The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1920-10-27
Local B'NAI FIRTH LODGE TO
COLLECT FUNDS FOR !ANTI-DE-
FAMATION PURPOSES.

I NJ. l. ~. 80 A.
held an interesting and enthusiastic
meeting last Sunday. Eighteen candi-
dates We're initiated. and the cere-
monies were most impressive.
Among other important matters to
Jewry presented was the systematic
propaganda now being carried on
against the Jews. Among the speak
ers We're Arthur f. Friedman, chair
| man of the committee to collect funds
for combating it with an educational
propaganda, which will tell the truth
about the Jew. and his ideals. Mr..
Friedman spoke in part as follows:
'Anti-Semitism is at last upon us
in our own country. The utterances
of Henry Ford in the Dearborn In
| dependent. and the writings i'm the
many pamphlets now being circulated
broadcast thruOut the land, show us
that anti-Semitism is on the rise: and
the Independent Order of B'nai Birth.
whose anti-Defamation League has
been handling particular instances of
anti-Semitism for the last several
years. has been chosen as the best
agency for this work.
We cannot urge that it does no.
affect us. The constant repetition of
an untruth. leads the reader to be
iieve what is constantly presented to
him. Nor can we argue that the pres
cnt instances are merely sporadic.
The evidence is too strong that they
are part of broadly conceived scheme
to arouse distrust and hatred of the
Jew. and possibly TO kind!e in orr
own land those fires of persecution
which have marked the course of anti.
Semitism in some of the countries of
Europe
The history of aHti-Scmitism thru
out the ages indicates that. as with
other forces. it is governed by natural
laws. Persecution of the Jew long
antcdates the Christian era The Old
judices against and prosecutions of
the Few. We can find parallel TO
the modern program in the Book of
Esther. where the king was induced
by that arch anti-Semite Haman. to
issue an order allowing slaughter and
murder of the Jews. When. thru the
efforts of Esther. the king was Undue
Ell to rescind the order. 1t was found
that the object could not he accom-
plishcd in that manner. for the law
did not allow the repeal of royal
rlict. And today tile force. once
started. cannot hei stopped by mere re-
traction. If Henry Ford We're to pub.
lish retraction of his articles. that
would not be sufficient. because the
moment the false statements were pub
lished to the world. that moment the
harm was done. Our only course is
to right the wrong by teaching the
truth.
In its work. the antiDefamation
League will. of necessity. require tact
and diplomacy. If Henry Ford We're
the only one concerned in the at
tack, we could not even then hope TO
gain the desired result 10y fighting
him. 1t is the opinion Of those best
advised. that the effort, of the anti
Defamatio League should he extend
cd along lines of education, to counter
propaganda by propaganda: to con-
found untruths and to publish the
truth. not only to those who have
been offered falsehood. but to our own
people as well, so that they them
| selves might he better able to refute
unfounded and malicious falsehood
with facts.
1T is the purpose of the anti-De-
fnmation League to appeal for finan-
cial aid not only to the members Of
Final Birth. hut as well to those Jews
has been deemed impracticable in our
own city to go outside of our own
lodge for contributions by reason Of
| the numerous drives for various Jew
ish charities that have recently taken
| place. In this drive. not for charity
hut for self-preservatiOn. we shall ac-
lively campaign only among our own
members, altho we will cheerfully ac.
cept any outside contributions which
may he received"
Milton J.. Anfenger also spoke on
4 The same question. and urged the
| necessity of such an educational propa-
ganda.
ru,u< ~