said services, all men in attendance shall have and keep their 
 heads covered. No mortgage or other lien shall be put on the 
 said land or any part thereof or on the said synagogue or par- 
 sonage. 
 
 95 
 
After the decease of the said Nathan Barnert, and also 
 after the decease of the said Mary Barnert, a memorial service 
 "Kaddish" shall be held in the said Synagogue on each and 
 every anniversary of his and her decease. 
 
 In case the said land shall at any time after the erection 
 of the said Synagogue cease to be used for the purpose 
 aforesaid or be used for any other purpose, and in case any or 
 either of said conditions are broken or shall be violated in any 
 case, the estate hereby granted and conveyed shall cease and be 
 void, and the said land and premises shall revert to the said 
 Nathan Barnert and his heirs." 
 
 On October 24, 1892, the deed was amended as follows: 
 
 First — The Synagogue to be erected on said land shall be 
 designated ''The Nathan Barnert Memorial Congregation 
 B'Nai Jeshurun." 
 
 Second — The time limit for the erection of the Synagogue 
 was extended to four years from date of deed. 
 
 Third — The part of said deed that reads as follows: 
 "Regular services chiefly in the Hebrew languages, shall be 
 held in the said Synagogue, is hereby changed so as to read as 
 follows: 'Regular services in the Hebrew and English lan- 
 guages shall be held in the said Synagogue.' " 
 
 Fourth — The provision of said deed that reads as follows : 
 "And at each and every of said services, all men in attend- 
 ance shall have and keep their heads covered," need not be 
 observed. 
 
 A Fifth Amendment provides that after the expiration of 
 twenty-five years from the date of this deed, it shall become 
 necessary for the good and welfare of the congregation that the 
 location be changed, then the said party of the second part may 
 sell and convey the said land and premises, and the buildings 
 and other improvements thereon, and purchase other land for a 
 new Synagogue. It is further provided, however, that the new 
 
 96 
 
Synagogue would have to be erected within eighteen months 
 after the sale of the old House of Worship. 
 
 Considered in their collective aspect, Mr. Barnert's gifts 
 to the congregation B'Nai Jeshurun cannot otherwise be de- 
 scribed than as truly munificent. As already noted, he first 
 donated this valuable parcel of land in one of the most con- 
 spicuous and select sections in the city and then purchased an 
 adjacent strip and presented it to the congregation with a con- 
 siderable sum of money to start the building fund. Later he 
 assumed the whole expense of construction and, in addition, 
 paid off the first debt of the congregation. 
 
 GROUND BROKEN FOR NATHAN BARNERT MEMORIAL TEMPLE. 
 
 Monday morning, October i8, 1892, was an eventful 
 day in religious circles in Paterson, when ground was broken 
 for the new house of worship for the congregation B'Nai 
 Jeshurun. Work was begun on the ground breaking at 7.30 
 o'clock, but prior to this a short but impressive service was held, 
 before a gathering of prominent Jews and Gentiles. Among 
 those present were Nathan Barnert and Mrs. Barnert. 
 
 Rabbi Eisenberg, of the congregation presided at the ser- 
 vices. Mr. Eisenberg gave a brief but appropriate address and 
 closed with a simple prayer. The workmen then began turn- 
 ing up the earth on the site of which was to be reared Pater- 
 son's first and most beautiful Jewish Temple. 
 
 ADDRESS OF EX-MAYOR NATHAN BARNERT 
 
 AT THE DEDICATORY EXERCISES OF THE NATHAN BARNERT 
 
 MEMORIAL TEMPLE, I 893. 
 
 Honored Guests — Ladies and Gentlemen: — We have 
 completed the glorious work of building the House of the 
 Lord. Our task is so far done, and we have met to-day to 
 celebrate the event by public manifestations of rejoicings. You 
 
 97 
 
who have so earnestly labored to help achieve this long de- 
 ferred end are worthy of unstinted praise. The need of a new 
 Temple has long been felt, and now that it is at our disposal, 
 let us resolve to inaugurate a new era by our unfeigned piety; 
 by a strict adherence to the principles of Judaism; by paying 
 proper homage to the God of Israel in this House of Worship. 
 
 The friends who have so nobly contributed of their means 
 toward the building fund are deserving of especial mention at 
 this time, and a generous public has, in no small degree em- 
 phasized its sympathy in the movement thus happily brought to 
 completion. But you, my friends, have much to do yet. The 
 building fund is not adequate. We have incurred an unforseen 
 debt, and until that debt is paid oif, you must all work. I 
 have great faith in your zeal and the continued generosity of 
 the public. 
 
 Every God-fearing man, woman and child of the Hebrew 
 faith in this conmiunity should help along this congregation by 
 joining it. And now, dear friends, if we honestly strive to 
 do this, God indeed will dwell in this House. Solomon of old 
 has said: *'But will God indeed dwell on the earth! Behold 
 the heavens cannot contain him ; how much less this house that 
 I have built for him." Yet we are assured that a contrite 
 heart is God's accepted sacrifice. In conclusion I desire to ex- 
 press my thankful appreciation for your courtesy." 
 
 The present officers and trustees of the Nathan Barnert 
 Memorial Temple, 1914, follow: Rabbi Marius Rasinsky, 
 President; Lewis Levi, Vice-President; Bernard Katz, Treas- 
 urer; Isaac Basch, Secretary; Moses Weingartner; Trustees — 
 Samuel Boehm, Sigmund M. Cohn, Gershon Gootenberg, 
 Samuel S. Holzman, Herman Haimowicz, Sigmund Kantor, 
 Isadore H. Levine and Abraham L. Simon. 
 
 The Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, is of pure 
 Moorish style of architecture, with light colored brick and 
 brown stone trimmings. The Temple has a frontage on 
 
 98 
 
Broadway of 52 feet, and a depth on Straight Street of 104 feet. 
 At the Northwest corner of Broadway a tower of graceful 
 proportions rises 93 feet in the air, and is surmounted by a 
 dome or cupola supported on galvanized iron columns. On 
 the Northeast corner is another tower, 62 feet high and of the 
 same graceful proportions as the other. 
 
 Underneath the whole structure is a cellar eight feet deep, 
 where the religious school of the congregation holds sessions. 
 There is also a meeting room for the Hebrew Ladies' Benev- 
 olent Society and a chapel, where a minyan can always be 
 found in the morning and Mincha and Mairiv services. This 
 minyan in charge of the sexton, Mr. Leesman, has been pro- 
 vided for by Mr. Barnert, since the death of his wife, and is to 
 be a permanent institution. Strangers are particularly wel- 
 come to these services, provision having been made for the re- 
 ception of mourners, the newly bereaved or those who desire to 
 offer prayer on the anniversary of the death of a beloved one. 
 There is also a dining room, kitchen and pantry for festivals 
 and sociables, and also reception rooms. The walls of the 
 main auditorium are 25 feet high. The roof is supported by 
 graceful Moorish arches, this style of architecture being main- 
 tained throughout the interior as well as the exterior. The 
 auditorium is reached from a spacious lobby through arches, 
 the lobby being ten and a half feet wide. There are galleries 
 in the rear and sides with another gallery in the front reserved 
 for the organ and choir. The temple is heated by steam. 
 
 PRESIDENT MC KINLEY AT BARNERT TEMPLE. 
 From the Call, Saturday, April 21, 1900. 
 The usual Saturday evening services at the Barnert Tem- 
 ple last night were very unusual, in the fact that a President of 
 the Nation, the Governor of the State, and other distinguished 
 Gentiles took part. 
 
 99 
 
Former Mayor Nathan Barnert, Nathan Fleischer and 
 Leopold Meyer went to Carroll Hall, to conduct the Presiden- 
 tial party to the Temple and the delay caused the crowd out- 
 side to grow considerably larger. 
 
 The three front pews were reserved for the Presidential 
 party and the visitors were generously given good seats. Among 
 the members of the congregation observed were: Mr. and 
 Mrs. Bernard Katz, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Katz, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Henry Nathan and Miss Florence Nathan, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Marks Steinberg, Mr. and Mrs. Schoolher, Mrs. Nathan 
 Barnert, Miss Fleischer, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Friedman, Mr. 
 and Mrs. David Bohm, Mrs. J. C. Price, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac 
 Basch, Mrs. A. L. Schwartz, Miss Bessie Spear, Miss Jennie 
 S. Bilder, Miss Frances Bilder, David H. Bilder, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Marcus Cohn, Miss Rebecca Cohn, Miss Rachel Cohn, 
 Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Lefkowitz, Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Har- 
 ris and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Rogowsky, Mrs. Jacob 
 L. Simon, Mrs. Tina Diamond, Miss Estelle Diamond, Mrs. 
 Lowenthal and Miss Lowenthal. 
 
 The finely appointed Synagogue was brilliantly illumin- 
 ated and a few palms and potted plants were placed along the 
 front of the platform. A large flag hung outside in front of 
 the church, but otherwise no preparation of an extra kind had 
 been made. 
 
 When the Presidential party arrived they were slightly 
 cheered by the crowd outside, and the congregation inside arose 
 and stood until the party reached their seats. 
 
 President McKinley entered arm-in-arm with former 
 Mayor Nathan Barnert. Governor Voorhees and Mayor 
 Hinchliffe followed. Then came Nathan Fleischer, Leopold 
 Meyer, Colonel William Barbour, A. R. Turner, Jr., Edward 
 T. Bell, George B. Cortelyou, A. L. Leonard and General 
 Joseph W. Congdon. They were all in evening dress. 
 
 lOO 
 
Mr. Barnert, who is president of the Synagogue took his 
 seat in the platform enclosure with Vice-President Jacob Levi, 
 and the Rev. Dr. A. S. Isaacs immediately started the service. 
 The Hymns were rendered by a quartette, and one of the songs 
 which was appropriate was "Lead Kindly Light." 
 
 President McKinley got a prayer book and followed the 
 service attentively. The service was entirely in English. Dr. 
 Isaac's sermon on "Springtime" was delivered in a clear cut 
 style, free from any effort and without any sign or references. 
 He took the text from Solomon's song of songs, "Lo, the Winter 
 gone, the rain has ceased, the flowers appear on the earth and 
 the voice of the song-bird is heard in the land." He treated 
 his subject under three heads — the Springtime of nature — 
 the Springtime of creeds and the Springtime of humanity." 
 
 ''a very graceful act.'^ 
 
 In commenting on President McKinley's visit to the Bar- 
 nert Memorial Temple, the late Editor Orrin Vanderhoven 
 wrote : 
 
 "It was a very graceful act on the part of the President to 
 attend the Easter service in the Temple. It went a long way 
 toward breaking the prejudice against the race." 
 
 In 1902 when the big fire laid waste to a considerable por- 
 tion of Paterson, and even before the embers of the Second 
 Presbyterian Church had cooled, Nathan Barnert, in behalf of 
 the congregation of the Barnert Temple, offered this House of 
 Worship to the Gentiles. The offer was accepted and for 
 three years, the public of Paterson and in fact the whole world, 
 marvelled at what was considered not many years before an 
 impossibility, a sacrilege and a perversion of all the principles 
 of Judaism, to allow a Gentile congregation to worship in a 
 Jewish synagogue. 
 
 Unseemly unbridgeable chasms of dogmatisms were swept 
 aside. It was a magnificent tribute to the broadmindedness of 
 
 lOI 
 
men and a crushing blow to religious intolerance. The con- 
 gregation of the Temple even went further. It refused abso- 
 lutely to accept a cent for rent, light, heat or other expense, 
 offering the Temple free to their Christian friends. It was a 
 noble and inspiring deed, and has established throughout the 
 land a precedent for fairness between man and man, aside from 
 religious beliefs and differences. The offering of the Temple 
 was a personal tribute to two men — Nathan Barnert and the 
 late Rev. Dr. Charles D. Shaw. As Mr. Barnert stands for 
 broad-minded consideration and friendship to all creeds and 
 classes, so stood Dominie Shaw. Nathan Barnert, is a staunch 
 Israelite and Dr. Shaw was a Christian, who stood forth in the 
 bright light in the firmament of religious tolerance and the love 
 that God has commanded shall exist between man and man. 
 
 "k prince in ISRAEL.^' 
 
 Letter sent by Rev. Charles D. Shaw, D. D., late pastor 
 of the Second Presbyterian Church on the occasion of good ser- 
 vices of Mr. Barnert in turning over the temple for worship of 
 Gentiles following the big fire of 1902: 
 
 March 10, 1905. 
 
 Dear Mr. Barnert: — I send the accompanying official let- 
 ter to you as President of the Board of Trustees, but I wish to 
 say some things to you in this private and personal letter. 
 While I and my people acknowledge our deep debt of gratitude 
 to your trustees and congregation, we feel to you above any 
 other man, we owe the great favors which have been done us. 
 To your free-handed liberality, we are indebted for the hospi- 
 tality extended over three years; a hospitality so generous and 
 noble, it has excited the wonder of the world. 
 
 Our great father Abraham could not have been more 
 courteous, more kind or more helpful to the passing stranger, 
 whom He invited into His tent — washed his feet and gave him 
 to eat, than you have been to us. You are a Prince in Israel 
 
 102 
 
and leader in any company of men. Your heart Is as large as 
 your ability and your fame as a philanthropist will increase as 
 time goes on and men learn to estimate you at your true value. 
 Personally, and in behalf of my congregation, I thank and 
 bless you In the name of the Lord who will surely reward you 
 for all your good works. 
 
 Very Sincerely Yours, 
 
 Charles D. Shaw. 
 
 IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION. 
 
 At the general meeting of the Congregation of B'Nai 
 Jeshurun, held at their Temple on Sunday, April 12, 1896, the 
 following resolutions were unanimously adopted: 
 
 Whereas — The Honorable Nathan Barnert, by his wise 
 counsel and his devotion to the cause of religion, rendered 
 invaluable assistance in the erection of our glorious Temple 
 which bears his name; and 
 
 Whereas — The Honorable Nathan Barnert has by his 
 many acts of benevolence and charity and by his numerous and 
 magnificent gifts to our Temple, shown a spirit of philanthropy 
 worthy of emulation; therefore be It 
 
 Resolved — That the Honorable Nathan Barnert has en- 
 deared himself to the members of his Congregation by his 
 religious spirit and love in the cause of Judaism; 
 
 Resolved — That we herewith tender him our sincere and 
 heartfelt thanks, and shall ever pray an All Wise Providence 
 to shield him from illness and to prolong his life, together with 
 his beloved helpmate for years, and bless them with content- 
 ment and happiness. 
 
 Resolved — That the foregoing resolutions be placed on a 
 separate page on the minutes and a copy of the same tendered 
 the Honorable Nathan Barnert. 
 
 Committee on Resolutions. 
 
 103 
 
MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL HEBREW FREE 
 
 SCHOOL. 
 
