The San Francisco call., 1896-01-17

than quarter of century, and who think
that at this late day it would be an Impo-
sition to make them pay an advanced
assess ment. They are willing that all
members who Join after a stated date shall
pay $5. but they claim that those who
were members prior to that date should
be allowed to pay as they have in the past.
Another matter will be the continuing
OF the school organized under the auspices
of the order the one in which the pupils
receive religious training and in which
they are instructed in the Hebrew Ian
guage. For some time past the school has
drifted from its original purpose, which
was to give instruction to the children Of
members exclusively. The expense of
maintaining the school is borne by the
lodge, but children whose parents do not
belong to the order and who are not men,
bers of any of the local Hebrew congrega-
tions, having sought unsuccessfully to
gain admission to the schools connected
with the congregations, were advised to
try the Bnai B rith School, and in a num-
ber Of instances were received as pupils.
Some members of the order want the
school conGu on its original lines or
abolished, while others wish it continued
SO as to admit all who need instructions.
A proposition to erect new hall on the
orders property on Van Ness avenue so
as to have a suitable place in which to
hold the session of the Constitution Gland
Lodge, the superior body of the order,
soon to meet in this City, will also
come up.
The Order of B'nai Birth was founded
in New York City in 1912 by Henry Jones.
The first lodge on this coast, Ophir No. q,
was organized on the 18TH of August, 1855.
There are now thirty five lodges in the
Pacific Coast jurisdiction, which includes
California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon,
md Montana
tions show that the order is in prosper
Gus condition and that it has over 5000, 900
to the credit of the beneficiary fund In
this City the order has a fine library free,
for members, with nearly 10000 volumes
on its shelves.
The executive committee of the Consti-
tuition Grand Lodge, in pamphlet recently
issued, gives the following brief review of
the work accomplished in the fifty-two
years of its existence:
You are aware that the founders OF the order
of B'nai Firth, in endeavoring to unite the
Israelites for common purpose, had twofold
object in View-the charitable and benevolent
and the educational and ideal.
To accomplish these objects they conceived
the idea of an order composed of lodges with a
ritual which should appeal to the imagination
of those for whose use 1t was composed as the
best means of bringing into harmoniou union
the Israelites of this country, who, by reason
OF diversity of nationality, education and re-
liplous views and observances were really MS
widely separated as though no common tie of
unity existed among them. To bring these
differing elements together, to teach them to
forget their peculiarities and prejudices to
recognize the good in each, to respect the sin
cere opinions of all, while preserving indiyid-
ual independence of thought and action to
incuIcate respect for authority and law and to
recognize that only by the harmonious CO.
operation of all can the rights of each be estab-
lfshed and maintained, was the first task i'm
posed upon the lodges, and it has been success
fully accomplished.
About twelve years ago the order took stems
to enlarge its sphere of activity and lodge
was instituted in Berlin, Germany From this
small beginning great results have been
achieved.
Roumania. the scene of the labors of our
lamented Brother PeiXotto, is the battle
ground of devoted band of hrothers Perse-
cuted and oppressed as the Israelites are in tnat
land, they look to the order for encouragement
and support in the creation and maintenance
of schools and educational institutions
In the Orient We have Sown our seed and
are reaping gratifying harvest. In the Holv
Land and in Egypt, in Syria and Turkey we
have established lodges. Our schools for both
general and technical education hospitals ana
libraries are admitted to be doing good and
noble work in dispellfng ignorance and spread
ing abroad the light of civilization.
Austria, too, has felt the quickening revs of
our sun and has welcomed the order B'nai
Birth; ten lodges. with membership of the
very best OF our people, are striving TO ex-
emplify its principles.
titutions are supported and maintained en-