The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-26
B'NAI BIRTH.
Annual Session of the District
Grand Lodge.
Reports of Officers in Membership, But
Strong in Finanee-How the Decline
May Be Arrested.

District Grand Lodge. No g. Independent
Order of B'nai Birth, opened yesterday
morning at Covenant Hall. Delegates from
twenty-eight subordinate lodges located in
the various cities Of the Pacific States and
Territories were in attendance and, as soon
as Grand President Felix II. Merzbach
formally opened the Grand Lodge. pre-
scented their credentials, in the examination
of which and the reading of the annual re-
ports the morning was consumed.
The Grand Lodge consists of the follow
ing officers and delegates:
Felix Ii. MeZbacb, Grand President; H. F.
Bush. First Vice President; Milton 5. Elsner.
Secretary; Isaac Lacnner, Grand Treasurer /;
Aaron Nathan, Sergeant-at-Aims; A. n. Levy,
Messenger.
THE DELEGATES.
Ophir Lodge, No. 81, san Francisco-D. A.
dAncuna, Charles GrOSslichi. lhi Hat, NJ. Kali
mnk, Marcus Levy, Louis Levy, Abe Lewis,
Monro osierndn, Jacob RosenIhal, William
Ethan Lodge, No. 81, sacramento-Albert
Elkus. Gus Eikus. Samuel GeTson, A. Nathan,
Emil Steinman, +, w: Sleinman, Nj. Wilson:
s Eisntr, Samuel Flyshaker A. Nathan, Moses
selig, NJ. Sellgman, Joseph Shaen, Jacob Voor-
sanger.
Garizim Lodge. No. 43, Grass Valley-L. Zach
aIIas, Joseph Weissbein, Charles Nathan.
Pacific Lodge, No. As, san Francisco-H. P.
Newman, Henry Schwaltz.
Monlehore Lodge, No. 81, San Francisco-B.
BerelZhelm, William Conn, j. Cantrowilh, NJ.
Lewis, Jesse L. Marks, NJ. Marks, NJ. j. Meter,
s. II. ShoCken.
Nevada Lodge No 80. Virginia City, New
X. I. BIodek, l.. LoDenslein, M. Levy. NJ. Vert
heimer.
Miriam Lodge, No. Sc, Marssville-Sol Lewek,
b. Rosenberg NJ. Marcuse.
oregon Lodge, No. 90. Portland, Oregon-D.
Soils Cohn. CHARLES Friendly, L. Lachmau, Al
Gross, II. Wolf
Hope Lodge, No l26, stocEtou, CALI. Click,
H. Marks, j; MARKS. l. Stamper.
Columbia Lodge, No. 127, San Franeisco-Sol
Adler. Julius Bambcrgrr, Jacob Greenbaum. E.
Gun zDefger. L: Mayer, Henry Newman, s. New
Golden Gate, Lodge, No. 129. san Francisco
J.. j. Aschheln, Phil Cohen. Jacob Davis, s. l..
Goldberg, L; Gordon, A Lipman, William Lewis,
California Lodge. No 1G3, San Francisco
herman Abrams. Louis Blank, David Cohen,
j. l.. franklin, julius Israelsky, Isdor Jacobs,
Morris hochman, Jacob COIN, Harris Rubin.
Orange Lodge, No. 224. Los Angeles-Ben
COIN, sam Levi, A. Marx l. Norton; ,,
JACOBS, Abraham RO>enthal.
fatadise Lodge. No. 237, San BernaIdino-
Isaac BENJAMIN, NJ. hatZ.
Ariel Lodge, No. 24S. san JOSEF. c. Koppel,
William Oserman, NJ. Wiener.
o. klabd Lodge, No. 252, Oakland-E. Bern
sein, NJ. Jonas, NJ. MarcuSe l. Marcus
Carson Lodae, No. 2G6, Carson City, New
Benjamin Hams, Ado;ph Livingston.
Cnily Lodge, No 273 San Fraucisco-I. Cohn-
hronebe!g. 5. j. Levy, Abraham Lewis, Max
Potler, NJ. RosentGal, George Raphael, Joseph
Rothschiid. solomon Rekind.
Silver State Lodge, Ne. 296, Eureka, New
Nj. i. franklin. Henry Kind.
North Pacific Lodge, No. 3l4, Poltland.
Oiegon-S. H. ABB aham, Sig COIN. Sol Frieden-
thai, /. GewnertZ, Ii. ander. NJ. Rybke.
mi-1roplc Lodge. No. BAL, Los Angeles
Is. W. Edelmqn. NJ. Morris, Samuel Prayer.