 The Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School has 
 had its changes and developments just as any other institution 
 in the course of our lives. We begin with the simple and in- 
 significant until we arrive to the most complex and important. 
 In 1895, a few of the leading Jewish citizens of Pater- 
 son realized the necessity of providing a school for the intelli- 
 gent training of poor children in the faith of their fathers. A 
 meeting was called with most gratifying results. Forty pupils 
 answered the first roll call. The small band of zealots, how- 
 ever, met the usual fate awaiting the infancy of most philan- 
 thropic movements. These children all haled from the public 
 schools, and it became at once apparent that only the manner 
 of instruction employed in the great secular system could be 
 used. 
 
 This meant teachers experienced in the modern methods, 
 up-to-date text books and regulations which would supplant in 
 an ethical sense, the instruction received in the earlier hours of 
 the day. Inasmuch as tuition would be free to those whose 
 parents were unable to pay the purely nominal charges from 
 the school itself as a self-supporting institution, little could be. 
 expected. Appeals were made to the public, but funds grew 
 smaller and smaller, and in a dark hour it seemed as though 
 another high ideal, one of the many for which our faith has 
 ever striven, must be shattered. 
 
 Former Mayor Nathan Barnert, facile princeps in all 
 public-spirited movements, interested himself in the affairs of 
 the school, and his enthusiastic devotion and abiding confidence 
 in the incalculable good that must result from the noble pur- 
 poses and aims of the institution, spelt success. His wife, the 
 
 105 
 
late Miriam Barnert, joined him in attending the sessions of 
 the school from time to time, then held in a small back room 
 on the third floor of the old Smith and Jackson building on 
 Market Street. Others followed their example and at once a 
 lively interest in its affairs was awakened. 
 
 On May i, 1902, Mr. Barnert deeded the land at the 
 Erie crossing and Broadway for the building of a home for the 
 school. The land was deeded in trust to the late Marcus 
 Cohn, David H. Bilder, David Bohm, the late Simon Opet, 
 Nathan Fleischer, Boas Barnert, Hyman Salzberg and David 
 Cohn, for the following purposes: 
 
 *'To be used by the Hebrew Free School Association of 
 Paterson, New Jersey, for a free school for the instruction of 
 Hebrew children as hereinafter mentioned, provided, that the 
 said premises are to be permitted to be used by the said Associa- 
 tion as aforesaid upon the following conditions, namely, the 
 said building and any building that shall at any time be erected 
 on said land in the place thereof shall be in memory of Miriam 
 Barnert, the deceased wife of the said Nathan Barnert and in- 
 scribed and kept inscribed, "The Miriam Barnert Memorial 
 Hebrew Free School," and shall be, after the erec- 
 tion thereof always kept by the said Association in 
 good condition and repair, and properly insured against 
 loss or damage by fire, and the said school shall be 
 open for the instruction of Hebrew children as aforesaid on 
 every day excepting Fridays and National, State and Hebrew 
 Holidays ; the children attending said school shall be thoroughly 
 instructed by competent teachers, provided by the said Associa- 
 tion in the Hebrew language, in the Old Testament of the 
 Bible in the original Hebrew, and the translation of the same 
 into English, in the Jewish history and religion and the study 
 of Talmud, and religious services shall be held and conducted 
 in said school every Friday evening and every Saturday morn- 
 ing, unless the trustees herein for the time being shall otherwise 
 
 106 
 
MIRIAM EARNER! MEMORIAL HEBREW FREE SCHOOL. 
 
direct, who may, if they deem it advisable so to do, permit a 
 discontinuance of said services on one or both of said days; no 
 child shall be permitted to attend and be instructed in said 
 school who shall not be a pupil of a public school, and on each 
 and every anniversary of the death of each of the following 
 mentioned persons, namely; the father of the said Nathan Bar- 
 nert, Myer Barnert, who died on the tenth day of July, eigh- 
 teen hundred and eighty-one, (the fourteenth day of Tamuz, 
 five thousand six hundred and forty-one, Hebrew Calendar), 
 the mother of the said Nathan Barnert, Ida Barnert, who died 
 on the twenty-eighth day of October, eighteen hundred and 
 ninety (the twenty-sixth day of Tishri, five thousand six hun- 
 dred and fifty-one, Hebrew Calendar), the father-in-law 
 of the said Nathan Barnert, Philip H. Phillips, who died on 
 the twenty-fifth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty- 
 eight (the second day of Adar, five thousand six hundred and 
 twenty-eight, Hebrew Calendar), the mother-in-law of the 
 said Nathan Barnert, Jane Phillips, who died on the twenty- 
 eighth day of February, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, (the 
 twentieth day of Adar Rishon, five thousand six hundred and 
 fifty-one, Hebrew Calendar) the wife of the said Nathan Bar- 
 nert, Miriam (or Mary) Barnert, who died on the thirty-first 
 day of March, nineteen hundred and one, (the eleventh day of 
 Nisan, five thousand six hundred and sixty-one, Hebrew Calen- 
 dar) , and the said Nathan Barnert, the pupils of said school 
 and such directors or other members of the Association as shall 
 be required to make up a minj^an of ten, at morning and even- 
 ing prayers, shall repeat the kaddish, in memory of the person 
 whose anniversary is then celebrated; and provided further, 
 that no mortgage shall ever be placed on the said land and 
 building, or either of them, or any part thereof, and the same, 
 or any part thereof, shall never be sold or conveyed away unless 
 it shall become necessary or advisable to change the location of 
 said school, in which case the said land and building may be 
 
 107 
 
conveyed by the vote of at least six of the trustees herein for 
 the time being, including the president, but the proceeds of such 
 sale shall forthwith thereafter used in the purchase of another 
 lot of land and the erection thereon of another building suit- 
 able for the same purpose, said land and building to be sub- 
 stituted in all respects for the ones so sold and conveyed, and to 
 be held and permitted to be used for the same purpose and upon 
 the same conditions as aforesaid; and in case of such sale and 
 conveyance of the said first mentioned lot and building, the pur- 
 chase of another lot and the erection thereon of another build- 
 ing as aforesaid, the money arising from such sale shall be used 
 and handled only by at least six of the trustees." 
 
 A supplemental deed w^as draw^n on April 29, 1903, 
 wherein Joel Barnert was named trustee to succeed David 
 Bohm, deceased, and the Rabbi of the Congregation B'Nai 
 Jeshurun became an honorary director of the association. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. A. S. Isaacs, who was for years, rabbi of the 
 congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, and who is deeply interested in 
 the Hebrew Free School, is an honorary director of the 
 association to whose splendid endeavors, the entire school is 
 deeply indebted. 
 
 DEDICATION OF SCHOOL. 
 
 The Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School was 
 dedicated on Tuesday afternoon, September 27, 1904, with 
 impressive services. The program opened with the ode Nebu- 
 chanezzer, by Verdi. A fervent prayer was then offered by 
 the Rev. A. S. Isaacs. This was followed by a song, "Ma 
 Tovu," by the children of the school, under the direction of 
 Superintendent Hess and the Rev. A. S. Kleinfeld. 
 
 The address of welcome was delivered by Mr. Nathan 
 Fleischer. The program was interspersed with music, ''etoile 
 du Nord," by Myerbeer, being played by the orchestra, after 
 which Mr. Nathan Barnert, who presented the school to the 
 
 108 
 
public of Paterson, delivered the keys and deeds. Mr. Barncrt 
 spoke feelingly and all present mourned with him for the good 
 woman whose earthly memory was thus enshrined in the brick 
 and iron of the building. 
 
 The address of acceptance on behalf of the trustees was 
 delivered by the late Mr. Marcus Cohn, after which Psalms 
 were sung by the children. Counsellor David H. Bilder, read 
 a history of the Hebrew Free School Association outlining the 
 work that had been done. The remainder of the program was 
 as follows: 
 
 Address — Solomon Schechter, M. A Litt. D. (Cantab.) 
 
 Consecration Sermon — Rev. Dr. H. Pereira Mendes. 
 Dedication ode composed by M. Shinedling, and Translated 
 by David Cohn: 
 
 Arise, Israel's sons and daughters, 
 
 Your voices raise. 
 On this grand day attune your praise 
 
 To Our Hebrew Free School in beauty girt, 
 In Memory of sainted iMiriaim Barnert. 
 
 Here, we drink at Learning's fou'nt, 
 
 With zeal learn lessons from Sinai's mount; 
 
 As citizens, patriots, loyal to Liberty's sod, 
 As Jews, steadfast to Israel's God. 
 
 Nathan Barnert — thy gift will stand, 
 
 A tribute to one honoTed in our land. 
 
 Its beauty like thy life-work will endure, 
 A model for character — lofty and pure. 
 
 May God bless here the pupil, the teacher and the friend 
 And all whose influence for the best twill tend, 
 
 And may these walls long with raptures ring. 
 As young and old, their offerings bring. 
 
 Address — Rev. David Blaustein. 
 Address— Rev. Dr. R. M. Radin. 
 Coronation March — "Le Prophete," 
 
 Myerbeer, Robinson's Orchestra. 
 
 109 
 
Mincha and Memorial Service — Rev. A. S. Kleinfeld. 
 Memorial Sermon*— Rev. Raphael Benjamin, M. A. 
 Prayer — Rev. Dr. A. S. Isaacs. 
 Hymn — "America," 
 
 Children of Hebrew Free School and Assembly. 
 
 The officers and directors of the school w^ere: Nathan 
 Barnert, President; the late Marcus Cohn, Vice-President; 
 Joseph Krulan, Treasurer; Hyman Salzberg, Financial Sec- 
 retary; David H. Bilder, Recording Secretary; Nathan 
 Fleischer, Leopold Meyer, the late Simon Opet, David Cohn, 
 Boas Barnert, the late Lazar Lapat, Isaac Surnamer, M. D., 
 the late Adolph M. White, Isadore H. Levine, Moses Shined- 
 ling, the Rev. Abram S. Isaacs, honorary director. 
 
 Principals of the school were: Elias S. Solomon, Solo- 
 mon Kielson, who served one year each; Rabbi S. Uslander, 
 who served for a term of seven years, Harry Arlosow, who 
 served one year and the Rev. Mr. Kaaplander, the present 
 principal, 191 4. 
 
 On an average of five hundred pupils ranging in age from 
 six to fourteen years are in daily attendance, excepting Satur- 
 day, between the hours of four in the afternoon and seven in 
 the evening. Instruction is given in Biblical and Post-Biblical 
 history, reading and translation of Hebrew, together with a 
 comprehensive knowledge of the Jewish ritual and ceremonies. 
 The first requisite of attendance is that the applicant must be 
 an attendant of one of the public schools. The expense of an 
 efficient staff of teachers headed by the principal, together with 
 text books and stationary, is defrayed by voluntary contribu- 
 tions and membership in the Hebrew Free School Association. 
 Donations from the Gentiles are not infrequent. 
 
 As to the building itself: Six class rooms on the second 
 floor are utilized exclusively for teaching purposes. The third 
 and fourth floors consist of large assembly rooms where lectures 
 on educational subjects are delivered during the winter months. 
 
 1 10 
 
These rooms are also available for entertainments and meet- 
 ings, and thus constitute a means of revenue for the needs of 
 the school. 
 
 A visit to the school is always welcomed. Many of its 
 teachers are employed in the public schools. Graduates are 
 prominent in the business and professional channels of the city. 
 The Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School in the 
 scope of its solution of the problem of religious instruction has 
 already attained a national reputation. 
 
 OFFICERS AND FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL. 
 
 The officers and directors of the school follow: Nathan 
 Barnert, President; Boas Barnert, Vice-President; Joseph 
 Krulan, Treasurer; Arnold Levy, Secretary; Max Altschuler, 
 David Cohn, S. M. Cohn, I. Horowitz, D. J. Lefkowitz, 
 David Bilder, Joseph Pansy, Dr. D. H. Mendelsohn, Dr. I. 
 Feigenoff, Dr. I. Surnamer, David Gordon, Dr. A. Raffman, 
 Jacob Fabian, S. Germansky, H. B. Kitay, M. Shinedling 
 and A. J. Bluestein. 
 
 The Life Trustees of the building are: Nathan Barnert, 
 President; David Cohn, Secretary; Boas Barnert, Nathan 
 Fleischer, Leopold Meyer, Hyman Salzberg, Sigmund Cohn 
 and Joel Barnert. 
 
 Faculty of the school — H. Kaaplander, Principal; 
 Teachers, M. Gross, Harry Braverman, Max Helfant, Louis 
 Friedman, William Kaufman, M. Rubenstein, Anna Behrman, 
 Rose Marcus and Tillie Cohen. 
 
 Sessions of the school from 3.45 o'clock until 7.15 o'clock, 
 week days, excepting holidays, and on Sundays from 9 o'clock 
 in the morning until 12 o'clock, noon. 
 
 Following are the subjects taught: 
 
 Class i-B — Kindergarten. 
 
 Class i-A — Reading, Translation, Prayers and History. 
 
 Ill 
 
Class 2-B — Advanced Reading, Translations, Prayers 
 and History. 
 
 Class 2-A — ^Advanced Reading, Translations, Prayers 
 and History. 
 
 Class 3-B — Translations from the Bible, Grammar, He- 
 brew Translations, Writing, History, Prayers, Etc. 
 
 Class 3-A — Advanced Course. 
 
 Class 4-B — Translations, Commentaries on Bible-Rashi, 
 Tenach and Writing. 
 
 Class 4-A — Bar Mitzvah Class. Pupils in this class, 
 although they have completed the course of study are not grad- 
 uated until they attain the age of thirteen years and are con- 
 firmed. They are taught the duties which are about to be dele- 
 gated to their trust, the use and meaning of Tephilin. 
 
 ''our tribute.^' 
 
 This Is the first day of the Fourth quarter of a century in 
 the life of Our President, the Honorable Nathan Barnert. 
 This is the day which the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and 
 be glad therein. 
 
 The outward effect of your life among us is visible. We 
 can see this memorial building and its classes. We can see 
 many more monuments of charity and philanthropy of your 
 founding, but the inner life is invisible. You cannot see the 
 stream of Divine influence which is poured into the spirit of 
 young Israel in this school, nor can you hear the sweet whispers 
 of Divine love coming from teacher's lips and pupil'? heart, 
 nor can you comprehend the peace and joy produced by your 
 open-hand for true Jewish charity. 
 
 In these signatures from the hands of four hundred inno- 
 cent little children, we wish you to read the perfect love of 
 childhood going out to you, the hidden peace and joy coming 
 
 112 
 

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 T?e^)? DrT> 
 
 T^T 
 
 ^i^^> 
 
 
 
 lt»? ^niU}'<\n*» cflVd <>ft}«?%u* lite ant<w<t itf ie%nvJhK\ iJ><? can 0<?« iiti<i 
 
 unticir ivfvHtr 
 
 
 of T>fvht <?JUtn«Cttcc 
 Sat<»i?i, twt i\«t iy<Hj 
 
 
 nivJi'>"»i^"*s'^." 
 
