The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1920-05-19
I.O.B.B.C Convention Held
in Cleveland dad
SECRECY ABOLISHED. mi TIA.
TION AND RITUAL RETAINED.
Questions of Great Importance Con-
sidered at Quinquenniel Meeting.

The Eleventh Quinquenniel conven
tion of the Constitution Grand Lodge
of the Independent Order B'nai Birth
met Sunday, May . to 13 in Cleveland.
Ohio. 1t was the most important of
any of the meetings of this splendid
body. coming after the close of the
war when so many questions affecting
the Jewry of the world require solu-
tion.
About two-hundred delegates We're
present at the B'nai Birth building
when the meeting was called to order
by President Adolf Kraus. Of Chicago.
Rabbi DIR. Markus. Chief Rabbi of
Constantinople. opened the convention
with an address in Hebrew, concluding
with the opening prayer. The Hon.
w. S. Fitzgerald. mayor. welcomed
the delegates in behalf of the city of
Cleveland. and Eugene f. Wolf. presi.
dent of Cleveland Lodge delivered the
address of welcome in behalf of the
hosts. to which President Kraus re-
spOHueu llitlHSiy.
President Kraus' message was then
read. He showed that the order now
has 6J.OOO members, and in his Opin
ion the next five years may see an in
crease to 2OO.0OO.
That the Order is international al
scope and influence.
That it Is organized to aid suffering
Jewish people in all parts of the
world.
That the Order for score of years
has conducted AmcricaniZation work
all over the United States and has
enla rged this into one of its biggest
depa artments.
The message dealt with the Ameri-
can Soldiers and Sailors Welfare
League of the I. o. b. b., the Orders
efforts in behalf of afflicted Jews
abroad. the echo of Polish pogroms,
the Ukraine horrors. the cooperation
of the Order with other organizations.
the Roumanian situation and Ameri-
cnnizafi0n.
Mr.. Kraus' report began:
Before proceeding TO tia. main busi
ness of my message. which must large
" concern the war. its effect upon
the Jews. and in part. too. the peace
and its influence on the people of our
faith. I may he pardoned. perhaps. II
indulge in n "reminiscences.
"In August. 1905. NJ. de witte.
former premier of Russia. to whom
Baron Rosen alludes in his recent
memoirs as the one diplomat whose
astuteness could have averted the war.
was the principal plenipotentiary
whom Russia sent to Portsmouth. \.
H.. to agree on peace terms with
Japan. A committee. of which was
one. met NJ. de witte by appointment
to appeal thru him to the Russian
government to grant It's Jewish sub
jects human rights.
1.-The diplomat. upon whom the czar
later conferred the title of count and
elevated to his post as premier in re-
ward of his services. was courteous.
even cordial, but gave lis very little
encouragement. He declared only the
czar could help the Jews and condi.
tions were such that even so. many
years must elapse before full relief
could be obtained.
"Whereupon. one of our member
said: IF the ear will not grant
his people the liberties they are en-
titled to. revolution may establish
republic thru which those rights will
be attained
".Of course responded NJ. de
witte. such thing may happen. but
not for n hundred years at least. The
Romanoffs will rule for another CEN
tury.'
..Yet less than fifteen years have
elapsed and the car is dead: his con
Continued on Page Two.)