September 13, 1963
CANADIAN JEWISH REVIEW
111
American Academy of Political and Social Science; Antiquarian and Numismatic Society; Monte-fiore Club; Montreal Reform Club; Rideau Club (Ottawa); and the Canadian Club of Montreal.
Whilst Mr. Jacobs helped greatly to build up the Jewish community from within, he was even more active in warding off attacks from without. We have already had occasion to note some of the things he accomplished in this regard in the course of his legal practice and in his career as parliamentarian.
No slanderous charge against Mb people, whether in the press or from the platform, ever escaped his attention. He was especially concerned that the civil rights of Jews were properly safeguarded in the laws of the country. Some of these laws had been passed at a time when Jews were few in number and had, therefore, been overlooked. Such errors and omissions in the statute books he undertook to correct.
He was also instrumental in having legislation adopted protecting the rights of the Jewish community.    To    this    category
belong the provisions in the Lord's Day Act, the Jewish Marriage License Act, and the School Act of 1003. His activity in this field was so pronounced that a cartoon was published in the daily press representing him as the knight errant, armed cap-a-pie, standing on guard, and ready to break a lance in defence of his people.
This cartoon was characteristic and helped to make him famous as the champion of his people and defender of his faith. Many were the occasions when he appeared in this role before the public. They cannot all be recorded here, but mention should be made of the Queen's University incident: -Queen's University, in Kingston, Ontario, had been a Presbyterian College. In 1912, when Jacobs was not yet a member of the House, it applied to the Dominion Parliament to be incorporated as a "national" institution for "the general benefit of Canada," while providing that the "profession of Christianity shall be required" of trustees and other officials of the University. Mr. Jacobs appeared with others before the Committee of Commons in an endeavor to
have the objectionable feature removed from the Bill. After much discussion ih the press, and debate in Parliament, the Act when passed, had the word "national" eliminated, but retained the clause with respect to officers, trustees, etc.
In recent years, since the rise of Hitlerism, when the Canadian Jewish Congress was organized for Jewish self defence, it was natural for the community to turn to Mr. Jacobs for leadership. He became its first president, and remained so until the time of his death. Canada was affected by the up-surge of anti-Semitism in the world at large, and it became increasingly difficult to cope with this problem. Jewish refugees were stranded not merely in one corner of the earth but were on all the world's highways. Mr. Jacobs again tried to obtain admission into Canada for a selected number of these refugees, but died in the midst of these efforts.
His office would be filled with people, most of them of foreign birth, seeking his help in their difficulties. He was their friend who understood their needs and
always gave them a sympathetic hearing. In the last year or so, his spirit seemed broken. He felt the tragedy of his people. He was troubled by manifestations of anti-Semitism in unsuspected quarters, even in his beloved Canada. He wondered if "justice to the Jew," for which he had fought all his life, would ever be realized.
The death of Samuel William Jacobs called forth editorial tributes in the Canadian press, and words of eulogy from Jews and Gentiles in all walks of life. Glowing tributes were paid to his memory in the House of Commons by the leaders 1 of the three political parties and other members of Parliament. The following brief extract from the tribute by Right Honorable W. L. MacKenzie King, Prime Minister, the leader of the Liberal Party, to which Mr. Jacobs had belonged, may fittingly conclude this b'ographical sketch:
"The passing of Sam Jacobs, as he was familiarly and affectionately called, has been one of the most serious losses which in many years this House of Commons has sustained. He had exceptional gifts to qualify him for a place
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