The morning call., 1892-01-25
B'NAI BIRTH.
Annual Meeting Of the District
Grand lodge.
First Graduating Exercises of the Free
Religious School Established by the
Organization

The twenty-ninth annual meeting Of Dis
trict Grand Lodge No. 4, Independent
Order OF B'nai Birth, opened yesterday
morning in B'nai Birth Hail, Grand Presi-
dent Ii. p. Bush presiding. One hundred
and thirly-siX delegates were present from
all parts OF the district, which embraces the
entire Pacific Coast
After the usual preliminary business in
cident to yearly session the Grand Presi-
dent submitted his annual address. which
was an elaborate review Of the society's
work for the past twelve months. 1t also
contains strong appeal 10 the Jewish peo-
pie in the matter of sustaining the Free
Religious School, which has shown splendid
results, although but recently established.
In concluding his report concerning this
subject the Grand President says:
And now, representatives. ! appeal to you as
men ana brethren, as heads Of families and AS
friends oil the Jewish cause, yourself imbued
with mat religious sentiment thai is the main
stay aud protection OF the PEOPLE of Israel; that
you VIII take Ihls matter 10 heart ana stand as q
UNI I'D sohGHyiug that which your predecessors
called INTO existence, aud fostering and prOtt CT
ing iHat young Tree which promises 10 bear such
good 4 nit.
II would be fatal Gay for the interests Of the
d WISH cause, u money should now stand In the
way OF lhe development OF education and en-
nGutenment aud il must not sIaud Ia the way uf
ms institution unless We eject 10 let The general
community take charge OF IT, thus showing TO the
world that our charge TO the Initiate are mere
idle words.
CHARITY INCULCATED.
The late organization of the Jewish ALI
ance OF California, as branch Of the ma
tional society for assistance of Jewish refu-
gees. IS then taken up and considered at
length. 1t contains, in conclusion, a stern
admonltlon to the children Of Israel in the
matter OF dispensing charity TO those unfOr-
tunate individuals who may land on Ameri-
can shores IN destitute condition.
The report Of Secretary Louis Blank
SHOWS that the organization IS prospecting
under the Optional Endowment Law"
ana that under this law the decrease in
membership, noted in the last annual re-
port, has been stayed. The total admi ssions
for the year have been 1I9. OF this number
thlriy-nlne have awaited themselves OF the
above mentioned law. The total amount
collected Tor endOwmentS aggregated SJJ,-
80, and thirty-three endOwments have been
paid, aggregating the sum of sos 600.
1 mere are now - lodges IN the iuTisdic-
ton, distributed as follows: San Francisco
10, interior Of this State II, Oregon 8 Ne
yada 3 Washington 2.
SICK benefits for the year amounted to
5l26l9 90 and funeral benefits to S2225.
he total membership of the lodge is now
2273.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
Several committees also submitted re-
poItS, and at u O'clock the session adj
jourued, the delegates having been invited
10 attend the first annual commencement
exercises OF the Free Religious School. es-
tabli>hed last May under the auspices of
Distinct Grand Lodge No. f. These exer-
cl>eS were opened at o'clock by Felix
Merzbach, one of the school Trustees. In
brief speech he recOunted the history Of the
oh fNV rgrr tim farF J.. g.-- =.
cluded with bright tribute to the corps Of
teachers and The founders.
Among other things the speaker said that
it had come 10 the know ledge Of certain
members OF the lodge that over 2000 Jewish
children were growing up in San Francisco
without religious instruction, and in this
idct was found the motive for establishing
the school, 1T has been" he continued.
"a grand success Daring tho past year
we have had an average Attendance of 80.
and have thus been enabled to prevent
many from growing mp in Indifference to
the Jewish faith. 1t is the pioneer work Of
absolutely free religious instruction in our
faith on the Coast, and we take this occa-
sion TO congratulate your worthy body upon
the astonishing and gratifying results al
ready achieved"
THE PROGRAMME.
When Mr. Merzbach had concluded his
remarks the orchestra played an operate
selection, and programme containing the
following numbers WAS rendered:
Opening prayer Simon Harris; song. on
Israel, Hear school; ! lie Two Welcomes"
Aaron Schwartz and May Levy: recitation. the
GeuSieri recitation, Somebody's other"
jerome Breyttj s0uE, selected, Miss Belle Lev
lngSion; recitation. - How the Baby Grows"
Arthur Roth; song " Maccabees, ~ school; " Tie
Tea Parry" Carrie Ring, Rose Fulda. Pauline
Stern, Ray AGfrchtg Nettle kobischer Milo
Lewis Gerue LapdaiTe, Flora Kosen-
thai, Pauline Cob u, Minnie SChOeufeld
song, selected, Miss Regina Cans; operatlc Sc
leCtiuns, orchestra; "Shema," Hebrew class;
% Hear Israel" Bertha Morris, Clara Rosenthal
Sadie Mund, Sadie Lapidatre Elka Meyer; re-
ceptiOn Ten Commandments, Gettie LapdaIre:
the Ten Commandments (HehFew). Arthur
Hirshheid. lsldor Mayer, Abe karsky Simon
Mayer, Marks Israel, Harry kOrnfeld, Milton
May, David Morris, Anglo May, Arthur C. Bush;
Euglish-SleIla hamburger lille Jacobs Jen-
ME Cohen Dora Levy, Katie Aaron. Gertle Lapi-
daite, ErneStne WiueubeTger, Nettle Robit-
scher Catherine Jacobs, Martha Goldberg;
Alteration, GerJe Cohen; one Hundredih Psalm,
EDDIE ass rman; piano solo, Morning
Serenade,' Mile kOchman; distribution Of
prizes closing prayer, Helen Schwartz; song,
America" school; march, orchestra
EVENING SESSION.
At an evening session Of the Grand Lodge
the subject Of an appropriation for the
maintenance Of this school was the only
matter under consideration, and it occa-
stoned quite spirited discussion.
Some of the delegates held that $1,000 per
year was enough to spend in running the
institution, while others wanted to set aside
the sum of $500. SO excited did some of
the $1,000 people become that the legality OF
the school WAS tercely assaulted.
Past Grand President Joseph Bien main
tained with considerable heat that the
school was established without the consent
OF tie National Lodge. The fallacy Of this
argument was soon shown however by d.
a. DAucona, who read from the conStiiu-
ton concerning the establishment OF religi-
GUS schools.
After four hours discussion it was de-
ciaed to make the appropriation $3.50.
The lodge viii continue its deliberations
at 10 o'clock to-day, and tomorrow after
noon the annual election Of officers will be