The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-20
SHOULD EXCUSE JEWS
FOR tvAO|h6 SERVICE
Rev. L. Yasgour Declares That He.
brcvss Have Cause For Not Want
ing to Serve RussiA.
RIMMoN LODGE HOLDS MEETING
Raymond Dcnzcr. OF New York. .
Guest of Richmond Organization,
Makes Interesting Address to Menu
bers Of the Lodge.

At the November meeting of Rim
mon Lodge, Independent Order OF
B'Nai Birth. held Sunday evening in
the basement of Beth Ahabah Tenn
pie. the members were both entertain
ed and instructed by Rev. L. Vas
gour. who spoke on the Moral Eff
feet of the War on the Jews The
speaker prefaced his remarks by call
ing attention to saying in the Baby
lonian Talmud that whatever happens
is for the best.
He then launched into his subject.
with the optimistic statement that
blessings will come. Every war has
brought more x less amelioration of
conditions Russian Jews have been
limited commercially; their conflne-
ment in the Pale has not tended to
development spiritually. Few trades
are open to them. The Russian law
requires permit from the minister
of education If Jews wish to enter
higher institutions of learning. All
may attend lower schools but at
tendance is not obligatory.
One may imagine the spiritual ma
ture of q people who are cramped in
their development. Talents are left
without proper development. On &C
count of oppression. Jewish men who
evade Russian military service should
! be excused for their action. They
have good cause to escape from the
hand OF the oppressor.''
! Il am convinced" continued the
speaker, Russia will not yet change
her policy towards the Jews"
Reviewing the recent act, estab-
fishing the kingdom of Poland, Rev.
Mr. Yasgour declared that this new
- III
for his co-religionists. America Is
where they can have all their rights
and he believes that after the war
an influx OF immigration may be
looked for. In closing his talk the
speaker praised highly the President.
Woodrow Wilson.
Raymond Denzer, member Of
Manhattan Lodge, New York city
who was guest of the Richm ond or
ganization, was then called upon by
Acting President Charles Hutzler for
talk The visitor rose to the occa-
sion and held his audience from the
start. He said that, as late as 1851,
Jews were not permitted to own land
in Hesse, They could only lease it.
At that time his paternal ancestor
debated with his immediate family
whether to go to Alsace fthen a part
of France), where the Jews had more
liberty than In Germany, or come to
America. Since the outbreak Of the
war, he feels that his ancestors made
lucky decision
Touching upon the order itself, the
speaker told how the B'Nai BIRTH
was founded to cooperate for the
I henefit OF the Jewish people. We
Jews, he continued, must not lose
sight OF old traditions We must
study the past to create ideals for
future guidance"
Joseph L. Levy, now of Baltimore,
who is paying a flying visit to the
city, remained at the meeting of Rim
mon Lodge long enough to hear his
many years of service reviewed in an
eulogistc manner. Past Grand Presi-
dent Harold S. Bloomberg told how
District Number 8, which extends
| from Maryland to Georgia. was about
to be split and apportioned to other
districts, but during this troublous
time, number of years ago. Grand
Secretary Levy, as he was then, pre-
vented such calamity.
Evidence of Esteem.
AS evidence of the esteem in which
/ ter "a copy of the Originally was read
to those present;
November is. 1915.
Mr.. Joseph l.. Levy.
| Baltimore. Md,
DearaSir and Brother:
| At a meeting of Rimmon Lodge No.
| So, l. o. B. B., held Sunday evening,
| October Is. 1915. the undersigned was
instructed to convey to you in q letter
some expression of the sentiment OF
! the lodge on learning that you had
| left th city and taken up your resi-
dence- IN another State.-
| While the task assigned me Is a
| most agreeable one. yet fear that
| my powers of diction are not equal
TO the demands of the occasion. for by
your long and unselfsh service in be.
half OF the lodge and the order you
have shown that mere words cannot
give expression to the reverence which
| is felt. the esteem which you have
won, the affection you have gained.
and the hener- which is accorded you
for life above reproach and a con-
stancy of purpose in behalf of those
noble principles which are taught and
upheld by the Leaders OF the order.
Be assured my dear brother, that
! the members of Rimmon Lodge who
are acquainted with the efforts which
you so long sustained in behalf OF all
that Is dear to them, will always keep
( in mind your personality. holding II as
an example for emulation: that you
have with you always their prayers
and best wishes for your comfort and
happiness. and the earnest hope on
their part that. at no distant day, YOU
will find II to your further happiness
/ to return to locality with which
your past life has been identified, and
which Is every ready to give you a
welcome of warmth and OF co-opera-
( ton,
! with the choicest sentiments of af-
lection from all of our members and
from the undersigned in particular T
| am.
! Fraternally and faithfully yours,
| CHARLES HUTZLER,
| Vice-President and Acting President.
| lnllA0lTrn Elllln HAn