The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957)(about) |
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Monday 26 October 1931
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SIR JOHN MONASH.
Memorial Service.
In an address delivered at a memorial
service to the late General Sir John Mon- ash conducted by the Liberal Synagogue in the Braille Hall, Prahan, last night, Mr. H.I. Cohen, M.L.C., expressed sur-
prise that when tributes had been paid to qualities which had made Sir John Mon- ash a leader of men little attention had been paid to his ability as a speaker, which,
he believed, was responsible for more of his success than many people suspected.
"Fortunately," Mr. Cohen continued, "he has left behind him silent witnesses of his eloquence in many documents and writ-
ings. It may seem strange to speak of eloquence in an order to troops or a war book, but Sir John Monash built his speeches as he would a bridge, with a sound formulation, and a superstructure of perfect balance, with graceful line and embellishment, simple but effective, de-
signed to convey much, and succeeding in
its purpose.
Mr. Cohen referred to the thoroughness which characterised all Sir John Mon- ash's actions. "There is a saying," he said, "that genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains, and, judging by that alone, Sir John Monash was the greatest genius of his time. He died as he would have wished, in harness, in the fullness of his great mental powers, and with an un- sullied name, honoured throughout the whole civilised world. The whole world is the sepulchre of such famous men. If we had to borrow an epitah none would
be made more suitable than the line written of Washington: "First in peace, first in war, first in the hearts of his countrymen."
Tributes were also paid by Rabbi S. Mark.