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 cut to uc^\t.lhv» hu'*5«t^^ca<rc atii> unf vomntd lr<Mn Jhc *.Judjt «'k<?I« 
 ,y.^ U\ llu-AcJv^a: InnuV^S nam«o ott Uti$ ^:*crv>U Ih'Io ikhj (cut ItuuvW^ 
 
 
 TESTIMONIAL PRESENTED TO NATHAN BAKXERX 
 
 BY FACULTY AND PUPILS OF THE 
 
 MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL HEBREW FREE SCHOOL. 
 
from the study of Holy Torah and let these four hundred 
 names on this scroll be to you four hundred cheering voices in- 
 spiring you on your onward march to complete your century of 
 life in God — through righteousness, through love and charity. 
 
 Presented to the Honorable Nathan Barnert, our Presi- 
 dent, by Boas Barnert, Vice-President; Joseph Krulan, Treas- 
 urer; Arnold Levy, Recording Secretary; Joseph Pansy, Finan- 
 cial Secretary; Jacob Fabian, S. M. Cohn, Dr. I. Feigenoff, 
 M. S. Germansky, A. D. Cohen, D. H. Bilder, A. Bluestein, 
 David Gordon, I. Horowitz, H. B. Kitay, Dr. D. H. Mendel- 
 sohn, Dr. A. Raffman, H. Salzberg, M. Shinedling, Dr. I. 
 Surnamer, and David Cohn, Chairman of Committee. Tishri, 
 II, 5674, October 13, 1913. 
 
 "3 
 
NATHAN AND MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL 
 HOSPITAL. 
 
 Declaring their belief in the need of a dispensary and hos- 
 pital where both Jews and Gentiles could find relief and where 
 the Jewish dietry laws could strictly be observed, Drs. Charles 
 Reigrod, S. Silberstein and Israel Le Vine, met at the latter's 
 home, on Paterson Street, on August 15, 1908, and discussed 
 the advisability of starting such a movement. At the follow- 
 ing meeting, September i, when there were present in addition 
 to those already named, Drs. Louis Shnayerson, N. Colar- 
 curcci, and Joel Barnert, it was decided to organize as the 
 Miriam Barnert Dispensary Association. Nathan Barnert, on 
 being consulted, gave permission on October 10, to the use of 
 the name of his late beloved helpmate to the institution, and 
 also donated $25 a month toward its maintainance. 
 
 At that time it was planned that English, German, 
 French, Jewish, Italian, Hungarian, Slavish and other foreign 
 languages should be spoken in order that the poor, regardless 
 of faith and creed, could be given proper treatment with medi- 
 cine as they were often handicapped in making themselves 
 clearly understood by physicians with whom they were unable 
 to converse in their mother tongue. 
 
 The dispensary was formally launched at a meeting held 
 at the home of Dr. Shnayerson, 356 Van Houten Street, on 
 October 15, 1908, when the following temporary officers were 
 named: Dr. S. Silberstein, President; Dr. N. Colarcurcci, 
 Vice-President; Dr. I. Le Vine, Treasurer, and Mr. S. Fried- 
 lander, Secretary. Board of Trustees — Drs. S. Silberstein, 
 Charles Reigrod, I. Le Vine, N. Colarcurcci, L. Shnayerson, J. 
 Barnert, the Rev. A. S. Kleinfeld, S. Friedlander, Jacob 
 
 115 
 
Fabian, J. L. Kaufman, Henry Marelli, H. Stelner, Louis 
 Spitz, I. S. Cigol and William Aronsohn. 
 
 The officers were permanently elected at a meeting held 
 on November 5th, at the office of Dr. Shnayerson, 14 Bank 
 Street. 
 
 While no open appeal had been made, the more prominent 
 and influential of the Jewish citizens came forward with ready 
 funds to boost along the new institution. 
 
 On Monday, November 17, 1908, Dr. Louis Shnayerson 
 made the pleasing announcement that former Mayor Nathan 
 Barnert had made a large contribution, and that it was out of 
 respect to the wishes of the philanthropist that a public an- 
 nouncement of the amount should not be made at that time. 
 It was stated that the trustees had taken over the building at 
 56 Hamilton Avenue, which would be the home of the dispen- 
 sary. It was suggested that Dr. Philander A. Harris, Dr. 
 Brian C. Magennis and Dr. Rush Neer be appointed as con- 
 sultants to the staff. Dr. F. Vigna was also added to the list 
 of attending physicians. 
 
 Certificate of incorporation of the Miriam Barnert Dis- 
 pensary Association was filed with the Secretary of State at 
 Trenton, on November 28, 1908, with the following incorpo- 
 rators: Samuel Silberstein, M. D., Charles Reigrod, M. D., 
 Israel Le Vine, M. D., Nicolo Colarcurcci M. D., Louis 
 Shnayerson, D. D. S., Rev. Alexander S. Kleinfeld, Jacob 
 Fabian, Henry Marelli, Louis Spitz, Frank A. Cigol, William 
 Aronsohn, Herman Steiner, Joseph L. Kaufman, Samuel 
 Friedlander, Joel Barnert. 
 
 The dispensary was formally opened for inspection on 
 Sunday afternoon, November 29, 1908, and for treatment of 
 patients on the following day. The opening address was made 
 by Mayor Andrew F. McBride, followed by the Rev. A. S. 
 Kleinfeld, of the Temple Emanu-El; Rev. Dr. Charles D. 
 
 116 
 
Shaw, Rev. Leo Mannheimer, Henry Marelli, Dr. S. Silber- 
 stein, former Mayor Nathan Barnert and Rabbi Seltzer and 
 John E. Kauffman. 
 
 Mayor McBride, in his opening address, fittingly referred 
 to the late Mrs. Barnert, to whose memory the institution had 
 been founded and he eulogized her and her husband for the 
 good they had done in Paterson. Ex-Mayor Barnert followed, 
 thanking the previous speaker for the kind reference to his late 
 wife. Mr. Barnert said that he was glad to have the opportunity 
 to be identified with such a worthy cause and one which he 
 prayed would redound to the credit of the people of Paterson. 
 The need and usefulness of the new institution was shown by 
 the large number of people applying for treatment. It, there- 
 fore, increased the running expenses of the dispensary, and it 
 was decided by the Board of Managers to interest the ladies to 
 form an auxiliary. The Ladies' Auxiliary was formed on 
 April 21, 1909, at a meeting held in the Dispensary, 56 Hamil- 
 ton Avenue. The following officers were elected: Mrs. L. 
 Shnayerson, President; Mrs. Charles Reigrod, Vice-President; 
 Miss Dora Dresner, Secretary; Mrs. S. Silberstein, Treasurer. 
 Owing to the continued increased demand upon the institution, 
 the Board of Managers decided to engage larger quarters, and 
 also to install a number of beds for the housing of patients. 
 
 On December 15, 19 10, the Crosby house on Broadway 
 and Paterson Street, was rented and altered. On January 2, 
 191 1, the dispensary abandoned its old quarters and moved to 
 its new home. 
 
 The new officers and directors at this time were: Louis 
 Spitz, President; S. Freidlander, Vice-President; John Kauff- 
 man, Treasurer, and Max Rosen, Secretary. Managers: 
 Morris Jacobson, Jacob Konner, John Charney, Nathan Lub- 
 lin, J. Rosenzweig, L Speiman, A. Wolf, Phillip Diamond, D. 
 Atkin, Morris Grossman, B. Borenstein, Jacob Silberman, Abe 
 Kauffman. 
 
 117 
 
On June 26, 191 1, additions were made to the dispensary 
 with the creation of several wards, and patients were taken in 
 for regular hospital treatment on July 6, 191 1. April 6, 
 1914, the name of the institution was changed to the Nathan 
 and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital Association. 
 
 BEGINNING OF THE NEW HOSPITAL. 
 
 On October 12, 19 13, the day after Yom Kippur, Day 
 of Atonement, while Mr. Barnert was still quietly observing 
 his seventy-fifth birthday, the Board of Directors of the 
 Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School Association, 
 presented him with a beautiful parchment memorial, rolled in 
 the form of a scroll on black leather with a silver lining. The 
 tribute contained the original signatures of each pupil attend- 
 ing the school, together with that of the principal and teacher, 
 numbering in all about 450 names. 
 
 The tribute follows in part: — 
 
 "The outward effect of your life among us is visible. We 
 can see this memorial building and its classes. We can see 
 many more monuments of charity and philanthropy of your 
 founding but the inner life is invisible. You cannot see the 
 stream of Divine influence which is poured into the spirit of 
 young Israel in this school, nor can you hear the sweet whispers 
 of Divine love coming from teacher's lips to pupil's heart, nor 
 can you comprehend the peace and joy produced by your open 
 hand for true Jewish charity. 
 
 *'In these signatures from the hands of four hundred inno- 
 cent little children, we wish you to read the perfect love of 
 childhood going out to you, the hidden peace and joy coming 
 from the study of Holy Torah." 
 
 Mayor Barnert was visibly affected by this splendid 
 tribute of esteem, and in his simple way, reiterated his interest 
 in the school — if that was really necessary — and of his continued 
 support of the institution. Then, after a short pause, Mr. 
 
 118 
 
Barnert inquired of the Directors as to how many of them were 
 interested in the Miriam Barnert Hospital. The following 
 answered: Jacob Fabian, Herman B. Kitay, I. Horowitz and 
 A. I. Bluestein. 
 
 Mr. Barnert then desired to be informed as to the progress 
 of the hospital and also as to whether or not a larger institu- 
 tion with more commodious accommodations would benefit the 
 city at large. Upon receiving assurances from the Directors 
 that a larger hospital with more modern accommodations would 
 be greatly appreciated, Mr. Barnert announced that he would 
 donate $150,000 together with sixteen city lots situated on 
 Broadway, between Thirtieth and Thirty-first Streets, and 
 Thirteenth Avenue. 
 
 LAND DEEDED FOR HOSPITAL. 
 
 This indenture made the twenty-seventh day of April in 
 the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and fourteen, 
 between Nathan Barnert (widower), of the city of Paterson, 
 in the County of Passaic, and the State of New Jersey, of the 
 first part, and Jacob Fabian, Max Rosen, Boas Barnert, Louis 
 Spitz, Herman B. Kitay, Gustave Mikola, Sender Federbush, 
 Abraham L Bluestein, Arnold Levy, and Sigmund M. Cohn of 
 the said city of Paterson, and Meyer Barnert of the city of 
 Minneapolis, in the State of Minnesota, as trustees as herein- 
 after mentioned, of the second part, witnesses, that the said 
 party of the first part, in consideration of the sum of one dollar 
 to him paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt 
 whereof is hereby acknowledged, and of the benevolent pur- 
 poses hereinafter mentioned, has granted, bargained, sold, 
 aliened, remised, released, conveyed and confirmed, and by these 
 presents does grant, bargain, sell, align, remise, release, convey 
 and confirm unto the said party of the second part, and to their 
 heirs, successors in the trust, and assigns, forever, all that tract 
 
 119 
 
or parcel of land and premises hereinafter particularly de- 
 scribed, situate, lying and being in the city of Paterson afore- 
 said. 
 
 Beginning at the southeast corner of Broadway and East 
 Thirtieth Street, and running thence (i) easterly along the 
 southerly line of Broadway, two hundred and one feet and 
 eighty-four one-hundredths of a foot to the southwest corner of 
 Broadway and East Thirty-first Street; thence (2) southerly 
 along the westerly line of East Thirty-first Street, two hundred 
 and ten feet and seventy-eight one hundredths of a foot to the 
 northwest corner of East Thirty-first Street and Thirteenth 
 Avenue; thence (3) westerly along the northerly line of Thir- 
 teenth Avenue, two hundred feet to the northeast corner of 
 Thirteenth Avenue and East Thirtieth Street, and thence (4) 
 northerly along the easterly line of East Thirtieth Street, one 
 hundred and eighty- three feet and fifty-nine one hundredths of 
 a foot to the place of beginning; being the same premises con- 
 veyed to the said party of the first part by Sarah Truman by 
 deed dated the i6th day of July, 1886, and recorded in the 
 office of the Register of Deeds for the said County of Passaic, 
 in Book K-8 of deeds for said county on pages 135, &c. 
 
 To have and to hold all and singular the above granted 
 premises, together with the appurtenances, unto the said party 
 of the second part, their heirs, successors in the trust, and 
 assigns, forever, upon the trusts, nevertheless, and to and for the 
 uses, interests and purposes hereinafter limited, described and 
 declared, that is to say, upon trust to permit the same and the 
 building or buildings to be erected thereon by the said party of 
 the first part, and any building or buildings that may after- 
 wards be erected on said land in the place thereof, to be used 
 by the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital Asso- 
 ciation, a corporation organized under the laws of said State of 
 New Jersey, for the conduct, operation and maintenance of a 
 hospital, for the reception and medical and surgical treatment 
 
 120 
 
and care of sick, injured and infirm persons, and the providing 
 of a place where such persons may be furnished with food and 
 shelter, while under such treatment; provided that the said 
 premises shall be permitted to be so used by the said association 
 upon the following conditions, namely: The said building or 
 buildings, and any building or buildings that shall be in memory 
 of Miriam Barnert, the deceased wife of the said party of the 
 first part, and of the said party of the first part, appropriate 
 inscription or inscriptions showing that fact to be made, placed 
 and perpetually maintained on such building, or on the main 
 building, if there be more than one building; and shall be after 
 the erection thereof, always kept by the said association in good 
 condition and repair, and properly insured against loss or dam- 
 age by fire; and the said hospital shall be non-sectarian, and the 
 food supplies by it for use therein shall be provided in accord- 
 ance with the Hebrew Dietary and Kosher; and the said hos- 
 pital shall be devoted as far as practicable to the accommo- 
 dation of poor people without compensation, or with such limited 
 compensation as they may be able to give; the practice, rules 
 and regulations in respect thereto and in respect to the compen- 
 sation to be paid by other patients than those above mentioned to 
 be subject to the control of said trustees for the time being; and 
 all such compensation to be applied towards the payment of the 
 running expenses of said hospital ; and said trustees for the time 
 being to have general supervision of and right of visitation over 
 said hospital; and further, that no mortgage shall ever be 
 placed on the said land and building or buildings, or any of 
 them or any part thereof, and the same or any part thereof 
 shall never be sold or conveyed away unless it shall become 
 necessary or advisable to change the location of said hospital, in 
 which case the said land and building or buildings may be sold 
 and conveyed upon the vote of at least seven of the said trus- 
 tees, and the proceeds of such sale shall be forthwith thereafter 
 used in the purchase of another plot of land and the erection 
 
 121 
 
thereon of another building or other buildings, suitable for the 
 same purposes, such other land and building or buildings not 
 to cost less than one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars; 
 and said other land and building or buildings to be substitutes 
 in all respects for the ones so sold and conveyed, and to be held 
 and permitted to be used for the same purposes, and upon the 
 same conditions as aforesaid ; and in case of such sale and con- 
 veyance of the said first mentioned plot and the purchase of 
 another plot and the erection thereon of another building or 
 other buildings as aforesaid, the money arising from such sale 
 shall be used and handled only by at least seven of the said 
 trustees for the time being, including their president; and these 
 provisions for the sale and conveyance of the said first men- 
 tioned plot and building or buildings, and the purchase of 
 another plot and the erection thereon of another building or 
 other buildings, shall apply to all subsequent cases w^henever 
 and as often as it shall be necessary or advisable to change the 
 location of such hospital; and in case the building or buildings 
 on said land, or on any land held in the place thereof as afore- 
 said, shall at any time be destroyed or damaged by fire, the 
 insurance money received on account thereof shall be used by 
 the said trustees for the time being in repairing said building or 
 buildings or erecting a new^ one or new ones in the place 
 thereof, as the case may require ; and provided further, that the 
 said trustees, present or future, shall not incur any indebted- 
 ness which may or can subject such premises, or any part 
 thereof, to a lien therefore or a sale thereof to satisfy the same, 
 without having at the time of doing so sufficient money on hand 
 that can be applied to cash payment, and duly applying the 
 same to such payment. 
 
