, 1874-01-25
Meeting Of the Second Con-
StixutiOnal COnven-
ton.
History Of the Order and the Objects
of Its Founder.
Its Growth, Government, and
Results.
Arrival Of the De1egates---How
They Are to Be Enter
tanned.

Convention OF the Independent Order OF Bnei
Birth (Sons Of the Corenant) congenes at Kings
bury Music Hall, and will continue its sessions
throughout the week. This Order is an exclu-
sively Hebrew organization, and in its objects
and ceremonies is similar to tho order Of Odd
Fellows. and is equally numerous, prosperous
and extended.
THE ORIGINAL FOUNDER
Previous to the year 1913 no exclusively
jewish order existed in .this country. At
that time man lived in New York who CON-
bined good education wiril force Of character.
clear and sound Judgment, snd in addition the
sterling qualities OF q true philauthropist. He
moved in the humble walks Of life, depending
upon the labor OF his hands for his daily BREAD
yet content with his lot. Manly and independent,
he yet found t1mo and means for the support Of
those needing aid aud assistance. His superior
intellect. his truthfu1ness and integrity secured
him q remarkable influence. Drawn with
III tho vortex OF contention and
strife he applied his abilities to
tho establishment of peace and order, and the
generation of more kindly feelings amongst con-
tending parties OF his faith. Still other means
were required to achieve tho permanent object
he had in view. Influences and forces Of
greater strength were needed to suppress
passions 30 vehement and to eradicate preju-
diccs 80 deep-rooted. Thereupon he conceived
the noble purpose OF forming an alliance, by
which q combined effort would become pos
sible, to cnr7y his views into. practical
execution. With the active cooperation of
kindred and congenial spirits ha founded the
Order OF Bnni Birth. The name OF this man
was Henry Jones. and it II useless to say that he
will live Ill tho hearts Of the Brotherhood as long
as 1t exists, and will be revered by all the Israel
ties in the country.
TEE OBJECT AbRD &r
The elements from winch the Order had to
draw the material at its beginning. in the City
Of New York. were Of q promiscuous character.
The men coming from the various countries OF
meal persecution for their religious faith, no
sooner felt the benign Influences OF this
proved 4 free and untramme1ed
opportunity for the development of their capaci-
ties gave them that self-1ellance and ambition
for distinction which has been shown By the
race, when liberated from the disabilities Of op-
pressiye laws, remnants OF the dark ages. The
ambition to have the lead in the affairs Of con-
gregations aud other societies otlen aroused
passions which, in the absence of controlling
Influences Of refined intellect, had often led
to most deplorable autagonism bordering
on animosity. To change this rtate Of affairs was
the main object Of Alr. Jones in establishing
| an order or society wherein the members could
be schooled by strict discipline, and be instructed
in the necessity OF constant watch over their
| duct toward each other and society. An impress
| siye method WAS to be found which would bring
| into prominent view the higher aud nober
| objects Of l1e aud, above all. indocirinate the
great principle that men may differ in their re-
| hgious beliefs, and yet unite and work together
| harmoniousy under the great laws OF humanity,
| stated By the teachers OF tue jewish religion.
n.
| The fundamental law OF this religion, as OK
| pouded bY "Brotherly Love-" is the strong
| foundation upon which the edihco Of this Order
| has been erected Beneyolence and Harmony
| arc its main pillars. Only IN this sense ls the
| Order Jewish institution it rests upon the
| broad doctrines OF humanity and brotherhood.
| but it carefully excludes from its lava and
}egis1atious all tha: could possibly be objected
| to Us dogmatica1. doctrinal sec.arian. Tho
| platform Of principles, whla sufficiently broad
10 admit Of the widest latitutc establishes such
necessary restrictions as will exclude all who
| would come in conflict with the fundamental
idea of the Order. Attempts heretofore made
to introduce questions that would infringe in
one direction or the other. upon this broad
basis, have been enphaticaIy repudiated.
MUTUAL AID.
To bind the members OF the Order more
closely together, and to use it as q promoter Of
their material welfare, system OF aid has
been introduced in cases Of need, after the
and tho seal of secresy was stamped upon all lts
proceedings. This not only created greater at
traction to uncultured minds. but gave the young
society might aud Importance which, under
the existing conditions, could not have been at
timed BY other means.
THE START
| Tho beginners we're few, but earnest and de-
| voted; their progress at first WAS slow and diff
cult but soon their influence WAS felt. The pro-
| priety and deco1im Of the meetings II the lodge
were carried into public gatherings. The toler-
| ance exercised in the Order was successfully
! transferred to tho congregations. The lesHona
taught aud the instructions given within the se-
cret circle bore their fruit II outer Life.
SPREAD OF THE ORDER.
From the very small beginning in 1913, the
Order has gradually risen to position which
dls the heart Of every member with a
| Just pride. As before stated, the Order
originated in New York. from whence it spread
to Hartford, New Haven, Boston, Buffalo, Gin:
other cities West and South; and it may safely
| be aided that now, in every town or village in
the United States where sufficient number OF
Jews reside, lodge OF. the independent Order
Of B'nai Birth can be found.
Tho first lodge Of the Order organized IL IN thls
the 18th OF June, ls57,. and WHICH
| has now membership Of about $50
with q widows and orphans fund Of $4,000. q, and
| 1880
| Lodge No. 72, organized in 1868. with = lodge
fund of $4,000. l11uzlcs Mayer Lodge No. 1o5,
was organized on the 4th Of February, 1868.
and has d capital OF about 5000. Jonathan
| Lodge No. 1870. was organized in 1869. and has
now membership OF 125. aud fund Of ovei
$1,000. Sovereignty Lodge No. 149 was organ.
lied in 1870. and has membership of $50, aEe
about $4,000 capital The youngest OF the
lodges here il the Orient: Lodge No. 1s9, or:
ganized in 1879. and which has now member
slip of about IS: and capital Of nearly 81 600
/ THE TOTAL
The Order Of B'nni Birth, on tho 1st OF Janu-
nv. 1873, IVES composed of 1856 lodges, with 4
combined membership OF 14.851, and m aggre.
| gate capital OF 1903. .997.48. The amount ol
! benefits paid to widows and orphans during tht
! yLar 1872 amounted to S13o, 95o. So BealdeS
| The regular fcea and dues each member OF tht
Order in Chicago is required to pay q
year towards the support Of the United he
brew Relief Association, and each member
throughout the United States has to pay annual
" = towards the support OF the HebroH Orphan
Asylum at Cleveland.
uEEEEw ORPHAN ASYLUM.
This AsyIun, vas founded with the suoscE1p.
tions Of tho Order and opened on tho li:h OF
July. 1868. /: has ample room tor 2oo ch'ldfen' II
injcpcndeu. OF rooms for Superintendent, Mat
roo. officers reception rooms, culinary depart
al fnR