The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-21
B'NAI BIRTH.

ventiOn Of Hebrew LOdees-An Interesting
OPENING Opposition 10 Prayers-Long and
TiresOmo Debntes-DivfsiOu or Sentiment
| The Sixth District Recognized.
The second days session of the convention OF the
Independent Order OF Bnai Birth, secret benevo
lent societies OF the Israelites Of this country took
place yesterday at the same locality, the large hail
Of the Alemannia Club House. No. Is East Sixteenth
street. The convention had just come to order
| ana the committee appointed at the Sunday
meeting to prepare rules and regulations for the
! government Of the convention announced them
selves ready to report, when DR.. E. NJ Fried
lin arose, addressing the chair on q matter
somewhat in the nature Of question OF privilege
He said that he asked to be excused for internpng
the business Of the convention, but ne felt so
overcome that only by communicating the cause he
could relieve himself One OF the founders OF the
order had Just entered the hall as mere listener.
Az the members knew, two men had united in It's
foundation, Brother Henry Jones and Brother Will
liam Renau The first had gone where they all would
follow, sooner or later, and the speaker hoped to
God that they oil would reach there as worthy az he
did. The other, Brother Renau, was IN their
midst, and the doctor would leave II to the
convention to honor him as he deserved. Great
enthusiasm followed this announcement and
motion a committee OF five OF the Oldest members
OF the order present In the hall was appointed to
conduct Mr.. Renau to the platform, where the Pres
dent, Mr.. Noses greeted the old gentleman with
appropriate remarks Mr.. Rcnau was evidently
deeply affected while replying to the speech OF the
president and acknowledging the reception rendered
him by the convention. He said, in substance, that
he did not expect when twenty five years ago he
united with Mr.. Henry Jones, now no more, TO
gani2e the society that the day would come within
his lifetime to the wealth and intelligence OF the
Ieraelites OF America fully represented in a gen.
eral convention OF the ORDER. 10 was az first
intended az purely local organization; but, taking
Arm ~ nhCI tfc hrup into ppi,rl l.ar
cities, and being devoted TO good cause aud being
better and better understood IL sweed its proper
tons and 1t now stands forth great body Of men
determined to do good 10 their best ability and
c0rding TO the dictates OF the purest humanity. He
hoped that the original idea which gave life and
growth to the order may be maintained and be stil
better understood and more appreciated. He closed
with thanks to the convention for the unexpected
hOnOra paid him. Mr.. Renau now resides in Cincin-
natl and is a Justice OF the Peace in that city.
The business OF the convention was then resumed.
The report on rules was frat read as a whole and
then taken up by sections for debate and action. The
first rule already called out very determined opposi-
ton. 1t provided that the proceedings should be in
the English language ana that the German may be
employed only by permission OF the convention. The
strenuous opposition 10 the latter clause succeeded
in striking 1t out and inserting that ANY brother
may speak in German" The convention having
once launched upon the broad ocean Of debate they
enjoyed IL hugely at every paragraph Of the
| port an 1t came before them. Section eighteen
called out controversy OF words lasting over an
hour and H which all the prominent men Of the body
the continuance Of which recess for lunch was had.
The section, a. reported, provided for two-thirds
II was voted down, leaving the old rule as estab-
shed by the fundamental constitution OF the order
in force. The rules. a. finally adopted, contain the
usual regulations for the government OF parlismen.
tary bodies the previous question and the committee
OF the whole house included; and simple resolution
adopting JefYerson's manual for q guide with such
few provisions "a may be required by the peculiar
nature OF the convention, would have done the same
some discussion. The debate on one paragraph as
reported and lnay amended. deserves especial no
with prayer As soon as II was read several dele
gates rose and one after the other "pitched in"
Particularly severe In his opposition was q Mr.
simon Wolf Of washington, b. O., who claimed
that though coming here a. lsraelites, they did not
come on religious duty and had no need Of employ
ing anybody to pray for them. Another delegate
said that this habit OF opening deliberative bodies
daily with prayer, though customary, was nothing
but mummery. After lengthy discussion com
promise was erected, on motion OF Mr.
N. 8. lsaacs that the sessions should be opened with
prayer by member only, TO be daily designated BY
the opening OF lodges should alone be employed.
Mr.. Bien, Grand Masker, or Secretary, then made
and his own appointment. and that twelve new
lodges had been formed IN the course OF the year.
He also handed In voluminous statistical and his
torca account OF the progress OF the order but this
was not read, and the whole report and accompany
ing documents were at once referred " the Commit
tee on Reports, yet to be appointed.
Another lengthy and spirited debate pfunR Up Q
10 the proper authority to issue charter to new
probably 70 be eomposed Of the states * nncis
Wisconsin and Michigan with q Grand Lodge ct
Chicago, having been adopted the question arose
whether the Grand Saar, Master or the President
OF the convention, was to sign the charter, some
maintaining that the latter superseded the former in
authority. The matter was finally settled by the
adoption OF order directing the executive ofcers
OF the Grand Constitutional Lodge to issue the
charter.
The following standing committees were APP
pointed-On the Revision OF the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Ben, Chairman, and Messrs. Wolf, Pixiotto Fesen.
thai, Hudsel, Reichmann. Or. Felsenthal
Jacobs, Burgauer, Cohen, DR.. Fredein, Greene
baum Goldmann, Binswanger and King. on the
Revision OF the Ritual-Dr Waterman, Chairman
and Messrs Loewentha, Enger, Proskauer Loeb
Blum, Amberg, Honheimer, Jones, Sommerch, Dr.
Friedlein Frank, simpson, Gassenheimer and Wien.
The members on the Committees on Territorial Juris
diction. on Reports and on Finance have not vet
been appointed Al halfpast six Y. N. the conven-
ton adjourned 10 meet again this morning at ten
O'clock