 In case the said trustees or their successors shall permit 
 the said premises, or any premises held in the place thereof as 
 aforesaid, to be used as aforesaid otherwise than upon the con- 
 ditions aforesaid, or shall place a mortgage on such land or on 
 
 122 
 
the building or buildings that may be thereon, or any of them 
 or any part thereof, or sell or convey such land except as afore- 
 said, or refuse or neglect to repair or rebuild any building 
 thereon that may be damaged or destroyed by fire as aforesaid, 
 or incur any indebtedness which may or can subject such 
 premises, or any part thereof, to a lien therefor or a sale thereof 
 to satisfy the same, except as aforesaid, then the estate in said 
 premises hereby granted shall cease and terminate, and such 
 land and the building or buildings that may be thereon, shall 
 revert to the said party of the first part, if he shall be then 
 living, or to his heirs in case he shall not be then living. 
 
 And in case the said hospital association shall at any time 
 be dissolved, or shall refuse or neglect to use the building or 
 buildings that may be erected on said land in the place thereof, 
 or any building or buildings that may be erected on any land 
 that may be held in the place of said land as aforesaid, as here- 
 inbefore provided, for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned, or 
 shall refuse or neglect to comply v^rith any of the conditions 
 hereinbefore specified upon which it is to be permitted to use 
 such building or buildings as hereinbefore provided its per- 
 mission to use said land and building or buildings, shall be 
 withdrawn by the said trustees for the time being, and the said 
 trustees for the time being shall have the power to either permit 
 some other like organization to use the said land and building 
 or buildings for the same purposes as hereinbefore specified upon 
 the conditions hereinbefore prescribed, or to use the said land 
 and building or buildings themselves for the same purposes 
 upon the same conditions; and in case of their failure to do one 
 of these things within three years after such permission shall 
 have been withdrawn then the estate in said premises hereby 
 granted shall cease and terminate, and the said land and the 
 building or buildings that may be thereon shall revert to the 
 said party of the first part if he shall be then living or to his 
 heirs in case he shall not be then living. And these provisions 
 
 123 
 
shall apply to and in the case of each and every one of such like 
 organizations as may be permitted to use said land and build- 
 ing or buildings as aforesaid. 
 
 The powers and duties of the said trustees and their suc- 
 cessors in addition to the powers and duties hereinbefore vested 
 in and required of them, and such other powers and duties as 
 shall vest in and be required of them by virtue of their office, 
 shall be as hereinafter mentioned, and they shall observe the 
 rules and regulations hereinafter stated, namely: 
 
 1. The said trustees shall meet as soon as they conve- 
 niently can after the delivery hereof, and organize by the elec- 
 tion from their own body of a president and secretary, and 
 such other officers as they shall deem advisable, who shall per- 
 form the duties hereinafter devolved upon them, and such 
 other duties as are usually performed by such officers, and who 
 shall hold their respective offices for one year and until their 
 successors in such offices shall be elected. 
 
 2. At the said meeting of said trustees they shall fix a 
 time and place for holding an annual meeting in each and 
 every year, which time and place may be changed at any annual 
 meeting, or at any special meeting as hereinafter provided. 
 
 3. Special meetings may be called by the secretary at the 
 request of the president or of any three of the trustees, or by 
 the president himself, or by any five of the trustees, but a notice 
 in writing of every such meeting shall be delivered or sent by 
 mail to each trustee three days at least before the date of the 
 meeting, and every such notice shall state the place, day and 
 hour of the meeting, and the nature of the business to be trans- 
 acted thereat. 
 
 4. At every meeting, six trustees shall constitute a 
 quorum for the transaction of business. 
 
 5. Said trustees shall have power to remove any officer 
 or trustee for misconduct or neglect of duty, which, however, 
 
 124 
 
shall be done only by a vote of at least seven of the trustees 
 for the time being. 
 
 6. Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of presi- 
 dent or secretary or trustee, the trustees shall as soon as they 
 conveniently can hold a special meeting to fill the vacancy, and 
 proceed to choose some person to fill the same. 
 
 7. The title to the said premises and any premises pur- 
 chased in the place thereof as aforesaid shall at all times vest in 
 the said trustees for the time being, unless or until the said land 
 shall revert to the said party of the first part or his heirs as 
 aforesaid, and all acts and proceedings, if any, that may be re- 
 quired to be done and taken to vest such title in new trustees 
 chosen from time to time, shall be done and taken by the 
 trustees. 
 
 In vi^itness whereof the said party of the first part has 
 hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above 
 written. 
 Signed, Sealed, and Delivered 
 
 In the presence of 
 
 Geo. S. Hilton, Nathan Barnert, 
 
 (Signed) (Signed) Seal. 
 
 GROUND BROKEN FOR NEW HOSPITAL. 
 
 Plans for the new hospital were drawn by Frederick W. 
 Wentworth. When Mr. Barnert first announced his inten- 
 tion, he believed that the structure could be built for $125,000. 
 He declared that the institution must embody all the require- 
 ments of an up-to-date hospital, with all the valuable points to 
 make it meet the needs of the community for which it was 
 intended for the years to come. It was, however, found that 
 the estimate was too low. Mr. Barnert, however, with his 
 characteristic generosity, gave orders to spare no expense, and 
 when the bids were asked, discovery was made that the hos- 
 
 125 
 
pital when completed will have cost about $250,000. It was 
 a joyous occasion on Monday afternoon, July 20, 19 14, when 
 ground was broken on the site. Jacob Fabian, chairman of 
 the building committee, was master of ceremonies and intro- 
 duced Nathan Barnert. Mr. Barnert, impressed with the in- 
 terests of his friends, said: 
 
 "It has been my ambition since the death of my wife, to 
 erect a hospital where the sufferings of all, regardless of sect 
 or religion, race or color, could receive proper care and, medical 
 attention. I pray Almighty God that I may live to see this 
 hospital fulfilling the purpose for which it is erected." 
 
 Dr. Abram S. Isaacs, former Rabbi of the Barnert 
 Memorial Temple, then delivered the following address: 
 
 ''While the ceremony of breaking ground for a hospital 
 is informal and not to be compared to the cornerstone laying 
 or the dedication of the structure, its value is not to be under- 
 rated. There are sermons in stones — sometimes unhappily 
 stones in sermons — and there is a living text in a clod of earth. 
 
 "When man was created, so runs an old rabbinical fancy, 
 God did not take the dust from one special part of the world, 
 but from all corners, to teach the unity of mankind and human 
 brotherhood. Some of us think we are born of gold, some 
 seem made of brass and some claim to be born of precious 
 stones, of a finer quality than the ordinary mortal. The 
 Jewish interpretation is the broader — mankind is one. 'Thou 
 shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' One law for the stranger 
 and the native-born. 
 
 "The hospital, for which ground is now broken, is to be a 
 living conception of this Jewish conception. It will be open 
 to all, of whatever creed, and no poor sufferer shall be turned 
 away, whatever his race or origin. 'Ye were strangers in the 
 land of Egypt, ye shall love the stranger.' 
 
 "This view of a Judaism, broad and tolerant, is ignored 
 by the critics and occasionally unrecognized by the Jew himself. 
 
 126 
 
But the whole trend of Jewish thought and history teaches the 
 lesson of a gentle universalism, and to-day you will find no 
 clearer illustration than in the lavish gifts without distinctions 
 of creed made by wealthy Jews and Jewesses. Thus, a Hall- 
 garten wills princely sums to Jewish and to Christian institu- 
 tions. Thus, a Rosenwald endows Y. M. C. A. buildings for 
 our colored brothers throughout the land. A Montefiore 
 pleads for the persecuted Christians as well as the per- 
 secuted Russian Jews and a Schiff never limits himself in his 
 benevolence to the house of Israel. 
 
 "A clod of earth illustrates still another lesson. In the 
 older tabernacle, the altar was to be of earth. Humility is to 
 be taught even in a place of worship! That is no centre for 
 spiritual bargain sales or commercialized privileges to the 
 higher bidder. There, if anywhere let us have genuine 
 humility and not the loud-voiced saintliness of the purse-proud. 
 
 ''The hospital, which takes its beginning from the clod of 
 earth, is to teach humility to its supporters. If they give in its 
 behalf, that is only their privilege, and a return for the gifts 
 they receive from the Almighty. The generous founder need 
 not be told how deep and lasting must be his gratitude for the 
 energy, health and strength which makes possible this, his latest 
 benefaction, not for his own glory, but for the enrichment of 
 mankind, and the vindication of his ancestral faith. It is the 
 gift, not the giver, that takes the highest rank. It was only 
 because her grateful heart was in her gift that the poor widow's 
 offering of a little barley was accepted. It is the heart we put 
 into our gifts, the love and the compassion that sweeten them 
 which makes the offering genuine, whether costly or small. 
 
 ''In a few months the building will approach completion, 
 crowning one of the fairest sites of our progressive city. In 
 generous rivalry with other hospitals, whose work is so 
 esteemed by all of us, it will teach the lesson of a kindly fellow- 
 ship to the citizens of Paterson. May God, without whom we 
 
 127 
 
build in vain, give strength and permanence to this institution! 
 May its equipment be thorough, its management broad and 
 capable, its influence for good far-reaching! May the hun- 
 dreds, the thousands in the coming years who enter here 
 find healing and strength within its portals! And may it per- 
 petuate for a blessing the memory of the prince and princess in 
 Israel who were joined so faithfully in life, shall be linked as 
 firmly in eternity." 
 
 Dr. Isaacs was followed by Mr. Wentworth, and by Max 
 Rosen, president of the Hospital Association. Mr. Barnert 
 was then called upon once more and turned the first spadeful 
 of earth. Mr. Barnert dug deep, lifted the earth and threw 
 it into a waiting wagon. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE HOSPITAL. 
 
 The hospital will be situated in the center of a beautiful 
 plot of ground covering a full city block and bounded by 
 Broadway on the north. East Thirty-first Street on the east, 
 Thirteenth Avenue on the south, and East Thirtieth Street, on 
 the west; forty feet back from Broadway and twenty-five from 
 the side streets. 
 
 The main building will be 1 50 feet long, 42 feet wide, 
 four stories high, with a solarium 100x40 feet extending the full 
 height of the building at each end facing the south. The utility 
 building extends 80 feet to the south and will be 50 feet wide 
 and two stories high. This ground plan makes it possible to 
 add two large buildings or wings, with one facing East Thir- 
 tieth Street and the other East Thirty-first Street. 
 
 The principal facade will face Broadway and will have a 
 central pavillion with flanking wings at either side. The 
 pavillion extending out 8 feet beyond the main building em- 
 phasizes the principal entrance which will be level with the 
 ground floor and covered with a beautiful copper Marquise; 
 above this, four magnificent monolithic polished granite 
 
 128 
 
columns twenty feet high, surrounded by Corinthian capitols 
 forms a charming loggia; all carrying a gabled attic story. 
 
 The entire first or basement story will be built of beautiful 
 pink and green surpentine granite carefully selected for color 
 and quality, and will consist of a molded tooled base course, 
 rusticated ashler with picked surfaces, and finished with a 
 tooled moulded belt or sill course, together forming the base on 
 which the superstructure of three stories will be erected of 
 slightly varigated light bluff brick laid with raked joints in 
 flemish bond and trimmed with cream Terra Cotta quoins, 
 cornices, attic stories, parapets, etc. 
 
 The basement or ground story will contain the general 
 waiting room, executive offices, staff and nurses' dining rooms. 
 The out-department, consisting of a large airy waiting room 
 for patients, four doctor's examination rooms, a pharmacy and 
 men's and women's toilets; an ambulance receiving room for 
 patients with bath and wash slab, adjoining a small fully 
 equipped operating room; a doctor's lounging room; a small 
 isolated ward with attending nurses' quarters; a locker room 
 for patients' clothing; a hydropathic room, and a laboratory 
 with general microscopic room; urine analysis room, animal 
 room and x-ray with dark room. Two stairways, an electric 
 elevator and two electric dumb-waiters will connect with the 
 stories above. In the extension will be located the meat and 
 milk kitchens arranged for full Kosher service, a fully equipped 
 power laundry, an ambulance garage, an autopsy room with 
 cooler and undertaker's room. 
 
 The cellar extending under this building and the central 
 part of the main building will contain the heating and power 
 equipment, coal bins for 200 tons of coal, cold storeroom for 
 kitchen supplies, and a storeroom for general supplies. 
 
 A beautiful little chapel will occupy the central portion 
 of the first floor and to the right and left, the main men's and 
 women's wards will be located, duplicated in arrangement and 
 
 129 
 
providing a large ward of 12 beds, with windows on three 
 sides, a small adjoining ward of 5 beds, a solarium open in 
 summer and inclosed in glass in winter, a guest room, an 
 examination room equipped with sterilizers, etc., a complete 
 service kitchen and toilets with separate bath rooms. The 
 second story of the laundry wing will be utilized for the care of 
 employees. The third floor, west wing, will contain the 
 maternity ward, practically duplicating the ward below with 
 an additional delivery room and babies' room. The balance of 
 this floor will be reserved for private and semi-private patients 
 with 24 beds. In the fourth floor, west wing, will be located 
 the children's ward similarly laid out and equipped as those 
 below. 
 
 The front center will contain the main operating room 
 and accessories, such as sterilizing, instrument, doctors' dressing 
 room, nurses' dressing room, wash rooms, etc., and it will be 
 equipped complete with all the latest devices for all classes of 
 surgical work. It will be two stories in height with a large 
 north window and supplementary skylight and will have an 
 observation gallery for clinics. Adjoining this large room will 
 be a small emergency operating room, also fully equipped. 
 The balance of this story will be devoted temporarily to nurses 
 and staff quarters, and ultimately used for private patients as 
 the institution grows, and a nurses' home is erected. 
 
