30 JANUARY 1909, Page 37

The Jewish Board of Guardians, and the Men who Made

it. By Laurie Magnus, M.A. (G. Routledge and Sons. 2s. (3d. net.)—The first meeting of the Jewish Board of Guardians was held on Mareh 16th, 1859. Its object was to orgauise the relief given to the Jewish poor, which had been distributed up to that time in a very haphazard, and even demoralising, fashion. From the first the Board was largely helped by Charlotte, Baroness Lionel de

Rothschild, who when she died in 1884 left it a sum of .210,000. Among its most active workers have been members of the Cohen family, Other names are Alexander, Emanuel, and Mocatta,— F. D. Mocatta and his wife left .255,000 to the Board. This volume is not only a well-deserved memorial of friends of the poor, but it tells us something about various social and economical matters.