Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-09
SHwoATH.
THE B'NAI BIRTH SOCIETY.
Grand Picnic, Barbecue and Concert.
James, Park Scene OF Beauty and
Pleasure.

/
merriment. There is feasting and dane
ing and great rejoicing. 1t is
THE FEAST OF sHwoATH,
the second great feast Of the Israelites
as recorded in the second paragraph Of
the sixteenth chapter Of Deuteronomy
"Seven weeks shalt thou number unto
thee. Begin to number the seven weeks
from such time as thou beginnest to put
the sickle to the corn. And thou shalt
keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord
thy God with tribute of free-will
offering of thine hand, which thou shalt
give unto the Lord thy God according as
the Lord thy God hath blessed thee;
and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord
thy God, thou and thy son and thy
daughter, and thy man-servant and
thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is
within thy gates, and the stranger and
the fatherless and the widow that are
among you 1t is three thousand three
hundred and twenty-one years since this
feast was ordained by Moses. 1t com
memorates the giving of the law on
Mount Sinai, just as the Saxon Whit
Wes commentaries the inspiring of the
Apostles with " cloven tongues like as of
fire." In ancient times this feast was
one of great gladness and national en-
thusiasm, and even in modern times it
has been one ofpageantry and pleasantly.
The fanaticism of the Crusaders for
a while caused the Hebrews to curtail
their pleasures on festive occasions, just
as the fanaticism of the Puritans caused
the Cavaliers for while to curtail their
enjoyments. Time, however, has brought
about better feeling and more liberal
spirit; and here in this beautiful sunny
cline the people of all nations and of all
religions may conduct their peculiar ras-
times in their own way.
THE BNAI BIRTH SOCIETY
devote the proceeds Of their festival to-
day to the fatherless and the widow"
and it becomes all charitably-disposed
persons to assist them in such worthy
work. The Order Of B'nai Birth has
been in existence in this country about
twenty-five years. 1t is composed of the
best and most intellectual Israelites.
Its chief objects are charity and intel
lectuality. 1t has aimed to break down
the barriers of prejudice inside and out
side its circles, to cultivate the minds of
its members, thus refining them and
making them good and useful members
of society In addition to these noble
efforts, it helps the needy, nurses the
sick, watches the dying, buries the dead,
protects the widow, and educates the or
phan. The organization is divided into
seven districts, comprising the Southern
and portion of the Western States.
Memphis is District Mo- Here there are
two Lodges, numbering three hundred
members One was instituted eleven
years ago and the other two years ago.
Their Lodge-room is on the corner of
Adams and Second streets, and is the
best arranged and finest furnished
society room in the South About three
years ago committee was appointed to
select a suitable site for an asylum.
After mature deliberation the Water
Cure establishment, covering six acres,
at Cleveland, Ohio, on account Of its
healthy locality, was selected. As soon
as purchased men were set to work to re-
build it in a manner suitable for an asy-
lum. 1t was completed two years ago
and dedicated with appropriate ceremo-
MES Soon after it was opened it re-
ceived one hundred inmates. To-day it
has one hundred and forty-six inmates,
and there are many applicants for ad
mission. Memphis alone has contri-
buted thirty, and we understand several
more will be sent from this city in few
days 1t is to feed and clothe these
needy ones that the picnic to-day is held,
as the support of the institution entirely
depends upon the donations and annual
subscriptions received from benevolent
societies and charitably-disposed persons.
All who read the touching lines of Mrs,
Hemans on
THE HEBREW MOTHER"
will. we trust, have a warm feeling for
the orphan, and not only sympathise with
him, but assist him, The lines are az
follow:
Alas my boy, thy gentle grasp is on me;
The bright tears culver in thy pleading eyes
And now fond thoughts arise,
And silver chords again to earth have won me
And like a vine thou claspest my full heart
How shall hence depart?
How the lone paths retrace where thou vert
playing
So late along the mountains, at my side
And |, in joyous pride.
By every place of flowers nay course delaying.
Wore, cen as pearls. the lilies round thy hair,
Beholding thee SO fairl
And, oh the home whence thy bright smile
hath parted,
viii il not seem a. IL the sunny day
Turn'd from its door away?
While through its chambers wandering, weary
hearted,
/ langulsh for thy voice, which past me still
Went like singing rillg
Under the palm trees thou no more shalt
meet me,
When from the fount at evening return.
With the full water-urn;
Nor will thy sleeps dove-like breathinRs
greet me,