 The entire building will be constructed of absolutely fire- 
 proof materials and every detail has been studied to conform 
 to the most modern sanitary practice. All corridor floors will 
 be of marble and terraza, ward and room floors of composition, 
 and the toilet room floors of tile, all laid directly on the con- 
 crete floor construction. There will be no wood trim, all 
 angles being covered with a covered sanitary base at the floor. 
 The operating room will have a high wainscote of glass or 
 marble slabs, and will be the most modern and best equipped 
 room in the city. 
 
 130 
 
The equipment of the building will be complete in every 
 detail including over 150 solid porcelain plumbing fixtures, each 
 carefully selected for its particular use. 
 
 The heating system w^ill be from power boilers in the 
 cellar and will be of the vacuum type; an extra boiler will be 
 provided for emergency use; a complete system of steam steril- 
 izing will be installed with insurators on each floor and one 
 large insurator near the kitchen for garbage. The main kit- 
 chens will contain every possible convenience. A fully 
 equipped diet or service kitchen with range, steam tables, etc., 
 will adjoin each ward and electric automatic controlled dumb- 
 waiters will carry the food to these from the main kitchen. A 
 modern electric elevator will connect all floors, and also run to 
 the roof garden at the top of the building. 
 
 The laundry will contain a large sterilizer of sufficient 
 capacity to accommodate mattresses, and a complete power laun- 
 dry equipment of 150 bed capacity. The morgue will have a 
 mortuary slab, cooler for two bodies, and adjoin a fully 
 equipped embalming room. An electric ambulance may be 
 taken care of in the garage. 
 
 The lawns will be beautifully laid out with enclosing 
 hedges, formal flower gardens, and plantings of rare trees and 
 blooming shrubbery. The main approach will be semi-circular 
 leading up to a stately entrance ; an automobile parkage will be 
 provided on the Thirteenth Avenue side for the doctors' use. 
 
 While no pains have been spared to make the building 
 thoroughly practical in plan and economical to maintain, it is 
 essentially monumental in character befitting the magnificent 
 gift of its donor. 
 
 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. 
 
 The officers and directors of Nathan and Miriam Barnert 
 Memorial Hospital Association follow: Max Rosen, Presi- 
 dent; Henry Marelli, First Vice-President; Gustave Mikola, 
 
 T31 
 
Second Vice-President; John Kaufman, Treasurer; Abram I. 
 Bluestein, Secretary; David Agins, David Atkind, Sigmund 
 M. Cohn, John Charney, Phillip Diamond, S. Federbush, 
 Jacob Fabian, Samuel Friedlander, Herman Heinrich, Israel 
 Horowitz, Herman Haimowicz, Jacob Koteen, Abram Klenert, 
 Joseph I. Kassel, Herman B. Kitay, Joseph T. Lieblich, Ar- 
 nold Levy, Max Menein, Samuel Neinken, Rabbi Israel 
 Rosenberg, Jacob Rosenzw^eig, Morris Scher, Albert H. Slater, 
 Louis Spitz, David Yedwab. 
 
 Officers of Ladies' Auxiliary — Mrs. Louis Shnayerson, 
 President; Mrs. John Kaufman, Vice-President; Mrs. John 
 Marcus, Treasurer; Miss Lillian Weinberg, Secretary. 
 
 CORNERSTONE LAYING OF THE HOSPITAL. 
 
 With impressive masonic ceremonies, the cornerstone of 
 the hospital viras laid on Monday afternoon, at three-thirty 
 o'clock, October 19, 191 4. It was a day which will long be 
 remembered by the people of Paterson, and the distinguished 
 visitors, and in particular by Nathan Barnert, who through- 
 out the day was hailed as "Paterson's Greatest Philanthropist" 
 — "That Grand Old Man" and similar expressions of esteem. 
 For forty-seven days the weather had been most ideal with but 
 few exceptions until Thursday afternoon, October 15, when 
 there was a sudden change and the rain came down in tor- 
 rents. It continued raining all of the next day and on Satur- 
 day, the weather cleared. The sudden change in weather was 
 a source of considerable worry for these in charge of the exten- 
 sive arrangements and more so to Mr. Barnert, for he had 
 looked forward to this great day for a long time. On Sunday 
 there were some bright prospects, but on Monday morning at 
 four o'clock, there was a terrific rain, thunder and lightning 
 storm. As the day wore on, however, the sun peeped out of 
 the clouds at varying intervals, and finally when the cere- 
 monies were in full swing, the sky was perfectly clear. 
 
 132 
 
It was in every way a memorable day for Nathan Barnert. 
 Over five thousand marchers, representing every Jewish patrio- 
 tic, religious, social, benevolent and charitable organization in 
 Paterson, together with 1,500 members of the Masonic frater- 
 nity including visitors from every part of New Jersey, paraded 
 prior to the ceremonies. The parade started shortly after two 
 o'clock. 
 
 The procession formed at the corner of Paterson and 
 Market Streets and proceeded down Market Street to Main, to 
 Broadway and out to the grounds, at East Thirty-first Street. 
 Andrew D. Mason was grand marshal of the procession. 
 
 The parade formation was as follows: 
 
 Escort of Police. 
 
 Dittamo s Band. 
 
 Ex-Mayor Barnert and Police 
 
 Chief John Bimson in open barouche. 
 
 Masonic Fraternity. 
 
 Knight Templars. 
 
 Grand Lodge of Masons. 
 
 FIRST DIVISION. 
 
 Escort of Police. 
 
 Grand Marshal, A. D. Mason. 
 
 Chief Trumpeter, 
 
 Walter J. Andres, Mounted Orderly. 
 
 Aides to Grand Marshal — Robert Slingland, Jacob Levine, A. 
 
 Saltzman, Herman Hertzberg, Louis A. Simon and 
 
 Jacob Koteen. 
 
 Board of Managers — Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial 
 
 Hospital Asosciation. 
 
 SECOND DIVISION. 
 
 Dunkerley's Band. 
 Uniformed Ranks Jr. O. U. A. M. 
 
 133 
 
Kearney Council. 
 
 Parker Council. 
 
 Watts Cooke Council. 
 
 Totowa Council. 
 
 Public School No. 9, F. and D. Corps. 
 
 Pupils, Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School. 
 
 THIRD DIVISION. 
 
 De Rosa's Band. 
 
 Independent Order Brith Abraham, 
 
 Silk City Lodge, No. 123. 
 
 A. M. White Lodge. 
 
 Abram Wolf Lodge. 
 
 Paterson Janiveer Lodge. 
 
 Young Men's Hebrew Association and Float. 
 
 Junior Young Men's Hebrew Association. 
 
 Paterson Cadet Band. 
 
 Order Free Sons of Joseph. 
 
 B'Nai Sholom Lodge, No. 14. 
 
 M. S. Joelson Lodge. 
 
 United N. J. Lodge, No. 24, Order of Zion. 
 
 FOURTH DIVISION. 
 
 Junior Continental F. and D. Corps. 
 
 Order Brith Abraham. 
 
 Barnert Lodge, No. 158. 
 
 Paterson City Lodge, No. 102. 
 
 New Paterson Lodge, 405. 
 
 Workingmen's Circle, represented by its eight branches. 
 
 Independent Arbiter Ring. 
 
 One of the most attractive features of the parade con- 
 sisted of a delegation of about twenty young women of the Y. 
 W. H. A., led by Miss Marie Smith. A blue and white star 
 
 134 
 
w^as carried in front of their line with streamers of ribbon de- 
 sending from it. The young women were dressed in white. 
 
 A banner was next in line, on which was inscribed: "We 
 thank Paterson's greatest benefactor." The Miriam Barnert 
 Free School banner was carried, Morris Wiener leading this 
 delegation. The Young Men's Society followed. Manuel 
 Goldberg and H. Scherkowitz led the group carrying the Bar- 
 nert Memorial temple design. Pictures of Nathan and Miriam 
 Barnert and an American banner were carried. Another ban- 
 ner bore the device: ''His many charities." 
 
 A. I. Philipps was at the head of the group representing 
 the Barnert Memorial Hospital, followed by Benjamin Jacobs. 
 The four carrying the pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Barnert were 
 Abe Philipps, Phil Gold, Julius Rose and Jack Summers. At 
 the head of this group was George Surosky. Members of the 
 Y. M. H. A. carried blue and white flags. 
 
 The members of the Masonic order in line were: Grand 
 Master Charles P. Russ, Trenton; Deputy Grand Master Ed- 
 ward Searing, Dover; Senior Grand Warden William R. 
 Meakle, Paterson; Junior Grand Warden W. M. Thompson, 
 Red Bank; Grand Treasurer William F. Burk, Trenton; 
 Deputy Grand Secretary T. B. Townley, Trenton; Grand 
 Chaplain Rev. Charles Bowden, Camden; Grand Chaplain 
 Rev. W. M. Mitchan, Hackettstown ; Senior Grand Deacon 
 Mahlon Morey, Elizabeth; Junior Grand Deacon Joseph T. 
 Peters, Jersey City; Grand Marshal, William A. Tewes, 
 Jersey City; Junior Grand Steward Percie A. Vivarttas, 
 Weehawken; Grand Sword Bearer Charles Acorn, Paterson; 
 Grand Pursuivant William H. Jones, Newark; Grand Tyler 
 Asher Wilson, Trenton. 
 
 District Deputies — Second District, William Herbert 
 Lowe, Paterson; Seventh District, Herbert Rorick, Newark; 
 Fourteenth District, Frank W. Hampton, Long Branch; 
 Fifteenth District, A. C. Reeves, Trenton. 
 
 135 
 
Committeemen — Finance Committee, Palmer H. Char- 
 lock, Elizabeth; John S. Neary, Trenton. Ritual Committee, 
 Carl Goetk, Hoboken. Printing Committee, W. A. Schierloch, 
 Masonic Home Committee, John Wilkins, Newark; Austin 
 Hall MacGregor, Newark. Grand Master's Address Com- 
 mittee, Isaac Lowenstein, Newark. Unfinished Business Com- 
 mittee, John W. Arniel, New Brunswick. 
 
 Individual Masons — John Gopsill, Jersey City; Richard 
 Preston, Jersey City; A. B. LeMassena, Newark; Charles P. 
 Sparkman, Paterson; Isaac Cheny, Jr. 
 
 Miss Zurche, Miss Stocker, Miss Jennings, Miss 
 Teweles, nurses, and Dr. Rosenbluth, Superintendent, and Dr. 
 Herman Levi, doctor at the hospital, rode in an automobile. 
 
 PROGRAM OF EXERCISES. 
 
 Opening — "Star Spangled Banner" Band 
 
 Master of Ceremonies, Bro. Hon. Judge Abram Klenert 
 
 Announcement Hon. Mayor Fordyce 
 
 Ode^ — "Blest be the tie that binds," The Brethren 
 
 Prayer — Rev. Dr. A. S. Isaacs. 
 
 Reading of Records Deposited and Placing of Cornerstone. 
 
 Ode— "Placed in Form" The Brethren 
 
 Ceremonies — M. W. Grand Master, Charles P. Russ 
 
 Presentation of Trowel to the Most Worshipful Grand 
 
 Master Bro. Jacob Fabian 
 
 Invocation M. W. Grand Master 
 
 Ode— "Thou Who Art God Alone" The Brethren 
 
 Oration — R. W. Bro. Meakle Senior Grand Warden 
 
 Benediction — Grand Chaplain The Rev. W. Mitcham 
 
 Selection Prof. Dittamo's Band 
 
 Address — Bro. Rev. Dr. Julius Silberfeld. 
 
 Ode Hebrew Free School Children 
 
 Address — Bro. Max Rosen. 
 
 (President of Hospital). 
 
 136 
 
Address Hon. Leon Sanders 
 
 Address Bro. Dr. I. Le Vine 
 
 History Bro. Dr. I. Le Vine (Medical Staff) 
 
 Address Bro. Hon. Nathan Barnert 
 
 Selection — "America" Band 
 
 Closing Prayer Rev. Moses Hyamson 
 
 IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES ON THE GROUNDS. 
 
 The Masonic service which was in charge of Paterson- 
 Orange Lodge, No. 43, was impressive, the Masonic ritual 
 occupying about 45 minutes in its entirety. An interesting 
 feature was the singing of the odes, to the accompaniment of 
 Dittamo's band and which was joined in by the assemblage. 
 
 Most Worshipful Grand Master Charles P. Russ, of 
 Elizabeth, officiated at the ceremonies, prior to which the Grand 
 Lodge formed a procession. 
 
 ADDRESS OF GRAND MASTER CHARLES P. RUSS. 
 
 ''Men and brethren here assembled, be it known unto you 
 that we are lawful Masons, true and faithful to the laws of 
 our country solemnly engaged to erect magnificent buildings, 
 to render service to the craft and to humanity, and above all to 
 fear God, the Supreme Architect of the Universe, the great 
 builder of worlds and creator of men. 
 
 "We have among us secrets of our art, which may not be 
 divulged, but which are reputable and proper and not repug- 
 nant to the laws of God or of man. These have been com- 
 mitted in faith to our keeping, and it is our duty to transmit 
 them in our turn unchanged to those who are to succeed us, 
 so that they remain unimpaired to the remotest generation. 
 
 "Unless our craft were good and its calling honorable, it 
 could not, by human providence, have existed for so many cen- 
 turies, nor would it have been favored with the patronage and 
 care of so many virtuous and illustrious men. 
 
 137 
 
"In the character of the Masons we are gathered here to- 
 day before you all to establish the foundation of a house, which, 
 we pray God, may become and continue a place for the con- 
 course of the wise and the good; wherein justice and love may 
 rule the actions of men, and where shall be demonstrated the 
 beauty of harmony in all the transactions of daily life." 
 
 The opening number was the "Star Spangled Banner," 
 followed by introduction of speakers by Judge Abram Klenert. 
 
 Mayor Fordyce was the first speaker and paid a tribute to 
 ex-Mayor Nathan Barnert, declaring that the great outpouring 
 of people was an evidence of the esteem and love which this 
 community holds for the founder of many enduring monu- 
 ments. Mayor Fordyce referred to the noble deeds of 
 Miriam Barnert and how since her death this pleasant work of 
 charity is being done and carried on by Mr. Barnert. In clos- 
 ing, Mayor Fordyce said that the city will benefit by his 
 example and be an incentive to all to arise and follow in the 
 performance of good deeds. 
 
 The Ode, "Blest Be the Tie That Binds," was then sung, 
 followed by prayer, by the first Rabbi of the Nathan Barnert 
 Memorial Temple, the Rev. Dr. Abram S. Isaacs. 
 
