The San Francisco call., 1896-01-22
MAI BIRTH HALL TO Co,
1t Is to Be Disposed of to Pro-
vide for a More Suitable
Structure.
A Building to Cost Not Less Than
$I5o,ooo to Be Constructed on Van
Ness Avenue.

| AT the session of the Grand Lodge of the
| Independent Order of B'nai Birth, Dis
trict No. 4, which begins on Sunday next,
two of the most important measures that
have ever come up for consideration before
! that body will be decided.
One of these is the proposition for the
construction of a magnificent new build
ing on the lot at the corner of Fell street
and Van Ness avenue, owned by the B'nai
| b 'rith Endowment Association, and the
| sale of the present site and building owned
by the B'nai Birth Hall Association.
The lot of the Endowment Fund Asso-
citation has a frontage of 120 feet on Van
n ess avenue and 100 feet on Fell street,
and IS valued at about 100000 On this
i 1t is proposed to erect structure to cost
not less than S150,000. It is proposed to
make this building the home of the order
| and TO equip it with every modern appur-
tenance that will make it attractive for the
older and the younger members, as well as
for the children of the members.
Among other features it is understood
that Grand President Abraham Jonas will
recommend that lecture-room, a reading
lng-room and gymnasium be made part
of the institution, the idea being to pat
tern it as much like the popular building
of the Y. NJ. G. A. as possible.
The prospective changes outlined have
been the subject of discussion in every
subordinate lodge connected with the Dis
trict Grand Lodge for some time past, and
the sentiment among the individual mem
bers is practically unanimous in favor of
the new enterprise. The delegates to the
Grand Lodge, who are all past presidents
of the subordinate lodges, have not been
specially instructed to vote in favor of the
new building, but, as expressed by Grand
Secretary Levison, "They are all men of
intelligence, and they will vote for what
ever they think best"
B'nai Birth Hall and its present site is
owned by stock company known as the
B mai Birth Hall Association, the share
holders OF which are members of the vari-
Gus subordinate lodges, the subordinate
lodges and the Grand Lodge. IL is the
purpose of the Grand Lodge to buy up all
the shares OF the individual members and
the subordinate lodges and then to sell
the site and structure and use the pro-
ceeds in the construction of the proposed
new building. There is standing
offer of $125,000 for the Eddy street
property as it exists to-day, but it
is believed that by waiting a short time
they will be able to get probably some.
thing in the neighborhood of $4,000.
And the only opposition to the general
scheme is on this point. Some of the
mem hers are opposed to beginning opera
tlons on the new structure before the old
one is disposed of as they are opposed to
The new structure will stand in the name
of the B'nai Birth Endowment Fund As
sociation and will be devoted entirely to
the needs of the order.
Another proposition that is to receive
attention is that relating to monthly dues
or assessments. Under the present rules
every married man who becomes a men,
Der of the order is compelled to join the
endowment branch, which gives his widow
or heirs $1,000 on his death and provides
weekly benefit of from SIS to $40 week
during the illness of the member For these
privileges and benefits the monthly dues are
now 81 80 for all members alike, regardless
OF ege at the time of affiliation. This
amount has been found inadequate to
meet the needs of the order, and new
feature is to be placed before the Grand
Lodge for its consideration, in which it is
proposed to fix the assessments of mem
bers according to their age on graduated
scale, the older applicants paying the
higher assessments.
The election of officers will take place on
Tuesday next.