The Denver Jewish news., 1925-01-15
MASONIC GRAND MASTER
URGES COOPERATION OF
MASONS IN REBUILDING
JEWISH HOMELAND.
William \. Roman, New York state
Grand Master, Writes Letter Stating
Movement should Appeal particu.
larly TO Masonic tratcrniiy"-Spe-
cal Committee Organized.

cal Committee Organized.
From. our New York Correspondent
New William A. Rowan
Grand Master Of the New York State
Mosons, has written letter "npprov-
ing of the movement which was mi
tiated by the Balfour Declaration and
endorsed by the joint resolution of the
Congress Of the United State "0A ~
proved by the President i'u. io..ur
which places the stamp Of official en-
dorscment of Masonry ON the rebuild
ing of the Jewish Homeland in Palos,
tine, has been hailed with intense sat
isfaction by the great number of jew
ish Masons all over the country, as
well as by all Jews who are interested
in Palestine. The approval of the
Grand Master is expected to have a
far-reaching effect and to express
itself concretely in a material contri-
button tosthe Keren Hayesod.
The letter from Grand Master
Rowan is addressed to Louis A. Sable,
himself, Past District Deputy of the
Masons, who was the chairman of n
special committee organized by a
group of Jewish Masons to negotiate
with the Grand Master for the pur-
pose of obtaining his encouragement.
The movement to interest Masons in
the Jewish National Home in Pales,
tine was begun by group of New
York Masons under the stimulus of
Harry p. Fierst of Mount Vernon.
Mr.. Fierst, who is a Past Master of
the Shakespeare Lodge, is member
of the National Executive Committee
of the Zionist Organization of Amer
lea and of the National Council of the
kcreh Hayesod.
In March, 1924, a special reception
by Masons was rendered to DIR. Chain
Weizmann and since then the interest
among Masons in the cause continued
to grow until it eliminated in the off
cial approval by the Grand Master.
Other Masons who have been active in
this effort are: Moses Altman, Past
District Deputy; Arthur Arkin, Grand
Representative; Anthony w. Klein,
Grand Representative; Harry N.
Simon, Grand Representative and
others.
The full text of the letter from
Grand Master William A. Rowan to
Louis A. Sable is as follows:
"Dear Brother SGblc:
81 have the papers concerning the
Jewish Homeland in Palestine, and my
response to your communications is as
follows:
MY opinion having been asked as
to the proper attitude of Masons to-
ward the establishment of a Jewish
Homeland in Palestine, have no hes
itation in stating that | warmly ap-
prove of the movement which was mi
'tiated by the Balfour Declaration and
endorsed by the Joint Resolution of
the Congress of the United States and
approved by the President.
"As establishing place of refuge
for the oppressed Jews of Central and
Eastern Europe in land enriched by
the memories and traditions of the
past and regarded as holy ground by
Jew and non-Jew alike, it should ap-
peal to the humanitarian impulses of
all mankind, particularly to the Ma
sonic Fraternity, which traces its
legendary origin to the Holy Land"
Judge Arthur S. Tompkins, Past
Grand Master of New York, has also
indorsed Masonic cooperation in the
movement. New York Masons as a
group expect to contribute the sum of
100000 to the Palestine Foundation
this year, to be applied to the con-
structive activities of the fund in the
Holy Land, according to Mr.. Sable.
He stated that the opening of the first
departments of the Hebrew Univer-
sity on the Mount of Olives has had a
marked influence in stimulating inter
est among Masons in cooperating in
the rebuilding of the country.
There are about 100000 Masons in
New York State and 81 lodges, COM
posed largely of Jews, are to be found
in the state. The Order has raised
hundreds of thousands of dollars for
various causes which have had the ap-
proval of the Grand Master.