 The records were then placed in the cornerstone. The 
 contents were as follows: 
 
 1. History of the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Hospital 
 from its beginning as a dispensary, including a copy of the first 
 minutes and charter. 
 
 2. Program of exercises of Hebrew Free School Children. 
 
 3. Biography of Hon. Nathan Barnert, up to October 
 19, 191 4, including the announcement of the gift for the new 
 hospital, history of the Miriam Barnert Memorial Hebrew 
 Free School; history of the Nathan Barnert Memorial Tem- 
 ple, with interesting incidents in the life of Mr. Barnert show- 
 ing his character and achievements; also communications of 
 
 138 
 
appreciation from President Woodrow Wilson, the late Presi- 
 dent William McKinley and Henry Clews, banker of New 
 York City; the first annual message of Nathan Barnert to the 
 Board of Aldermen, of the City of Paterson, April i6, 1883, 
 following his election as Mayor; a letter of appreciation from 
 the late Reverend Dr. Charles D. Shaw, D. D., to Nathan 
 Barnert for his generous act in turning over the Barnert Tem- 
 ple to the congregation of the Second Presbyterian Church, 
 which edifice had been destroyed in the big fire of 1902. 
 
 4. Copy of the Deed for the Nathan and Miriam Bar- 
 nert Memorial Hospital. 
 
 5. A song of praise in Hebrew by John Charney. 
 
 6. The Hebrew Name of the Deity. 
 
 7. Abbreviated sentences of the Psalms of David in 
 Hebrew, artistically arranged on Parchment by Meyer Neu- 
 field, of Posen, Germany, about seventy-five years ago. 
 
 8. Correspondence of Paterson-Orange Lodge, No. 43, 
 F. and A. M. 
 
 9. Rosters of Cataract City Chapter, No. 10, R. A. M., 
 1897-1914. 
 
 10. An acrostic of Biblical names by Jane Jacobson, 
 niece of Nathan Barnert. 
 
 11. Program of the last concert for the benefit of the 
 hospital, containing a description of the institution. 
 
 12. The last annual report of the Miriam Barnert 
 Memorial Hebrew Free School Association. 
 
 13. Photograph of the Nathan Barnert Memorial 
 Temple. 
 
 14. The program of exercises at the laying of the corner- 
 stone of the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital, 
 October 19, 1914. 
 
 15. A letter of thanks from the Publicity Committee to 
 Michael T. Baum, City Editor of the "Evening News," 
 
 139 
 
through whose kindness the committee were able to accomplish 
 the desired results. 
 
 1 6. Copies of Paterson newspapers. 
 
 17. A short history of Paterson-Orange Lodge, No. 43, 
 F. and A. M., since its inception and written by Past Master 
 Edward Livingston. 
 
 18. Photographs of Nathan and Miriam Barnert. 
 Photographs of officers of Paterson-Orange Lodge, list of 
 
 past masters of the lodge. 
 
 Report of the Grand Lodge proceedings, 1914- 
 
 PRESENTATION OF TROWEL. 
 
 Jacob Fabian, chairman of the building committee, pre- 
 sented the trowel to the Grand Master in the following 
 language : 
 
 ''Most Worshipful Grand Master, on behalf of the Build- 
 ing Committee of the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial 
 Hospital Association, I am honored in being asked to present to 
 you the trowel which is necessary in order to perform the cere- 
 monies properly. We gather here to place in proper position 
 under your direction and with your co-operation the corner- 
 stone of this building, which has been donated to the people of 
 the city of Paterson by our Brother, the Honorable Nathan 
 Barnert. Our Dear Brother Barnert and members of the 
 Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital Association 
 view this day with great pride and are glad that they are par- 
 ticipating in honoring you. Most Worshipful Sir, to perform 
 the ceremonies and laying the cornerstone of this building. I 
 take pleasure in presenting you with this trowel so you may 
 spread the cement — not alone which will unite this building in 
 one compact mass, but also the cement of brotherly love and 
 affection regardless of race, creed or religion." 
 
 140 
 
ORATION BY SENIOR GRAND WARDEN, WILLIAM R. MEAKLE. 
 
 How many citizens of Paterson fully appreciate the noble 
 men and women who have from time to time, out of their big 
 hearts, generous instincts, and open purses, contributed so much 
 to our happiness, to human uplift generally, as well as to the 
 amelioration of conditions that sometimes surround the humble 
 and the lowly? It would be an injustice to our people as a 
 whole to intimate that they fail utterly to appreciate the great 
 and the good things that are done in their behalf by the chari- 
 tably disposed, for such is not the case. We should pause occa- 
 sionally, however, to consider the many benefactions with which 
 we have been blessed; not only to prove with what thankful 
 spirit they have been received, but also that others may be 
 encouraged to "go and do likewise." 
 
 To attempt to name or to number the very long honor roll 
 of generous men and women of this city whose memories will 
 be revered by all posterity because of their works, would be 
 impossible now; first, because the time at my disposal is all too 
 limited in which to do justice to so large a subject, and 
 secondly, because of the length of the list I might Inadvertantly 
 overlook some of them. 
 
 We are gathered here to-day to lay the cornerstone of a 
 hospital in which the ablest of physicians and nurses will minis- 
 ter to the sick and will use their best endeavors to restore them 
 to health and vigor. This building, at its full completion, will 
 be admirably adapted to all the purposes intended ; and the gift 
 to the people of Paterson, without respect to creed or religion, 
 race or color, of our highly honored, much respected citizen and 
 Brother Mason, the Honorable Nathan Barnert, a former 
 Mayor of this city, a man and a Mason In all that the words 
 Imply, and one who through all the years of his long business 
 and public life has held the esteem of all good citizens. 
 
 What has actuated him to confer upon us this great bless- 
 ing Is more than I know. Perhaps he has adapted the language 
 
 141 
 
of Virgil to the situation, wherein he said: **Being myself no 
 stranger to suffering, I have learned to relieve the suffering of 
 others." For it is no secret that our friend and Brother has 
 not enjoyed the best of health for some time. 
 
 Notwithstanding, this building will be a magnificent struc- 
 ture, and a handsome gift. The donor has long ago betrayed 
 that spirit of magnanimity which has culminated, in the sunset of 
 his life, in this great work, by erecting other, and equally en- 
 during monuments to the memory of his dearly beloved wife, 
 for which our people honor him, and for which posterity will 
 always bless him. On this very street are two such buildings, 
 each the best of its kind, and each erected and dedicated to her 
 who was his best friend, his counselor, and devoted help- 
 mate, the late Miriam Barnert. The first, a Free School where 
 children reared in the Hebrew faith are educated; the second, 
 a Synagogue where orthodox Hebrews may worship Jehovah. 
 Our people, irrespective of their religious beliefs, have a 
 very warm spot in their hearts toward the Synagogue, for 
 we well remember when Paterson was devastated by a 
 great fire, and many churches were burned, the Synagogue 
 was thrown open to Christians who for a long time worshipped 
 the Christ of their faith under the same roof where the Hebrew 
 worshipped the Jehovah of his. Brother Barnert had much to 
 do with this arrangement, and I cite the incident only to show 
 that with his generosity he combines the quality of delightful 
 broadmindedness. Doubt has been expressed if history records 
 a previous instance of Gentile and Jew worshipping in the same 
 synagogue. Be that as it may, this gentle courtesy of the He- 
 brews toward Christians in distress is but an additional proof 
 that the form of one's religion is of small moment ; it is the end 
 in view that counts. The mode of attaining it should make us 
 brothers here below, for we all look forward to the same habi- 
 tat beyond the grave, where there will be no distinction of race 
 
 142 
 
or religion, where peace and joy shall reign throughout eternity, 
 and where all shall be known as children of one Father, God. 
 
 "We meet at one gate 
 When all's over. The ways they are many and wide, 
 
 And seldom are two days the same. Side by side. 
 Maj'- we stand at the same little door when all's done! 
 
 The ways they are many, the end it is one." 
 
 Shakespeare said of men. "Some are born great, some 
 achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." 
 
 Brother Barnert was neither born great, nor had he great- 
 ness thrust upon him, but clearly he has achieved it. Yet he 
 wears the mantle of his greatness with most becoming modesty. 
 Honored, respected, beloved, ripe in a rich experience aug- 
 mented constantly through his accumulating, crowding, crown- 
 ing years, let us indulge the hope that he may have still before 
 him in this world much of life, during which may it be his por- 
 tion to see the many labors of his love come into the fullest of 
 flower, and bloom to the joy and happiness of all humanity! 
 
 In laying this cornerstone to-day the Grand Lodge of 
 Masons discharges a very pleasant task. In ancient times Free- 
 masons were concerned only with the erection of material edi- 
 fices, to which numberless massive and beautiful buildings, that 
 still endure in many European countries, amply testify. 
 
 The scope of Freemasonry has been broadened in compara- 
 tively recent years so that to-day members of the Craft are 
 engaged in building honor, character, integrity, and righteous 
 living into the human structure, to the elevation and enrich- 
 ment of our species. The tools of the ancient Craftsman are 
 still used to "teach, symbolically many great and wholesome 
 truths. The twenty- four inch gauge, the common gavel, the 
 plumb, the level, the square, and the trowel, may all be found 
 in our lodge rooms, and each points a most salutary lesson. 
 The plumb, for instance, with which the operative mason tests 
 perpendiculars, admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several 
 
 143 
 
stations before God and man. Again, the trowel, which 
 spreads the cement that unites a building into one common 
 mass, teaches us, by its symbolism, to spread the cement of 
 brotherly love and affection, to labor in harmony, and to avoid 
 dissension. It is not such a far cry, therefore, from the Specu- 
 lative Masonry of to-day to the Operative Masonry of our 
 forebears; from the symbolic edifice to the material. 
 
 Kindness and condescension, faith, hope, charity boundless 
 as the universe, brotherly love, relief, and truth, are but a few 
 of our tenets, and these and many more it is our ever present 
 wish and aim to inculcate. 
 
 How singularly appropriate it seems that the Masonic 
 Fraternity should lay the cornerstone of a hospital! By this 
 very act we have already built into its foundation those prin- 
 ciples for which Freemasonry stands, not the least of which are 
 charity and relief. As these four walls shoulder by degrees 
 toward the sky, the square of rectitude, of honor, of fair deal- 
 ing, of virtue, and of righteousness, will be constantly at the 
 right hand of the artisan. The level which he will use to test 
 the accuracy of his work suggests to us the immortality of the 
 soul, and the life to come. We cannot long abide here, and 
 we are taught to hold eternity ever in view. But dissolution 
 holds no terrors for the true Freemason, nor is he disconcerted 
 by the inevitability of its approach, for Masonry teaches a sub- 
 lime and unfaltering faith in God, and the desirability of full 
 preparedness for the hereafter. 
 
 The Scriptural text, "Fear God and keep his command- 
 ments; for this is the whole duty of man," sums up in a brief 
 sentence a Mason's obligatory commitments. To spread this 
 doctrine is the purpose of Freemasonry. Its success in the past 
 is attested by thousands of years of existence and honorable 
 history. If its principles continue to be held as sacredly and 
 inviolably in the future as they have been in the past, its 
 
 144 
 
influence will be felt wherever civilization extends until time 
 shall be no more. 
 
 ADDRESS OF DR. SILBERFELD. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Julius Silberfeld, of Newark, arose and delivered 
 a most interesting address, lauding former Mayor Barnert for 
 the princely gift which made the hospital possible. "Charity," 
 he said, "is greater than mercy, for charity can be given to the 
 poor only and the needy, whereas mercy can also be given to 
 the rich and those who do not need it. It is a grand thought 
 that in, these days of war and horror, there remain those who 
 are humane and generous. While the nations are slaughtering 
 each other, our Nathan Barnerts are doing good and continue 
 to minister to the needy. Such an institution as this will stand 
 as a perpetual monument to the donor." 
 
 The school children of the Miriam Barnert Memorial 
 Hebrew Free School at this point sang odes and psalms. 
 
 MR. ROSEN^S ADDRESS. 
 
 Mr. Max Rosen, president of the Hospital Association, 
 made the following address: 
 
 "Master of Ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen: It is 
 with a feeling of the deepest humility that I undertake to stand 
 up here before this august and distinguished gathering on such 
 an auspicious occasion. After hearing such prominent and able 
 speakers, what can I say? You have heard words of praise 
 heaped on Nathan Barnert, whose wonderful philanthropies 
 embrace Jew and Gentile alike, and whose public spirit has 
 been manifested on all occasions and whose most useful life is 
 an inspiration to us all. 
 
 "It would be a blessing for this cornmunity, if all were like 
 him, for there would be peace and love and perfect humility. 
 It is indeed fortunate for our community to be blessed with a 
 Nathan Barnert who has the heart and the means to devote 
 
 145 
 
and spread his good works for the building of a hospital, where 
 can be treated alike, Jew and Gentile, black and white, rich 
 and poor, and yet his unsurpassed philanthropy entails a great 
 responsibility upon us. What are we going to do with this 
 magnificent institution when built? We are willing to con- 
 tribute our share so as to make it a credit to our city and an 
 honor to our State." Mr. Rosen closed with a further appeal, 
 and on conclusion of his address was presented with a beautiful 
 bouquet of flowers, the gift of the employes of the silk firm of 
 J. Rosen & Son. 
 
 ADDRESS OF JUDGE SANDERS. 
 
 Judge Leon Sanders, of New York, brought greetings and 
 congratulations from his home city. "On this day when you 
 have laid the cornerstone of what will be the grandest hos- 
 pital in the State of New Jersey," he said, "I cannot forget the 
 covenant made in New York many, many years ago. When 
 the first band of Jewish refugees landed on our shores 258 
 years ago, Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New Amsterdam, re- 
 fused to permit them to land, and they said, 'Don't send us 
 back, we have no place to go to, but to go and throw ourselves 
 into the ocean.' Governor Stuyvesant made them sign a con- 
 tract, the terms of which were agreed to, that they would look 
 after their own poor, their own sick and bury their own dead. 
 That contract was legally and morally binding on our ances- 
 tors, is binding on their descendants and our successors. We 
 have established hospitals for the healing of the sick for all who 
 may come, regardless of faith or creed. Having the contract 
 in mind, we have established Jewish orphan asylums, we have 
 established homes for the aged and infirm. Having the con- 
 tract in mind, we have established other institutions and have 
 maintained them, so that he who enters does so with new hope 
 and good will. I, as a citizen, come here to pay my respects. 
 I am glad to come here and pay that tribute to your city and 
 
 146 
 
to that grand old man. All honor, all credit to that man 
 whose life is being spent in establishing charitable institutions, 
 and may he enjoy the pleasure of his acts for many years to 
 come, a life which is full of hope and courage, of love and devo- 
 tion to the memory of that noble woman who was his helpmate 
 and life partner. I congratulate the city of Paterson, that it 
 can boast of such a citizen. He has established kindergartens, 
 a synagogue and a hospital. I hope the Great Father will 
 grant him many years of life so that he may be able to establish 
 other charities as the people may require." 
 
