The Jewish monitor. (Fort Worth-Dallas, Tex.) 191?-1921, 1920-05-14
Convention of Seven States Opens in
Tutwiler With Welcome Ad-
dresses and Official
Speeches.

With several hundred delegates
from eight states present, the forty
seventh annual convention OF the dis
trict grand lodge No. 7 of the indie
pendent Order of B'Nai Birth was
opened Wednesday, May 5, at the Tut
wiler Hotel.
Men and women from Alabama,
Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee Ar,
kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and
Texas gathered to hear the cordial
welcome by men high in public life
and in B'Nai Birth.
The convention was called to order
by the Grand Lodge president, A. Leo
Oberdorfel,, who introduced the first
speaker, Irving T. Engel. Mr.. Engel
welcomed the delegates to Birming-
ham on the behalf of the local lodges.
1--WE have looked forward to this con-
vention" said Mr.. Engel. "There is
no city in the South in which the
spirit of B'Nai Birth has been so cul-
tivated as in Birmingham.
Including the lodges at Bessemer,
there are 500 members of B'Nai
Birth in Birmingham, the speaker
said, which is second only to New Or
leans in the South. Mr.. Engel paid
a high tribute to the Birmingham
men who have stood high in the ranks
OF BNai b Rith. In concluding, he
said: II can only say we are delight
ed to have in Birmingham the leaders
of jewish thought in the South"
Alabama's Welcome.
Nathan l.. Miller, lieutenant gov
ernor of Alabama, voiced Alabama's
welcome to the convention. "The
purpose of B'Nai BRith is one with
which the state is in sympathy" he
aeciared, "and in that sympathy /
welcome you to Alabama" Mr.. Miller
praised the work Of the Jews in Ala
Dama, who not only added to the
wealth OF the state by their business
ability, but were always ready to do
their share in charitable and neces-
sary work.
In welcoming the convention to
Birmingham, City Commissioner John
K. Hornady told a story of an old
woman ana her reverence for the dead
of her family. "And when | recog-
nize in you an organization that,
while revering the dead, also serves
the living and allays the suffering Of
all mankind, then the welcome comes
straight from my heart"
In the behalf of the Jewish COM
munity Of Birmingham, Samuel Ull-
man, past grand president of Grand
Lodge No. z, and a citizen Of Bir-
mingham for many years, added his
welcome. Mr.. Ullman made a review
OF the condition of the Jews at the
present time in the European coun-
tries. There never was time when
conditions ~-'-e so fraught with dan
~er," he said. Israel has been a
large fa"t'r in the forwarding Of the
ideals Of civilization for 5000 years.
For 1000 years she has been broken
up and wandering over the face of
the EARTH" He painted a picture of
the sufferings of the Jews in Europe
and Asiatic countries dominated by
the white man.
ID MAJ u hlth Principles.
The many addresses Of welcome
were answered h" Capt. Leon
Schwartz, of the United States army,
a resident - Mobile and former resi-
dent Of Birmingham. an going into
the service Of my country, / carried
out the principles Of B'Nai Birth"
said Cantain Schwartz, "for in the
teachings Of this order, next to God,
comes your government. The army
Of this country not only represented
men from each Of the forty-eight
states, but men from every country
on the earth.
1--WE assemble together for the pur-
pose o. -arving. While the object OF
our order is to serve Jews, we work
for the relief Of all. The world is our
field"
Lucius L. Solomon Of San Francis
co, an official in the National Asso.