Evening star., 1904-02-24
ORDER OF B'NAI BIRTH
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MR.. SIMON woLF's Ho9ss FOR IT'S
Review of Its Work By rs president,
Whose Election wa Be-
Gently Noted.

AT meeting of the executive committee
of the order of B'nai Birth, held in New
York the 14th instant, Mr.. Simon Wo,f CT
this city was elected president of the order,
to succeed the late Leon L. Levi. The Sc
lection of Mr.. Wolf as the head of this
powerful organization brings the order into
more prominence in the District than 1t has
heretofore enjoyed. Mr. Wolf is one of the
most prominent residents of the District.
He is native of Bavaria, but came to this
country with his grandparen while he was
yet child. He studied law in Cleveland,
Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1861.
He entered the Union army, but was d.s-
charged on account of defective vision. lie
then came to Washington, where he has
lived ever since.
President Grant appointed Mr. Wolf re-
corder of deeds for the District In 1869, and
he held the Office nine years. He has been
interested In the welfare or the Jews ana
has welded powerful influence for their
benefit In every movement for the benefit
of the Jews of this or any other country
Mr.. Wolf has been IN the front, working
harder and to better advantage than nave
majority of others interested, and doing
equal work with the best. Through his
personal efforts many reforms have been
brought about.
President Garfield appointed him consul
general in Egypt; but he was compelled to
resign on account of impaired eyesight. lie
is a member of the board or directors OF
numerous charitable organizations Tor the
benefit of the Jews in all parts OF the
United States, and is also intimately con-
nected with a number OF ieadlng business
and financial institutions of the District.
"The Independent Order of Bnai Birth
was organized sixty years ago in the city OF
New York" said M. Wolf to Star reporter
today Its founders were American citl-
zens of Jewish faith born In Germany, ana
their object was to educate and to elevate
sr,CA AySaf fr,or INN rttrr~1 into
of their faith. so that they. should become
important factors in the development and
prosperity >of the republic. There was also
an additional object. and that was TO Dreak
down the walls of prejudice among the
Jews themselves. as there was great deal
of friction and animosity among the re-
form and orthodox elements. and among
the different nationalities constituting the
group of nations from which the jews mad
Thus the lodge room became
the center of harmonious fraternal action
that produced the most happy results, not
only for the individual Jew. but for the en-
tire community
District Grand Lodges Formed.
"In the course of time there, were formed
ten district grand lodges, seven In the
United States and three in Europe, to wit:
Germany, Austria and Roumania. also affil-
iating lodges in Egypt and Palestine. Dis
trict Grand Lodge No. 5 Is gconstituted of
the District of Columbia, Maryland. North
and South Carolina Virginia and Georgia
The order grew in numbers and in import
ance, and today it is recognized the world
over as one of the most important links
in the great chain of international philan-
thrcpic and educational work"
ut founded the orphan home at Cleve-
land. Ohio; at Atlanta, Ca; at San Fran
cisco, Cal: New Orleans and Philadelphia;
the home for aged and INDECENT, at fon-
kers N. Y: the technical school in Phila-
delphia and the Maimonides Library in
New York 1t created the mission to Rou-
mania. which brought about the Berlin
treaty 1t erected magnificent statue to
religious liberty in Fairmount Park, the
work of Sir Moses Ezekiel 1t. has paid
millions of dollars to its members as bene-
fits and has been the great national and
factor in qpholding and
the lines of good citizenship,
and to secure recognition for the Jews in
every department of life. and also to bring
about better condition of the perseouted
in the land of their birth. -
'It will be remembered that last June
the Order of Bnai Birth took an active
part in the famous Kishinef petition In
cident securing from the American people
that splendid recognition in the shape of
signatures which had a worldwide infiu-
ence, exemplifying the American spirit of
justice and love of liberty. The order has
also played a prominent part in recent
years in aiding and distributing immigrants
that arrive in the ports of landing to all
parts of the United States, thus relieving
the congested condition of the seaport cities
and bringing about a condition of assimfla-
ton all over the country. In various other
directions the order has played a prominent
and important part, always ready at mo-
ments notice to do what is right and just
along the lines of good citizenship, keeping
in mind the one all-mportant fact of sub
ordinating as far consistent with the
aims and objects of the order partisanship
and sectarianism.
Former Presidents Commended.
Mr. julius Bien of New York was it's
president for thlrty-two years He gave
to it not only the best years of his life, but
the wonderful Intellectual poise and con-
servatism for which he is noted. In the
last few years Mr.. Leo N. Levi, who died
last month"; guided the destines of the or
der not only along all of the old lines, but
improved thereon, and gave new life and
impulse to an organization that had al
ready acquired worldwide momentum, yet
needed the additional spur of youth and
energy to carry into effect the sublime am
bition for which the order was created.
THE executive committee, which con-
vened Sunday, the 18th instant, in the city
of New York, saw fit to elect me the sue
cessor of these two eminent men. While l
cannot for a moment expect to improve on