 DR. LE VINE READS HISTORY. 
 
 Dr. Israel Le Vine, of the medical stafE, one of the 
 original founders of the dispensary, delivered an interesting 
 history of the institution and told of the trials and tribulations 
 encountered in the building. He closed by congratulating the 
 public and paid a tribute to Nathan Barnert. 
 
 ADDRESS OF EX-MAYOR NATHAN BARNERT. 
 
 "Mr. Chairman, friends and societies, I do not propose to 
 take up much of your time in speaking. Deeds speak more 
 than words. I am glad to be able to accomplish some good. 
 
 Those assisting in this great and glorious work of caring 
 for the sick, it is conceded, are doing a most worthy work. To 
 you, in charge, the gratifying spectacle of so large a turn-out is 
 due, and to you, Right Worshipful Grand Master of Free and 
 Accepted Masons of New Jersey, with your good offices, Pater- 
 son-Orange Lodge, No. 43, and sojourning brethren, I extend a 
 right royal welcome greeting. 
 
 May no injury Hefall the builders ; may we witness the 
 completion and dedication, and may God's blessing be upon 
 this undertaking." 
 
 147 
 
The band then played "America," the assemblage joining 
 led the closing prayer, 
 in the singing. The Rev. Moses Hyamson, of New York, 
 
 BANQUET IN THE MIRIAM BARNERT MEMORIAL HEBREW 
 FREE SCHOOL. 
 
 It was well toward seven o'clock and the guests had about 
 all assembled when former Mayor Nathan Barnert, accom- 
 panied by Chief of Police John Bimson appeared. Every man 
 rose and cheered him until he had taken his place at the head of 
 the table, while the band played ''The Star Spangled Banner." 
 Following him came Mayor Robert H. Fordyce, who was 
 also vigorously cheered and Judge Abram Klenert, who re- 
 ceived the same attention. Henry Marelli, the toastmaster of 
 the evening, sat at Mr. Barnert's right and Chief of Police 
 Bimson at his left. Those at the speakers' table were ex- 
 Mayor Nathan Barnert, Mayor Robert H. Fordyce, Judge 
 Abram Klenert, William R. Meakle, Rabbi Julius Silberfeld, 
 of Newark; Max Rosen, Theodore B. Townley, Chief of 
 Police John Bimson, Henry Marelli, Charles P. Russ, Edward 
 M. Searing, Mayor George N. Seger, of Passaic. 
 
 The decorations were autumn leaves and around the lights 
 the Masonic insignia. The menu follows: 
 
 Martini cocktail, grape fruit, Marachino cherry; fish, 
 Kennebec salmon, Mayonaise dressing, Holland potatoes; 
 relishes, celery. Queen olives, radishes, tomato salad; soup, 
 chicken, Hungarian goulash ; roast, spring chicken, French peas ; 
 dessert, assorted pies, ices, coffee noir, beer, seltzer, cigars "Que 
 Placer/* 
 
 CONGRATULATIONS. 
 
 When the last course had been served, Mr. Henry 
 Marelli, as toastmaster, opened the post prandial exercises. 
 First he read regrets from a great number of prominent men 
 
 148 
 
who had been invited, but were unable to be present. The 
 same congratulatory note was breathed through all these mes- 
 sages and all bespoke for former Mayor Barnert, a long life to 
 come of usefulness and helpfulness to the community. One of 
 the most notable was the one from the Hebrew Shelter and 
 Immigration Aid Society. 
 
 Mr. Marelli opened the speechmaking by pointing out 
 that the day had been unexpectedly enjoyable. First, as to the 
 parade, he asked what could have been better. Next, the 
 ceremony. It was so impressive and beneficial that its influence 
 must have been helpful to all who came within the circle of the 
 voices of the speakers. And lastly, the dinner. It was all a 
 tribute to the worth of the former mayor and it was a tribute 
 which was deserved, otherwise it would not have been given. 
 The people of these times are not given to honoring men who 
 do not deserve it, and this outpouring of fellow citizens demon- 
 strates that the respect which men earn by their good deeds is 
 given to them, even more freely than ever before. He added 
 that Mr. Barnert will not be remembered by his charitable 
 deeds alone, but that he made a splendid record when he was 
 mayor of the city, that as such he had been incorruptible and 
 fulfilled his duties without regard to political alliances or 
 results to himself. 
 
 The first speaker called upon was Mr. Max Rosen, presi- 
 dent of the Hospital Association. He went over the ground 
 briefly that he had covered in the afternoon and then made an 
 eloquent plea for liberal support of the institution, pointing 
 out the great good it will do in the community, and expressing 
 the hope that it will always appeal to Paterson as strongly as it 
 did yesterday. He told of the munificent gifts which Mr. Bar- 
 nert has made, but pointed to this as the most liberal of all, 
 and most calculated to be beneficial to the people of the city. 
 Mr. Barnert then arose and said he hoped that all those at the 
 cornerstone laying with many more, would be present at the 
 
 149 
 
dedication when he assured them even more impressive exer- 
 cises would follow. He closed by saying that Rabbi Moses 
 Hyamson was in the audience and he would like him intro- 
 duced to the audience. 
 
 The toastmaster then introduced him formally, saying 
 that he had not been long in this country and that the gather- 
 ing would be glad to hear a few words from him. 
 
 Rabbi Hyamson said that this had indeed been a great 
 day, for the city, and for the Jewish people in the city. He 
 analyzed the word "hospital," saying that it is a word with 
 pathetic associations and that to the average mind it suggests 
 human suffering and ills such as all fiesh is heir to. The word 
 hospital, he said, means house of God, and truly a place of 
 healing is a house of God, for it brings comfort to those who 
 are racked with pain and suffering. He said the hospital 
 which has been founded will be a perpetual memorial to the 
 great philanthropist who made it possible. He said the 
 foundation of this hospital has two aspects, one being that it is 
 absolutely undenominational and that it will be open for all 
 sufferers regardless of religion or creed. 
 
 PUBLIC INSTITUTION. 
 
 The only credentials for admission to it are suffering and 
 sickness. And yet, at the same time, said the rabbi, the Jewish 
 people can claim that it is a Jewish institution and he urged 
 his co-religionists to see to it that at this hospital people of 
 Jewish faith have their religious scruples regarding diet strictly 
 respected in order that during their suffering and agony they 
 be relieved of any burden of conscience so far as their religious 
 scruples are concerned. Rabbi Hyemson said that unconsci- 
 ously ex-Mayor Barnert had established three institutions 
 which help to make the three pillars that hold up the world — 
 scholarship, worship and philanthropy, for he erected first a 
 school, then a place of worship and finally he has added a hos- 
 
 150 
 
pital. The rabbi insisted again that the Jewish diet might be 
 provided at the hospital, as much for the health of the patients 
 as for religious beliefs. 
 
 GRAND MASTER SPEAKS. 
 
 The next was a brief congratulatory address by Grand 
 Master of Masons, Mr. Charles P. Russ, after which, led by 
 Dittamo's band, practically every one joined in another parade 
 to the Armory to see the exposition. At the Armory the pa- 
 raders, with the band still in the lead, circled the hall, then they 
 all separated into groups and saw the exposition. Those 
 present at the banquet were William Herbert Lowe, August B. 
 Finkel, Isaac Coburn, William H. Gee, Robert Kimboch, Wil- 
 liam Brameld, Charles C. Scott, Edward Livingston, William 
 Elliot, R. Rosenbluth, W. Clarence Solomon, John Milligan, 
 Harry J. Coyerata, Hoboken; C. J. Simoni, Hoboken; G. Pit- 
 tis, Ridgewood; Charles W. Hanleys, Dr. Joseph Schapiro, 
 Dr. William Veenstra, Dr. J. J. Greengrass, Dr. D. H. Men- 
 delsohn, Dr. B. C. Magennis, Bernard Freimark, John G. 
 Gopsill, Charles P. Sparkman, George W. Parker, W. F. J. 
 White, Albert H. Slater, Dr. William Spicker, Dr. Walter 
 M. Winter, Dr. Jacob Roemer, Dr. Vigna, Dr. Thomas A. 
 Dingman, Dr. Leo Joffe, Dr. C. Gutz, H. C. Rorick, Isaac 
 Silverstein, Harry B. Haines, Dr. Cyril Barnert, Samuel 
 Jacobs, Bernhard Meyerowitz, Arnold Levy, Thomas Bottom- 
 ley, David G. Smith, George S. Hilton, N. M. Townley, Jr., 
 Dr. Shnayerson, Dr. I. Le Vine, Dr. I. Feigenoff, M. S. King, 
 Fred W. Wentworth, W. B. Bryant, A. D. Mason, Abe 
 Kaufman, A. L. Simon, Isadore Simon, Michael T. Baum, 
 Jules C. Levine, Albert Rhodes, Pierce Rosenthal, Philip 
 Drosky, Isaac Wollenberg, John Reid Morris, John R. Wilson, 
 James T. Taylor, John Grossgebauer, Herman Hertzberg, 
 Morris Goldberg, Jacob Rosen, Harry E. Rosen, W. H. Kap- 
 lander, Samuel Schamash, Jacob H. Levin, Abe Wolf, C. H. 
 
 151 
 
Roth, J. H. Cook, Stuart Kay, John Little, J. Silver, Dr. 
 Gordon G. Walton, H. J. White, William H. Jones, 
 P. H. Charwek, Abe Schwalbe, George Lewin, A. Salz- 
 mair, J. Wolf, George Harris, S. M. Schwartz, Henry 
 L. Berdan, Burton H. Allbee, Rev. Carlo P. Alterelli, 
 Charles Acorn, James T. MacDonald, William E. Eaton, 
 Joseph, Rugby, Richard H. Brammeld, George Greenhalgh, 
 Henry Carnation, Andrew^ B. Young, William Raupin, Joseph 
 Starrs, William H. Spears, William H. Brammeld, Joseph 
 Kreelaussy, Nat King, John Ritter, Archie Rose, Harry Braver- 
 man, Morris Wiener, Boas Barnert, Rev. A. H. Longley, 
 Thomas Rogers, W. M. Mitchen, Richard Preston, Charles 
 W. Feeney, William A. Schierlah, Judge Carrington Cabell, 
 George S. O'Neill, Philip Diamond, I. Horwitz, J. Koteen, 
 Louis Spitz, S. Federbush, H. Haimov^^icz, Jacob Fabian, H. 
 B. Kitay, Rev. M. Hyamson, M. Scher, Abram Bluestein, 
 Samuel Friedlander, David Agins, Sigmund M. Cohn, John 
 Charney, Jacob Rosenzweig, Samuel Neinken, Gustave Mik- 
 ola. Max Menein, David Yedwab, Joseph Lieblich, Washing- 
 ton R. Cook, Frank Sweetman, Robert Walker, Joseph L 
 Kassel, John Kaufman, Sergeant Charles F. Sautter, Patrolmen 
 Romary, Sweetman, Graham, Garrison, Weeder, Bunce, Van- 
 derbok, Rickenbach, Arnold, Cook, Walker and Keating. 
 
 COMMITTEES. 
 
 Arrangements — Max Rosen, Chairman; Abram L Blue- 
 stein, Secretary; David Agins, David Atkind, S. M. Cohn, 
 Arnold Levy, Henry Marelli, John Charney, P. Diamond, 
 Sendor Federbush, Jacob Fabian, S. Friedlander, H. Heinrich, 
 L Horowitz, H. Haimowicz, J. Koteen, John Kaufman, Judge 
 Abram Klenert, J. L Kassel, H. B. Kitay, J. Lieblich, M. 
 Menein, J. Mikola, S. Neinken, Rabbi L Rosenberg, J. 
 Rosenzweig. 
 
 152 
 
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Reception — Max Menein, Chairman; M. Scher, S. Feder- 
 bush, H. Haimowicz and I. Horowitz. 
 
 Publicity — A. H. Slater, chairman; Louis Spitz, Arnold 
 Levy, Jacob Fabian and Henry Marelli. 
 
 Speakers — Ex-Mayor Nathan Barnert, chairman; Jacob 
 Fabian, H. Haimowicz, Samuel Friedlander, Henry Marelli 
 and Joseph Lieblich. 
 
 Program — Joseph Kassel, Chairman; Henry Marelli, 
 Louis Spitz, Joseph Lieblich and Max Rosen. 
 
 COMMITTEE IN CHARGE OF MASONIC SERVICE. j 
 
 To take charge of the Masonic services during the laying 
 of the cornerstone, a special committee was appointed, from 
 Paterson-Orange Lodge, No. 43, F. and A. M., by Master B. 
 Freimark. The committee was composed of the following mem- 
 bers: 
 
 John Bimson, P. M., Chairman; Andrew D. Mason, P. 
 M.; Edward Livingston, P. M.; Andrew B. Young, P. M.; 
 W. Brammeld, W. H. 'Brammeld, William H. Speirs, W. 
 Elliott, Secretary; David B. Smith, Jacob Fabian, A. H. 
 Slater, Jacob Silver, John Ritter, Thomas Bottomly, Joseph 
 Krulan. 
 
 153 
 
THE HEBREW LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. 
 
 The Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society with which 
 Miriam Barnert was actively connected for eighteen years, hav- 
 ing been its first president, and serving in that capacity from 
 1883 until 1 90 1, is a power for good in Paterson. The society 
 has had a most interesting history. 
 
 On December 5, 1883, the wives of the members of the 
 congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, — Barnert Memorial Temple — 
 touched by the sufferings of the poor, held a meeting in the 
 vestry rooms of the Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun — then 
 located on Van Houten Street, and discussed plans tending 
 toward the amelioration of the conditions of the city's unfor- 
 tunates. That winter was an especially hard one for the poor 
 and worthy, but the noble women without outside help, and 
 without making a public appeal for subscriptions went to work 
 undaunted, and, encouraged by their success, decided to create a 
 permanent organization. 
 
 It was but natural that the honor of being its first presi- 
 dent should be bestowed upon one whose untiring efforts in 
 behalf of humanity were then generally praised, a woman who 
 was doing splendid work in all spheres of philanthropic ac- 
 tivity. And this mantel fell upon the shoulders of Miriam 
 Barnert. It was during the first administration of Mayor 
 Nathan Barnert the society had its impetus and inception. Mr. 
 Barnert had been elected in April of that year, and his acts, 
 coupled with the sterling love of his wife, in a large measure 
 encouraged and spurred the charitably inclined women to re- 
 lieve the sufferings of the poor. When Mayor Barnert don- 
 ated the property at the corner of Broadway and Straight 
 Street, to the Congregation B'Nai Jeshurun, it was stipulated 
 that rooms be reserved for the society. Since then the work 
 
 155 
 
of mercy has gone on unceasingly, directed from that Temple 
 of God. 
 
