The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-20
B'NAI BIRTH.

B'NAI BIRTH.
Great Convention OF Hebrew benevolent
Societies-The Origin and Objects Of the
Independent Order Of B'nnl B'rith-The
Opening Proceedings Yesterday.
convention OF delegates from the local lodges Of
the Independent Order Of Bnai Birth, charitable
organization of Israelites OF this country opened its
sessions yesterday morning in the large hall Of the
Alemannia Club house. No. IS East Sixteenth street,
in this city. This Order is secret society," somewhat
patterned after the Odd Fellows or Free Masons,
with the exception that only persons Of Mosaic faith
can become members Of it, yet it does not pretend
to any religious propagandism In favor of Judaism,
has no religious purposes In view and only seeks
"to alleviate the wants OF the poor and needy, to
visit and attend the sick and to protect and assist
the widow and orphan" AS the existence Of the
Order itself Is hardly known to the country outside
Of its own circle Of members and coregionists the
preamble to the constitution Of the society," In which
all its objects are clearly stated, is here inserted
The Independent Order Bnai Birth taken upon
ss Of pS% he In e
a and
on the broades principles OF 6rothery love- to
liberal Of science and art and the ncuca
honor and patriotism and above ali, proma gate
lime and eternal doctrines Of Judaism among s
society The smeodimen q all those dictates
All men brothers, Of one God, vested with the
D. While nations and associations mus. be governed by
aw-ths Incarnation OF absolute social rea
for ;srH humanity
specially charged with the practice Of the former and the
The interests of humanity best promoted by the
s Hs
Fio ,vns ,,,ro doctriros NJ
basis Of all civilization and of universal cha
therefore are but the ncacaon and practice Of ali these
great Blooms Of humanity.
The Order was founded in this city in 1s43 by one
Henry Jones, who remained an active and prominent
member of it, and who had the good fortune to see it
expand over the whole country and number on its
rolls of membership thousands of the best men OF
Hebrew faith before his death, which occurred two
years ago. In just acknowledgment Of his services
as the founder OF the Order his widow (who, by the
way, Is Chrstian has since been supported out OF
the common treasury OF the several lodges.
The order is now divided into 115 lodges number
ing over 1000 members and located In every State
In the Union These local lodges are primarily
organize into five grand districts, governed each by
a grand lodge presided by a Grand Saar, or
Master. The districts are as follows:-First dis
trict the New England States and the State of New
York. headquarters New York city; Second district,
the Western and Northwestern States, headquarters
at CINCINNATI Third district, the State Of Pennsyl-
the Pacific States, headquarters ut San Francisco.
and Fifth district the Southern States, headquarters
at Baltimore IL Is proposed TO subdivde the Second
district and form sixth Of the States OF Illinois,
Wisconsin and Michigan, with headquarters at
Chicago.
The magnitude of the organization may be gath
cred from what has already been accomplished. In
the Second district they have built an orphans Home
at Cleveland, Ohio, which was formally dedicated
and opened for the reception OF inmates on the 4th
instant, oil the delegates from the west and North
west participating In the ceremonies. The grounds
amount only $4,000 remain yet to be paid. This
sum has been accumulated from quarterly payments
OF twenty-five cents or one dollar per year by the
western members only. At the last District Conven
tion held at Cleveland from the 18th to the 18th in
slant, these quarterly payments have been increased
to fifty cents, or two dollars year. 10
liqudate the Indebtedness and to provide fund for
the maintenance OF the asylum, which requires
SO 900 annually In the First district the members
of this Order commenced their quarterly contrlbu
tions OF TWENTY-FIVE cents In 1859, and the amount
now Is over $4,000, probably invested site will
soon be selected In the interior OF thus State where
real estate may he procured for less than In the city,
and ''home" erected, not for orphans alone, but
also for those members who from old age or sickness
are unable to earn living.
on looking over the Convention the beholder was
struck with the intelligent and business like appear
OF the body. As remarkable TACT IL may be
mentioned that although the delegates with the ex
ccption Of two. were Germans, the proceedings were
IN English and the manner and style OF the speaking
would nave done credit TO almost any deliberative
or legislative assembly.
The Convention was opened at precisely ten A. NJ.
by the retiring Grand Saar, or Grand Master, Mr. r.
w.
in obedience to which the delegates had assembled.
He thereupon welcomed them To the city and hoped
that their labors would eventuate In promoting the
best interests OF the order. ON motion Mr.. Frank
was declared temporary chairman aud Mr.. M. Elm
ger temporary secretary of the Convention; and a
committee of three from each district having been
appointed to examine and report on credentials OF
delegates, the Convention took q recess till one
O'Clock r. NJ. The members and large number OF
their friends then retired to the banquet hal down
stairs where sumptuous lunch awaited them.
After recess the Committee Oh Credentials
that hmm frnd flfvae
represented by log delegates, that the seat OF
Mr. Jos. Levy, the delegate OF Dan Lodge, OF south
committee recommended that the seat be awarded
to Mr.. Levy. The report was received, and before
the adjournment the matter OF TINS contested seat
his own behalf; but he failed to convince the Con-
vention, the report OF the committee was affirmed
y. W. Frank, OF New YORK city; Joseph Abrahams
OF Cincinnati Ohio and X. +. Pexotto, OF New York
city. were put in nomination for permanent pres
dent; but the latter gentleman declined, and Adoipn
Moses OF quincy Ill., was nominated In his stead
and elected the first ballot. On taking the chair
he thanked the Convention for the distinction ana
honor conferred upon him, and avowing himself
man OF progress, he expressed the hope that,
with their assistance, he may be able 20
iaction of All all The following gentlemen were
elected vice presidents:-Frst district, Judge
:. W. Rosendae, Albany. N. y: Second district,
George Einstien, Leavenworth City, Kansas; Third
district Jacob Miller, Philadelphia, Pa; fourth us
trict d. b Vol san Eranclsco; Film u,so Of
the Convention was then completed by tne eiecuOn
OF the following additional oihcers;-M. E.ihBer'
of New York city, principal secretary Az Il.
Jones' OF Philadelphia. pa, and Lewis Abrahams or
Cincinnati, assistant secretaries, and isaac Lyman
ana sam Rothschild both OF this CITY, assergeants-
alarms. Messrs. Pexotto, Hirschhcd, Jones, ben
and I3ulswanger were appointed committee on
rules and regulations for the business OF the Conven
ton Co report this morning az ten O'CLOCK ana then,
al six l.. NJ the Convention adjourned for The day.
In the course Of the afternoon the baIOunR for
officers interrupted by motion 10 admit the
press, which called forth spirited debate but was
finally voted down, but the secretary was directed
10 prepare digest OF the proceedings for puolica-
ton.