The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-27

contribute our might 10 its perpetuation?
No, Then place YOUR shoulders willingly
10 the wheel of progress be proud 10
icin The band Of lsraelites who under
take this NOBLE work. and move the wheel
OF progress to rolling on, on. till its be-
nign influence Is felt over the globe.
Despite the iihes and filings of unthink-
ing persons. no Jew need hang his head
in shame, by a fair comparison with any
othei race. "A race without country
they have done as much. and are doing rs
much the world over, as any other nation
to break down the battlements of hate.
and spread over the globe the spirit OF
peaceful intercourse and true humanity
lnose OF you who have the least re-
gard for yourselves and your religion
must feel 1t duty to Join In this good
work. II not already affiliated you should
unhestatingiy resolve to join this band
OF brothers in their work Of love and I'M
sseelhshness, and not be regarded as in
inherent to the noble PRINCIPLES which
the order upholds and practices.
:, Wnen the founders of our order chose the
Menorah as their symbol they at once af-
nithed their intention not to be ont of
harmony with the spirit OF their religion.
duu the order OF B'nai Birth during the
more imam NIFTY years of its existence has
nfsue good the pledge expressed in that
selection. The order may look back ,yIth
pride upon its career during thar neriod
81 ne union of Israelites was never TO he
attempted upon the basis OF creed, and
we order defined its position as having the
am 10 unite lsraelites upon the basis of
philanthropy. The synagogue not being
the place TO accomplish this work the lcdye
soon became the school fer such ennobling
principlesl
No Jewish organization has until now
drawn to Itself the attention of the world
or ELECTED such deep interest in It's pur
poses and aspirations as this order Its
OBJECTS and aims have become uniyer-
sally known. and their purport generally
approved and commended; and II has beetl
made apparent that Judaism at large in
ms and other countries has been greatly
oehehted by the labors of the order in
inc past; and 1t Will be held responsible
LOT greater work in the future.
me Jewish community in general has
also learned that the order of B'nai Birth
Is powerful engine, a mighty lever. In
advancing the civilization OF the Jewish
people; that the organization has pe.form
ed and does perform what it professed
namely to shed glory upon the name and
religion of the Jew, and has thereby al
iayed much prejudice which has so long
existed 40
we strive to create peace and harmony
where there was strife and disoord TO
enlarge and direct charity and benevo
lence In its widest and best meaning. and
above all. to lead its adherents to a per
eeption Of a higher life, and make them
peers Of their fellow citizens Therefore
we boldly assert without fear of success
ful contradiction, that our order has been
one OF the most potent factors in the ele-
walton of our brethren morally, intellcc-
tually and socially
Is there a poetic legend more suggestive
than the story told by Arabi-magery, in
detailing the love of God and man, so
applicable to the Sons OF the Covenant
than the story of Abou BEN Addhem, when
he cheerfully SAID Il pray. thee then.
write me as one who loves mis- fellow men"
surely no moral tale could more wildly
depict lsraefs sterling qualities than this
hymn to righteousness: Israel loves man
because he loves his God" This is the
covenant which we Bnai Birth possess
and prize with jealous care. We have the
religion Of humanity
Our mission, my brethren, is glorious
one. We are engaged in the grandest
work ever allotted to man, ours is labor
OF love, not for ourselves alone. but for
the benefit OF those who. sooner or later,
we must leave behind, In what more
glorious mission could we engage, or what
more acceptable offerings to God could we
take with lis when we so to meet Him
than the prayers OF the widows and or
phans?
We live in time when the spectre of
war seems slowly but surely to fade out
IN the gentle daylight of culture and kind
illness; yet ours is a time, too, when we
need inspirations more than truths shin
ing example more than world Wise coun-
sell If the German can inspire himself
into patriotism by going back to the saw
age Teuton or the fanatic crusader, how
much more magic for awakening loyalty
ought slumber for us in the undimmed
glorios of the Maccabee?
have thus presented the necessity for
unity of our co-religionists and the fun
damenta Importance of that unity. We
should not be content with veneration
for those who founded the order and those
who make ii what II is; but should each
and every one strive to advance 1t and
teach fraternity throughout the civilized
world the true principles of ''benevolence,
brotherly love and harmony"
Ii these lessons are firmly established
In the hearts OF our co-religionists, we
shall to the extent that we aid on this
contamination. perform the duty that is
required of us in our day and generation.
Let us resolve that no outside prejudice
or intolerance shall excuse any indifference
or apathy on the part of our people. all
charged with the safety and triumph OF
those noble principles so ably advanced
and upheld by this order. Our destiny is
before us. 1t can only be reached by union
and harmony. We are not called upon In
the performance of our duties as law
abiding citizens TO surrender or jeopardize
one iota of our religious belief but rather
to foster and secure the aims of our order
through the patriotism OF magnanimity
In the presence OF the duty God has laid
upon us 1t should never be forgotten that
failure waits on dissenson and that
grudging acknowledgment OF common
brotherhood or a hating cooperation Will
surely check the onward march of the
Jews. so successfully inaugurated by the
order of B'nai Birth.
In this assemblage of Intelligent Israel
ties, who are proud OF their lineage
where so large a representation is found
Of the race, which in all stages of our
National life has done so much to make
cur country great, and who at times turn
lovingly to their brethren who have strug-
gled for blessings which are here enjoyed.
know that reference to any element OF
cur freedom and happiness will meet with
hearty response.
What Jewish heart has not swelled with
pride at the success and progress OF his |