Seattle Lodge, No. 342, Seattle, Wash.-Will-
CremleuX Lodge, No. 325, San Francisco
Abraham Glassm1n, L. 5; Green. 5. hoffman,
Abraham Morris, Edward l. Wolfe.
Occidental Lodg- No. $40. san Francisco
Louis COIN, Louis Gretz, j. Heymau, 5. Silver
stone, Felix II. MerZblch.
man.
:, Tacoma Lodge, No 4o6, Tacoma Wash
Henry berliuer
THE PRESIDENTS REPORT.
The Presidents report, which was a
vo!umnouS document of twenty printed
pages, gave the info rmatiOn that the past
year was prosperous one from financial
standpoint, but that there was a falling
away of members which, though compare
lively small, was yet large enough to chal-
lenge attention and require the adoption of
some corrective measures. The absence OF
ritual and the burden Of nigh assessments
were spoken of as the probable cause Of the
decline, and in this connection 1t was sug-
gested that ritual and an Optional endow-
MeDt law" be adopted for the benefit OF the
might thcreupon be induced 10 Join the
order. The President also dwelt upon the
necessity OF appointing Il special organizer,
whose duty it should be to devote himself
to the building up of the order in the great
Northwest and other parts of the hitherto
neglected territory within their district
The necessity for such an officer was
shown by the fact that in twenty-seven
years the grand officers of this jurisdiction
had only succeeded IN establishing four new
lodges, while many Jewish communities on
the Coast are known to be waiting patiently
for an opportunity to affiliate.
A RECOMMENDATION.
The report closed with a recommendation
that a society be formed for youths as
preparatory school for admission to the
order One such organization known as
the Bnai Birth Cadets is now in existence
III Georgia city. Its members meet fire.
quenuy aud receive religious instruction,
just as Protestant and Catholic children do
in their Sunday schools. The Inauguration
or such plan here, it said, would be fruit
full of good results, and it was hoped that a
law favoring such an institution would meet
attention during the session.
The Grand Srcretalys report showed q
membership Of 1882 on December 81, 1890
a decrease OF sixty-one during the year.
His financial statement gave the receipts
for the twelyemonth MS SIC, 352 OF, and the
disbursements 500. 4S3 SO, leaving n cash
balance in the Treasurer hands OF SSS6S II.
In closing his report the Secretary says:
The district has reason to congratulate
Itself upon the financial showing OF this
year Every Claim against the district has
been promptly discharged, and it is the first
time in years that we are able to come be-
fore the Grand Lodge without reporting any
liabilities against the Grand Lodge in the
matter Of endOwments.
After the reading of the report Of District
Court No. 4, relating to appeals from sub
ordinate lodges, the Grand Lodge took a
recess until o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Grand Lodge reconvened at o'clock.
Reports from the committees on Intellectual
improvement and Distribution were re-
celVed and adopted. Several amendments
to the general laws were introduced and re-
ieIred to the Committee on Legislation.
The lodge then adjourned until o'clock
EVENING SESSION.
The first order upon the reasSembling Of
the Grand Lodge was the Grafton of Rev
DIR. Jacob Voorsanger, Grand Orator Of the
order.
DR.. VooTsanger chose as the subject of
his Grafton The Position of the Order of
Bnai Birth and The Historical Develop
ment OF lsraePs Future" In opening the
topic the speaker referred to the aims and
objects OF benevolent organizations in gem
eral and the benefits to be derived there
from. lie said that the B'nai Birth occu-
pied unique position in the organ cations
of the world. AS religious or racial or
ganization the order has duties and obiga-
tons which can be shared with no one. The
orator referred TO the glories of ancient
Israel, and passing to the order, portrayed
its rapid growth in America and in Europe
The motto of B'nai Birth is Work and
Watch" and must surely indicate the power
OF the future and the glory Of the coming
days. 1t is exercising its power both as an
educator and as benefactor in the inevita-
BILE development of natures law, and it
must expand and become an agency for the
Liberation of many expressions.
The Grafton was ordered printed with the
proceedings of the Grand Lodge, and sew
erai hundred copies prepared for iistribu-
ton.
PEIXoTro MEMORIAL.
The committee appointed yesterday MORN
ing to prepare memorial in reference to
the late Past Grand Saar, BENJAMIN +.
pniynttn snhmittad n snrias nf rasnlntiana