 Mrs. Barnert proved to be a tireless worker. She radi- 
 ated sunshine and good cheer. Through all the discourage- 
 ments and in the darkening hours, her magnetic personality 
 dominated, and she urged all to ''do and dare." She per- 
 formed her work faithfully and when she was stricken and re- 
 moved from the ranks and sent on her way to that reward 
 which is meted out to all good souls, there was sadness in the 
 ranks. Miriam Barnert's lesson of perseverence, however, had 
 well been assimilated, and although that noble woman was not 
 present in the material sense, spiritually, the memory of her 
 splendid endeavors held all, and even today, Miriam Barnert's 
 magnificent personality still lingers and pervades the meeting 
 room. 
 
 Mrs. Barnert was succeeded by Mrs. Jane Cohen, who 
 held that position until the election of Mrs. George Feder, of 
 Passaic, who served for two years. In 1903, Mrs. Jennie 
 Cohen was elected president, a position she Is still occupying 
 with considerable executive ability. 
 
 The society since its organization has increased in mem- 
 bership from a list of seventeen to an enrollment of over two 
 hundred. Other officers In addition to Mrs. Barnert on the 
 inception of the organization were Mrs. Jennie Cohen, Vice- 
 President ; Mrs. George Feder, Treasurer, and the late Mrs. A. 
 L. Schwartz, Secretary. 
 
 From time to time, as the stress of the needy Increased, It 
 became necessary for the society to devise other means of rais- 
 ing funds, the annual dues proving insufficient to administer as 
 effectually and expeditiously as the cases warranted. Among 
 the various means resorted to for raising funds were balls, con- 
 certs, strawberry festivals, fairs, card parties and performances, 
 each one with most gratifying results. 
 
 156 
 
In 1908 the association appropriately celebrated their 
 twenty-fifth anniversary with a social gathering at the society's 
 rooms, at which time six charter members were present, namely, 
 Mrs. Jacob Levy, Mrs. Morris Feder, Mrs. Marcus Cohn, 
 Mrs. Jane Cohen, Mrs. Henry Nathan and Mrs. Tennie Dia- 
 mond. 
 
 The work of the society is conducted quietly and without 
 any ostentatious show. There are no public appeals for sub- 
 scriptions, the source of income being from card parties and 
 other forms of entertainment. The good sisters of mercy can 
 well be proud of their work. Great are conventions to con- 
 sider all kinds of reform, but the men and women who are 
 doing most for the poor, are almost none of them in conven- 
 tions, but are handpickers at work in the slums and among the 
 destitute. There are such men and women whose names are 
 never in the newspapers, who know where the poor live and 
 where the orphan children are. They are everywhere present 
 where help is needed. 
 
 The present officers are: Mrs. Jennie Cohen, President; 
 Mrs. Charles Elbow, Vice-President; Mrs. Pauline Levine, 
 Treasurer, and Mrs. Tennie Diamond, Secretary. 
 
 157 
 
JEPHTHA LODGE, NO. 143, INDEPENDENT ORDER 
 OF B'NAI BRITH. 
 
 All those who are members of the Independent Order of 
 B'Nai Brith — considered the most powerful agency in exist- 
 ence for the protection of Jews — have a just cause to feel a 
 pardonable pride in the work it has achieved in an extensive 
 field of endeavor. It could, with honor, rest upon what has 
 already been accomplished, but the Order is not content to do 
 this for the meml)ers are aware that there are serious problems 
 still to be solved. They have set their determination on meet- 
 ing these difficulties and contentions face to face, fearlessly and 
 unselfishly, with the end in view of the moral, physical and 
 intellectual advancement of world-wide Jewry. 
 
 In every land can be found workers in this splendid cause 
 — men and women — whose noble fidelity have been shining 
 beacons of encouragement to the down-trodden, the oppressed 
 and poor, the sick and needy. Just such a band of loyal Jews 
 can be found in Paterson, their various activities being ex- 
 pressed and finding outlet in all fields of local endeavor. 
 
 Jephtha Lodge, No. 143, was organized on May 15, 1870, 
 with thirty members. The first meetings were held in the 
 Grand Army, or Washington Hall, Fair and Washington 
 Streets, which was destroyed by fire in 1890. Three charter 
 members are still living — Nathan Barnert, Alexander Simon 
 and Bernard Katz. Among other old members are I. H. 
 Levine, who joined the local lodge in 1879, and who was at 
 one time president and is now its secretary; William Kaliski, 
 and Julius Solomon and Albert Leipsinger, of New York City. 
 No. 143 is the only local in Passaic County and is a member of 
 District No. 3, composed of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Dela- 
 ware and West Virginia numbering a total of 150 lodges. 
 
 159 
 
The principal object of the B'Nai Brith is to assist Jewish 
 widows and orphans. Only recently the local lodge contrib- 
 uted $120 to the war sufferers. There is at this writing a 
 campaign on to raise about half a million dollars to this fund 
 in this country alone. District No. 3, is at the present time 
 erecting a $200,000 Orphan Asylum in Erie, Pennsylvania, an 
 institution, which dedicated in the summer of 191 4j will be 
 completed in 1916. At that time, the district convention will 
 be held in Erie, and Paterson members of the order will par- 
 ticipate in the joyous celebration, as they have aided in the 
 raising of this magnificent building fund. 
 
 EX-PRESIDENT TAFT's TRIBUTE. 
 
 * * * "I have known the B'Nai Brith for many years, for 
 its good work, for the social opportunities that it gives, and as a 
 model Jewish society. And when I say a model Jewish society, 
 I mean a society that may be a model for all societies. If, in 
 what I have said, I have conveyed to you my high appreciation 
 of the people you represent — the oldest people in the world — 
 the people that is entitled really to be the aristocrats of the 
 world, and yet who make the best Republicans — I have suc- 
 ceeded in what I hoped to do." 
 
 A PATRIOTIC UNDERTAKING. 
 EDITORIAL, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER. 
 
 A real service for Jewish Immigrants is planned by the 
 National Organization, the B'Nai Brith, whose convention at 
 Washington appointed a committee to formulate plans for 
 ameliorating the living conditions of new arrivals in this coun- 
 try and to encourage their settlement away from the congested 
 centers of population. 
 
 This is the task assumed by the B'Nai Brith on behalf of 
 the Jewish immigrant. It is a patriotic duty, the successful 
 
 160 
 
performance of which will entitle that organization to the 
 thanks of all people. 
 
 THE order's activities. 
 
 It presented to the people of the United States a statue of 
 religious liberty in Philadelphia. 
 
 It induced our government to act during the persecution of 
 the Jews in Roumania. 
 
 It secured the intervention of the United States govern- 
 ment in support of the universal protest against the Kischineff 
 massacre. 
 
 It caused to be made known to the Russian government, 
 through Count de Witte, the sentiments of the American peo- 
 ple concerning the persecution of the Jews. 
 
 It has awakened public conscience, aroused official activity, 
 and secured important legislation against the "White Slave 
 Traffic." 
 
 It is conducting a vigorous and effective campaign against 
 the caricature of the Jew on the American stage. 
 
 PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE INDEPENDENT 
 ORDER OF b'nAI BRITH. 
 
 The Independent Order of B'Nai Brith has taken upon 
 itself the mission of uniting Israelites in the work of promoting 
 their highest interests and those of humanity; of developing 
 and elevating the mental and moral character of the people of 
 our faith; of inculcating the purest principles of philanthropy, 
 honor and patriotism; of supporting science and art; alleviat- 
 ing the wants of the poor and needy ; visiting and attending the 
 sick; coming to the rescue of victims of persecution; providing 
 for, protecting and assisting the widow and orphan on the 
 broadest principles of humanity. 
 
 i6i 
 
HENRY JONES. 
 FOUNDER OF THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF b'nAI BRITH. 
 
 "If you believe that your becoming a member will advance 
 yo'uT position in civil or social life you w^ill be disappointed. If 
 your early training has been such that you cannot forget every 
 distinction which position and wealth, intellect and education 
 create between man and man, then renounce at once your 
 desire of joining our brotherhood. 
 
 Be careful and examine yourself and know whether you 
 have sufficient strength of character, human love and patience 
 to redeem a fallen brother by the ties alone to which you swear 
 allegiance. 
 
 The character of our obligation is such that of necessity 
 the brother of the covenant can find in our Temple nothing less 
 than a band of men possessing the Divine endowment of self- 
 sacrifice." 
 
 OFFICERS AND MEMBERS, JEPHTHA LODGE LODGE, NO. 1 43. 
 
 Jacob Fabian, President; Morris Rhodes, Vice-Presi- 
 dent; I. H. Levine, Secretary; Herman Heinrichs, Treasurer; 
 Bernard Klingbeil, Warden; Hugo Munzer, Guardian; 
 Nathan Barnert, Boas Barnert, Bernard Katz, Julius Solomon, 
 William Kaliski, A. Leipsiger, A. Simon, Meyer Barnert, H. 
 B. Kitay, Dr. Leo Mannheimer, Henry Goldstein, S. Fried- 
 lander, A. H. Slater, A. Schwartz, M. A. Barth, Sender 
 Federbush, L. Gottleib, Elias Goldstein, A. Altschuler, M. 
 Altschuler, I. Hirschberg, Joseph Jacobsohn, I. Basch, Samuel 
 Jacobs, A. Einhorn, M. Harris, Judge Abram Klenert, S. 
 Kurtz, H. Bersh, Israel Le Vine, M. D., I. Horowitz, Louis 
 Spitz, Jacob Konner, David Gordon, M. Bernstein, Benjamin 
 L. Stein, Max Rosen, Harry Joelson, Max Gold, Gustav 
 Mikola, E. Fuld, Max Stam, Louis Urdang, Phillip Diamond, 
 Meyer Levine, H. Haimowicz, I. Jacobs, M. Steinberg, Joseph 
 T. Lieblich and Joseph C. Price. 
 
 162 
 
PATERSON HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION. 
 
 One of the most unique organizations in Paterson, com- 
 posed of a body of men who have done valiant work quietly 
 and unostentatiously, is the Paterson Hebrew Free Loan 
 Association. As its name implies, this society has been formed 
 to distribute loans to worthy persons in need of aid and in this 
 way obviating the necessity of giving and receiving charity. 
 
 The association was formed in May, igoo, with a capital 
 of $200 donated by members of the Board of Directors. The 
 meetings were held in the homes of members until six years ago 
 when the association located in its permanent home in the Mir- 
 iam Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School building on 
 Broadway. 
 
 The Hebrew Free Loan Association is a unique body 
 inasmuch as no interest is charged on loans, the money being 
 distributed to worthy persons. 
 
 The purposes of the association as outlined by its founders 
 during all these years have never been lost sight of. They are : 
 
 (i). To keep the door of hope open for all who need 
 encouragement. 
 
 (2). To help them regain their better-self. 
 
 (3). To assist them to do better in the future than they 
 have done in the past. 
 
 (4). To teach them to do business with this association 
 by borrowing as much as they need, and who can afford to loan, 
 by repaying in installments as soon as they are able to do so. 
 
 (5). To obviate the necessity of giving and receiving 
 charity. 
 
 "Encouragement" is the one word that will describe most 
 fully the work that this institution endeavors to do. Often an 
 individual must suffer for his own misdeeds, sometimes he may 
 
 163 
 
have to suffer from circumstances that he cannot be held 
 responsible for. The world is frequently hard on those who 
 will not progress. This institution lends a guiding hand. It 
 helps that man to gird up his loins until a way for advancement 
 is opened. 
 
 And this is done without sacrifice to that particular man's 
 self-respect. 
 
 During its existence the association has loaned about 
 $50,000 and how faithful has been Its trust, can be noted from 
 the fact that in all these years the society has practically not lost 
 one cent, and at the present time has over 250 borrowers on its 
 list. There is now a handsome total of $7,500 working capital 
 with over $1,500 cash on hand. The membership fees are five 
 cents a week. Money is loaned from sums of $10 to $75 and an 
 attempt is being made to increase the capital so that loans can be 
 made as high as $150. The association has been enabled to 
 continue its work through voluntary contributions and public 
 entertainments. There are 350 members. 
 
 The association, at a mass meeting held in the Miriam 
 Barnert Memorial Hebrew Free School, presented a marble 
 tablet to Nathan Barnert, in appreciation of his efforts and 
 interests in the society. The presentation v.^as made by Judge 
 Abram Klenert. The following made addresses: The Rev. 
 Marius Rasinsky, rabbi of the Nathan Barnert Memorial Tem- 
 ple; Chief Rabbi Rosenberg of the orthodox congregation of 
 Paterson, and the Rev. Marcus Rosenstein, rabbi of the Temple 
 Emanu-El. 
 
 Mr. Barnert has been a member of the Loan Association 
 for many years. It was shortly after the death of his w^fe. 
 that he gave the association a mammoth silver candelabra, 
 which had been purchased during their trip in Paris, in 1870. 
 The candelabra had been made to order in Berlin. It brought 
 over $900, the society in this way having been given the impetus 
 for a fund with which to carry on its good work. 
 
 164 
 
TABLET PRESENTED TO NATHAN BARNERT 
 
 BY PATERSON HEBREW FREE LOAN 
 
 ASSOCIATION 
 
Officers — Elias Stiirza, President; Barnert Bornstein, 
 Vice-President; David A. Agins, Treasurer; Benno Freudberg, 
 Secretary; Trustees, Max Altshuler, Israel Horowitz, Meyer 
 Meyers, Morris F. Levine, Counselor. Board of Directors, 
 Jacob Rosenzweig, Max Menein, David H. Agins, Meyer 
 Meyers, Benno Freudberg, Morris Feinberg, Morris Finkel- 
 stein, Isaac M. Sher, Aaron Lubin, Joseph Chlebnikov^^, Max 
 Altshuler, Barnert Bornstein, Abraham Wolf, Jacob H. Levine, 
 Harris Rosenstein, Louis Blumenthal, Israel Horow^itz, Morris 
 F. Levine,' David Atkind, Isidor Hammer, George Harris, 
 David Bernstein, Samuel Abrash, Jacob Katz, Elias Sturza, 
 Joseph Silver, Morris Sher. 
 
 165 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 'A Pretty Sentiment" on Page 70 should read as follows: 
 I have expended 
 I have given 
 I have kept. 
 
 What I expended I had 
 What I have given I have 
 What I kept I lost. 
 
 Lines underneath "The Boy Barnert" page 73 should read: 
 
 The following anonymous communication was published 
 in the San Francisco Chronicle : 
 
 Seventh line, beginning from top of page 99 in chapter 
 devoted to history of the Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple, 
 should read: 
 
 Underneath the main auditorium is a large room. 
 
 Line underneath picture facing page 158 should read: 
 Synagogue in Santomischel, Germany, etc. 
 
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