Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/40

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Adderley
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Adler

contemplation. A strong churchman, he yet advocated in 1889 a union between the Church of England and the Wesleyans, and he developed an aspiration to heal protestant schism and stay controversy in ‘High and Low Church’ (1892, 2nd ed. 1893). His hope of reconciling apparently opposing social as well as religious forces found expression in his ‘Socialism’ (1895), in which respect for manual labour and zeal in social service and social reform were shown to harmonise with conservative and Christian feeling. In his ‘Reflections on the Course from the Goal’ (1898, 2nd ed. 1899) Norton discussed the formation of character. His religious views kept him in touch with all classes of thinkers, and neither doctrinal nor political differences affected his private friendship. With Mr. Gladstone especially he was long on cordial terms. Cobden and Bright were among his political friends, and he reckoned Archbishop Benson, Cardinal Manning, Dr. Dale, and Edward King, bishop of Lincoln, among his intimate acquaintances. To the end of his life Norton wrote long letters to ‘The Times’ on his favourite themes of social reform, education, and colonial affairs. He was no brilliant writer nor speaker, and was reckoned by political colleagues to be tenacious and outspoken to the verge of obstinacy and bluntness, but his views were enlightened, generous, and far-seeing, and they influenced the progress of public opinion. A skilled musician and a competent art critic, Norton died at Hams Hall on 28 March 1905, and was buried in the family vault in Lea Marston Church. Adderley on 28 July 1842 married Julia Anne Eliza, daughter of Chandos, first Baron Leigh of Stoneleigh. There were ten children—five sons and five daughters. He was succeeded as second Baron Norton by his eldest son, Charles Leigh Adderley. His youngest son, James Granville, became vicar of Saltley in 1904. Lady Norton died on 8 May 1887.

A portrait was painted in 1890 by Jacomb Hood. George Richmond, R.A., made a drawing for Grillion's Club. A cartoon by ‘Spy’ appeared in ‘Vanity Fair’ 1892. The Norton Memorial Hall at Saltley was erected in Norton's memory.

[W. S. C. Pemberton's Life of Lord Norton, 1814–1905, Statesman and Philanthropist, 1909, contains autobiographic notes, with portraits; see also The Times, 29 March 1905; Hansard's Reports; Burke's Peerage; J. R. Godley's Letters edited by Adderley for private circulation; Adderley's works.]


ADLER, HERMANN (1839–1911), chief rabbi of the united Hebrew congregations of the British empire, born at Hanover on 30 May 1839, was second son of two sons and three daughters of Nathan Marcus Adler [q. v.], chief rabbi, by his first wife Henrietta Worms. Through his mother Adler was cousin of Henry de Worms, first Baron Pirbright [q. v. Suppl. II]. His elder brother, Marcus Nathan (1837–1910), was vice-president of the Institute of Actuaries and a founder of the Royal Statistical and London Mathematical Societies. Brought to London in June 1845, when his father became chief rabbi of England, Adler was sent to University College School and University College, London. After a brilliant career there he graduated B.A. at London University in 1859. He preached his first sermon at the consecration of the Swansea synagogue in September 1859. Next year he went to the University of Prague and continued his theological studies under Dr. Rapoport, chief rabbi there; from him in 1862 he received the rabbinical diploma. In December 1862 he obtained at Leipzig the degree of Ph.D. for a thesis on Druidism.

On his return to England he became in temporary principal of the Jews' Theological College, then in Finsbury Square, and he held that office until 1865; he subsequently acted as theological tutor until 1879, was chairman of council in 1887, and was president at his death. He was appointed in February 1864 first minister at the Bayswater Synagogue, Chichester Place, Harrow Road, where till 1891 he attracted large congregations by his cultivated preaching. While at Bayswater he helped to found Jewish schools there, and was instrumental in establishing religious classes for Jewish children at the board schools in the east of London. His vigorous replies in the 'Nineteenth Century' for April and July 1878 to Prof. Goldwin Smith's attack (in the February number) on the Jews for lack of civic patriotism brought him praise from Gladstone and made for him a general reputation as a Jewish apologist both in Europe and in America. Next year he became delegate chief rabbi for his father, then in declining health; and on his father's death he was installed as chief rabbi on 23 June 1891. Adler, who spared himself no labour in discharging his rabbinical duties, tenaciously upheld the spiritual authority of his office over his own community. Rigidly orthodox in ceremonial observances, he at the same time gained much influence in social spheres