The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-29
THE BNN BERTH ASSOCIATION.
Permanent 0rganixati@-Debats on Prayer
Suggestions and Amendments.

been busy with the assembling OF delegates nom
all parts Of the country 10 the Convention OF the
independent order OF Bnai BERTH. Notices have
heen posted in the halls and ofiices to the effect
that the reception room OF the Independent Order
OF Bnai Berth is located in such and snch par
yor and that the delegations OF No. I, No. 2 c.,
meet in such and such rooms. The delegates ar.
raved in a struggling way until Saturday morning
when New York sent in q batch OF frfSy-six and
soon the reception rooms became black with
smoke and noisy with the EFFORTS OF buttonholers
and caucusers; for be IL understood thai
IN the narrow circle Of the delegates there
has been as much discussion about candidates
and platforms as in any ordinary poiitica
convention. The Gentle guests at the Sherman
wonder-at the persinacity Of the gentlemen who
promenade the halls and form busy groups in the
parlor and verify believe that the fate OF the Jews
Of the country is to be decided by the Convention
Many OF the delegates wear badges; the Chicago
Committee OF Arrangements rejoice in striking en-
bsems. and the outsider does not take long to dis
cover that
NovEMENT OF UNUSUAL IMPORTANCE
a. going on.
Yesterday, precisely at noon, the delegates, $50
A number marched 10 the Music Hall, on clark
street, and the Convention was opened oy Junus
Bsen, Of New York, President of the Executive
SECOND quinquennial assemblage and asked them
10 drop for the time all sectional differences and
opinions and harmonic for the general welfare.
Il. Elhnger OF New York, then read the roll OF DEL
egates. Judge Joseph Koch, OF New YORK, was
elected temporary chairman, and NJ Eihnger sec
retary. committee Of fifteen was appointed 10
examine the credentials OF delegates and report at
the afternoon session. wnereupob the meesing ao-
On reassembing the list OF accredited delegates
was read. The Convention then
PERMANENTLY ORGANIZED
sy the unanimous election OF the following ON
oers,-PresideBt, Hon. Simon Wolf, OF Washing
ton. Vice observation-disclosures Goodhart, OF New
York: NJ j. Mack of CINCINNATI; William Lowen-
stein OF Richmond; w. Saalburg, OF san Francisco;
q ToS an1 Adoph Loeb Of Memphis secresaries~
Isaac & Isaacs, OF New York; Lewis Abraham, Of
Washington; Alfred t. Jones, OF Philadelphia.
Committee on Rules was appointed, and pend
ing their report, q resolution was adopted making
the rules OF 1868 the temporary basis for the pro
that the Convention should be opened and closed
daily by the ordinary lodge form OF prayer. II was
a rabbi-Dr Wise, OF CIncinnati-whO moved the
ella use striking out this prayer.
An interesting ceremonial now took place which
was marked with much taste and feeling. Presi-
dent Wolf stated that he had prepared medal to
be presented at this Convention to one OF the del
egates who behaved so nObly at Memphis during
the recent epidemic. Mr.. Bien moved to adopt the
Presidents action the sense OF this Convention,
and to present the medal at once This was car
RED, and q committee was despatched to escort TO
n.
Memphis as he is called. Mr.. FARMLAND " as en-
Enthusiastically cheered as he assembled the sGage.
The President, IN an eloquent address. presented
and Mr. FARMLAND responded with such genuine
emotion that the delegates were deeply moved by
Dr. Wise proposed a resolution OF coincidence for
the relatives OF brethren who mad died in Memphis
and Shreveport during the epidemic, which was
duly carried.
The
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
was then read, giving in general way nattering
account Of the prospects OF the order, being
document briefer than usual and containing little
that is OF general interest II showed that there
were 205 lodges ana not less than IS, 600 members
proposition to prepare resolutions OF thanks
and present them TO Mr.. Ben and the Executive
Committee for the arduous character OF their
Jab0rs during the past five years and IN acknowl-
edgment OF the satisfactory way in which they
had performed their duties, elected considerable
DEBATE, at times OF an acrimonious character.
The opposition came mainly from Cincinnati dele
gates, who objected TO certain statements con-
tanned IN the printed report OF the Executive Com
nittee and especially to letter written by Rabbi
FesenthaL, on Chicago, who was supposed TO have
INDUCED In certain unrabbncal reflections on the
memeers OF the Order. The resolution OF thanks
was, however, carried BIZ large majority Pend
ing the consideration OF the report OF the Com
mittee on Rules the Convention adjourned.
On reasse milling the several rules were read and
adopted, with sundry amendments.
AN ADDITIONAL RULE,
presented by Morris Goodhart ELECTED protracted
debate, but adopted by the close OF yeas
70 So NAYS. This was merely the proposition as
adopted In 1865 to open and close the meetings
With prayer, such as Is used IN all the lodges OF the
Order. one brother from New Orleans thought
that the Convention needed no prayer; that they
did their praying before and after the Convention
IN the privacy oil their chambers that they did not
travel so many miles for the mere purpose of listen
1ng TO prayers. rabbi from ST. Louis suggested
that the Jews are not praying but working
nation However, after much wrangling and par
Elementary diminishing, the rule passed as stated.
Quite an avalanche OF resolutions amendments,
petitions, addresses and rules poured H. and were
duly referred to the various committees. Oh the
propositions OF Dr. Wise to encourage the rabblni
cal seminary as contemplated by the Cincinnati
Union OF Hebrew Congregations and to establish
. home for the helpless suggestion OF District
No. to create degree In the Order FOR the
women IN Israel several endowment projects
the abolition OF secrecy. simpler ritual, &c.
There are also several resolutions strongly con-
6emning the course OF Rabbi Felsenthal in writing
his letter upon the condition OF the Order the
subsequent discussion OF which will undoubtedly
create an unpleasant feeling. The Convention adj
jOurned at two O'Clock. to reassemble Tuesday, at
ten, when the several committees will report.
The Sessions of Tuesday and Wednesday.
CHICAGO, Jan. 2s, 1874.
The debate In the convention OF the Bnai Berth
on the minority report continued until midnight
last night, various amendments and substitutes
being suggested. but none acted on. Finally the
Committee OF the Whole rose and reported prog
ress, after which the previous question was
moved, and, in accordance with the rules, the de-
O6sc was ClOseu Dy mr. lsioOf busn, Cudff fuAh vi
the Committee on Endowment, and the minority
report was then put to a vote and lost. The ma
10rtty report being voted was adopted. A motion
to reconsider was then adopted, and the report
was la,d on the table. The report OF the majority,
which was adopted as the sense ofthe convention,
was as follows
TO TIE CorsrirrnosAL CONVENTION, J. oBB
Your Committee on Endowments beg leave to report
That 1t II q cardinal principle provide
pfOtecon and relief tor widows and orphans the
event OF adversely yet committee is OF the opinion
that In the state OF the order is expedient
and premature TO legslate any general Jaws Tor
doWment plan in order
WM. SAALBURCs, Sec r. y PHILLIPPS,
o. sUTZBERGEk. NJ. BEHRERDT.
NATHAN NORRIS. u. ;. LEDERERDTZ.
LIPAAN LEY. c. R0ZMINskI
The Convention reassembled this morning at ten
O'Clock, and, after the usual opening exercises and
some unimportant corrections In the journal, on
motion OF Mr.. j. Koch the Committee on Endow-
ment was discharged. The following resolution
was 0nered by Mr.. julius Blers, and adopted
Resolved. That the establishment Of widows and
orphans endowment funas by district Grand Lodges
within the Legitimate scope Of the aims and objects OF
fhIs order
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